Natural Remedies For Cystitis and Vaginal Infections

by Jackie Parker January 19, 2017, 5:55 pm 11 Comments

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Cystitis or urinary tract infections (UTI) affect women more often than men. In fact, every year about two million women suffer from a bladder infection. While your health care provider may suggest the use of antibiotics to manage the condition… There are many safe and effective natural remedies for cystitis that can help.

What is Cystitis?

Cystitis refers to irritation or bacterial infections to the bladder or to the urethra (where urine comes out). As a result, the infection can occur in a single episode or it can be chronic (recurrent episodes).

Who is Most at Risk?

Cystitis is common in sexually active women and menopausal women.

The risk for cystitis is elevated if a woman is:

Sexually active
Pregnant
Uses a diaphragm with spermicide
Menopause – loss of estrogen
Menstruating
Using personal hygiene products frequently

A bladder infection is a result of not efficiently evacuating the urine. Usually, If you have a good strong stream of urine, you will not get a bladder infection.

Symptoms of Cystitis:

Some of the most commonly reported symptoms of cystitis include:

Pain, burning or stinging while urinating
Frequent urination
A sense of urgency to pee
Feeling like urinating even after passing urine
Dark and/or cloudy urine with a smell
Pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic area
Nausea and/or vomiting
Presence of blood

In some cases, the infection is accompanied by low-grade fever and a dull, nagging ache in the lower back and sides of the ribs.

In kids, the symptoms may include one or more of the following:

A temperature of 101 or above
Nausea and/or vomiting
Irritability and adamancy
Poor appetite
Inability to pass urine due to pain
Abdominal pain
Dark colored urine

Natural Remedies for Cystitis and Vaginal Infections

We've rounded up the best natural remedies for cystitis to bring relief for cystitis and vaginal infections.

Lifestyle Remedies

1. Reduce stress

Find ways to cut down stress because stress can trigger inflammation. With this in mind, you want to practice relaxation techniques to de-stress because it's known to lower the recurrence of cystitis. An Epsom salt bath can be another great way to relax pelvic floor muscles and reduce pain.

2. Cooling Diet

Pitta Diet and Lifestyle Ayurveda recommends choosing a diet to lower heat in the urinary tract. Accordingly, cooling food is called a pitta pacifying diet. Avoid sugar, alcohol, refined carbohydrates (white bread and pasta), and full-strength fruit juices. Also, you want to eat generous amounts of garlic and onions.

3. Drink water

natural remedies for cystitis Acute cystitis can happen from lack of adequate fluid intake. So then, Drink plenty of water to help flush bacteria from the urinary tract. For example, aim to drink at least 64 oz of pure water or unsweetened liquid daily to flush out the bugs.

4. Stopping smoking

natural remedies for cystitis If you smoke, here's another reason to stop: For one thing, the chemicals you inhale while smoking irritates the bladder, triggering inflammation and infection.

5. Maintain intimate hygiene

Shower daily to keep vulva area clean. As a rule:

Wipe from front to back after a bowel movement
Avoid wearing nylon pantyhose or tight clothing (like tight skinny jeans) for long hours. (tight clothing can be a breeding ground for bacteria).
Aim to wear loose, cotton underwear
Stop using douches, soaps or deodorants in the vaginal area as it depletes the natural pH levels.
Empty your bladder and clean the vaginal area after sexual intercourse

6. Hot and Cold Therapy

Experiment with a heating pad and cold a pack to see what works best for you. Often a combination of both is most effective

Heat can help to soothe the spasms and aches. The easiest thing is to use just a simple heating pad or hot water bottle.

But since cystitis is a heated condition, an ice pack placed directly on the perineum can bring instant relief. Cold also helps to reduce inflammation

Do not leave either hot or cold on too long. It's best to alternate every 20 minutes or so.

Home & Herbal Remedies for Cystitis

1. UriCare

A bladder infection is a result of not efficiently evacuating the urine. Uri-care is an Ayurvedic herbal formulation to improve the flow and natural release of urine from the bladder. This formula also contains Indian Madder which has been shown to promote the normal functioning of bladder muscle contraction and relaxation.

2. Baking soda

Try 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in water to feel relief in 20 minutes.

3. Licorice Root

Licorice is used to coat the bladder wall and offer protection to dry bladder membranes and painful urination. In this case, it can be taken in capsule form or as a prepared tea.

4. Mannose powder

1/2 teaspoon of mannose powder in water every 1-2 hours can also quickly improve a urinary infection.

