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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Hi I’ve been suffering from UTI’s most of my life to the point where I am allergic to most antibiotics that cures them. I am 12 weeks pregnant and I have been on a antibiotic for 2 and 1/2 days now and the symptoms are getting worse. Please if there is any help that is safe for pregnancy please let me know. Thanks
I hope you found something in the comments that worked for you!
How to take the lactoferrin, lauricidin, and the other thing mentioned in the article? Thank you
Hi there, thank you bekah for the cayenne pepper tip. I’ve been fighting terrible uti attacks for the past few years, slowly getting less severe but almost a constant presence in my life. I’ve tried d mannose and the other supplements with limited success. Yesterday I took the plunge and rolled up some cayenne in a piece of bread. Suprisingly easy to swallow and no bad side effects at all. However for the first time my bladder feels normal and my energy levels are up. I am hoping this isn’t fluke but for now it really feels like a game changer so would recommend anyone try this (though do check with a doctor if in doubt) thank you for the tip!!
Wonderful!!!
I was tentative with it the first day, myself, but I was so improved the day afterward that I felt like ODing on the stuff. LOL
I kept it to 1 tsp a day spread out over 16 hours and it completely healed me. Thank God.
I hope you have the same experience!
@Bekah Hi! I’m trying this pepper one because I’ve had it for a little over a month and have been on like 5 antibiotics. It comes back all the time! I’m doing the 1/4 tsp in like 4 ounces of water and jugging it! Lol every 4 hrs should I do 1 tsp? And thank you! It is helping! God bless you!
Girl, if you took 1 whole tsp every 4 hours, you must have nuked every UTI in a 3 block radius. 😀
Sorry for the delay; I didn’t get an e-mail for this comment and just saw it! I hope you’re all better!
I have type 2 diabetes take 1000 mgs of metformin at supper. Is it okay to take the cayenne pepper. I do get uti’s and I just tested with the test strips and it showed positive for the leuks. Tired of going on cipro and other meds my only symptom is urinating alot and a little burning at times. I think the burning is more caused by itching I have at times down there
Hi Bekah, I’ve been reading all your advice throughout the comment section here, and wondering if you could give me your opinion. I just woke in the middle of the night with the constant urge to pee, burning when I go, hardly anything comes out, and peeing blood each time. I took your advice already and took a 1/2 tsp of baking soda in 8 ozs of watsr, and then took a 1/4 tsp Cayenne off a spoon mixed with water, and chased it with a cup of water. I JUST finished a round of antibiotics for a throat infection I had recently, so I really don’t want more antibiotics, but the blood in my urine is worrying me, and making me think I should go to the doctor in the morning. Do you think the regimen of baking soda and cayenne like you suggest could reverse the blood in my urine, as well as everything else?
Hi, I’m so sorry; I only just saw this comment. I haven’t been getting e-mail notifications, for some reason.
How are you doing, now? Have you kept taking it, and are your symptoms improved?
Hi bekah,i really need a very big help..im suffering for recurrent uti since now.3times of being in different antibiotics but the infection seems not leaving me.i want to be free from it.please give me advise and tips to get rid of uti.thanks in advance
Have you tried cayenne pepper yet? It has a 90% success rate so far; you should probably try that first.
Drinking lots of water with lemon juice or baking soda in it will raise the pH in your bladder to a level inhospitable to infection; you want to start that immediately while you see if cayenne works for you.
I have tried D-mannose and cranberry juice (unsweetened) to no avail. What’s worse, these treatments masked the symptoms for a couple of days but then they came back with a vengeance!! I finally found a treatment that works: Uva Ursi coupled of oil of oregano. I’m not sure which one is better or if they work best together but I’ve cured 2 UTI’s this way. I usually take the herb 3-4 times daily for 3-4 days along with OOO 2-3 times a day for same period of time. I love that now I don’t have to do Cipro every time I get a UTI…
Magda, how do you take to oil of oregano? How much 3-4 times a day?
Hello,
My little girl is almost 3 and I think she has a UTI, she is not in pain or doesn’t say she is. When I ask her if it hurts she says no but then like any other 2 I could ask her two mins later and it does hurt so i dont know! She is very tough and never says anything hurts till too late, but she is going to the bathroom all the time! Even her babysister thinks it might be something. Doesn’t pee to much but very often. Anything I can do to avoid going to the doctor?
Did you find out if your daughter had a uti? The freuent urination with little pee makes me think she does have one. My daughter has a fever right now and I have a feeling it’s a uti. But she doesn’t have any signs of a uti. Normal peeing and normal amounts. Tonight’s the second night with a fever.
