10 Best Home Remedies For Bladder Infection

Bladder infection or UTI – short for urinary tract infection – is a common condition in which bacteria infects the bladder as well as the exit tubes. Bladder infections can occur due to various reasons such as holding urine for long, sexual intercourse, and underlying health conditions such as diabetes.

Bladder infection needs immediate treatment failing which it poses threat to the kidney. Bladder infection symptoms can be handled right at home with the following amazing home remedies.

Home Remedies For Bladder Infection

Water

One should drink a lot of water (at least 8 to 10 glasses) when first symptoms of bladder infection appear. Drinking more water accounts for greater urgency to urinate. You should drink as much water as possible within 24 hours of appearance of first symptoms.Urinating is essential to ward off bladder infections. Water decreases the concentration of your urine thereby flushing out the bacteria that causes bladder infection.

Baking Soda

The first line of treatment of bladder infection at home is to prevent its spread to other areas. This can be effectively done with the help of baking soda. Baking soda restores the acid-base balance in the otherwise acidic urine and alleviates the pain caused by bladder infection.It not only treats but also prevents bladder infections. All you have to do is to add a teaspoonful of baking soda into water and drink the mixture twice daily for best results. Daily consumption of this mixture would keep bladder infections at bay.

Apple Cider Vinegar

It contains several enzymes that prevent bacterial growth in the urinary tract. Besides, it contains essential minerals like potassium that inhibit growth and multiplication of bladder infection causing bacteria. Being a natural antibiotic, apple cider vinegar proves to be a great remedy for bladder infections.Add about 3 teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar into water and stir it well. You can also add some honey to it to improve the taste. Drink the mixture not less than thrice a day for best results.

Hot water compress

This is mainly used to alleviate the pain caused by bladder infection. Put some hot water into a water bag and place it on lower abdomen. Let it be there for few minutes. Hot water compresses decrease the inflammation caused the bacteria and inhibit its further spread.

Blueberries

Because of its bacteria-inhibiting properties, blueberries are widely known as a remedy for bacterial infections including bladder infection. Besides, blueberries are natural antioxidants that boost the immune system and prevent the body from bacterial infections.Hence, consuming blueberry juice on regular basis can keep bacterial infections at bay. Blueberries can be added to your breakfast cereals. You can also prepare fresh blueberry juice at home.

Cranberry Juice

Similar to blueberry juice, cranberry juice is highly effective in fighting bacterial infections. The active compounds in cranberry called proanthocyanidins prevent the bacteria from attaching the urethral walls thereby preventing bladder infection. It is also a natural antibiotic that inhibits in the growth of bacteria.You can drink half glass cranberry juice on daily basis to shield your body from bacterial infections. However, one suffering from bladder infections should drink 3 to 4 glasses of it twice daily so that the kidneys are protected from damage. Make sure that you do not sweeeten the cranberry juice. You can add apple juice to it though.

Pineapple

The active enzyme in pineapple is bromelain which has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Bromelain helps in curing bladder infections. You can eat a raw pineapple or make fresh pineapple juice at home with a cupful of finely chopped pineapples.The canned pineapples will not be very effective in curing bladder infections since they contain preservatives. However, one has to take pineapples along with the conventional antibiotics to expedite the healing process.

Vitamin C

Foods rich in vitamin C offer relief from bladder infection. Vitamin C acidifies urine and hence inhibits bacterial growth in the bladder. Some of the good food sources of vitamin C are bananas, orange, kiwi, guava, lemon, raspberry, pineapple, watermelon, papaya and capsicum. Alternatively, you can opt for vitamin C supplements.

Tea Tree Oil

Because of its strong antibacterial properties, tea tree oil proves to be an effective home remedy for bladder infections. Add around 10 drops of it to the water used for bathing and properly wash the urethra with this water.Tea tree oil can be mixed with equal quantities of juniper and sandalwood oil and applied to the abdomen and in the area surrounding the bladder. This massage would alleviate the pain caused by bladder infection. Repeat the process thrice a day for effective results.

Yogurt

Yogurt helps in protecting you against future bladder infections or other bacterial infections if not fight the current infection. Yogurt comprises of probiotics named acidophilus bifidus that are also known as good bacteria. These good bacteria inhibit the growth of unfriendly bacteria.