Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can make life quite painful. Urinating while having a UTI burns and stings, and adding insult to injury, UTIs leave you feeling like you need to urinate more frequently and at times with little to no result. There is no home cure for a UTI: a UTI must be treated with an antibiotic prescribed by a doctor. However, several home remedies can reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Cranberry
The Mayo Clinic states that there is some empirical evidence that using cranberry juice and supplements can work to alleviate symptoms of a UTI. Cranberry juice and supplements make the walls of the bladder and urinary tract "slippery," making it difficult for bacteria that have traveled up the urinary tract to latch on and create an infection. At a bare minimum, cranberry juice increases fluid intake, which can be helpful in reducing the symptoms of a UTI.
Baking Soda
Mix ½ to 1 tsp. of baking soda in 8 oz. of water and drink it. Make this combination more flavorful by adding a bit of apple or cranberry juice. This mixture can help the stinging and burning from the overly acidic urine that is produced when you have a UTI.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C can be used to help prevent and treat the first symptoms of a UTI. Vitamin C is found in fruit juices such as orange juice, grapefruit juice and apple juice. Make sure to read the label of the juice and make sure that it is actual fruit juice and not made from concentrate. In addition to being found in fruits, there are supplements of vitamin C that can be found in any grocery store. Vitamin C prevents bacteria from growing due to the acidic environment that gets created in the bladder.
Warm Compress
Using a warm compress over the bladder is also recommended for treating the symptoms of a UTI. Run a wash cloth under warm to hot water and put it in a zip-top bag. Wrap it in a protective covering like a paper towel to prevent burning your skin. The warm compress can be placed over the lower back to alleviate pain from the kidney area, right next to the spine on either side above the hip bones, or over the bladder, placing the compress directly under the belly button.
What to Avoid
Avoid caffeine, chocolate and cigarettes to decrease UTI symptoms. This is because caffeine can be dehydrating when you are supposed to be hydrating, and cigarettes can lower your immune system when you are fighting a bacterial infection. Spicy foods can also irritate the urinary tract, making urination even more painful.