Hi Bekah, I’ve been researching all over trying to 1.) Find a solution that is not antibiotics and 2.) A maintenance program I can use to prevent future UTIs. I notices you have mentioned garlic, cayenne pepper (in different doses), and d-mannose. I’ve had UTIs occurring since I was around 18/19. I think they are sex related as I’ve noticed it happens after I have sex. Recently though in the past 6 months so often after I have sex with my boyfriend I contract a UTI. I have gotten another, my third or fourth since 9/15. Can you advise me on which process to do to get rid of this UTI and what to do to maintain from future UTIs. I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you.
Up until several months ago, this was me!! At one point I had 6 UTI’s in a 9 month period and my HMO doctor sent me to a urologist. Turns out the reason I was getting UTI’s was simply that the bacteria causing the infection was being move into the urinary tract due to intercourse. He suggested washing afterwards (quite vigorously but just using warm water). Also peeing right after or shortly after intercourse is very effective.
Also, use coconut oil as a lubricant. It works like a charm and is a hostile environment to pathogens of all sorts.
Coconut oil as a sex lubricant ??
Yup. 😀
It’s great for vaginal health; I make a suppository with it once or twice a month, too.
Yes, wholeheartedly, to the coconut oil. Sadly, the d-mannose and cayenne did not work for me, I SO wanted it to work and SO did not want to be reduced to Cipro. Happily, my bodyworker reminded me of the homeopathic cantharis. Now I am on the mend and my doc will not pitch a fit and condemn me for “waiting.”
I’m so sorry to hear that!
I’m pretty sure D-Mannose is only effective against e. Coli, so if your infection was caused by another pathogen D-M wouldn’t do anything.
How much cayenne did you take, and for how long?
I know what it’s like to get your hopes up when reading about what cured other people; I experienced that myself during the whole course of my years-long infection. D-Mannose kept my infection in check as long as I kept taking it, but it didn’t cure me. I was actually surprised when cayenne did; I was so accustomed to having my hopes destroyed.
I was doing d-mannose (2 caps) and 1/4t cayenne with 1/8 baking soda at 4 hour intervals, for four days but was getting really sick so I switched to cantharis. I’m not cured but am certainly better and am not getting worse. Very frustrating but…thank you for your site! It is so great to be able to discuss this!
So none of your symptoms improved during those 4 days?
What were they? Cloudy urine, pain, constricted flow? Bladder pressure and the urge to pee? Kidney pain?
I ask because there’s so many pathogens that can cause infection and many of them present in different ways. Cayenne should have been efficacious for most of them..unless you have interstitial cystitis.
I had all the symptoms you list except kidney pain. I had a very heavy deep ache in the kidney area (both sides) more than pain. None of the symptoms responded to the cayenne (a new, potent supply). Also had a houseful of guests. I’m better now so am unwilling to contemplate interstitial cystitis. Just can’t go there.
My husband and I have to shower before we have intercourse that’s the only way to prevent it for me. Unfortunately in the spur of the moment he didn’t shower and now I’m suffering with a UTI from that.
I have the same problem! I’ve been having UTI’s since I was a baby…just susceptible I guess.
Anyway, after years of antibiotics and killing off my system, I finally got smart and did some research. As a result, we both have to shower before sex, and me after for sure, I take cranberry pills, massive amounts of pro-biotics and I use an anti-bacterial bar soap down there. All those things have helped me not get a UTI. But as soon as I slack on any of those things, I get one, like right now 🙁 So, I am now looking for natural solutions for when I have an infection, I really don’t want to take any more anti-biotics unless I absolutely have to.
Another thing I am dealing with that makes you feel like you are starting to get an infection (urgency & little production) is “pelvic floor dysfunction”, where the muscle down there spasms and squeezes your bladder, giving the feeling of the start of an infection, so that’s been super fun..wondering if it really is a UTI or just a muscle spasm. Before I knew what that was I was going to the Dr. in a panic saying I have the symptoms but the test kept coming up negative.
Anyway, the treatment for that is basically relaxing the muscle via exercise or meds, and don’t do kiegels LOL. Sucks having both of these issues at random 🙁
Hey, there’s your comment! It posted, but it didn’t send me a notification. I’m glad you contacted me by e-mail, and I hope you’re doing better!
For female uti uva ursi at first sign. I drink the tea about 4 cups day for up tk 14 days. I have told friends about it and they all swear by it. You can also try the pills or drops. For male uti’s d-mannose has worked for my dad to keep him from ending up back on antibiotics or in the hospital. I now have him on solray triple protection 2 capsules a day (it also has cranberry and uva ursi) with ReaLWater. So far so good.
I highly recommend Femdophilus by Jarrow. These are a probiotic found in the refridgerated section for probiotics at health food stores or Whole Foods.