5. Drink Cranberry juice

Drink 16 ounces of unsweetened cranberry or blueberry juice daily. Cranberries and blueberries have a high content of mannose which prevents bacteria from binding to cells.

According to a study [1], cranberry juice could even prevent the recurrence of bacterial cystitis within 8 hours of consuming the drink. You can even opt for cranberry supplements.

6. Yogurt

Eating yogurt is beneficial for bladder infections because it contains acidophilus. Chiefly, it not only helps in curing the infection but also protects further attacks.

7. Spinach

A drink made by mixing spinach juice and coconut water is known to be a super remedy for cystitis as it eases the burning and itching sensation.

8. Cornsilk

A natural diuretic which helps to ease the inflammation and infection of the bladder. Particularly, it's one of the safest natural solutions for cystitis in children.

7. Apple cider vinegar

The enzymes in Apple cider vinegar prevent bacterial growth.

Mix 1 tbsp raw, unflavored ACV in 3/4 cup water at room temperature. Drink 3 x daily to see noticeable changes.

8 Cucumber

Cucumber along with lemon makes a powerful solution to combat and prevent urinary bladder infection. Blend one peeled cucumber with 2 tsp lemon juice and half a cup of non-flavored yogurt. Mix well and consume twice a day to cool the bladder and curb the bacterial growth.

Yoga For Cystitis

1. Cat-Cow Vinyasa

This abdominal movement helps to relax and lower stress. It also promotes circulation and offers relief from inflammation.

Come on all your fours. Separate the knees slightly wider than the hips and extend the toes backward. Stack the wrists under the shoulders. Inhale, arch the back, and gaze up, lifting the chest up. Exhale and round the back, sucking the abdomen and navel towards the spine. Repeat the movements slowly, gliding into and out of the postures for 5 to 7 minutes.

2. Padmasana – Lotus Pose

Lotus pose helps to strengthen the muscles of the thighs, groin, and genital area. It also opens up the hips and relieves the compression in the spine.

Sit on the floor, stretching out the legs in the front. Bend your right leg at the knee and rest the right heel close to the left groin. Bend the left leg at the knee and rest the left heel close to the right groin. Keeping your neck and back as straight as possible, sit in this pose daily for at least 5 minutes.

3. Bhujangasana – Cobra Pose

This pose massages the abdominal area, offering relief from the pain and spasm. In addition, it is a gentle backbend that promotes relaxation and circulation. This posture also strengthens the lower back muscles, kidneys, and pelvic muscles.

Lie down on your abdomen and place your hands near your chest on the side of the body, hugging the elbows close to the body. Push the palms into the floor and on an inhale, lift your head and chest up to the navel. Keep the elbows bent. Press the tops of the feet firmly into the floor and lift a little higher. Bend backward and gaze up.

>>10 Best Yoga Exercises for Weight Loss

See Your Doctor

These natural remedies for cystitis are time-tested and effective. But, do the smart thing and see your doctor anyway.

You can always include these natural solutions along with the medications that your doctor recommends. And if you do end up taking antibiotics for your bladder infection, be sure to add a probiotic supplement to your program. (Do not take the probiotic and the antibiotic at the same time).

Conclusion

I’ve given you lots of natural remedies for bladder health here. So, it can be helpful to read it over again to digest the information or bookmark it for future reference.

Please promise me one more thing… You won’t hesitate to ask me questions in the comment area below. I’m here to help you out and I would love nothing more than for you to be the healthiest and happiest version of yourself possible. Let me know if you need anything and I will be sure to get back within “hours” most of the time.

Referenceshttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cystitis/Pages/Symptoms.aspxhttps://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000526.htmhttp://wellnessmama.com/60032/remedies-for-interstitial-cystitis/ http://www.healthline.com/health/bladder-infection-treatments#6http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/bha-charity/how-we-can-help/conditions-a-z/nipping-cystitis-in-the-bud/http://homeremedyshop.com/20-home-remedies-for-bladder-infection/https://draxe.com/home-remedies-bladder-infections-uti/https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/blog-the-banyan-insight/details/ayurvedic-support-for-urinary-tract-infections/http://www.rapidhomeremedies.com/6-amazing-remedies-prevent-urinary-tract-infection.htmlhttp://everydayroots.com/uti-remedieshttps://www.ayurtimes.com/chandraprabha-vati-benefits-uses-dosage-side-effects/

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