UTIs can be caused by poor hygiene, impaired immune function, the overuse of antibiotics, the use of spermicides, and sexual intercourse. The most common cause, accounting for about 90 percent of all cases, is the transfer of Escherichia coli bacteria from the intestinal tract to the urinary tract.
For those of you who have experienced a UTI, there isn’t much you wouldn’t do to avoid another one. While I personally have never had a UTI, my patients have told me how symptoms like pain, burning, nausea, and even bloody urine can be debilitating, and for those who get chronic UTIs, the fear of infection can be enough to prevent engagement in any activities that could trigger one. For people who get them frequently, sometimes a specific cause cannot even be pinpointed. This can be frustrating and scary.
Fortunately, there are a few methods of natural UTI treatment and prevention that have worked extremely well for my patients, to the point where they no longer worry about getting a UTI.
These treatments don’t require a prescription, are inexpensive, and are completely drug-free. While your doctor may not know about them, I hope this article will help you completely avoid UTIs—or at least significantly reduce their frequency and severity. I recommend working with a Functional Medicine practitioner who is focused on treating the root cause of your UTIs.
UTIs can be debilitating, but it is possible to get relief without requiring a prescription. Check out this article for five ways to cure UTIs without antibiotics. #functionalmedicine #wellness #chriskresser
What Is the Standard Treatment for a UTI?
Doctors typically use antibiotics to treat UTIs, and the type and duration depend on your health condition and the type of bacterium found in your urine. (2) Commonly prescribed antibiotics are:
- Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
- Amoxicillin
- Ampicillin
- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
These antibiotics are often unnecessary and may cause more problems in the future by destroying the beneficial bacteria that prevent pathogenic bacteria from growing. Long-term use of antibiotics can also lead to antibiotic resistance in strains of bacteria like E. coli in the gut, and a UTI caused by these bacteria will be even more challenging to eliminate and can cause more serious issues like a kidney or bladder infection.
Furthermore, antibiotics do very little to prevent the infection from happening in the first place. So, while drugs may be an easy fix for the short term, in the long run, you will continue to be susceptible to UTIs, and these infections may be worse than if you had never taken a course of antibiotics in the first place!
Curing and Preventing UTIs Naturally: D-Mannose
Treating UTIs with D-Mannose
D-mannose is by far the most effective supplement for both treatment and prevention of UTIs. Similar to glucose in structure, D-mannose is a naturally occurring sugar that is found in a number of fruits, including apples, blueberries, and cranberries. (3) This sugar is the reason that cranberry juice has been commonly recommended as a UTI treatment, though it is far easier to get the recommended dosage from a supplement. D-mannose is effective because it attaches to E. coli bacteria, causing them to stick to each other and preventing them from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. (4) The bacteria can then easily be eliminated from the body during urination.
D-mannose, even in large quantities, does not cause any adverse effects, and cannot be metabolized the way other sugars can, meaning this supplement is safe for people with diabetes and others who are avoiding sugar for any reason. This treatment is also safe for children and the elderly.
Symptom relief can be seen as quickly as the following day, and most symptoms of UTI are generally resolved after 48 hours of treatment. Additionally, taking D-mannose during a time where you feel you are most prone to UTIs, such as before intercourse or during prolonged antibiotic treatment, can help prevent a UTI from ever developing in the first place. This is especially helpful for those who are prone to chronic UTIs and want to be able to engage in normal life activities without fear of infection.
The typical dose of D-mannose for UTI treatment is 500 mg, in capsule or powder form, taken with or in a glass of water or juice every two to three hours for five days. It is a good practice to continue taking the supplement even after symptoms have diminished to ensure complete elimination of the bacteria in the urinary tract. This dose can also be taken as a preventive, or prophylactic, method.
While there has not been any peer-reviewed research to support the effectiveness of D-mannose in treating or preventing UTIs, clinical and anecdotal experience suggests it is highly effective for the majority of infections, both acute and chronic. Some of my patients who have used D-mannose as a UTI treatment method have even described its effects as “miraculous”—so it’s definitely worth a shot!
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Four Alternative Treatments for Chronic UTIs
One caveat with D-mannose is that it is only effective with UTIs caused by E. coli infection. While this accounts for about 90 percent of cases, 10 percent will not benefit from this treatment. In this case, supplements that help disrupt biofilms can be useful in treating and preventing UTIs.
Biofilms are an accumulation of microorganisms and their extracellular products forming structured communities attached to a surface such as the lining of the urogenital tract. (5) The development of a biofilm can make infections extremely hard to treat, since they commonly return shortly after treatment is stopped.
The antibacterial resistance of pathogenic biofilms is one of the major reasons why those who get a UTI are highly susceptible to getting more in the future—if the biofilm is not completely eliminated, the infection will eventually return at some point.