I am 29 years old and in a monogamous relationship. I had been having recurring UTI’s and been self treating with Vit. C etc. I decided to see a doctor after experiencing blood in my urine. I did a roundvof antibiotics and immefiately after that was over I started taking 1 Femdophilus pill everyday at a family member’s suggestion. I did not get any UTI’s for a year…not even a hint of one. In the past if I took antibiotics the UTI would return at some point afterward. So try Femdoph as A preventative measure.
I stopped taking it gradually over the past few months as it’s kind of expensive and my bottle was going to run out. So I would take one infrequently…maybe 1-2 per month. Suddenly I had a UTI again two days ago so I bought a new bottle to see if I can treat it with Femdoph and other natural measures instead of antibiotics. The results are not in yet as I still have the UTI. In the future I am just going to take it regularly and stick with it this time to prevent a UTI.
Thanks! I’ll try Femdophilus. I just can’t be getting UTIs and kidney infections so frequently. It has been an off and on again problem for many years. I thought I was home free when I discovered d-mannose for before and after sex. Does anyone else find that increasing age contributes to the frequency and severity of these issues? I am 73. I plan to start washing with witch hazel after soap and water. Thanks to whomever made that suggestion!
I have a uti and am resistant to all antibiotics besides one which is an IL injection. I have had a recurrent uti since October but the antibiotics won’t kill the bacteria and my body becomes resistant. My dr stated to wait til my symptoms get worse such has a fever and high blood pressure. My uti symptoms seem to vary everyday. I am u sure whether to take the antibiotic now or try another remedy first and if that doesn’t work try the antibiotic.
My husband and I are trying to get pregnant, and I am dealing with recurring UTIs. I dont want to take antibiotics, since I dont want to disrupt any chance we have of conception. Are any of the supplements you listed in the article safe to use before or during pregnancy? Are there any other herbs/spices that I could take instead? Thanks!
Hi,
I wondered if anyone could help me, My mother has dementia, she has had numberous uti, all treated with anitboctcs she is currently in hospital being treated for another one. She was taking a proleptic antibiotic which the dr has just told me that my mother is running out choices of antibiotics for long term ones as she has had soo many other problem is that my mother is unable to swallow tablets all have to either be liquid form or crushed, I have tried her with the cranberry juice but that ineffective plus she is on thicken fluids which narrow the chances- from that the dr said. I am worried about trying anything purely for the medication that my mother is on for her mental state but she changes in personality when she has a uti, she is unable to tell me that she is in pain or suffering any discomfort only reason I can tell is when she screams day and night. How can I make my mother not suffer these infections any more, the drs seem to have given up on her just because she has dementia, mum has lost all mobility because of this.
Cayenne pepper. 1/4 tsp every four hours. Use capsules of that’s the only way you can get it into her, but get it into her.
It’s the only thing that worked for me after trying everything else for nearly five years.
She’ll have relief in a matter of hours, and the infection will be eradicated. Keep her on it for a week.
I pray it works for her like it worked for me!
Bek, I noticed signs of a UTI coming on… I don’t want to take any antibiotic so I found this article and this conversation. I started taking cayenne pepper in water every 4 hours yesterday, I felt better all day. I continued treatment today and still have some redness (possibly blood) coming out when I pee. I am a little worried.
Redness…so you had that already and it hasn’t gone away completely yet?
If it’s improved in the last 24 hours, I would wait and see if it continues to improve. Are all your other symptoms gone?
Sorry I didn’t answer sooner, for some reason this comment didn’t come to my e-mail and I just happened to spot it while scrolling just now.
How is it now?
I want to thank you Bekah
I have suffered UTI kelipselia a year now
I found it by chance.
I don’t have symptoms but the cloudy and urine strong smell especially in the morning.
I took antibiotics but after three days the symptoms are back again.
I tried every natural remedy D mannose , Nattokinase, interfase plus, olive leaves, apple cedar venegar, raw garlic , turmeric, theme oil and several natural herbs,
I started taking the cayenne pepper as you suggested and other natural remedy consisting of natural apple vinegar with different herbs and olive oil with different herbs.
I am taking them two spoons each five time a day on the prayers time along with the cayenne pepper.
As i said i don’t have symptoms and sometimes i feel that the urine is cloudy in the morning even when i am taking the remedies.
Today i made an ordinary urine test and it is negative.
It could be of the vinegar and oil or cayenne pepper.
I am afraid to stop any of the remedies.
But i really want to thank you for your concern and may god give you in return what is best for you and your family .
As for the others i would recommend to try the cayenne pepper and share your experience for the benefit of all.
No matter what is helping you, I’m glad you’re better and I pray you’ll be cured!
