Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common outpatient infections in the world and more than half of women will experience a UTI at least once in their lifetime.
While the most common treatment for a UTI is likely to be a prescription of antibiotics, this approach is problematic for several reasons.
The overprescription of antibiotics for non-life threatening conditions has led to the evolution of bacteria and fungi that are resistant to all available antibiotics.
The more we continue to over-prescribe antibiotics, the more resistant infectious microbes will become, eventually leading to a day when antibiotics no longer work––and in some cases, that day has already arrived.
On an individual level, antibiotics may kill the pathogenic bacteria causing an infection in the body, but they also kill many of the beneficial bacteria in the microbiome of our body that are responsible for an endless number of essential and supportive functions of health.
Specific to UTIs, antibiotics do not always work, and for those suffering from chronic UTIs, taking a new round of antibiotics every few weeks or months is not a sustainable solution.
We can no longer simply throw antibiotics at every patient who reports the slightest problem. We must find better and safer solutions on a problem-by-problem basis. Antibiotics should be reserved only for life-threatening infections and nothing more.
Fortunately, there are ample non-antibiotic solutions to many of the common maladies conventionally treated by antibiotics, and that certainly includes UTIs.
The best approach to a UTI––as with all illness and disease––is prevention.
The real way to prevent a UTI is to correct all systematic imbalances and deficiencies in the body, thereby putting ourselves in a position to remain strong, vital and resilient in the face of any adversity.
Supporting the terrain in order to defend against pathogenic invasion is what functional and eastern medicine specialize in. They are holistic, preventative, lifestyle medicines.
Beyond the bigger picture, there are many natural solutions to supporting the body in preventing and treating UTIs specifically.
Eastern medicine views a UTI presentation as an energetic imbalance and offers two patent formulas that have been used to treat UTIs for thousands of years.
Ba Zheng San is a Chinese herbal formula invented in 1107 AD built to clear Heart Fire and expel Damp-Heat from the Urinary Bladder, both of which can contribute to the expression of UTI symptoms.
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang is a Chinese herbal formula invented in 1682 AD that works to balance Damp-Heat in the Liver Channel, which passes through the genitals and can present as UTI symptoms.
Acupuncture alone can clear the symptoms of a UTI, often in a single treatment.
Neem Oil has been found in clinical study to help prevent UTI when introduced intravaginally. Using a vaginal applicator, inject two milliliters inside the vagina once daily and five minutes before sexual intercourse.
Yin Care herbal wash is a blend of Chinese herbs in liquid form that can clear heat and dampness. Mix a 10% dilution in high-quality water using the included applicator and rinse inside the vagina twice a day for 3 to 6 days at the onset of UTI symptoms.
To support a healthy vaginal flora, place a vaginal probiotic suppository capsule inside the vagina before bed every evening and let it dissolve overnight. This will help populate the vagina with beneficial bacteria that keep the bad bacteria out.
D-Mannose is the active component found in cranberry juice that helps disrupt the E. Coli bacteria responsible for 90% of UTIs. D-Mannose products are available in supplemental form to help treat and prevent a UTI. Drinking organic cranberry juice with no added sugar can also be supportive.
Biocidin offers a unique blend of herbs and botanicals that are naturally antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory, as well as supportive of detox pathways. Biocidin LSF can be taken orally starting with one pump per day and slowly increasing up to three pumps per day. Biocidin capsules can be used as a vaginal suppository once daily.
All of these products are available through my Wellevate supplement dispensary. Click on the “Supplements” tab of my website to open a free account. You’ll receive 15% off every purchase and free shipping on orders over $50.
Food is always the most important medicine and in the case of treating and preventing UTIs it is recommended to remove all sugar, alcohol, gluten, grains, dairy, caffeine, chemicals, vegetable oils and processed or packaged food from the diet.
Sexual intercourse is one of the most common causes of a UTI. To that end, urinating immediately after sex will help to clear the urethra of any potentially infectious bacteria.
Additionally, your sexual partner’s contribution to infection must not be overlooked. It’s not ever what anyone wants to hear, but in some cases they may just not be the right fit for you.
Whether the pH levels are off, the microbiomes are a mismatch, the histocompatibility is wrong, or the energetics simply don’t align, our bodies have many ways of communicating with us––even when we don’t want to listen––and pain is often our body’s most persuasive message.