Natural herbal & homeopathic remedies useful in Urinary Tract Infections in Adults

Urinary Tract Infections in Adults
Know about HERBAL & HOMEOPATHIC (Dual-Modality Approach) Remedies - including Buchu, Kali. sulph. & Sarsaparilla, dietary recommendations & important dos & don'ts, for longer lasting solution to recurring & painful UTIs in men & women.

· General Description · Symptoms · Causes · Herbal & Homeopathic Remedies · Helpful Dietary Habits · Dos and Don'ts

The urinary tract

Urinary tract infections are a serious health problem affecting millions of people each year. Infections of the urinary tract are the second most common type of infection in the body. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year. Women are especially prone to UTIs for reasons that are not yet well understood. One woman in five develops a UTI during her lifetime. UTIs in men are not as common as in women but can be very serious when they do occur. UTI-Clear™ For complete urinary tract and bladder wellness. UT-Tonic™ Provides a tonic effect on urinary tract and bladder health. BladderWell™ Homeopathic remedy temporarily relieves burning sensations; frequent urination and improves bladder health. Vagi-Soothe™ Natural vaginal yeast infection remedy for relief of itching and burning of the labia and vulva. The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The key elements in the system are the kidneys, a pair of purplish-brown organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. The kidneys remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood in the form of urine, keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood, and produce a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells. Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a sack-like organ in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied through the urethra. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by bacteria and are 10 times more common among women than men. About 30% of UTIs go away and do not recur. When UTIs do recur, it is often because the treatments used to suppress bacteria seem to work at first but do not produce a lasting cure. UTIs can also recur when a woman is infected again by a different kind of bacterium. This bacterium enters the opening of the urethra and procreates in the urinary tract causing urinary tract infection. This can be very painful and a major cause of distress in your life. If it is not contained in the earlier stages it is likely to spread to your kidneys, which can become a serious health issue. The infection of the bladder can develop into cystitis - a very common problem faced by women. Urinary Tract Infection can infect anyone but women are more susceptible to this disease. Children too suffer from this disorder but the headcount is very low in comparison to adults. Luckily, there are many herbal & homeopathic (including biochemic tissue salts) remedies available that can safely & effectively treat the troublesome symptoms of UTIs and also stop them from recurring. Read more to know more.......

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Not everyone with a UTI has symptoms, but most people get at least some symptoms. These may include a frequent urge to urinate and a painful, burning feeling in the area of the bladder or urethra during urination it is not unusual to feel bad all over—tired, shaky, washed out—and to feel pain even when not urinating the need to urinate more often than usual often women feel an uncomfortable pressure above the pubic bone, and some men experience a fullness in the rectum a feeling of urgency when you urinate strong-smelling urine it is common for a person with a urinary infection to complain that, despite the urge to urinate, only a small amount of urine is passed the urine itself may look milky or cloudy, even reddish if blood is present normally, a UTI does not cause fever if it is in the bladder or urethra. A fever may mean that the infection has reached the kidneys (fever may be the only symptom in infants and children) other symptoms of a kidney infection include pain in the back or side below the ribs, nausea, or vomiting. pain during sexual intercourse In children, symptoms of a urinary infection may be overlooked or attributed to another disorder. A UTI should be considered when a child or infant seems irritable is not eating normally has an unexplained fever that does not go away has incontinence or loose bowels, or is not thriving.

Diagnosis To find out whether you have a UTI, your doctor will test a sample of urine for pus and bacteria. You will be asked to give a "clean catch" urine sample by washing the genital area and collecting a "midstream" sample of urine in a sterile container. This method of collecting urine helps prevent bacteria around the genital area from getting into the sample and confusing the test results. Usually, the sample is sent to a laboratory, although some doctors' offices are equipped to do the testing. In the urinalysis test, the urine is examined for white and red blood cells and bacteria. Then the bacteria are grown in a culture and tested against different antibiotics to see which drug best destroys the bacteria. This last step is called a sensitivity test.

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Normally, urine is sterile. It is usually free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi but does contain fluids, salts, and waste products. An infection occurs when tiny organisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the opening of the urethra and begin to multiply. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. Most infections arise from one type of bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), which normally lives in the colon. In many cases, bacteria first travel to the urethra. When bacteria multiply, an infection can occur. An infection limited to the urethra is called urethritis. If bacteria move to the bladder and multiply, a bladder infection, called cystitis, results. If the infection is not treated promptly, bacteria may then travel further up the ureters to multiply and infect the kidneys. A kidney infection is called pyelonephritis. Microorganisms called Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may also cause UTIs in both men and women, but these infections tend to remain limited to the urethra and reproductive system. Unlike E. coli, Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may be sexually transmitted, and infections require treatment of both partners.

