Urinary infections are major problems in medical practice, both in their frequency (lower urinary tract infections are among the most common infections treated by medical practitioners) and by their potential severity, recurrent urinary tract infections can progress to severe kidney damage.
Cystitis (bladder inflammation) is more common in women of younger age. It is estimated that 50% of women suffer at least once, during their life, of cystitis, and 20 % of them will have recurrent infection.
Methods for the prevention of urinary tract infections are important for both the initial stages of the disease, but also for recurrences:
– A proper personal hygiene of the genitals, use cotton-made underwear, avoid using vaginal swabs;
– Avoid soap or vaginal lavage solutions that alter the pH level and causes irritation of the mucosa;
– Avoid prolonged urinary retention (use adequate hydration to prevent urinary stasis (diuresis of at least 2 l), ensure a proper digestive transit (minimum one seat / day);
– Treatment of gynecological infections; strengthening the immune system; fair treatment of metabolic imbalances (diabetes, hyperuricemia, hypokalemia); avoiding stress, anxiety and exhaustion; a balanced diet; regular meals in a state of calm and relaxation with adequate fluid consumption (only by following this simple dietary advice would reduce the risk of urinary infections by more than 25 %);
– If possible, avoid invasive maneuvers exploration (cystoscopy, urinary catheterization).
How to treat urinary infections:
Once the disease is triggered, in addition to enhancing the preventive measures already mentioned above, using an appropriate hygienic-dietary regime. We recommend bed rest during febrile phases, hot sitz baths, applying hot compresses in the lumbar area, eliminating irritating foods (alcohol, coffee, chemical products, refined sugar), providing increased diuresis by an adequate fluid intake (if it is possible to use a glass of water per hour), anti-constipation, basification or acidification of urine (based on the particular seed). For uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections these simple prescriptions, especially if supplemented by one or more of the herbal regimens that we present below, may allow healing of the disease, so it is often not necessary to use antibiotics or chemotherapy.
Remedies to prevent the disease:
To prevent and fight urinary infections are indicate certain nutritional supplements:
– Natural cranberry juice, 250 ml/day;
– Garlic – acting as a natural antibiotic, having antibacterial and antifungal properties (in which microbial resistance is much lower than the synthesis products). It is given as capsules (3 times, 2 capsules a day) or swallowed without chewing the cloves but without peel, is administered with a little water and, after meals, 2-3 cloves 3 times a day, eventually, ramping up to 7-8 cloves 3 times a day in severe conditions;
– Vitamin C boosts the immune system, reduces proliferation and inhibits germs. In addition, it has antioxidant, antitoxin and laxative effects. It has the role of anti-infective vitamin. It is preferably administered in the form of juices, fresh fruits and vegetables (horseradish rich content, parsley leaf and root, cabbage, peppers, berries, sea buckthorn, citrus, boiled or baked potatoes in shell);
– Ccidophilus administered as tablets or yogurt, kefir stimulate the immune system and good assimilation of nutrients, inhibiting the growth of microorganisms that induce urinary infections;
– Vitamins of group B permit proper assimilation of other nutrients, fortifying the body against stress induced by infection, having anti-inflammatory effect. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and B7 are anti-diabetic; Vitamin B1 helps in healing, Vitamin B6 and B7 are diuretics. It is preferably administered in natural form (administration of whole grains or wheat bran has the advantage to control constipation);
– Vitamin E is diuretic, anti-infective, promoting tissue repair. It is also used preferably from natural sources (mainly found in the leaves, buds, seeds capable of germination and pollen);
– Vitamin A increases the effective functioning of the immune system, promotes tissue repair, with antitoxic and antioxidant effect. It is found in natural form in dairy, egg yolk, vegetable oils, vegetables with colored pigments (red, orange, yellow).
Plant diuretics:
Herbal treatments as hygienic-dietary regime. Diuretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, emollient, depurative, antispasmodic.
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