I was afraid to stop taking cayenne, too. I took it for two weeks straight and then missed a day because I simply forgot! I didn’t have any symptoms to remind me, so it just slipped my mind. I remembered the next day and took one dose, and after that I would take one dose when I thought about it, which was a couple times a week. I haven’t taken any in about a month now, and it hasn’t come back.
I would keep taking it till you’ve been completely free of symptoms for two weeks, and then slack off and see what happens. Hopefully, you’ll have been completely cured and you can get on with your life without being held hostage by your bladder anymore!
All the best!
How do you take the cayenne pepper? I am in college and have suffered from chronic reoccurring UTI’s for years and need a quick relief without medication.
Hi, I’m sorry I didn’t see this till now!
I just put it on the end of a spoon and took it with a swallow of water, chasing it with a whole glassful. You can also get empty capsules and fill them, or buy a cayenne supplement.
I hope you tried it already, and it helped you!
I have had UTIs my entire life. I have recently found probiotics help prevent them. The flora in my colon is so out of wack because about once a month I have an infection and have to take an antibiotic. They gave me cipro and Levaquin for over 15 years now and now I have FQAD. My. Life has been destroyed by these antibiotics. My bacteria is usually resistant to most antibiotics….I can only take a few now because of the toxicity. I can’t take Macrobid now either (it destroys my lungs). I have started taking a probiotic and eating fermented foods…I hope it continues to help. I hope you find something that will help…im sure that is miserable
Hello everyone.
Currently trying to flush out a UTI and getting close but sent the hubby to go get D-Mannose just to further kick it out. Just read on another website that you should make your alkaline but taking baking soda pills or drinking it with water to get rid of the acidity while taking the D-Mannose. Does anyone know if this is accurate or am I good with taking the D-Mannose solely?
D-Mannose may work alone for you, but alkalizing your system can’t hurt and it will definitely help. In my experience, 1/2 tsp baking soda in 8 oz water will give you noticeable relief in about 40 minutes. You’ll be asymptomatic as long as you take it and D-Mannose, but if it comes back when you stop taking them, I recommend cayenne pepper, as that’s what killed my infection when nothing else did, including ampicillin.
Hi, I’ve been trying your suggested cayenne pepper for one week now, tho only managing to get 3 doses of 1/4 tsp three times a day. Within three days I thought it was working, then not so much, kidneys aching fairly constantly, and urination is still very difficult. Have no health insurance and after 4 rounds of antibiotic, I still am plagued with this! I’m 64, celibate, and never had these UTI’s before last summer, which was cured by one round of antibiotics. I have little use for our “health care system” in America, can’t afford it! Anyway, I am using Organic cayenne from grocery store, is that OK? Thank you for your input!
A couple of thoughts..
What changed in order for your kidneys to start hurting? Was it something you ate? Have you been drinking less water, more coffee or soda, or did you have something with alcohol in it?
Acidic food and drinks, caffeine, and alcohol all feed a urinary tract infection. (Some acids alkalize in the body, like lemon juice, but many make an infection worse)
To encourage you, I’ve been getting e-mails from women who’ve been cured by cayenne, including a couple who had lingering symptoms and didn’t think it was working, at first.
I would suggest taking more cayenne (get capsules if you have trouble taking it as loose powder) and olive leaf extract. OLE is a potent anti-bacterial/fungal and will strongly support the action of the cayenne pepper. It never cured me, but it kept me asypmtomatic as long as I was taking it, and a double whammy of OLE and cayenne should have you pain-free and asymptomatic within 24 hours.
When in doubt, take more cayenne, and *keep taking it*. I was just e-mailed this morning by a lady who had a lingering symptom (pressure and the urge to go when there was little there) and she’s now symptom-free. I heard from another lady over the weekend who’d had a kidney infection, and she’s cured now after taking cayenne.
Please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] if you want to talk in detail; we can hash out every symptom and figure this out.
I totally hear you on the medical system; I had four of my kids at home. 🙂
Antibiotics can frequently get you into a bad cycle of resistant strains and chronic infections, so it’s best to keep them as a back-up rather than a go-to.
Hi everyone
I have been living with chronic UTIs and kidney problems for about 7 years now. Yesterday I woke up with a lot of burning after urinating. In the afternoon, I was working around the house and suddenly developed a HORRIBLE pain in on my left side below my ribcage which I know for a fact that is my kidney. It even hurts when I move or stretch my side.
This UTI literally came out of nowhere. The day before yesterday I was urinating frequently but I attributed it to a flare up due to my interstitial cystitis. I struggle with excessive urination so I took Myrbetriq (just one dose) the day before yesterday and I think that that’s what may have caused it.
Is there anyone I can about the kidney pain and the burning in my bladder and urethra? I took Tylenol but it didn’t help whatsoever. I’m tired of living like this. This has taken over my life and I’m desperate for help. It has made me depressed and sometimes I question if I even want to keep living anymore. I literally have fantasies about tearing out my entire urinary tract system (this is how desperate I am).
