*Note: Please see this discussion of what is meant by “herbal-cure.”
Urinary tract infections are of more concern for women than men, but both men and women can benefit from the various herbal cures for UTI.
UTIs develop usually as a result of bacterial infection by one of several different bacteria. These bacteria originate in the colon/rectal area, so good bathroom hygiene is an essential and an obvious preventive measure.
Typically, symptoms can include one or more of the following:
- painful urination or a burning sensation on urination,
- urge to urinate frequently but without passing much urine
- lack of control over urine release
- discomfort in lower torso
- cloudy and/or smelly urine
- pink or red urine (indicative of blood)
- pain in the kidney area at or just below waist on either side of the body
- fever, chills, nausea and vomiting in more severe cases
It’s become well-known that cranberry is a preventive for urinary tract infections, but less well understood that cranberry’s ability to help heal active infections is somewhat limited unless combined with other herbs.
For example, Cranberry Buchu is a great combination — in fact, it’s a specific for uti prevention. Buchu is a diuretic (which in herbspeak means it helps the kidneys process fluid and get excess fluid out of the body), and is also helps decrease water retention due to the bloating of menstruation, and is also used for high blood pressure and congestive heart disease. It’s also an anti-inflammatory that works specifically on the bladder, as well as the colon, gums, and other mucous membranes.
Caution: For other than temporary use, bucchu can decrease potassium, so someone on long-term buchu use should include extra potassium foods in the diet (bananna, for example).
For active infections, Cranberry-Buchu can be used in conjunction with other kidney/urinary tract healing herbs, such as juniper berries, dong quai root, parsley leaves, ginger, marshamallow root, goldenseal root. Nature’s Sunshine makes a wonderful herbal bland which has brought relief to many. It’s called JP-X (think: Juniper, Parsley), or Juniper Berriesl is available separately as well.
Marshmallow is a wonderful, soothing herb for inflamed tissue, especially mucous membranes.
