1. Cystitis: A Pain in the Where?
People who have cystitis want relief and want it quick. Where to get cystitis relief and what is safe to use are topics of some debate. Medications are available over the counter to help with bladder pain due to infection, but doctors generally don't recommend these specialty drugs because of their possible negative affect on the kidneys and the rest of the urinary tract. If you have symptoms of cystitis, it is best to see your doctor and ask him what he recommends for relief of the pain and burning of a urinary tract infection.
2. Non-invasive Treatment Options
One easy thing to try first for cystitis relief is a heating pad. Place a low-temperature heating pad on your lower abdomen, and you may minimize the pain and pressure you feel in your bladder. Another warming thing to try is a sitz bath. Sit in warm water for about 15 or 20 minutes and you may get some relief. Try adding some baking soda to the water as well. This also has a soothing effect. Fill the tub with about two to three inches of water and put about a half cup of baking soda in. Let it dissolve and climb in.
3. Wet Your Appetite
Stay hydrated; it is one of the single most important things to do to treat cystitis. Keeping your bladder full of high quality water keeps the infection going in the direction it should, out. Be sure to include at least six glasses of water a day, and avoid beverages that are dehydrating, such as coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks with caffeine and citrus juice.
4. Foods Hurt
It may seem unlikely, but certain foods actually make symptoms of cystitis worse. To keep up with your cystitis relief plan, avoid spicy foods, which sometimes irritate your bladder. Consider cutting sugar out of your diet as you heal as well, since an increase in sugar can aggravate the symptoms of cystitis.
5. The Cranberry Connection
Many doctors are now jumping on the food cure bandwagon. While you may not want to drink the sweetened stuff, unsweetened cranberry juice can play an important part in your cystitis relief program. This juice is extremely bitter, but if you can tolerate its taste, you should see some improvement in your symptoms in a day or two. Some see initial improvement in just a couple of hours. If you cannot tolerate the taste of the unsweetened juice, concentrated capsule supplements are available at health food stores. One brand clinically tested for effectiveness is "CranActin," which is available at whole foods retailers.