1. InterFase Plus and Biofilm Defense
This is why the use of biofilm disruptors can be helpful for preventing the recurrence of chronic UTIs. The biofilm disruptors that I recommend to my patients are InterFase Plus from Klaire Labs or Biofilm Defense from Kirkman. These contain specialized enzymes to disrupt the biofilm matrix embedding potential of pathogens, and dissolve the sugar and fibrin components of most pathogenic biofilms. By destroying the biofilms, the recurrence of UTIs despite proper hygiene can be reduced. (6)
2. Lauricidin
Lauricidin is another supplement that may help in treating UTIs, particularly those that are caused by types of bacteria other than E. coli. Lauricidin (a proprietary form of monolaurin) has antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial activity, and is specific against pathogenic bacteria so it won’t disrupt beneficial bacteria in the gut. It is highly effective at combating gram-positive bacteria in the families of: (7)
- Streptococcus
- Staphylococcus
- Corynebacterium
- Listeria
- Bacillus
- Clostridium
It works by disturbing the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane, blocking replication and making it easier for the immune system to destroy the pathogen. Lauricidin is only helpful, however, for UTIs not caused by E. coli, which is gram-negative and has a different kind of outer cell membrane than gram-positive bacteria.
3. Nattokinase
Nattokinase is another enzyme that has been shown to dissolve biofilms. (8) Produced by the bacteria found in the fermented food natto, this enzyme is proteolytic and can help break down the fibrin proteins that maintain the structure of biofilms.
Because of its fibrin-breaking ability, it’s important that nattokinase supplements are not taken by people with bleeding disorders, or by people who are taking Coumadin (warfarin), aspirin, or any other drug that influences blood clotting, unless supervised by a physician.
4. Apolactoferrin
Apolactoferrin (or lactoferrin) is one more supplement that I recommend to my patients with recurrent UTIs. This multifunctional protein lactoferrin is a component of the immune system with antimicrobial activity, and is part of the innate defense, found mainly in secretions and mucosal surfaces. (9)
Lactoferrin has been shown to block pathogenic biofilm development by binding to iron and causing the bacteria to “wander” across surfaces instead of forming cell clusters and biofilms. (10, 11) One study found that the amount of E. coli bacteria in the kidneys and bladder of mice was significantly reduced 24 hours after oral lactoferrin treatment, compared to a control group. (12) More research is necessary to demonstrate the effectiveness of lactoferrin in treating UTIs, but I believe it is worth trying, especially if dealing with chronic UTIs.
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My Mom, 92 years young, suffers from recurring UTI’s. She takes antibiotic 7-10 days, sometimes it works, other times like now, it doesn’t. Today she is seeing Doctor for 3rd time in a month! I will call Doctor to find out what is causing them, in the meantime, I read your article that is dated 2012, is there any update on this material?
Appreciate a response.
My 92 year old Mom has difficulty swallowing and gets acid reflux with spicy foods, would cayenne pepper capsules work as well as putting the powder in water?
I’m 29 years old, and have been suffering from frequent UTI’s for the past year and I am convinced it stems from being on antibiotics for roughly 4 years to treat my adult acne. I’m also much more gassy than I used to be. I found this blog post a couple weeks ago and decided to give D-mannose, and cranberry supplements a shot. It worked at first, I took it a few days in a row, and then again before having sex. My UTI, which wasn’t severe, seemed to go away. But now I’ve contracted another UTI yesterday (again not *very severe but somewhat painful, frequent urinating), and the D-mannose doesn’t seem to be helping! I’ve taken some Azo because I have finals this week, I’m desperate, and I just need to get through this week, but I was wondering if anyone has tried Dr. Kesser’s other suggestion, the biofilm blockers??
Your problem is more than just a UTI; it’s yeast.
Take caprylic acid capsules; two a day for two days, three a day for three days, four a day for four days, and then three a day till the bottle’s gone.
Take 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper twice a day for the UTI at the same time.
You’ll be problem-free in no time.
Good luck!
Hi Bekah,
thanks for being so helpful to everyone on the site. Is there an email address I could reach you at? I would love to pick your brain about something related that I’m stomped on 🙂
I have a secondary account I can share..
[email protected]
I’m, sadly, also a wealth of info on skin conditions thanks to being allergic to detergents and getting infections in the dermatitis since I was a child.
In case anyone’s interested…coconut oil is a freakin’ miracle.
Hi Bekha,
My 23 year old daughter developed a horrible infection around her hairline, from ear to ear. Almost like a headband. The diagnosis was cellulites. They gave her antibiotics and and steroid topical cream but now her hair is having difficulty growing in the area that was affected. Any suggestions? Also, what can we do about eczema on her hands? Thank you so much!
Whoa, cellulitis?! Poor thing!
Okay, first of all you want to look carefully at what soaps and shampoo she uses. What happened with me originally was I was allergic to the shampoo I was using (Style) and also allergic to the hand and dish soap my parents had. (I was 12 when it started) The contact dermatitis those products gave me would then become infected with whatever was floating in the air, or sitting on something I touched. Washing my hands only further irritated it, because I had the dermatitis all along, until I figured out what was going on with the soaps.
Switch to Dove or Ivory *everything*. Be careful about ‘natural’ soaps from health food stores, because the potent plant oils they frequently use can be too strong and irritate the affected skin further.
For the hair problem, get a 30 ml bottle of Plant Therapy cinnamon oil; you can find it on Amazon for about $8.50.