I do have D-Mannose but I’m not sure whether to drink it or not because I’m taking Nitrofurantoin every 6 hours since I always have some around to take after having sex.
Thanks everyone. I feel for every one of you. I’m also sick of taking antibiotics and living in pain. There has to be something we can do.
Mix 1 tsp of baking soda into 16 oz of water and chug it. Do that every 45 minutes. You’ll notice a lessening of pain within 30-40 minutes. Keep drinking it every 45 minutes until the pain is gone, and meanwhile mince one clove of raw garlic and take it every hour for three hours.
You can sprinkle it on something that isn’t heated, like hummus or cottage cheese or whatever, just get it in you.
The baking soda will raise your urinary pH to a level that discourages e. Coli, and the garlic will kill it.
Both of those things can be taken without aggravating your IC.
Hi Bekah, thank you for all your great info. I have Interstitail cystitis for last 10+ yrs and have kept it at bay with drinking enough water. I got a UTI for the first time in about 15 years a couple of weeks ago. Took Bactrim for 5 days. It got better and I think totally symptom free for a couple days. But then I was having some pain with some urinations and today it feels worse. Lingering pain, not like the IC that feels better after 5-10 min. Anyways, I would like to try the cayenne but will that aggrivate the IC? Does d mannitol aggravated the IC? I have been avoiding the cranberry juice/vit c/acidifying the utine route for fear of causing more pain. I’m about the try the baking soda…. Thank you!!!
What I read on a website about IC indicated that cayenne generally irritates it, sadly.
You could try 1/8 tsp of cayenne while drinking the baking soda water, and see what happens. It may tingle more, but you should notice some normalization of your bladder function in response to the pepper.
I read that large amounts of D-Mannose can irritate IC, so I would do the same thing as with the cayenne, take a little and see what happens.
Everyone’s different, and UTI’s can be caused by many different pathogens, so a lot of this is trial and error.
Best of luck; let me know how you do!
I just came across this link on IC and thought it might be helpful…
http://montrealhealthygirl.com/natural-pain-reducing-tools-interstitial-cystitis/
Thank you Bekah! I had to keep taking my antibiotics because I was in terrible pain (kidney and bladder). The burning has ceased but the kidney pain is still there but not as strong and I’m still having to urinate like crazy. I went ahead and swallowed a clove of garlic and I’ll probably do that twice again today to see if it helps. Thank you so much!
I feel for you! Hang in there and keep taking it. Garlic never eradicated my infection like cayenne pepper did, but it kept it in check very well. I took loads of it the few times the UTI affected my kidneys, and each time it beat it all the way back to the persistent colony in my bladder.
I wish you could take cayenne, but I’m afraid of how it would affect your IC.
I got sepsis that way. I was doing the natural stuff …garlic lots of water etc. I ended up in the hospital with sepsis I almost died. I do think natural things should be tried but I really feel everyone should have a culture taken of the bacteria to see what will be effective. My bacteria is pretty resistant because I’ve had to take antibiotics since I was young. I took Oil of Oregano when they tried to give me Cipro again…I had a resistant bacteria call klebsiella pneumoniae and had been on 5 rounds of antibiotics. I took 6 drops of OOO in water every 4 hrs round the clock. I also too silverbiotics is a colloidal silver product. I also take D-mananose and probiotics every day. I use (or used to use) coconut oil as. Personal lubricant. Every time we would be intimate I would get an infection ( we both took showers before and after, I urinated before and after and took Macrobid pre and post. Most of the time I got them anyway. I also ended up with the breathing disorder from the Macrobid it destroyed my lung tissue…the last time I took it it was 6 months before I could breath normally….im scared of that drug. I also cannot take Cipro or Levaquin. I have to find things to prevent them.
WOW.
That is horrible; I am SO sorry!
Were you taking raw garlic, or garlic supplements? I’ve never found a supplement that was as effective as mincing it myself.
It sounds like your whole system has been destroyed over time; that’s just appalling!
Have you tried a complete immune re-build starting with a fast? That’s the only thing I can think of, to get you out of that cycle.
I was taking garlic cloves. I took them with organic tomato juice because the garlic burns my mouth. I took this for about 6 days before i broke down and went to the ER. I woke up and couldn’t feel my hands and my fever was 103-104. I knew I had a kidney infection but the ER Dr. Said it was a slight UTI. Gave me macrobid cultured my blood and urine and sent me home. Long story but the blood culture grew E. coli in 12 hrs., my Drs office didn’t see the results and 4 days later I went to another ER … Had untreated sepsis over 5 days…anyway I really have to be careful and know what the bacteria is. I have not fasted and reset my immune system but if that will do it i will sure look into it. Thank you!
