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Treat and Prevent UTIs Without Drugs

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Reviewed by Phyllis J Gee, MD, FACOG

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are infections anywhere along the urinary tract, including the bladder and kidneys, are the second most common type of infection in the United States. (1) Read on for five ways to prevent and treat a UTI without antibiotics.

UTI treatment without antibiotics
It is possible to get rid of a UTI without antibiotics. iStock/Tom Merton

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!

UTI treatment without antibiotics
Cranberries contain D-mannose, which is an effective natural remedy for UTIs. iStock/Terryfic3D

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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1,826 Comments

Join the conversation

  1. I just been diagnosed with my 1st UTI ever and so far I was on cipro for 5 days and I’m still having symptoms and before that abc rim for 3 days, my doctor now has referred me to a urologist to see why it’s not clearing up. Any suggestions?

  2. Is D-mannose a safe supplement for a women in her second trimester that has low grade UTI?

  3. My doctor recently advised me to try D-mannose for frequent UTI’s. I started to experience pins and needles, weak muscles, muscle twitches and headaches. Would these symptoms occur from taking the D-mannose as it is a natural sugar? I suffer from IBS and follow a low fodmap diet and fructose should be avoided.

  4. Any Ideas on how to treat a 5 year old with this? Obviously taking a pill won’t work. Thanks!

  5. I have had a nasty UTI FOR OVER FOUR MONTHS due to kidney stones. The stones have broken down and since I have been on UREX coupled with cranberry chewable s and I have been e-coli free for one month. Check it out.

  6. Thank you for sharing!! Great help!!
    I am in India. Where can I get this D-Mannose??
    Also We don’t grow blue berries in India.
    Is there any capsule instead??

    • Yes there are capsules. Check in amazon, e-bay website. If you have relatives in USA you could ask them to buy it for you.

      • Drinking Barley water helps prevent and treat
        UTI.
        Take a handful of barley and boil it in 2 litres of
        Water . Drink it warm.

  7. I’m in the same boat as you, Jaime… needing to prevent chronic UTIs while trying to get pregnant. I agree, it’s frustrating and depressing. D-Mannose worked great for me as well but of course it can’t be used while trying to conceive. I’ve also resorted to taking macrobid every time we have sex as a preventive measure… which as you know can add up to a lot of antibiotics while trying during your fertile period. 

    Here’s what I’ve found seems to work well to prevent yeast infections while on macrobid — I take a high quality probiotic and also eat probiotic foods (yogurt, kefir, kraut, etc.) daily. If I slack off on this, I will start to feel yeast-like symptoms. 

    Once I’m on the other side of this baby journey, I intend to return to using D-Mannose or to try Dr. Christiane Northrup’s suggestion of 3,000 mg of vitamin C post-coitally. I’m afraid to try that as well while trying to conceive. One other thing I’m about to try is USANA’s mega-antioxidant and pro-flavanol supplements, both of which are supposed to be amazing for any kind of inflammation. 

    One last thought… I too have had the lingering pain that feels like a UTI but isn’t (negative test). My doctor tells me it’s residual inflammation from past infections. I’ve experienced it both while on D-Mannose and not. I’m hoping the anti-inflammatory supplements will help. Best of luck to you — it’s tough dealing with this while trying to make a baby!  

  8. I took D-Mannose as a preventive measure for many years and it helped so much. But suddenly I have developed some terrible problem with my bladder – my bladder hurts all the time, before and after I pee. I tested negative for a UTI and they don’t know what’s wrong with me. I did notice that I sometimes had a mild version of these symptoms after taking D-Mannose but they always went away after a day or so. But now it’s not going away. And now I can’t take D-Mannose so I have to take preventive macrobid which is, of course, giving me yeast infections. And my husband and I are trying to get pregnant. So I don’t know what to do. Has anyone else had this reaction to D-Mannose? Can anyone explain it? I feel really miserable and I’m really depressed about the whole thing.

    • My daughter’s UTI’s seem to get worse when I giver her D Mannose. She’s 6 and has been getting UTI’s frequently since she was 4. It’s always E. Coli. Hope you are getting some answers.

  9. I’ve tried D-Mannose before without success. I have chronic UTIs and would love to know if the other supplements you’ve suggested are safe to use during pregnancy? I’m about to go through an IVF round and am experiencing regular UTIs. Since I can’t take my normal prescription once insemination happens, I’d love to have other options.

    • The supplements I mentioned in that article aren’t safe during pregnancy. Or more accurately, we don’t know if they’re safe during pregnancy and we never will know because finding out would be unethical. Cranberry extract (pills) or 100% cranberry juice is worth a try and safe during pregnancy. It helps prevent bacteria from adhering to the UT lining.

      • My 2 certified nurse midwives both told me to take D-mannose to treat my UTI during pregnancy. They said it is very safe during pregnancy. They also said there are studies showing D-mannose to actually be more effective than antibiotics in treating E-coli UTI’s.

  10. I have excruciating pain and frequent urges to pee immediately after every time I have sex. I went to a gyn and they took a culture and I found out I had a UTI. They gave me antibiotics. Then, over the span of two months I had four UTI’s all caused by intercourse. So I went to a clinic and they gave me antibiotics to get rid of it. I went to another gyn who sent me to a urologist who then told me that all I had to do was pee before and after sex. I did this along with washing myself and my partner before we engage in sexual activity. Didn’t work. I looked up all natural “cures” and found D-Mannose powder, for $50 at whole foods. Took the exact amount of dosage printed on the bottle and though it got rid of my symptoms after a week of drinking two glasses a day (which is the same amount of time antibiotics take), it did NOT prevent a UTI from occurring. I am 16 years old and I’m afraid to take antibiotics for the rest of my life for fear it will warp my immune system! I take cranberry capsules everyday along with other vitamins and drink lots of water. Next time I have one, I’m supposed to leave a urine sample with my gyn, but I’m trying to avoid from having her right me a prescription. I just need something that prevents it from happening right now and that doesn’t do my body harm.

  11. I seem to be having more UTIs now that I am getting close to menopause. I had a couple of UTI’s in close succession (within three months) and had the expected yeast vaginosis after the antibiotic treatment for the UTI. I was able to break the cycle by douching only once with diluted kefir for the yeast infection (unsweetened unflavored of course!) and now take an oral probiotic specifically for the vaginal tract (RepHresh Pro-B with L. rahmnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14). Have had neither yeast infection nor UTI in six months. Seems to be working for me!

  12. For the substances that destroy the biofilm, is that something you would take for a period of time and then stop, or would you need to take it on an ongoing basis?

  13. I had to snicker when I read the title to the email notification I received for this post–I was lying in bed with a 102.7F fever from a kidney infection that was a result of an untreated UTI (had only two days of mild pain a few months ago)! I had never had one before, and was surprised that I didn’t have any real pain to warn me of the infection.

    I certainly don’t want to go through this ever again–I was completely miserable for four days…

    It is great to read about D-Mannose as a preventative measure!

  14. I am on a warfarin regimen for A-Fib. Can I still take D-Mannose. I’m not supposed to have too much cranberry.

  15. I found D-mannose worked wonders but was expensive; hibiscus flower tea has worked well more recently. Since reducing carbs to ketogenic levels I no longer have UTI issues; I guess that any sugar in the urine feeds the bacteria.

  16. I use d-mannose every time I have sex. I also take a bit of colloidal silver & put colloidal silver on my urethra opening topically with a q-tip. I take probiotics as well. I’ve noticed the biggest difference with colloidal silver, though I know the d-mannose is extremely helpful as well.

  17. Thanks for this article!
    I developed inflammatory bowel disease due to excess antibiotic for UTI 🙁 I really wish i knew about those alternatives back then! In the end i took vitamin A and I lowered my sugar consumption drastically. I never ever had one again!! After 10 years of misery!!

  18. Great article. It’s nice to know there are so many natural ways to prevent UTI’s. Thankfully they haven’t been a problem for me, I only had one in my entire life … but that may be because I was overprescribed antibiotics for so many other conditions that there was no chance for one of them to happen! Knowing all the natural preventative measures you can take is important.

    While we’re on women’s health, do you know of any natural solutions for severe cramps and endometriosis? My doctor is suspecting I have it because each month I’m pretty much disabled if I don’t take ibuprofen non-stop for the week before my period and then a few days after it starts. I’ve started hormonal birth control again because the pain was too much to bear, but the side effects of that are also not fun and it’s too soon to see if it will help with the pain. I’d love to know more about what I can do to combat this without hormones and ibuprofen because I can’t curl up in a ball w/ a heating pad at home for 3 days a month! I know nsaids are not good for someone with digestive disorders, but I’ve been trying to balance the lesser of the evils and still be able to get to work.

    • Much of the monthly discomfort is caused by increased inflammation during that part of the cycle. It is especially important to eat a low inflammatory diet during that time. A few days before, I would go very strict no grains, legumes or dairy. I would even leave off butter during this time. I would also try avoiding nightshades (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, white potatoes), eggs and nuts. I would increase my intake of fermented cod liver oil a bit. Then, if you find this helps, you could try not being quite so strict the next time and add back in one thing, like eggs, butter or nuts. Anything you can do during this time to reduce inflammation will ease your discomfort.

      • I’m already on a very strict low inflammation diet. Dairy (including butter), grains, legumes and starches all make me very ill. I take lots of probiotics and D3, but haven’t tried fermented cod liver oil yet. Fortunately eggs don’t bother me as long as I stick to pastured ones – so I only eat eggs from an amazing local farmer with very happy chickens (and hogs – their pork is also incredible). It would be very hard for me to eat enough affordable calories in a day without the eggs! I’ll see if the cod liver oil helps …. If there are any other suggestions I would love to hear them. I was awake for hours last night in pain, and would give anything to not go through this every month!

        • One more thing to consider is the probiotic that you are using. I react to fermented foods, so I take a probiotic supplement. The only way to know if fermented foods, eggs, nuts, nightshades, etc. bother you is to do an elimination diet. You could probably for a short time eat more hamburger instead of eggs to see. Pork is also another possibly reactive food, especially if they have soy in their diet, even if they are pasture raised.

          I also had to try several brands of probiotics before I found one that agreed with me. Klaire Labs is the brand that I use now. Many probiotics have dairy in them and all of the ones that I tried were dairy-free, so I’m not sure why this one works so well for me. Self-experimentation is invaluable.

          I also take 10,000 IU of Carlson’s liquid vitamin D and 200,000 iu of this particular soy-free vitamin A. I would only take that much vitamin A if it is this type of vitamin A. When I cut my vitamin A back, I get inflamed. I never try to cut my vitamin D back and I get my levels checked every year.

          http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=CL-1440

        • Look into the herb black haw and cramp bark. They are both herbs that help directly with uterine cramping. Some people say they work better than ibuprofen. Black haw is supposed to be especially strong for really painful cramping. I would also look into Chinese medicine.

  19. after my hygiene (which I always do, shower before and after and besides I’m a hygiene freak) and they prescribe antibiotics saying nothing else will help to clear the bacteria. Please tell me what can I do out of your methods above to stop getting these??? This condition is destroying my life.
    Kind regards,
    Anne

    • Hi Anne,
      This is what’s helping me:
      1) I had to say NO to oral contraceptives. The way Jasmin messed up my body chemistry is hard to explain, but it was exactly what you are describing.
      2) Making sure I’m dressed for the weather ( no low rise jeans in fall-winter)
      3) Staying away from alcohol

    • Hope you’re feeling better now.
      I know what it feels to have recurring UTIs because I used to get them almost 2-3 times a year. I also suffered from frequent urination and overactive bladder. Took several antibiotics for the UTIs but it would just come back after having sex. I won’t bore you with too much details, but this is what worked for me, and I hope it will help you too.
      1) Find a proactive doctor- a doctor who not only listens, but tries to work with you in finding solutions for you, and doesn’t rest until you do. Because UTIs and frequent urination can be caused by different things in different people, you should be able to be in a position where you know that your doctor cares. I know such doctors are rare these days, but keep searching, don’t give up. Always look for recommendations, if you hear a friend or relative talking great things about their doctor, ask for their name and make a visit to trial for yourself, and really estimate if the doctor is for you or not. It’s very important to work with a doctor you can trust.
      2) Don’t get obsessed- Learn about your illness but don’t go crazy about googling every symptom. Usually, the law of nature is such that what we are obsessed with, is what happens to us.
      3.) Take a look at your emotional habits – are you happy and confident in your own skin? Do you have a tendency to criticise yourself and others? How do you view yourself? Please read the works of Louise Hay and Dr. Christine Northup. I can’t recommend them enough. Their website has tons and tons of helpful information about how our thoughts and self-worth can affect our health.
      4. ) Improve your diet- This is a no-brainer. Gut-health is closely related to our overall physical and mental health. Keeping your gut healthy is important. Here are some pointers:
      – Become best friends with vegetables. Eat lots and lots of ‘cooked’ vegetables EVERYDAY
      – Avoid sugar, soy, and cow’s milk
      – Avoid anything that comes in a box, a can, or a jar, that you find on supermarket shelves, they’re full of nasty chemicals, additives, thickeners, and preservatives.
      – Stay away from junk food and limit take aways – I know it’s hard, but one trick I use is, I try to spend all of my monthly food budget in the grocery store, so that I don’t have any left over money to tempt me to eat out.
      – Limit your intake of grains and gluten. If you can go grain and gluten-free, so much the better! Rice is a staple diet of my culture, so I love and need my rice! and I do occasionally eat wheat too. But like I said, if you can go grain- gluten free, that’s fantastic as I’ve heard it works wonders on many people’s health.
      – Choose organic when you can.
      – Drink at least 1.5 litres of water, in sips, spread throughout the day. Never drink too much water AT ONCE!!! I speak from personal experience!!! I used to drink water all at once, and gosh it can be really taxing to your bladder. Another problem with drinking too much water all at once is that often when you are out and about, you may have to hold your pee and that can be very painful, may even increase the chances of an infection. So drink your 1.5 Litres or 2 Litres of water daily, BUT drink it slowly, spread it throughout the day. 🙂
      – Walk for about 30 mins everyday in fresh air. Take deep belly breathes. Think blood circulation and oxygen.
      – Obey the call of nature.
      5.) Be positive- Be positive that you will eventually heal. If you’re stressed out, and want to change your negative thought patterns inside out, I highly recommend you to look up Vipassana meditation. http://www.vridhamma.org/Home This has changed my life in so many ways, and has been the best thing I ever did in my life.
      6.) Finally, the basics- For those of us women who get UTIs after sex:
      – Have sex in the mornings, then drink lots of water so you have the whole day to pee and flush out the bacteria if any.
      – Don’t have rough sex. Just don’t do it. The UTI afterwards is just not worth it! So be gentle, ask your partner to be gentle. And don’t even think of anal sex. That just brings more chances of bacteria and is a no-no for those of us who suffer from re-current utis.
      -Make sure you and your partner wash yourselves FRONT AND BACK THOROUGHLY, BEFORE sex! And after sex too, ofcourse. This is very important, your partner MUST agree to do this!
      – Women, Pee before and after sex.
      – Another thing I want to add, speaking out of personal experience- because I used to get utis all the time after having sex, this really put me off having sex for almost a year and a half. My husband, thankfully, bless him, understood this. but I want to tell you, please don’t let utis ruin your sex life, or change your attitude towards sex. I think my negative attitude to sex brought more utis in my life because when we did have sex every now and then, I used to be very dry. TMI i know, but I hope this helps. Being too dry can make sex painful, and bring a whole host of other problems again.
      wow, this has been long, but I hope it helps you. And i hope it will help anyone who comes across this 🙂