Home remedies for cystitis
introduction
Cystitis is almost always caused by a bacterial infection, so it is treated with an antibiotic. In the case of mild infections, however, this is not absolutely necessary: In this case, a non-drug therapy can be tried first, which often fights the infection so efficiently that the use of antibiotics becomes obsolete. If this is not the case, you can always switch to antibiotic therapy.
The most important remedy in every respect is: drink a lot! This facilitates the elimination of the pathogens in the urinary bladder. About 3 to 4 liters are a good measure to effectively carry out this so-called flushing therapy.
In addition, the regular use of many herbal remedies can also prevent the recurrence of bladder infections.
However, if you have certain symptoms, you should seek medical advice immediately: These include fever, chills, nausea and vomiting. A kidney bed that is painful to pressure or knocking must also be taken seriously (this is located on the flanks, i.e. on the lower back at about navel level). These signs indicate that the inflammation has already moved up from the bladder to the kidneys, causing inflammation of the kidneys. Immediate antibiotic therapy is then urgently indicated.
Read about this too Urinary tract infection
Various possible home remedies
Baking powder / baking soda
The all-rounder baking soda can also be used as a home remedy for bladder infections. The strength of baking soda lies in the alkaline pH value of this substance: most of the bacteria that cause balsenitis feel particularly comfortable in the acidic pH range. In a more alkaline, i.e. basic environment, they are more difficult to survive and reproduce.
There are two ways to make the immediate vicinity of bacteria in the bladder inhospitable with baking soda: through internal use, i.e. taking baking soda with water and using it externally as a bath additive or hip bath. For ingestion, about a level teaspoon of baking soda should be dissolved in a glass of water (0.3 liters) and drunk two or three times a day in order to move the urine in the bladder into a sufficiently alkaline environment. For use as a bath additive or in hip baths, see below.
tea
Herbal preparations for the treatment of bladder infections can be served well as tea, as the water supply promotes the flushing of the bladder and thus the flushing of the pathogens. Above all, water-driving agents (so-called aquaretics or diuretics) are suitable. Nettle, birch leaves, lovage root, horsetail and goldenrod, for example, have a dehydrating effect. Goldenrod in particular also has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and analgesic effects and is therefore particularly suitable for treating infections of the lower urinary tract.
As a further group of active ingredients, antibacterial substances are ideal: According to current knowledge, bearberry and cranberry leaves prevent the bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall and thus facilitate excretion. In addition, they change the pH value of the urine to an alkaline environment, which is inhospitable to the bacteria that cause excitement.
Ready-made tea blends are available as bladder and kidney teas in pharmacies or drugstores. These mostly include birch leaves, horsetail or goldenrod. Cranberry tea can also often be found in supermarkets.
Home remedies for pregnancy
In pregnancy and while breastfeeding, cranberry leaves and bearberry as active ingredients must be avoided! These two substances owe their effect to arbutin, a type of natural disinfectant. In the human body, this is converted into hydroquinone, among other things, which is suspected of damaging the unborn or born child.
Cranberry juice, on the other hand, is a good home remedy for cystitis even during pregnancy. This contains a relatively large amount of vitamin C and the so-called proanthocyanidin. While vitamin C supports the immune system, the exact effects of proanthocyanidins are not yet fully understood. This substance probably acts as a natural antibiotic or enhances the effects of other vitamins. In fact, studies have shown a protective effect on urinary tract infections, especially in women.
Teas with vegetable diuretics (birch leaves, goldenrod, etc.) can also be taken safely and combined with cranberry juice.
Home remedies for children
Because of its taste, cranberry juice is very suitable for children. However, it is advisable to pay attention to the sugar content of the juice, especially if the child tends to "suckle" on the drink permanently.
Because of the arbutene content (see above), teas made from cranberry leaves should also be avoided in younger children who are not past primary school age. Such teas can be used in older children, but the rule of thumb should be: no more than five times a year and no longer than a week at a time. So cranberry leaf tea is not suitable for long-term prophylaxis.
As with pregnant women, the use of herbal dehydrating agents is also safe in children and suitable for the prophylaxis of recurrent bladder infections.
Read more on the subject at: Urinary tract infections in children - it's that dangerous!
Hip bath
The Sitz bath, in which only the part between the navel and middle thigh is bathed, is suitable for the supportive treatment of diseases in the genital and anal area. It is therefore also used for cystitis, as the active ingredients are brought directly to the diseased body region in this way
As a bath additive, anti-inflammatory agents are particularly recommended, for example chamomile or goldenrod. Soda can also help against bladder infections, as the alkaline pH value has an antibacterial effect. Several tablespoons of baking soda can be added to the water - again not so many that the baking soda settles on the bottom of the tub. The bath additives mentioned can also be used for full baths.
homeopathy
Anyone who is familiar with homeopathic healing methods can consider giving selected active ingredients in addition to flushing therapy. The choice of homeopathic remedy is based on the main symptoms. For example, the causality, the location of the pain, the radiation of the pain, the admixture of blood in the urine and the time when the pain occurred must be taken into account.
Because of the difference in balsal infections, however, we cannot recommend “one” remedy at this point. Experienced homeopaths should, however, succeed in at least alleviating the acute symptoms of cystitis.
Read more about the topic here: Homeopathy for cystitis