I ended up with sepsis too, and I was 6 months pregnant. Baby made it, he’s 2 now.
Sugar will imbalance your flora, too many additives, preservatives and colours will make it harder for the body to heal.
Nigella sativa will help immensely, it’s commonly mislabeled as other seeds but typically called black seed. Matte black with 3 sides. Don’t eat too much just lightly sprinkle onto food as if it’s pepper. It’s cheap in regular middle eastern or Indian stores but expensive online. I just tried bayberry with honey and black seed and the burn is totally gone. Sorry if this is all over the place! Nigella Sativa is incredible for everything because it re balances the immune system, just dont overdo it. I couldn’t read and run after reading the comments, good luck everyone.
Hi Bekah,
I sent a previous comment or at least I thought it went through. Nonetheless, my 23 year old daughter developed a horrible infection around her hairline a few months back. It looked like a headband, extending from ear to ear and her face and eye were swollen. She was diagnosed with cellulites although no one could explain how or where it came from. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic and a topical steroid cream to apply on her hairline/forehead. However, now her hair is thin in that area and is having difficulty growing back. Do you have any suggestions? Also, she suffers from eczema on her hands which flare up when she gets a little stressed, like worrying about her hair ?.. Thank you so much!
Yes, I just saw and responded!
The only thing I might add to my first comment is that she needs to take caprylic acid supplements now to keep from getting a post-antibiotics yeast infection (it’s a yeast destroyer) and a good probiotic.
The cellulitis is certainly a puzzle; she might want to take a clove of raw, minced garlic a day for a while to naturally purify her blood without causing the side effects of antibiotics. Olive leaf extract is good too, if she can’t stand the garlic.
All the best. 🙂
Hello again Bekah,
Happy New Year! I forgot to mention that last week my daughter was experiencing cramping on her right side, which would come and go. Unfortunately, she didn’t tell me about it until day 3, at which time we went to see her doctor. The doctor said she had a uti, prescribed cipro
Sorry my message was cut off. Anyway, we were also given a script to have an ultrasound just to be safe. Yesterday the doctor called to say that my daughter has a small cyst on her liver and we should repeat another ultrasound in March. Although her cramping went away within 24 hours of taking the cipro and she completed the full 5 days prescribed, I am very concerned about the cyst and what we can do on our end to dissolve it. Thank you for all of your help!
If it’s causing her discomfort, it must be large enough for them to want to do something about it..but between now and then a liver cleanse diet would be a really good idea. It can’t hurt, and it may help.
Raw garlic, 2-3 average size cloves a day, is an excellent liver cleanser. Mince it fine, let it sit for a few minutes, and sprinkle it over food that is NOT hot. Heat destroys some of the agents that make it so potent. One of the ways she’ll know it’s working is that the first few days of taking it give you soft, dark stools. Those are the toxins being dumped. When they’re cleaned out, stools return to normal even while still taking the garlic.
Milk thistle extract has been proven beneficial to the liver, so that would be a good supplement to keep on hand and take regularly.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/spring-cleanse-your-liver-6-foods-nutrients-and-herbs.html
I hope some of that helps!
I can’t recommend raw garlic too highly for its overall health benefits; it purifies the blood and kills all kinds of infections. It even clears up acne and many other skin issues.
I’m currently killing a skin infection with coconut oil in which I steeped fresh minced garlic for a few hours.
You know what’s funny is, I’m a very healthy person in general, but every thing I’ve ever had in my life, that one, vicious UTI and several cases of skin infection, has been something that didn’t respond to conventional treatment and forced me to find other, natural cures by a process of trial and error. I actually hate dealing with this stuff; I’m naturally the kind of person who’d rather ignore things and hope they go away. In myself, that is..
When it’s my children, then I’m all over every little thing. And thanks to what I learned about natural cures, we’ve had one case of ear infection (8 years ago) out of five kids in ten years, and that’s the worst sickness any of them have ever had. Raw garlic is like a miracle. I give it to them at the first sign of a sniffle, and all they ever have is a sniffle, while their friends are all down with the flu and strep and viral infections. They’ve never spent a day in bed, sick. So this stuff DOES work, especially when you catch things early and you’re consistent.
Thank you! The garlic is going to be tough for her but I’ll get her to try it. What about dandelion root/supplement, will this help too?
Trust me, once she feels the effects of taking garlic the first time, she’ll keep going.
My little kids *request* garlic when they feel like they’re coming down with something, because they can feel it working so fast.
Dandelion root is good, especially for the kidneys, but it’s a diuretic so it’ll keep her running to the bathroom, like ginger.
