12 Natural Home Remedies For UTI Pain & Discomfort

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UTI – urinary tract infection – is a painful infection that commonly manifests with the urge to void frequently and with an intense burning sensation when urinating. This occurs more often in women but can also affect men as well. Let’s take a look a 10 simple home remedies you can try to eliminate the discomfort of UTI.

1. Stay Hydrated

Adequate fluid intake is vital at all times, but even more so during UTI. Plentiful water will help flush out the bacteria and other toxins from the urinary system.

2. Void Frequently

Don’t hold your urine longer than absolutely necessary. Most doctors define normal frequent voiding as every 2 to 3 hours. Keeping your bladder empty prevents UTI in two different ways. First, holding in your pee creates an environment more susceptible to bacterial growth. Secondly, distending your bladder causes pressure on the blood vessels surrounding, therefore, decreasing your bladder blood supply. This may cause a decrease in your natural defenses against UTI.

3. Add Baking Soda To Your Drinks

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a traditional treatment for hyperacidity and gastric reflux. Although its effect on UTI is still a controversial topic, ^[1] with some scientists arguing that acidic urine is better at preventing UTI than the alkaline one that baking soda produces, many people swear by it as a home remedy. It’s long been established by science that baking soda can actually make your urine less acidic, ^[2] lessening the pain you feel when urinating. However note that it does not eliminate the infection itself, it just dulls down the symptoms. If you want to lessen the pain when peeing you can add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to a full glass of water and drink it once every morning. Just a word of caution though, baking soda contains a lot of sodium so those with hypertension should steer away or risk suffering from increased blood pressure.

4. Drink A Glass Of Water With Cream Of Tartar

Cream of Tartar is often used in baking but it can double as a pH adjuster for your urine. Much like baking soda, cream of tartar alkalinizes your pee making voiding less painful. Just add 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar to one glass of water and drink it one to two times a day.

5. Add Parsley And Celery To Your Drinks And Meals

Both plants come from the same botanical family and share the same diuretic effect on the body. ^[3] You can steep a handful of parsley or celery in hot water and drink it as a tea once a day. This will make you pee more and helps you flush out the bacteria out of your system.

6. Avoid Coffee, Tea, Sodas, And Alcohol

These beverages are classified as urinary tract irritants which aggravate inflammation making the infection a lot more painful.

7. Drink Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice is widely regarded as a classic weapon against UTI. Scientific evidence has shown that cranberry juice, although it makes the urine acidic, can actually prevent bacteria from adhering to your urinary tract. ^[4] Don’t drink too much in one go since cranberry juice is very sharp and there are a lot of reports that it can cause an upset stomach when taken in excess.

8. Eat A Cup Of Blueberries

Blueberries and cranberries are like the UTI-fighting cousins of the world of fruits. Both are packed with rich antioxidants and substances called Proanthocyanidins that virtually stop bacteria from clinging to your bladder. Try to add blueberries to your meals or enjoy them as part of an indulgent fruit smoothie.

9. Drink Acidophilus Milk

A popular health store food, acidophilus milk is a beverage that contains a probiotic known for its bacterial fighting activity. Its effect on UTI is so remarkable that studies have even shown it can stand toe to toe with traditional antibiotics. ^[5] As an added bonus; it can also help normalize bowel movement and prevent vaginal infections. Drinking a glass every day may be a healthy way of fending off recurrent UTI.

10. Spice Up Your Food With Horseradish

Horseradish is a known for its strong pungent flavor and its strength translates well when it comes to fighting UTI. It is rich in a sulfur compound called Isothiocyanate that exerts both antimicrobial and antispasmodic effect. ^[6] This one-two punch is reported to bacteria and relieve the ache that comes with UTI.

11. Sip Some Ginger Tea

Ginger is a potent anti-inflammatory, making it an ideal tea to drink whenever there is inflammation present. It is also proven to have strong antibacterial effects – especially to E.coli, one of the bacteria that can cause UTI. ^[7]

12. Apply A Warm Compress To Your Lower Abdomen

Applying local heat to inflamed areas can increase blood flow and alleviate pain. To apply a warm compress, fill a hot water bottle with warm water till it’s two thirds full. Cover the body of the bottle with a towel and place it on top of your bladder. Let it sit there for 30 minutes or until the symptoms have improved.