Every time she washes her hair, tell her to put a dollop of shampoo in her hand, and mix no more than 2-3 drops of the cinnamon oil into the shampoo before applying. Rub it in thoroughly and let it sit for a few minutes, unless it stings too much. It should tingle strongly. (Too much will hurt temporarily)
Cinnamon is a rubefacient; it brings blood to be surface, and that increased blood flow stimulates the hair follicles and re-grows hair. I found that out by accident while using cinnamon oil for a healthy scalp. After about ten days, I noticed that almost NO hair came out when I brushed and washed my hair. I just turned 35, and my hair is once again as thick as it was in my teens thanks to that. (Hubby and I have 5 kids; my hair thinned a lot after pregnancies)
For her hands, she should try rubbing coconut oil into them three times a day. She should see improvement in a few days.
Also, a moisturizer called ‘Renew’ from a company called Melaleuca is excellent for eczema and psoriasis. It’s one of those membership places, but if you know someone who’s a member, ask them to get you some, if the coconut oil is ineffective.
I wish her the best, and hope this helps!
Thank you so much Bekah!!! I will keep you posted. Happy New Year! ?
I too have 5 kids and my hair has gotten so thin! Thankful to have read this as well as your other comments. Off to buy cayenne!
Let me know how it works for you! I hope the cayenne is as efficacious for you as it was for me.
My hair went from almost *too* thick before I started having children to thin after the fifth, so I was really thrilled with the effect of cinnamon! I had no idea at the time that it would do that, but after I noticed the effect I realized that it made total sense, with the increased blood flow to the scalp from the cinnamon. I googled it and saw that other people knew about it, but none of them suggested what I did, which was mix the oil into my shampoo right before using. They were making honey masks with cinnamon and dabbing spirits of cinnamon around their hairlines.
Mixing the oil right into shampoo makes a lot more sense; it’s quick and gets right to the scalp. Be careful not to use too much at a time or it will hurt. It’ll turn your skin (temporarily) red wherever the lather sits. I lather my scalp thoroughly, apply conditioner to the ends of my hair, and leave it all while I do everything else, rinsing at the end. You’ll be left with a fresh, tingly scalp.
You are suggesting mixing cinomen oil with the shampoo for thin hair
Yes, cinnamon essential oil into shampoo but not more than 2-3 drops each time you wash your hair. Put a dollop of shampoo in your hand, mix 2-3 drops in, and lather away.
Do NOT use more than 3 drops, or it will tingle to the point of being painful.
I have kelipsellia
I have tried biofilm defence and natokonaise and didnt work for
I dont know if it will for you
Did antibiotics work to get rid of it? I just finished macrobid.
After three days from finishing the antibiotics it comes again
I would advice you to start cayane peper and venigar and any natural remedies to prevent it from comming back
I have started venigar with oils, i will tell you what will happen
But keep natural remedies
Still you have a chance of not getting it back again
In Shaa Allah
I’ve had uti and bladder infections for a couple years. Last year had citrobactyr bracchi rare infection they couldn’t imagine how I got it. Just found this site. Will try ceyenne now! Took my last Cipro of the current round this morning! Already burning and hurting! Driving me crazy. On the citrobactyr bracchi was antibiotic resistant. Hope this helps!
Hey, I hope things have improved for you!
I am in my late seventies and have suffered Utis since I was a teenager. The latest bout was barely affected by the antibiotics I took Macrodontin pills for 10 days and three days after I finished the UTI (ecoli) returned. My question is this: I have atrial fibrillation for which I take warfarin (Comadin) and I’m advised to avoid Vit K and cranberry juice or tablets. Is there a safe solution?
Try taking d manose. 3 pills every couple hours. Also try taking Oil of oregano. Oil of oregano is anti bacterial and helps treat uti if you take 6 pills every four to six hours.
I would like to try the cayenne pepper, but I may have a gallbladder problem. Could I still try it? I was diagnosed with my first uti, but i do not want to take antibiocs. Please help. 🙁
I’m going into my 4th year of somewhat severe interstitial cystitis. I’ve researched natural cures and have had some luck, as it is definitely better but by no means completely healed.. Any new ideas on how to heal or rebuild my bladder lining? It’s been a really tough several years thus affecting many of my relationships not only with my husband but family and friends as well. It’s hard to be with people when you feel bad. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated and tried. Thank you.
Oh my gosh u poor thing. I take it uve tried d-mannose for helping heal you? Im pretty sure i have IC but undiagnosed still.
I have IC too and have found omega 7 to have given me great relief. Might be worth a try. Good luck with your health.
Is the D-Mannose powder safe for a 7 year old?
It’s just a simple sugar, so yes. It’s safe. No worries.
I took D- mannose in powder form from the brand Kal.
Totally irritated my bladder and urinary tract.im wondering if I took to much?
Be careful if you are sensitive to products. I’m suffering right now with this it totally Sucks.Cant even press on my bladder. Have to pee constantly.
1/2 tsp of baking soda mixed into 8 oz. of water will start giving you relief in half an hour. Drink a glass every hour all day and you’ll be symptom-free by nightfall.
At nightfall, take 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper with a glass of water. Take another 1/4 tsp before going to bed. You should go to sleep and wake up pain-free.
Good luck!
I tried the cayenne pepper this morning, the burning when I urinate is unbelieveable. I feel like I made my uti worse. Is this a normal reaction to the pepper?
The first time you take cayenne, you can *feel* it working. Right after I took it for the first time, I thought I’d made it worse.
