Home Remedies for Bladder Infections
Painful urination, frequent trips to the bathroom and a dull ache in the lower abdomen can all mean a bladder infection. This painful condition, which is more common in wo men than men, is caused by bacteria entering the urethra and setting up housekeeping.
There are several home remedies for bladder infections that can work wonders if used during the earliest stages of the infection. There are also a number of things you can do to prevent these sometimes recurring infections. Keep in mind, however, that if the infection and discomfort linger too long, you will need to seek medical treatment and get a prescription for an antibiotic.
Home Remedies for Preventing Bladder Infections
Preventing bladder infections is all about being sensible and letting your body tell you what to do. For instance, the more water you drink, the less likely you will be to suffer from recurring bladder infections. Drinking and eating acidic beverages and foods makes your urine more acidic, which is a hostile environment for most common bacteria.
Drinking cranberry juice every day is a well known preventative home remedy for bladder infections. You can also try drinking lemon juice each day (add a teaspoon of honey for added flavor and antibacterial qualities) or eating a few handfuls of blueberries each morning.
Vegetables that are also effective preventative home remedies for bladder infections include asparagus, spinach and rhubarb. All of these are high in sulfur, which helps combat bacteria and cleanse the infection out of your system.
Home Remedies for Bladder Infections
Sometimes no matter what you do, you will develop a bladder infection. As soon as the tell-tale symptoms show up, start treating the condition. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to treat successfully.
One simple and effective home remedy can be easily worked into your morning routine. Stir two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of honey into a cool glass of water and drink each day before eating.
Another excellent way to reduce bacteria and urge healing is with a combination of one teaspoon olive oil and teaspoon garlic juice (pressed from fresh garlic cloves) mixed into a cup of warm water. Although the taste isn’t great, this is extremely effective in getting rid of bladder infections if you drink this before every meal for a few days.
If you can make a trip to your local herbalist, look for liquid goldenseal extract. You can wash two capfuls of goldenseal down with about a half cup of water, then follow it with 1000 mg. of vitamin C before every meal. You should begin to feel much better with just a few days.
To relieve the abdominal pain that often accompanies a bladder infection, try placing a heating pad over the area, or rub some warm olive oil into the skin of the lower abdominal area. And finally, never try to wait when the urge to urinate hits you. Although you may not enjoy running to the bathroom every fifteen minutes or half-hour, trying to “hold it” can push the bacteria further into your urethra, causing a more severe infection.