A urinary tract infection, or UTI, can occur in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra. Symptoms may include burning, pain and a persistent urge to urinate, according to MayoClinic.com. Conventional treatment involves antibiotics, but they can have unpleasant side effects and many bacterial strains are becoming resistant due to the overuse of antibiotic therapy. Herbs may be an effective home treatment for UTIs. It is important to consult a health care professional before starting herbal treatment.
Compound Salvia Plebeia Granules
Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, has historically treated UTIs with complex herbal formulas. One of these, called Compound Salvia Plebeia Granules, or CSPG, contains heat-clearing herbs, such as li zhi cao, or Salvia plebeia, Chinese plantain, or Plantago asiatica, snow rose, or Serissa serissoides, and violet, or Viola philipica. This formula has been successfully used in China for decades, but until recently there have not been any scientific studies to test its efficacy. A study by M. M. Peng, et al, published in the May 2010 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" tested an extract of CSPG for its diuretic, antimicrobial, anti-fever and anti-pain actions. The study found that the extract was an effective diuretic, which is one way to eliminate pathogens from the urinary system. The extract also inhibited Escherichia coli growth, the bacterial strain most responsible for UTIs. The extract alleviated pain, fever and inflammation. The researchers state that the active ingredients in CSPG, which include flavonoid glycosides, ursone, aucuboside, organic acids and phenols, may be responsible for the positive effects. This study supports the traditional use of CSPG for treating UTIs, but more research is needed to identify the actual mechanisms of action.
Cranberry
Cranberry, or Vaccinium macrocarpon, is an evergreen shrub that produces acidic red berries. Traditional healers have used the berries for over a century to treat urinary infections. Cranberries have potent antioxidant action due to organic acids and polyphenols. A report by Rainer Nowack and Wilhelm Schmitt published in the September 2008 issue of "Phytomedicine" found that cranberry works by preventing the adhesion of E. coli to the wall of the bladder. The constituents responsible for the anti-adhesion effect are polyphenols: three proanthocyanidins and one procyanidin. When bacteria are exposed to these constituents, they change their shape and lose their ability to adhere. In another study by D. T. Bailey, et al, published in the April 2007 issue of "Phytomedicine," 12 participants with recurring UTIs took cranberry extract capsules for 12 weeks and had no UTI during that time. Researchers followed the participants for two years and found that eight participants had no recurrence of UTI during that period. Cranberry may help heal and prevent UTIs, but more research is needed to support these findings.
Bearberry
Bearberry, or Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, is an evergreen shrub with small rounded leaves and red berries. Herbalists consider it to be a urinary antiseptic, and traditional healers use the leaves to treat inflammatory infections of the urinary system. Bearberry contains tannins, flavones and a chemical called arbutin, which is metabolized to hydroquinone and has antibacterial action in the mucus membranes of the urinary tract. The leaves also contain a polyphenol called corilagin, which may enhance the effects of certain antibiotics against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus when used together with them. In his 2003 book, "Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine," herbalist David Hoffmann cites bearberry as a specific herb for acute urinary tract infections, as well as a useful component in the holistic treatment for chronic kidney disorder. Phyllis and Dr. James Balch recommend bearberry in small amounts, and diluted with other herbs, as a diuretic and antiseptic tea for bladder infection. Research is needed to support the traditional use of bearberry for UTIs.
References
- Mayo Clinic
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; The pharmacological activities of Compound Salvia Plebeia Granules on treating urinary tract infection; Peng MM, Fang Y, Hu W, Huang Q; May 2010
- "Phytomedicine"; Cranberry juice for prophylaxis of urinary tract infections--conclusions from clinical experience and research; Rainer Nowack and Wilhelm Schmitt; September 2008
- "Phytomedicine"; Can a concentrated cranberry extract prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in women? A pilot study; Bailey DT, Dalton C, Joseph Daugherty F, Tempesta MS; April 2007
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, and James Balch, M.D.; 2000