BUT..that was 11 am, and by nightfall my urine was clear and painless. I took another dose before bed and woke up to clear and painless urine and full flow, not the painful trickle I was used to.
Stir 1/2 tsp of baking soda into 8 oz. of water and drink it all down, and repeat every 45 minutes till the pain is entirely gone.
It won’t interfere with the action of the cayenne, but it’ll decrease the pain while the cayenne kills the e. Coli off.
To give you hope..I’d suffered for almost 5 years with a UTI that antibiotics didn’t kill, and cayenne did what nothing else did.
Hi. i am 41 year old. I have repeated UTI for the last two years. Antibiotics is not helping. After 2-3 days bacteria comes back. By the way, i have urethral stricture (bulvua), and i have dilatation and urethrotomy few times when I was 19-2o. Stricture narrowed again last 2009, i went to ask my urologist to do plasty but he only did uretrotomy. Again i had another urethritomy last 2012 with another doctor. 2014 i have repeated UTI, eventho doctor said my flow is OK (peak 17ml/sec), he advised me to get plasty done by experienced urologist. April 2015 instead of doing plasty again doctor did urethrotomy :(. Doctor said stricture not that bad it is thin and easily can be treated with dilation/urethrotomy. I have another one last month:( but after that UTI still comes back. Doctor told me to insert catheter (insert and take out) 3x a week. Actually I can easily do it with size 16 tube. I urinate before doing it, and upon putting the tube I measure the remaining and mot of the time it is 50ml or less. I have been doing it for two weeks now but UTI always comes back. I am tired of taking antibiotics so I am looking for alternatives. BTW i do not have the burning pain anymore like when i was young. When UTI strikes me I feel week and i have fever.
That’s terrible; you poor thing!
I would take 1/2 tsp of baking soda in 8 oz. of water once an hour all day long, and then take 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper an hour before dinner. Keep drinking the baking soda water and take another 1/8 tsp of cayenne four hours after the first.
Keep drinking the baking soda water till you go to bed, then when you wake up in the night to pee, take another 1/8 tsp of cayenne and a glass of baking soda water. Do the same the next day, with cayenne every 4 hours and that baking soda water.
I’m suggesting a lower dose and baking soda water because I’m concerned you have an irritated urethra, and you want to kill that infection without irritating it further. The baking soda will soothe and keep it soothed, and discourage the bacteria while the cayenne is killing it.
Thanks a lot. I just bought cayenne pepper. I poured and wrapped it with a thinned sliced bread, forming it to a small capsule like shape. I take it like a pill with water 🙂 I do not want to irritate my throat. With high hopes…..
The bread made it so much easier for me to take. Good advice. 🙂
May it do for you what it did for me!
Keep baking soda water on hand. If you experience burning, drink a lot of it and it’ll give you relief in half an hour.
Mild burning may happen the first time you take cayenne, but in my experience that was the infection being killed off. That was the last burning I felt, after nearly five years of dealing with it.
Totally worth it.
Background: I have suffered from frequent UTIs since I was 16. I am 33. I had several years of mostly relief (only got 1 or 2 a year during the relief period) after I stopped drinking Mountain Dew and also after I stopped completely shaving my privates area. Then in October I had surgery to add support to bladder, support to urethra, posterior and anterior repair from stress incontinence issues (i’ve had 4 children: 8# was the smallest and they were all natural).
Since then I’m on my 3rd uti. I don’t think it’s because of the surgery, but they had to shave me, and I’m not joking that I get them from that…it’s the only constant I can find. Well that and my periods seem to cause them often too.
I had insurance and got antibiotics for the first one. Took them it went away. Then a couple weeks later it was back with avengence and my period a couple days later. By then I didn’t have insurance as my husband changed jobs so we’re waiting for him to be eligible. I had some antibiotic that was left from my husband (different reason, same type of antibiotic). So I took them and some AZO. Now 4 weeks later, here we are again. I have my period and a UTI. No insurance until Jan 31st, no more antibiotics in the house. I have taken AZO because I have 4 kids and I cannot function without it. It’s ridiculous. What will taking the cayenne do to me as far as pain? Can I take it with the AZO in my system? Please tell me the exact process for getting it in my system–like take baking soda water with it or not? So tired of this stuff. I don’t even want to have sex because I’m afraid of UTIs again.
Wow. I really feel for you.
I would go ahead and take 1/8 tsp of cayenne. I took twice that the first time I took it and experienced a mild burning for about an hour, starting about 40 minutes after I took it. Now, don’t freak out about it, because I promise it was NOWHERE near as painful as the burning I’ve experienced many times just from the UTI. It was a strong, warm tingling, but not the kind of searing pain a UTI will give you. I wouldn’t worry at all about any pain from cayenne, because that’s the little *{%{^]*%]s that have been tormenting you being killed off. You can take 1/2 tsp of baking soda in 8 oz of water at the same time to quell any burning, and just power through.
The warm tingling I felt after taking it the first time was the only time I really noticed it. After that, I could barely feel any effects from it at all…other than the fact that my urine was clear and painless and I had a full, easy flow! Even first thing in the morning, when there has always been some cloudiness, constriction, and pressure.
I strongly encourage you to try it; it’s the only thing that worked for me after years of trying everything under the sun.
All the best, and please let me know how you’re doing! I’m rooting for you.
