7. Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
Anyone who’s had an UTI will tell you they’re far from pleasant! By the time I got to the doctor with my last UTI, my white blood cell count was so high it was too numerous to count. OUCH! I took the prescribed course of antibiotics and everything cleared up. But this isn’t the case for some women. If you suffer from recurrent UTI’s or if you’ve only had 1 or 2 in your lifetime, instead of going straight for the antibiotics, you may want to try one or both of these alternative treatments.
Oregano Oil
Oregano Oil is a potent antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral agent. My friend who is a chemist for an independent FDA drug testing firm swears by it. Add 3-7 drops (NOT Dropper-fulls) in about 6 ounces of water and take it 3 times a day. You can buy this potent essential oil at your local health-food store on Amazon - Here’s a brand we love!
D-Mannose
Ever wonder what’s in cranberry juice that addresses your UTI? That magical ingredient is called D-mannose. This substance keeps bacteria from sticking to the walls of your bladder and urethra. It’s even safe to take preventatively. My 74 year-old mother was getting UTI’s every month and would end up in the hospital for 2-4 days getting IV antibiotics and fluids. When an elderly person get’s an UTI, their symptoms aren’t likely to be like a younger person. Most seniors will become disoriented, confused and also have nausea and vomiting instead of the tell-tale burning and pain upon urination. I’ve been giving her a teaspoon of d-mannose every day in her water bottle and she hasn’t had an UTI for months. Whew! This treatment is also safe for children and far less stressful on the body than antibiotics. If you're prone to frequent UTI's, take a teaspoon of D-mannose in water every day on an empty stomach to help treat and prevent UTI's.
Here are a few more helpful tips when you have a UTI:
- Drink lots of water
- Don't drink alcohol or caffeine
- Take a probiotic every day
- Stay away from sugar. Sugar encourages the growth of bacteria which causes your UTI.
- Shower instead of bathing
- Urinate after intercourse
It is always a good idea to check with your doctor before you take any kind of natural alternative treatment and also to help diagnose that you do indeed have an UTI. These treatments are great when you’re just starting to notice symptoms.
