Women experiencing their first bladder infection often comment on the suddenness and severity of the symptoms that herald the arrival of this common, painful form of urinary tract infection. In some cases, parsley tea may serve as a supportive therapy in minimizing symptoms and aiding your recovery from a bladder infection, but never attempt to use it as a first-line treatment for this potentially serious health problem. Always talk to your doctor before using a new herb or supplement.
The Facts
Called cystitis in medical circles, a bladder infection is characterized by inflammation and swelling that happens in your bladder, generally because of the presence of bacteria. These infections can be extremely painful and may cause multiple symptoms, including an urgent desire to void, intense irritation and burning while passing urine, which may be smelly or tinted with blood. Bacteria-caused bladder infections usually require antibiotics to get rid of the infection, but certain home remedies such as parsley tea may help lessen the painful symptoms.
Effects
Historically, parsley serves as a commonly used, anti-inflammatory home remedy for bladder infections, according to John Lust, naturopathic doctor and co-author of "The Natural Remedy Bible." Steeped in water to form a tea, parsley acts as a diuretic, which helps get rid of bladder infection-causing microorganisms by promoting increased urine flow. The ability of parsley tea to fight inflammation and flush bacteria from your bladder seems to arise from the herb's high concentration of certain flavonoids and natural chemical compounds, including apiole and myristicin.
Considerations
Check with your primary care physician before drinking parsley tea for a bladder infection, especially if you are pregnant, since certain chemicals present in the plant may induce uterine contractions. Although it may help reduce bladder inflammation from a bladder infection, there is no clinical evidence to suggest that parsley tea effectively treats these potential serious infections, so never attempt to use the tea as your main treatment option. Always seek prompt medical diagnosis as soon as you experience any signs of a bladder infection, since an untreated infection may spread quickly to other parts of your urinary tract, including your kidneys.
Method
Once you've acquired your doctor's approval, brew a cup of parsley tea by combining two bunches of chopped fresh parsley with 3 to 4 cups of water. Boil the shredded parsley-water blend for up to 15 minutes, then remove the parsley pieces from the tea. Drink 1 cup of parsley tea up to two or three times daily. Increase your water intake while drinking the tea, recommends Dr. R.W. Watkins, contributing author for "Integrative Medicine." As a rule, try to drink eight to 12 8-oz. glasses of water each day while you experience symptoms of a bladder infection.
References
- "Natural Choices for Women's Health"; Dr. Laurie Steelsmith, et al.; 2005
- MayoClinic.com: Cystitis Symptoms
- "The Natural Remedy Bible"; John Lust, N.D., et al.; 2003
- "The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines"; Andrea Peirce; 1999
- "Handbook of Medicinal Herbs"; Dr. James Duke; 2002
- "Integrative Medicine"; Dr. R.W. Watkins, et al.; 2007