I forgot to say..it only felt like that the first time I took it. After that, I never had pain again. It’s been almost a month now, and I’m cured.
Finally. After trying every other natural cure I’d heard of or read about, antibiotics..it never entirely went away. And I had a bottle of cayenne pepper sitting in the spice cabinet the entire time. *sigh*
March 2011- November 2015
Bekah. Reading some of your posts. I never had a problem with UTI until had colonoscopy/hemorrhoidectomy. I think they used unsterile instrument due to the fact I got an e coli UTI and have battled it for the last 4 yrs. Fed up with antibiotics “working” until the next week in pain again. Dr said it probably would never go away. One urologist wanted me to do a 3 day routine Macrobid (since no other antibiotic is sensitive now) everytime I felt it coming on. I also did 3 month round. Needless to say I was antibiotics all the time. Decided to go “alternative” and try D Mannose. Just started about 5 days ago before month of antibiotic over. Do you stay on D Mannose all the time? What is your regime? Thank you!
I have no routine anymore, because the cayenne pepper entirely killed off my (almost) 5 year old infection.
D-Mannose worked great while I took it, but it never did me of the infection. Take 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper every four hours all day long for a week, and that should cure you once and for all.
Drink lots of water, add 1/2 tsp. baking soda per 8 oz. if you have a burning sensation. The cayenne should have you symptom-free in about 24 hours; keep taking it for a week just to be sure.
Thanks! I’ll give it a try and hope it works for me too!
Hi, I’ve just been told I have an ecoli UTI by my midwife. I have been told to go to the surgery and pick up my course of anti-biotics. I am very confused in what to do as I’ve been working on restoring my gut for some years. I’m currently 4 weeks into a 12 week symprove probiotics course to address dysbiosis. I have used protocols to address SIBO in the past and have taken natural anti-microbials, biofilm defence and digestive enzymes.
I am 11 weeks pregnant and the last thing I want to do is put my baby at risk. I have just ordered some D-mannose and wanted to give that a try first. Of course the GP has advised against it. I’ve picked up the anti-biotics and am prepared to take them if the infection is still present following taking the D-mannose. I don’t have ‘typical’ UTI symptoms however it’s difficult to know whether the nausea, dizziness and fatigue are pregnancy or UIT symptoms? I’m also concerned to how long this I’ve had this infection and whether it’s effecting the kidneys? Any advice welcome 🙂
D-mannose is a simple sugar; you can take that with no worries whatsoever. If that clears it up for you, then I would recommend getting another jar and taking one dose a day as a maintenance routine during pregnancy, when you’re at a higher risk of UTI’s.
If it does NOT fully clear it up and symptoms return when you’re finished with the jar, simply take 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper with a glass of water once in the morning and once in the evening, and that will completely kill the UTI.
One day will do it, even for a stubborn infection.
Good luck, and congratulations on your pregnancy!
Thank you, that’s a great help 🙂
Anne,
I am in your same, I mean identical position. My midwife strongly urged me to take the antibiotic because I’m pregnant. She said if I was not she would support me doing this more naturally but as pregnant women infection spreads quickly. I’m a health coach and haven’t taken antibiotics in close to 8 years. I’ve had pain for quite some time but I thought it was due to my digestive tract being upset since I was constipated for several weeks due to hormones. So I too am not sure how long I’ve had this issue. Please let me know what you wind up doing or did.
Hi Marie,
Due to the worry and stress of not knowing what to do and pressure from the GP/midwives I decided to take the antibiotics. I’m on my last day of the course today. I’ve continued with my symprove probiotics but have taken them apart (antibiotics in day and probiotics at night). I will continue my course of probiotics to try and rectify some of the damage as well as adopting a stricter paleo diet with prebiotic foods and bone broths etc. I also bought some d-mannose which I’ll continue to take at a maintenance dose.
It’s a real tricky situation to be in as it’s not just you to think about however the whole thing took me by surprise so now I’ve had time to research and look into it I’ve made a promise to myself that I’m not taking any more antibiotics during pregnancy. Unless it’s life or death. Now I know UTI’s are higher risk I’m just going to go harder on preventative measures. I hope this is useful, good luck with what you choose to do.
Can anyone speak to irritation after taking D Mannose? I have a history of frequent utis and have taken a low dose antibiotic after sex for years. I have ulcerative colitis, however, and am now having food intolerance issues that suggest a leaky gut, so I’ve been avoiding the antibiotics at all costs. After reading this article, I used the D Mannose linked to here to cure a uti and was beyond thrilled, but I then began experiencing urinary frequency issues that lasted several weeks. My cultures were normal…I can only think to blame to D Mannose? I don’t want to give up my miracle cure for carefree sex with my loving husband! Help!
I use only D-mannose for infrequent UTIs and you’re right it’s a miracle. I wouldn’t worry about the urgency feeling after the treatment with D-mannose because the urethra was irritated and inflamed by the bacteria for several days. When the bacteria clears out the urethra still needs some time to calm down and soothe. Just keep up the good hygiene and it will subside in 2 – 3 weeks. I have exact same feeling but it’s just due to the general irritation of the urethra. Also, I usually continue taking D-mannose for a full week when I have existing UTI, not just 2-3 days as indicated in the article and then as a prophylactic (2-3 capsules once) after the periods and intercourses.
YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!!! D-mannose powder really works! I got it in a mixture called UT Vibrance, which has mostly D-mannose with cranberries, blueberries, dandelion, uva ursi, and parsley. Yesterday I was had the constant urge to go and the pain was unbearable. I went to CVS to get AZO for the pain, which helped temporarily (very well, I might add). After work, I went straight to Sprouts to get D-mannose. I had two doses, 1 at 6:30pm and another at 9:30pm mixed in with 100% cranberry juice and water. I drank another full glass of water after each one. And to my surprise, it’s working. I feel so much better this morning and no need for AZO. I was worried the UTI was to severe (as I had some very mild back pain), but it’s working. I am very relieved I do not need to spend the money to see a doctor and stress about how antibiotics will affect me. THANK YOU!!!!
I was fine all day at work, almost home… Had sharp pelvic pain and overwhelming urge to pee. Came home, it burned and I could literally see the blood. Right away, I knew what it was. Not being handle pain, went to urgent care… Who admitted me to the hospital. Apparently, Ihad a kidney stone which caused my UTI. After IV fluids; antibiotics and toradol and no sleep. I started feel relief after being there 12 hours. Came home burning was gone and just felt fatigue more than anything. Well.. Went back urgent care after returning flank pain. They put me on Cipro and I don’t like how it makes me feel. Also, I still haven’t passed the stone. I’ve been on cranberry juice, water and sprite(cuz of nausea) I don’t want take the antibiotic anymore…but it seems like I don’t know what else do. Currently I just feel fatigued. The antibiotics give me horrible heartburn and my body aches… Open to suggestions … thanks!
You can order from Biovea on line
I am also in Perth
I just bought the D-Mannose capsules for my bladder infection. The strength is 1000 mg. and others say to use 500 mg. twice daily. Should I take this strength twice a day or split the capsules so I get 500 mg.? This article was very enlightening.
I feel hopeful that this treatment will work!
Where can I get d mannose? I’m in Perth Australia
If you need, …and you dont find any in Australia, I can ship to you from my ebay account 🙂 let me know
Please contact Waterfall D-Mannose (http://www.waterfall-d-mannose.com/. They ship.
An excellent web site with lots of good advice.
Good luck!!
When I get a UTI I take sodium citrate stirred into a glass of water for two days, three times per day. It completely relieves the discomfort while I try to fight off the infection with other remedies. It’s a miracle. You can buy it in the drug store for $20 for a two day course, but I ordered it in bulk online from the gourmet food website for $8 for a large container. Apparently it’s used in cocktails. It’s very similar to baking soda. Tastes like salt.
I have been struggling with recurrent UTIs for almost 3 years. I had this in my 20s for a couple of years, and cranberry pills stopped the cycle back then. Now that I’m in my late 40s, cranberry isn’t enough. I’m taking Vitamin C, cranberry and D-Mannose at the recommendation of the urologist. Still this is not enough. I have started taking vaginal estrogen even tho I am not menopausal. There is some evidence that this can help with UTI. So far it has not helped. I am going to see an endocrinologist next, as I believe the underlying cause may be adrenal fatigue which has affected my hormonal balance and possibly thyroid function. Good luck to you all. I hope you find good health.
Hey, I don’t know if perhaps you’ve already resolved this, but I wanted to share that the only thing that destroyed a chronic UTI I had (my one and only case proved nearly impossible to eradicate, even with antibiotics) was cayenne pepper.
It wiped every trace of it out within 24 hours, to the point of waking up after 8 hrs of sleep to crystal-clear urine. Even with antibiotics, there would be a trace of cloudiness after a full night’s uninterrupted sleep.
I take a 1/4 tsp every 4 hours with a glass of water. That’s it.
Years of constant UTI management, with no actual cure, and I got normal bladder function back (I’d almost forgotten what a pain and pressure-free bladder felt like) after taking about a teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Good luck, and God bless.
I’m confused on the dose of cayenne pepper.. u said 1/4 tsp once in morning once in evening.. then here its 4 times a day, but then one tsp or 1/4 tsp?
I would advise that you not take more than 1/4 tsp of cayenne at a time, and not more than 1 tsp per day, total.
Cayenne is a blood thinner, among other things, and promotes blood circulation, making it a good supplement for diabetics. So if you feel warm all over after taking it, that’s why.
The first time or two you take it, you’ll feel a slight burning sensation in the places where it’s working, like your bladder. Don’t be alarmed. As long as you don’t take more than 1/4 tsp at a time, it won’t be enough to be painful.
You can take it for as long as you want, as long as you don’t exceed the dosage recommendation above, because more than that can irritate the lining of your bladder and urethra and make you *feel* like you have a UTI, when you don’t.
I hope this helps!
Hey, I just realized I forgot to say why I’d made two different dosage recommendations.
The one where I suggested twice a day was to a lady who’d been told she had a UTI, but was asymptomatic, so I presumed she had a very light case and wouldn’t need much to kill it.
The second person had a chronic and painful case, for which you *definitely* want to take more.
Kill it with fire, as it were. 🙂
Hah! Love it. Kill it with fire! Those are words to live by!!
