Antibiotics are the main treatment for urinary tract infections, but some home remedies can as well help relieve symptoms and prevent recurring infections. To treat a urinary tract infection with antibiotics, these approaches can be considered:
1. Stay Hydrated: drinking enough water can help prevent urinary tract infections, because water helps the urinary tract organs to efficiently remove waste from the body while retaining vital nutrients and electrolytes.
Being hydrated can also dilute the urine and make it harder for bacteria to reach or infect the cells that lines the urinary organ
2. Frequent Urination When the Need Arises: frequent urination can help flush bacteria from the urinary tract, and reduces the time that bacteria in the urine are exposed to cells in the tract, and the risk of attaching and infecting the cells.
Therefore urinating as soon as possible when the urge strikes can help prevent and treat Urinary Tract Infections.
3. Drink Cranberry juice: Cranberry juice is a well-known natural treatment for Urinary Tract Infections, thou it can be used to clear other infection and speed wound recovery. Cranberries contains polyphenols that may prevent Escherichia coli bacteria from attaching to cells in the urinary tract, it also contains antioxidant with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Use Probiotics: probiotics prevents harmful bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract cells, it produces hydrogen peroxide which is a strong antibacterial agent in urine, and also lowers the urine pH making conditions less favourable for bacteria.
Probiotics exist in several products yoghurts, kefir, cheese, sauerkraut, that contains dairy or are fermented, probiotic supplements usually in capsule or powder mixed into water or other beverages can also be taken.
5. Vitamin C: vitamin C is an antioxidant that improves the Immune system function, lowers the pH of urine, and kills bacteria by reacting with nitrate in urine to form Nitrogen Oxides.
6. Wipe From Front to Back: Bacteria from the rectum or faeces can access the Urethra and travel to the Urinary Tract Organ which can cause Urinary Tract Infections.
It is advised to use separate toilet paper to wipe the genital and anus after urinating so as to prevent bacteria from moving from the anus to the genital.
7. Practice Good Sexual Habits: Sexual habits like urinating before and immediately after sex, using barrier contraception like condom, washing the genital part especially the foreskin before and after sex, and changing of condom when switching from anal sex to vaginal sex can help reduce bacteria and other microbes from being introduced into the urinary tract