 Urinary Tract Infections (UTI's) usually occur when bacteria enter the opening of the urethra and multiply in the urinary tract. Although it is much more common in women, it can occur in men also, and can be quite severe. Conventional treatment is a course of antibiotics, however this approach has some drawbacks. Due to the frequency of antibiotic use for UTI's and other infections, bacteria are developing a resistance to the antibiotics, making them less and less effective. Antibiotics can also affect your immune system, making you more prone to more infections.
How Herbs Help: Drinking herbal teas made from agrimony, birch, buchu, cornsilk and others increase the amount of urine, and help flush out harmful bacteria. Adding a pinch of baking soda to these herbal teas, will help decrease the burning sensation. Soothing demulcents like mallow calm inflammation in the urinary tract.
Agrimony is a very astringent herb, and is useful in UTI, bladder infections, and severe cystitis. 1
Birch leaf tea is a powerful diuretic capable of dissolving kidney and bladder stones. It also kills off harmful bacteria in the kidneys and urinary tract. To obtain the full diuretic effect herbalists add a pinch of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to the infusion which promotes the extraction of the diuretic hyperoside.
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Buchu The diosphenol in buchu helps kill bacteria, and the diuretic action helps to flush out the urinary tract.
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Butterbur has been used as a remedy in fevers, asthma, colds and urinary complaints, a decoction being taken warm in wineglassful doses, frequently repeated.
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Corn silk Extracts of corn silk are potent diuretics, giving rise to their use for all sorts of kidney-related and urinary complaints. The diuretic effect comes in handy for water retention and tissue swelling (whether from PMS or kidney disease), cystitis, urinary tract infections.
3Corn silk makes an excellent soothing diuretic and so is an important herb for urinary tract infections, also helping the passage of urinary stones. 2
Cranberry juice Recently, cranberry products have been used in the hope of preventing or treating urinary tract infections or Helicobacter pylori infections that can lead to stomach ulcers, or to prevent dental plaque. Cranberry has also been reported to have antioxidant and anticancer activity.
Damiana Useful in urinary and vaginal infections, damiana contains a mildly irritating oil that stimulates the urinary tract.
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Dandelion One of the safest and most effective diuretics, it is rich in natural potassium, which enriches the body's supply. The diuretic power of the dandelion has been favorably compared with a common diuretic drug, Frusemide.
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Gravel root This diuretic herb is used to treat urinary infections and stones (gravel).
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Horsetail is a mild diuretic that works it's wonders without depleting electrolytes, so you don't get that "washed out" feeling.
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Juniper berries Due to their oil, juniper berries are a potent diuretic, imparting to the urine a smell of violets. The oil is antiseptic, making the plant valuable in treating cystitis and urethritis.
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Kava-Kava For over 125 years Kava root has been found valuable in the treatment of gonorrhoea both acute and chronic, vaginitis, leucorrhoea, nocturnal incontinence and other aliments of the genitourinary tract. Being a local anaesthetic, it relieves pain and has an aphrodisiac effect, also an antiseptic effect on the urine.
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Mallow The great demulcent and emollient properties of Marsh Mallow make it useful in inflammation and irritation of the urinary and respiratory organs.
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Oregon grape Studies show that the berberine in Oregon grape may kill many types of bacteria, including E.coli, and prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder lining.
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Pine A valuable remedy in bladder, kidney, and rheumatic affections and diseases of the mucous membrane and respiratory complaints; externally in the form of liniment plasters and inhalants.
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Shepherd's Purse Acts as a mild diuretic, providing potassium to replace the potassium lost through increased urination.
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Uva Ursi contain arbutin, which acts against E. coli and increases urination.
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