I have had many, many UTI’s since I had my hysterectomy in 2009. They come every 6-8 weeks. It’s really changed my life drastically and at times when I have a ‘flare’ of bladder pain or my UTI’s are so bad, I just wonder how long I can do this. I ruled out everything anatomically or disease and I was told by the urologist I am just prone to them. I don’t want to take anymore antibiotics. They aren’t good for me and I am a clean eater and healthy person otherwise. I am worried about having sex, wiping and everything I know that I do right, I just worry about the next one. Cayenne? I want to try this but am worried about the bladder spasms after. Bekka, how long have you had UTI’s and does your bladder spasm and hurt in between UTI’s? A little nervous to try the cayenne but feeling helpless.
Katie, I had one continuous UTI that never went entirely away…for almost 5 years. I tried everything. D-Mannose, cranberry, probiotics, flushing it out with baking soda water, raw garlic, cinnamon tea, ginger tea, olive leaf extract, caprylic acid, dandelion root, and generally combining several at a time while fasting and drinking gallons of water. It would appear to be working, and then as soon as I stopped whatever it was, the UTI showed right back up the next morning. I spent years on a maintenance regimen, just keeping it in check, with frequent flare-ups. I tried antibiotics. After finishing two weeks of ampicillin, my urine was noticeably cloudy the next morning. Within three days, it was full-blown again.
I’m sure you can imagine my agony of despair. After all my efforts over a period of years, I was right back to almost constant low-grade pain with flare-ups of strong pain and burning.
I read a comment on a forum about cayenne pepper, and tried about 1/4 tsp. The pain increased for a bit over an hour.
It turned out that the increased burning was the infection being killed off, because I was much better by nightfall. I took more before bed, did NOT have increased burning that time, and woke up pain-free to a full flow of clear urine.
I kept taking it 2-3 times a day for ten days, just to be sure, and I am now the happy possessor of a perfectly healthy bladder that goes about it’s normal functions without bothering me about any of them.
I feel like I’ve been let out of prison. I go days without even thinking about my bladder, or where the public restrooms are when I go out, or having to remember to take something before I go to bed so I don’t wake at 3 in the morning in too much pain to sleep.
I highly recommend cayenne pepper, in short. You may have increased pain for an hour or so the first time, but since it worked for my incredibly persistent infection, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for pretty much anyone.
Good luck, and let me know what happens! I feel for you.
Thanks again. I will try it. I am uncomfortable right now so I will start tomorrow.
Bekha,
I also saw this recommendation on some website (IC site) but was afraid to try in fear of pain. I may try this, I have had a bladder infection since a D&C this past May. The weird thing is that my urine is always clear, but when cultured there is an infection of either enterococcus faecalis, klebsiella pneumonia, or klebsiella oxytoca, and my symptoms have been horribly painful. In late October I began a regimen of Augmentin which has helped me the most and I thought it was over, but once we cut the dose in half, within ten days I started to have some symptoms so I went back up to full dose. I would love to try the cayenne as I want off these antibiotics, but I am nervous that it may cause a painful flare. I may try a very small amount much less than the 1/4 teaspoon and then slowly work up. How long has it been that you have been infection free?
Rebecca
I first took cayenne the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It did I initially feel worse and had me worried, but improvement was so rapid that I could hardly believe it. After all that time and all that trying, I’d almost given up hope that *anything* would work. I kept waking up pain-free without even any pressure. Suddenly, it was like my bladder just disappeared. All that time it was infected, I could…FEEL it, you know? That went away like it had never been. I found myself going all day without once thinking about something I had to do for my bladder, whether that was taking something, or drinking lots of water, or going to the bathroom frequently. I marveled, and rejoiced, and kept taking cayenne twice a day! I wasn’t taking any chances. Then, after a couple of weeks, I forgot to even take cayenne, because I just wasn’t thinking about my UTI anymore, and remembered the next morning, and was still symptom-free. I’ve stopped taking it, and I’m totally fine. My bladder is healthy.
All that time, and all I needed was cayenne pepper. When I think of all the raw garlic I choked down just to keep it in check..weeping in despair when it came right back the day after I stopped taking antibiotics.. And I’d never taken antibiotics, it’s not like my system was messed up from taking a bunch of them. They just couldn’t kill that infection. Nothing could, until cayenne.
I kept reading about other people’s cures with things like D-Mannose, and I kept trying them, and it kept re-surfacing as soon as I stopped taking whatever it was.
Anyway, I couldn’t wait to tell other people about it, in hopes that it’ll help them like it helped me.
Don’t be afraid of an increased burning for a short time, because I can assure you that it’s worth it to get rid of the infection permanently. Take an 1/8 of a teaspoon, even, and when the symptoms decrease, take another, then take it again. It kills bacteria in the bladder when nothing else will, in my experience.
I’m fervently wishing the best of luck, to everyone.
Thanks Bekah, your story sounds somewhat similar to mine although it sounds like you have been dealing with yours a lot longer. It is the most frustrating experience of my life, doctors just shake their head in confusion, antibiotics are just useless for the most part (and I am a drug rep and once sold one, so to say that takes a lot), we seem to be left out here on our own. I am so glad that the cayenne worked for you, and I hope to get brave enough to try it. I will certainly let you know what happens.