Nothing is so efficacious or so rapid as raw garlic, though. Tell her that if she wants to feel better, fast, she just needs to swallow it down quickly. It’s strong medicine, and medicine never tastes good. LOL
Wow, the poor thing can’t catch a break!
She *definitely* needs to be on an anti-yeast regimen. Cinnamon tea (put 2 tsp cinnamon in a coffee filter and pour 12 oz of steaming hot water through it, drink as is 2x a day) will prevent a yeast overgrowth in the digestive tract, and a pessary made from chilled coconut oil will prevent a vaginal yeast infection, used every other night during the course of antibiotics and for 10 days afterward.
It would also be a good idea to use coconut oil as an all-over moisturizer after showering, if she has sensitive skin. It’s easy to get a yeast rash after antibiotics if the skin is irritated, anywhere.
(Happened to me after the (useless) ampicillin I took for my UTI, because I wasn’t paying attention one day and used my husband’s deodorant. It irritated my skin, and next thing you know, I’ve got a rash under both arms. I had to steep minced garlic in coconut oil and baste myself in it to kill it. Some times you just can’t win, for losing. :/ )
Sorry but there’s a part 2 to my comment that somehow got cut off. We also had an ultrasound and the doctor informed us on yesterday that she has a small cyst on her liver. Which explains the right side pain, nausea, and vomiting. My concern now is the cyst and what we can do to dissolve it. Thanks again!
The pain and vomiting is very concerning, because normally a small cyst on the liver is benign and causes no symptoms. Baking soda water (1/2 tsp per 8 oz of water) will quell the nausea, but that sounds to me like a serious infection.
I’m surprised she wasn’t admitted to the hospital immediately, with those symptoms. She needs full-bore treatment for infection, and raw garlic would be an excellent idea unless it’s contraindicated for the antibiotic she’s taking.
I’d be all over that with a large minced clove every three hours until she feels fine, and then backing off to 3 cloves a day for 10-14 days.
Olive leaf extract is also excellent.
Raw garlic gives pain relief within an hour from every infection I’ve ever used it for; it’s quicker than most antibiotics.
I apologize, maybe my comments are unclear however, my daughter is not in any pain nor is she still taking the antibiotics. Prior to being prescribed the cipro for 5 days she was experiencing cramping, and vomited once. Within 24 hours of taking the antibiotics the symptoms stop. Hope this makes sense, thanks for all of your help!
Oh okay; thank goodness!
By all means, get her started on a liver cleanse like the one outlined in the link. It can only benefit her, anyway.
Will do, thanks for everything Bekah!
I am interested in using cayenne pepper. My story is so similar to others on this thread. So…I should try 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper mixed with 16 oz of water? I want to do this right!
Thank you in advance.
I don’t think it matters too much how you take it; I just did it at a gulp with a bunch of water to get it down as quickly as possible. Stir it into water, sprinkle it on food, swallow it off a spoon with water..just take it.
And if it burns, that’s the infection dying. It kills the baddies where it finds them. It’s temporary, and typically only burns the first time.
Wowzers! That cayenne pepper was difficult to swallow, I did it though. Here is hoping it works. My gp has called in another rx of cipro, I don’t want to take it. Please work cayenne!!
I have *every* finger crossed for you!
Please let me know; I can’t tell you how pleased I would be if it cured you like it did me.
Did it work Sara?
I got an e-mail from her saying she was cured!
I haven’t had a UTI for a about almost three years, but I woke up today with a bit of discomfort in the morning when I peed. Would drinking just the baking soda and water work without the cayenne pepper???? Kinda scared to take cayenne pepper just like that.
Baking soda water raises the pH, which discourages e. Coli but doesn’t kill it.
If you drink LOTS of it, you might be able to flush out a very mild infection that way. It never worked for me except as a temporary pain killing measure.
Cayenne pepper will seek and destroy whatever harmful little bugger you might have in your urinary tract, and I promise that a small amount will do the job and I doubt it’ll cause you any pain at all if you have a mild infection. Take an 1/8 of a teaspoon, if you’re concerned, but by all means, take it if you think you have an infection.
You want to stop it before it gains strength.
Thank you so much for writing this . I’ve got a nasty uti I right now and am on antibiotics. They seemed to help for a day and still feel awful. drink a glass of water with banking soda and it think it maybe helping . Going to see the urologist the 5th . Any other suggestions you have for me? Thanks
Hi,
I have had recurring Uti’s for 9 months. I have been on Macorbid, Cypro, and Sulfa Trim. None of these seem to work and Sulfa Trim gives me horrible side effects. I have tried D-Mannose with no success. I have seen a natural path with no success. I am currently seeing a Urologist who put me on meds to relax my bladder as well as my family doctor has put me on anti depressants for pain. I am wondering what else I can do to finally make this go away? I am tired of being in pain and I don’t want to be on medication for the rest of my life.
