Bladder infection is a frequent medical condition in women. If we were to believe the stats, more than 55 per cent of women develop bladder infection or one/many symptoms associated with it. This makes knowing home remedies for bladder infection more than important.
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Most women resort to antibiotics to treat their bladder infection. However, bacteria that cause these infections, have become immune to the antibiotics. This is why you should try these natural treatments instead to completely get rid of the bacteria as well as reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
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Causes of bladder infection
According to WebMD,
“The main culprits are bacteria, usually E. coli. These bacteria live on your skin and in your intestines and most of the time, they’re not a problem. Everyone has them. But if they get into the urethra, they can end up in the bladder and cause an infection.
Bladder infections are more common in women than men for several reasons.
A woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s, and it’s close to the vagina and anus, where bacteria live. Having sex, wiping from back to front after you go to the bathroom, putting in a tampon, and using a diaphragm for birth control are all ways bacteria can get in.
During pregnancy, the baby can press on your bladder, which prevents it from emptying completely and gives bacteria a place to thrive.
After menopause, women have less of the hormone estrogen. That causes the lining of the urethra to get thinner and may change the balance of bacteria in the vagina, making infections more likely.
When men get them, a prostate infection usually is the cause. But any blockage — like from a bladder stone or enlarged prostate — can prevent the bladder from totally emptying and cause infection.”
Symptoms of bladder infection
The usual symptoms of bladder infection include,
- Feeling of pain while urinating
- A burning sensation in your bladder
- Burning sensation in the urethra when urinating
- Frequent urination but in small quantity
- Pain in the bladder muscles
- Abdominal pain
- Exhaustion and feeling of weakness
- Cloudy urine
- Reddish urine indicating presence of blood
- Foul-smelling urine
- Pain in the pelvic region (Usually observed among women)
- Delirium in elderly patients
Risk factors and high risk groups
- Sexual intercourse
- Use of spermicide
- Use of diaphragm
- Use of catheter
- Pregnant women
- Postmenopausal women
- Suppressed immune system
- Those who are diabetic
Home remedies for bladder infection
Apart from staying clean, maintaining hygiene, drinking lots of water and fluids, you need to follow these home remedies to cure a bladder infection.
1. Cranberry
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According to studies, cranberry juice is very beneficial when it comes to treating bladder infection. It also reduces the frequency of these infections particularly among people with recurrent bladder infections.
The reason behind this is still not know, but as a preventive strategy, cranberry juice is a very popular remedy among people. According to studies conducted on animals, it was seen that animals who were given cranberry juice on a regular basis didn’t have bacterial infections. This is because the juice inhibited the development and proliferation of bladder infection causing bacteria in the body.
Cranberry juice is particularly helpful in case of E. coli caused bladder infection.
Drink a glass of cranberry juice every day to prevent or at least lower the occurrence of bladder infection.
2. Increase fluid intake
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To treat bladder infection, you need to drink more water in order to cleanse your system and your urinary tract.
Also, your intake of fluids has to increase if you want to flush out bacteria that cause infection from your system.
According to a study conducted 2 years ago at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, showed that if the fluid or liquid intake is really low, then that causes the growth of pathogens in one’s urinary tract, which causes infections.
Thus, stay hydrated always. Every drink at least 8 glasses of water. And after you eat a meal, always follow it with a glass of water to scrub down the bacteria.
3. Garlic
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The third remedy on our list is garlic. Garlic contains allicin, which is an active antimicrobial agent. Allicin makes freshly crushed raw garlic a very beneficial treatment for bladder infection.
When consumed raw, garlic shows antibacterial properties, and can help fight a variety of bacteria in addition to those causing bladder infection.
Garlic is also antifungal. That is why it can fight candida albicans, which is the main cause of yeast infections.
Every day eat 2 cloves of freshly cut and crushed garlic.
You should also increase your garlic intake by including it in your daily cooking.
4. Relieve yourself as often as possible
Urinate as often as you can. This will prevent the bacteria from growing and proliferating inside your bladder, which in turn, prevents infections.
Also, after one has sex, it is necessary the you urinate immediately. This will help flush out the toxins and bacteria, which during the intercourse, might have entered your system.
According to studies, people who hold their urine for too long, run a greater risk of developing bacterial infections, as the bacteria gets time to breed within the urinary tract.
Thus, never hold your urine for too long, and urinate as frequently as possible.
5. D-Mannose
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The fifth remedy on our list on natural treatments for bladder infection is D-Mannose, a sugar that is related to glucose.
D-Mannose prevents bladder infection by not allowing the bacteria to stick to the bladder walls and proliferate.
According to a study published in the World Journal of Urology, in the year 2014, D-Mannose powder was found to be very effective in preventing bladder infection. The study was conducted on 308 women who had a history of bladder infection. These women were divided into 3 groups. The first group of women were given D-Mannose with water. The second was given antibiotics, and the third was given no treatment. After six months of this study, the results showed that bladder infection was still there in only 15 women from the first group that was given D-Mannose while in the second and third group. 21 and 62 women still had bladder infection.
Suggested read: 12 Of The Most Effective Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infection
6. Vitamin C
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Vitamin C is an effective natural treatment for bladder infection. It increases the acidity of our urine, thus hindering the growth and proliferation of E. coli.
Vitamin C also improves our immune system, thus making use more resistant to infections and illnesses.
A study conducted a couple of years ago showed that those who take 100 mg of Vitamin C supplements during pregnancy had 0 occurrence of bladder infection.
Thus, everyday drink a glass of lime juice with a teaspoon of honey. You should drink this, every morning on an empty stomach.
You can also take Vitamin C supplements for a month a see the results.
7. Clove Oil
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According to research, clove oil is antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial. This makes it an outstanding remedy for bladder infection.
Essential clove oil is also anti-inflammatory in nature. Because of this property, it soothes pain and enhances the process of healing.
To take clove oil supplements, talk to your health care provider for the right dosage.
8. Myrrh Oil
Myrrh oil is another very effective natural treatment for bladder infection. According to experts, the oil is antibacterial and anti-parasitic. Because of these properties, it inhibits growth of E. coli and other infection causing bacteria from proliferating in the urinary tract and the bladder.
Historically also this essential oil has been used to prevent infections. Once can use this with warm and cold compresses to heal the infection and soothe the inflammation.
If you are planning to use myrrh oil internally, you need to be very careful. You should use only a high quality product that is herbal and contains no added chemicals.
9. Oregano Oil
Oregano oil, according to a study, is antibacterial and can actively destroy bacteria that cause bladder infection. It is also very lethal against E. coli, and that is why it finds its place on this list of natural treatments for bladder infection.
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10. Maintain hygiene and stay dry
Apart from these home remedies one also has to maintain proper hygiene. You need to wipe yourself, front to back after you use the toilet. Keeping the area dry is a fundamental rule to avoid such infections.
Also, wear loose-fitting clothes and cotton underwear that will soak the excessive sweat and moisture, allowing the urethra to be dry.
If despite following these remedies, there are no signs of improvement, then you will have to visit your gynecologist.
That’s a wrap on home remedies for bladder infection.
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