Rebecca
To encourage you, it didn’t feel *that* much worse, and certainly nowhere near as bad as the UTI itself felt when I had a bad flare-up. You may notice an increased burning sensation for an hour afterward, but when you’re already in pain and you know that it means it’s killing the infection..I promise it’s nothing to shy away from. The only reason I worried was because I thought I might have irritated it without helping it, but that fear was laid to rest the next time I went to the bathroom. I could already tell a difference.
Besides, I was at a point where I’d try almost anything, as I’m sure you can imagine. I was so tired of suffering. (She said plaintively) LOL
I sincerely hope it works for you like it worked for me. I know the heartbreak of getting your hopes up and having them dashed, time and again. Just try a little bit, and keep taking it in low doses. It never hurt again after the first time, but I could feel it working..I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but I could *feel* my entire UT system improving. I didn’t dare hope too much after so many disappointments, and just kept taking it, and next thing you know, I’m cured.
I’m still surprised, actually.
Hi Bekah,
I contracted a UTI about 3-4 weeks ago and although I do not typically get them, this one has not been responding to any antibiotic. It does help to take them but the infection has not been cleared. I am starting to feel afraid and have an appt with a urologist on Monday, but found your comment about the cayenne last night. I started it and am taking every 4 hours today. It’s definitely helped some. Mostly what I”m feeling now is urgency with a little pressure. I’m also taking D-mannose and ACV with Baking soda. If you have any other tips I would love to hear them. Thank you. The pepper seems to make a a difference so far. 🙂
KT
Just keep doing what you’re doing, and the symptoms should keep decreasing. Lots of things help, but the cayenne pepper was the only thing that killed my infection off for good. I kept it up for a couple weeks after ALL my symptoms had stopped, just because I’d had my hopes dashed by so many things, so many times. I haven’t taken it regularly since the first week of December, and I’m still UTI-free.
Be of good courage, and keep going.
Best wishes for a UTI-free Christmas for you. 🙂
I just returned from the urologist to hear that my latest culture/urinalysis came back negative. So, I don’t technically have an infection anymore. So why do I still feel the frequent urge to pee and some pressure? She suggested some of it might be my brain, and sent me home with flomax and some other drug to relax my ureter. She did an ultrasound on me and saw that my bladder did not entirely empty when I left a sample. I don’t know. I’ve always had to pee more frequently than most people, but it seems strange that my lingering symptoms are coinciding with a UTI.
Thanks for reading. KT
Perhaps your bladder and urethra were still irritated from the infection?
Has it normalized yet?
I have a UTI since diagnosed in Oct.26 2015 been put on antibiotics and it’s still here clears up a little.I bought AZO been taking that it cleared up a little a now I have the burning.I am gonna try the cayenne pepper now and I pray this helps any more suggestions.faye
Everything I tried worked..WHILE I was taking it. As soon as I stopped, the infection was back within 24 hours.
Cayenne pepper is the only thing that KILLED my infection off completely. Over a month later, I’m still infection-free, and not taking cayenne anymore. I’m cured.
I can still hardly believe it.
Just take that pepper, and keep taking it. Drink baking soda water if it burns while it’s working.
Hang in there, and let us know how it turns out!
Best of luck.
Hi Bekah!
I’m ready and willing to try the Cayenne! I just want to know what kind you use? Do they have it in pill form? Do you know an amazon link of the brand that works (overnight shipping;)! I’m desperate!
Thanks<3
The cayenne I used was an old, expired bottle from the local grocery store, so any kind is fine, really.
Just go to your nearest store and look for them; they probably have it in capsules in the supplements section, or you can get a bottle of the loose spice and put each dose in a spoonful of honey.
I had UTI’s several times a year for several years. My doctor always prescribed an antibiotic, and it always came back. After a few years, my doctor referred me to a urinary specialist who immediately put me on Ellura, a non-prescription cranberry supplement. That was two and a half years ago and I have not had one UTI since that time. My urine still tests positive for e-coli but the Ellura prevents the e-coli from sticking to my bladder walls. This stuff works! It is fairly expensive but I would pay anything to get this relief.
Do you mind giving me the name of the supplement
Ellura is the name of the supplement.
I have a UTI every month. I’m currently on an antibiotic for one and want to know if I can start taking D-Mannose right away. I”m tired of this. My doctor prescribed a small amount of Premarin, but I’m not going to do that.
At the very beginning of my present UTI, I started with d-mannose, vitamin C, olive leaf and oil of oregano in addition to my regular vitamins and supplements.The UTI did not improve with this treatment so finally when the back pain started I went to the doctor.. (a new doc whom I do not know well). She was furious that I had waited and threatened IV antibiotics in the hospital if I didn’t take cipro.. Sadly, I have many side-effect from cipro. I will track down one of the supplemenst you mentioned above. Thank you so very much for the information! Time for a new doc.
Thank you so much for writing this article. I’ve had a problem with reoccurring UTIs for four years and will try anything to get rid of them for good. I just ordered Kirkmans Biofilm and Lactoferrin from Amazon. Should I use both at the same time? Also, would I need to take them everyday for the rest of my life?
I don’t know if it will be helpful to anyone… I got my IUD removed and the pain and uti symptoms almost dissapeared. I’ve also visited a homeopathic doctor and I’m currently getting treated by them. I feel so much better now!