Cayenne pepper!
I tried everything, including antibiotics, and nothing worked but cayenne pepper.
1/4 tsp with a glass of water every 4 hours all day long, for a week. It killed an infection I had for almost 5 years.
Do you stir the cayenne pepper in the water?
I just put it on a spoon and tipped it into my mouth with a swallow of water, then drank a glassful.
I think that stirring it in to the water would work just fine. You could even sprinkle it over your food. I did it at one go with a spoon and a water chaser just to get it in there quickly, barely tasting it. I caught a little on the roof of my mouth a couple of times, but a little discomfort was a small price to pay for killing a painful infection that positively haunted me for 5 years.
Bekah, what can i say !!!!
cayenne powder is a miracle come true, i can’t thank you enough , i have been suffering from UTI for a few years now and from the very first spoon i already felt better
God bless you for sharing this miracle remedy and i will tell others about it to help them with the agony they go through
Again thank you thank you a million times
Thank God! That makes me so happy, I’m crying.
If other people can be freed from persistent infection like I was, I feel like I didn’t suffer for nothing.
Keep taking it, and may you be completely healed.
Hi Bekah!
Just wanted to know could I mix the cayenne pepper, baking soda and water together? does it have to be cold? or could i warm it up like a tea?
Baking soda water is salty; it would probably taste awful, heated. I chugged it just to get it down quickly (incidentally, it also settles an upset stomach).
On the cayenne pepper..I liked the idea someone had of rolling it in a sort of bread pellet, though when I took it I just dropped it off the spoon into my mouth and swallowed it down with water. I was just trying it to get it down fast. It’ll work no matter how you take it, so do whatever works best for you.
Best of luck.
Hala,
I read your post regarding the cayenne pepper that Beka recommends. I have had UTI’s for the past eight months with several different type of bacteria. I have been wanting to try the cayenne pepper but am petrified that it may through me into serious pain. What was your experience with the cayenne like and did you use a particular brand, something like McCormicks or did you go for a better quality like at Whole Foods? Also how many days did you take the cayenne before feeling better?
Are your doctors certain it’s only a UTI? You might want to get tested for urea plasma… The symptoms are almost the same as a UTI but it won’t respond to most treatments that a UTI responds to, as it’s an organism with no cell wall, which requires a different type of antibiotic that bursts the cell from within to kill the pathogen.
I prefer to use all natural treatments as much as possible, but if you might have urea plasma, I haven’t known anything to kill it except doxycycline. Wishing you feel better~
lots of good ideas here off to get some pepper
Very interesting. Do not want to take unecessary drugs.
I developed a UTI last weekend and I tried the d-mannose and cranberry pills and even the cayenne pepper. By Sunday I was in such incredible pain that I finally went to the immediate care for antibiotics. I was first put on Cipro and had such horrific headaches and a horrible upset stomach that on Monday I called and they switched me to Macrobid. I have been on it since Monday and the pain is subsiding. I am concerned though because my doctor just called with the results from the urine culture and she said that the bacteria is klebsiella pneumoniae, which according to her is very rare and she can’t imagine where I got it from. I am now totally freaking out about where I could have gotten it from. I asked her if my husband could have it and she said yes but only if he has symptoms. He wants to call his doctor and be put on antibiotics also. She said that the bacteria is found mostly in hospitals. I had a hysterectomy in June, but that is the last time that I was in the hospital. I was on a catheater for 5 days because my bladder wouldn’t wake up after surgery, but again, that was 6 months ago. Also, I had a bladder infection in September and was treated back then.. Is this bacteria that uncommon that I should be concerned??? Also, is there a more natural way to treat it in the future if I were to get one again from the same bacteria? I am 48 years old and am also prone to yeast infections. Thanks for your help.
Thank you for responding. Just wondering, did an antibiotic eventually clear it up? Thanks!
Klebsiella is Not “rare”. Please find a new doctor. It’s rare for younger people to get it because it’s what causes UTI’s in older people due to lack of good hygiene with incontinence. Bleach your toilets and buy good toilet paper and find a better doctor.
I was diagnosed with a UTI on 11-20-15. I had no systems so asked the doctor if I could increase my H20 intake & cranberry juice to get rid of it. She told me to retest the following week. 12-8-15 still had UTI. Picked up the prescription of Cyprofloxacn. It came with 9 pages of warnings so I hopped on the internet & luckily came across Chris’ article. Made a lot of sense so I stopped at the drug store to pick up D-Mannose but all they had was a combination gummie of Cranberry, D-Mannose & Vit C. But it worked. Tested today 12-16-15 & no UTI. Thank you Chris!!