Who is at risk? Some people are more prone to getting a UTI than others. Any abnormality of the urinary tract that obstructs the flow of urine (a kidney stone, for example) sets the stage for an infection. A new sex partner or multiple partners More frequent or intense intercourse Diabetes - People with diabetes have a higher risk of a UTI because of changes in the immune system. Any other disorder that suppresses the immune system raises the risk of a urinary infection. Pregnancy - Pregnant women seem no more prone to UTIs than other women. However, when a UTI does occur in a pregnant woman, it is more likely to travel to the kidneys. According to some reports, about 2 to 4 percent of pregnant women develop a urinary infection. Scientists think that hormonal changes and shifts in the position of the urinary tract during pregnancy make it easier for bacteria to travel up the ureters to the kidneys. For this reason, many doctors recommend periodic testing of urine during pregnancy. Use of irritating products such as harsh skin cleansers Use of irritating contraceptives such as diaphragms and spermicides Use of birth control pills Heavy use of antibiotics A blockage in the urinary tract (benign masses or tumors) A history of UTIs, especially if the infections were less than 6 months apart An enlarged prostate gland also can slow the flow of urine, thus raising the risk of infection. A common source of infection is catheters, or tubes, placed in the urethra and bladder. A person who cannot void or who is unconscious or critically ill often needs a catheter that stays in place for a long time. Some people, especially the elderly or those with nervous system disorders who lose bladder control, may need a catheter for life. Bacteria on the catheter can infect the bladder, so hospital staff takes special care to keep the catheter clean and remove it as soon as possible.

UTIs may occur in infants, both boys and girls, who are born with abnormalities of the urinary tract, which sometimes need to be corrected with surgery. UTIs are rarer in boys and young men. In adult women, though, the rate of UTIs gradually increases with age. Scientists are not sure why women have more urinary infections than men. One factor may be that a woman's urethra is short, allowing bacteria quick access to the bladder. Also, a woman's urethral opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina. For many women, sexual intercourse seems to trigger an infection, although the reasons for this linkage are unclear.

Recurrent Infections Many women suffer from frequent UTIs. Nearly 20 percent of women who have a UTI will have another, and 30 percent of those will have yet another. Of the last group, 80 percent will have recurrences. Usually, the latest infection stems from a strain or type of bacteria that is different from the infection before it, indicating a separate infection. Even when several UTIs in a row are due to E. coli, slight differences in the bacteria indicate distinct infections. Studies suggest that one factor behind recurrent UTIs may be the ability of bacteria to attach to cells lining the urinary tract. These bacteria form a protective film on the inner lining of the bladder in mice. If a similar process can be demonstrated in humans, the discovery may lead to new treatments to prevent recurrent UTIs. Another line of research has indicated that women who are "non-secretors" of certain blood group antigens may be more prone to recurrent UTIs because the cells lining the vagina and urethra may allow bacteria to attach more easily. Further research will show whether this association is sound and proves useful in identifying women at high risk for UTIs.

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This type of infection is commonly treated with antibiotics. However, it is increasingly recognized that frequent treatment with antibiotics may contribute to recurring UTI infections and increased dependency on antibiotic use, thereby further weakening the immune system. Natural remedies and holistic therapy like herbal supplements & homeopathic medicines can be very effective and have been used for centuries to alleviate pain and discomfort as well as address the underlying symptoms. Natural remedies for urinary tract infections are safe and cause no side effects. They also support one’s physical, mental, and emotional health, rather than simply treating UTI symptoms. Using herbal and homeopathic remedies for urinary tract infections is also less likely to contribute to recurring infections, and can therefore provide a safe and longer-lasting solution to this common yet distressing medical condition.   Commonly recommended herbs include Buchu, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi , Lemon balm, Avena sativa , St. John's Wort, Billberry and Echinacea angustifolia, while specific homeopathic and natural remedies for urinary tract infections may be used depending on the UTI symptoms and physical composition of the individual.

Together these herbal & homeopathic (dual-modality approach) remedies (bio-chemic tissue salts like Ferrum phos., Nat. phos. & Kali. sulph.) can: Soothe urinary tract using systemic flushing Relieve and prevent common burning urine and urinary frequency Promote bladder health, Soothe a common irritable bladder Lessen common bloating and assist the natural water balance in the body Support a steady and healthy urine stream Promote routine equilibrium of pH (acidity or alkaline) in the bladder Maintain healthy pH balance in the urinary tract Maintain routine balance of cell salts in the body Eliminates the urge for frequent urination while passing minimal urine Lessens bloating and assists the body with natural water balance Decreases lower back pain

Drink a lot of fluids, such as herbal teas and water. Avoid sweetened fruit juices and other sweetened drinks. Cranberries and blueberries contain substances that inhibit the binding of bacteria to bladder tissue. Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice regularly seems to help lower the risk of UTIs. Try to eliminate potential food allergens, including dairy, wheat (gluten), corn, preservatives, and food additives. Your health care provider may want to test for food sensitivities. People who have recurrent or chronic infections should discuss the possible role of allergies with a doctor, since chronic infections have been linked to allergies in many reports. Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries), and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers). Avoid certain foods like asparagus, spinach, beetroots, raw carrots, tomatoes, citrus fruits, strawberries, red meats amd milk, as they can aggravate cystitis. Eat more high fiber foods, including beans, oats, root vegetables (such as potatoes and yams), and psyllium seed.

Avoid refined foods such as white breads, pastas, and especially sugar. When you consume a large amount (100 grams) of refined sugar, the ability of your white blood cells to destroy bacteria is impaired for at least five hours. Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy) or beans for protein. Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil. Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine. Reduced intake of dietary fat has been shown to stimulate immunity. Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco. Consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol has been shown to suppress immune function. Vitamin C, 500 - 1000 mg one to two times daily, as an antioxidant and for immune support. Vitamin C has been shown to inhibit the growth of E. coli, the most common bacterial cause of UTIs. Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 - 2 capsules or 1 tablespoonful oil one to two times daily, to help decrease inflammation and help in general health. Cold-water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good sources. Grapefruit seed extract (Citrus paradisi), 100 mg capsule or 5 - 10 drops (in favorite beverage) three times daily, for antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity.