Bladder or Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection (UTI) can occur anywhere in the urinary system: kidneys, bladder, and urethra.
Infections are divided into “upper,” when the kidneys are infected, and “lower,” affecting the bladder and the urethra, the tube that channels urine from the bladder. When the kidney is involved, the infection is also called “acute pyelonephritis.” Lower infections are called “cystitis” or simply “bladder infections.”
HELPFUL SUPPLEMENTS
- VITAMIN C makes urine more acidic and therefore more hostile to bacteria, and it reinforces the body’s immune system.
- CRANBERRY keeps bacteria from clinging to the walls of the urinary tract and, like Vitamin C, acidifies the urine (cranberry is rich in Vitamin C). Cranberry also helps to deodorize urine.
- GOLDENSEAL, ECHINACEA, AND NETTLE teas can soothe inflamed tissues, and the extra liquid helps flush bacteria out of the urinary tract.
- UVA URSI. This evergreen bush (also known as bearberry) contains substances that work well against UTI for some people. Experts don’t recommend taking uva ursi together with Vitamin C and cranberry because they weaken its effect. They also suggest that this potent natural remedy be taken no more than five times a year by most people, and not at all if you have kidney disease or are pregnant.
- PROBIOTICS restore the good bacteria that are killed when you are taking antibiotics.
