Bladder infections, also known as cystitis, are caused when bacteria ascends the urethra and enters the bladder. Bladder infections typically present with frequent or urgent urination, pain during urination, foul-smelling or cloudy urine, and bloody urine. Definitive diagnosis can be obtained with a simple urine test. The biggest health risk with a bladder infection is kidney infection, also known as pyelonephritis. Conventional doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat bladder infections but there are also a variety of naturopathic remedies available.
Prevention
The best naturopathic treatment for any illness is prevention. Many people, especially women, have recurrent bladder infections. In these cases diet and lifestyle should be evaluated. A diet high in sugar and processed foods is linked to increased risk of chronic infections. Diets high in vitamin A and vitamin C are correlated with decreased risk of bladder infections. Sexual intercourse is a predisposing factor, so women should get into the habit of urinating after intercourse to flush bacteria out of the urethra. Other predisposing factors are pregnancy, decline in estrogen (as in menopause), diaphragm/spermicide use, and previous antibiotic use.
A study in the April 2007 issue of the journal of Phytomedicine reported that a cranberry preparation with high phenolic compound may completely prevent urinary tract infections in women who are subject to recurrent infections. These woman took 200mg concentrated encapsulated cranberry extract twice daily. Regular doses of probiotics have also been shown to reduce the frequency of bladder infections in chronic sufferers.
Herbal Remedies
The September 2008 issue of the "Alternative Medicine Review" reports that the herbs that are most commonly used to treat bladder infections are bearberry, goldenseal, barberry and Oregon grape. Bearberry is thought to be anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. The latter three herbs contain the plant compound known as berberine, which has been shown to be effective in killing the types of bacteria that commonly cause bladder infections. Other herbs that naturopathic doctors may use to treat a bladder infection are hydrangea, juniper, dandelion leaf, burdock and corn silk.
Other Treatments
The "Alternative Medicine Review" also reports that a simple sugar called D-mannose reduces the ability of e.coli, the most common bacteria in bladder infections, to adhere to the walls of the urethra and bladder. This means the bacteria are essentially forced to leave. D-mannose is available in powdered form at most health food stores.
Lastly, potassium or sodium citrate salts can be beneficial in treating bladder infections by way of alkalinizing urine and making the urinary tract less hospitable to pathogens. The "Alternative Medicine Review" reports that in a study of 205 women with UTIs, 48 hours of sodium citrate significantly improved symptoms in 80 percent of women who presented with pain during urination.
References
- MDConsult: Urinary Tract Infections
- "Can a concentrated cranberry extract prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in women? A pilot study"; Journal of Phytomedicine; Bailey, Dalton, Daugherty, Tempesta; April 2007
- "Natural approaches to prevention and treatment of infections of the lower urinary tract"; Alternative Medicine Review; Head; September 2008
