The kidneys and bladder are part of the urinary tract, which helps the body eliminate waste. Every now and again, more often in women than men, bacteria gets into the urinary system, causing an infection. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, bacteria can reach the urinary system either via the lower end of the urinary system, the urethra, or through the bloodstream. Herbal medicines can help in minor infections of the kidney and bladder, but make sure to consult your physician before attempting herbal remedies at home, especially if you find blood in your urine.
Cranberry Juice & Extract
Cranberries prevent bacteria from adhering to bladder walls and are the most common treatment for bladder and other urinary tract infections. Cranberry is also a diuretic, helping your body to eliminate more waste. If you choose to drink cranberry juice, ensure that it is unsweetened, as sugar can increase the production of bacteria. There are also over-the-counter concentrated cranberry pills in most supermarkets and drugstores for easy convenience.
Buchu Leaf
Buchu leaf can help relieve the painful urination symptoms that often come with urinary tract infections. The buchu leaf helps soothe the painful urination by reducing inflammation. This takes much of the pressure off your bladder to also help prevent the frequency.
Chinese Herbal Remedies
In Chinese Herbal Medicine, it is believed that there are two different types of urinary tract infections: damp heat pattern and spleen kidney deficiency pattern. Damp heat pattern symptoms are those that you typically see in urinary tract infections, such as frequent, painful urination; cloudy urine; fever; aversion to lower abdomen pressure; etc. The following herbs are recommended: akebia stem (Mu Tong), plantain (Che Qian Zi), knot grass (Bian Xu), and dianthus (Qu Mei); or an herbal mixture called UT clearing (Ba Zheng San). Spleen kidney deficiency is typically a side effect from long term illnesses that deplete the immune system and cause dribbling urination or frequent urination at night. Herbs recommended are: rehmannia (Di Huang), cornus fruit (Shan Zhu Yu), cuscuta seed (Tu Si Zi), and schizandra fruit (Wu Wei Zi).
Herbal Formula for Both Bladder & Kidney
An herbal mixture of uva ursi, mountain mahogany, couchgrass, buchu leaves, juniper berries, prince's pine, shavegrass and celery seeds help cure both the bladder and kidney of infections. Mix the herbs together into either a tea or pill form. Take twice daily until the infection clears.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Urinary Tract Infection: Basics: Causes
- Federal Citizen Information Center: Pueblo, Colorado: Urinary Tract Infections in Adults
- Remedy-bladder-infection: Urinary Bladder Infection: Recommended Dietary Changes
- Dr. Andrew Weil: Urinary Tract Infections
- Dr. Christopher's Herbal Legacy: Kidney Ailments
