At Home Remedies for an UTI

Overview

A urinary tract infection, also referred to as a UTI or bladder infection, can occur anywhere along the urinary tract and affect the kidneys, bladder, ureters and urethra. The ureters are tubes where urine flows from the kidney to the bladder and the urethra is the tube emptying the urine from the bladder to outside the body. Women, older adults and people diagnosed with diabetes have a tendency to develop UTIs more than others. Symptoms of a UTI include cloudy urine, pain when urinating and soreness in the lower pelvis. A variety of home remedies may treat UTIs using common household items, or items that are easily purchased at the grocery store.

Step 1

Add a 1/2 tsp. baking soda to an 8 oz. glass of water. Stir well. Drink throughout the day. The baking soda will neutralize the acidic content of urine, easing pain when urinating.

Step 2

Drink cranberry juice or eat plenty of blueberries if experiencing a UTI. Both berries come from the same family of plants---the berries include properties that stop the growth of bacteria. Dilute the cranberry juice if symptoms do not decrease. For some people experiencing a UTI, cranberry juice can be too strong for the urinary tract, making symptoms worse.

Step 3

Hydrate the body and flush out toxins by drinking water. Drink one glass of water an hour, at least. Drink until odor has disappeared from your urine and the urine is light yellow or clear in color. Continue to hydrate several days after UTI symptoms have disappeared to prevent bacteria from returning.

Step 4

Avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee and soda. These drinks are diuretics and often irritate the urinary tract. Tomatoes, citrus, chocolate and aged cheese may also increase urinary tract sensitivity.

Step 5

Apply a warm heating pad to any sore areas. The heat will ease pain commonly found in the lower abdominal area.