Home Doctor: Practical Medicine for Every Household
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the discomfort the patient is experiencing. In addition, the urine may look cloudy and have a stronger odor than normal. The definitive diagnosis is made with a urine test. Ideally, the test should be checked by an expert in a laboratory. However, for special situations, there are test strips available for home use. Although these are not the most accurate, they are very helpful when common natural treatments are not working well and antibiotics should be used.
Treatment About 40% of urinary tract infections do not require treatment with antibiotics. Natural treatments are widely known, inexpensive, and easy to carry out. Between the year I spent in the Amazon, my mother’s homemade recipes, and the tips one learns from patients, the natural treatment of urinary infections is one I have learned to handle very well.
James Heilman, MD, Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
The first recommendation is to stay well hydrated. Drinking enough fluids, especially water, helps with good urinary flow. This helps bacteria to be carried out by the urine rather than starting to move into the bladder. This recommendation goes hand in hand with not holding back the urge to urinate. Going for a long time without urinating gives bacteria room to stick in the urethra and climb up. Drinking cranberry juice is very beneficial. Although the mechanism by which it works is still not totally clear, there are many testimonies, including my own, that this fruit helps improve the health of the urinary tract. It can be consumed as a juice or as a supplement as the juice is very acidic for some people. Cranberry dietary supplement: 1 capsule daily My mother’s favorite is to eat papaya seeds. Papaya seeds are widely used in my country, probably because this is one of the most abundant fruits in all of Venezuela. They are said to have many antiseptic and purifying benefits. In the case of urine and other kidney problems, it is advisable to eat seven papaya seeds three times a day for seven days. Some people crush them in a mortar and consume them as part of a salad dressing or juice. It has great purifying and antioxidant benefits. Garlic is another powerful antiseptic that can treat infections of any kind. In the case of UTIs, it is recommended to prepare an infusion with three crushed garlic cloves in one cup of water for five minutes. This liquid is strained and drunk three times a day for five days. Other foods, such as watermelon and asparagus, also have anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties, which are beneficial for both the prevention and treatment of UTIs. What if Natural Treatment Is Not Enough? Natural therapies are generally very effective; however, if you don’t see improvement in your symptoms after three days or if a fever starts, you should probably move on to treatment with medication. 166
