6 Natural Drinks to Treat Urinary Tract Infections
According to popular beliefs, supplementing daily hydration with certain natural beverages, such as cranberry juice and horsetail infusion, could help stimulate urination and relieve some of the symptoms of urinary tract infections. In fact, there are some drinks to treat urinary tract infections.
Before we continue, however, we should review some facts about this common health problem.
The urinary system and infections
The urinary system is the body’s drainage system for eliminating waste and excess water. Urinary tract infections can occur anywhere in the urinary system.This includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD), urinary tract infections are the second most common type of infection in the body.
Although women are more likely to get a urinary tract infection than men, doctors tell us that everyone, at some point in their lives, can experience this common problem.
Infections occur in the lower urinary tract (the bladder and urethra) and can be painful and uncomfortable. However, more severe and painful conditions also appear in the upper urinary tract (the kidneys).
The constant sensation of having to urinate and discomfort when urinating (burning, pelvic pain) and going to the bathroom frequently to urinate in small amounts are some of the most common symptoms of urinary tract infections.
If you experience these discomforts, it’s important to see a doctor for a medical evaluation. If you’re diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, you should follow his or her instructions and take the antibiotic medication prescribed.
Additionally, you should eat a balanced diet and pay attention to your daily hydration, as these will play a key role in your recovery. These natural drinks can help.
Natural drinks to complement your hydration
As mentioned above, the following drinks are not a cure for urinary tract infections, but a complement to daily hydration.
1. Drinks to treat urinary tract infections: Cranberry juice
Both blueberry and cranberry juice have great health benefits, although more research is still needed to determine how much they can help with urinary tract infections.
Because of its vitamin and antioxidant content, it is believed that cranberry juice could contribute to the health of the renal system and also to the treatment of urinary tract infections.
However, there are researchers who comment that further research is needed since they believe that the consumption of cranberry drinks doesn’t really make a significant contribution to kidney health.
We think you may also enjoy reading this article: How to Take Care of Your Kidneys and Bladder
2. Pomegranate juice
According to a study, pomegranate is a food that has potential health benefits due to its antioxidant content.
In fact, the Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN) clarifies that this fruit is not an outstanding source of nutrients. However, it does contain a certain amount of potassium and vitamin C, as well as small amounts of B vitamins, which are essential for the brain, among other things.
Although pomegranate juice has not been shown to significantly contribute to kidney health, its consumption as part of a balanced diet can help supplement the diet and maintain variety in the diet.
3. Horsetail infusion
Thanks to its diuretic effect, a horsetail infusion can help to stimulate urination, release retained fluids and, therefore, contribute in some way to relieving the uncomfortable symptoms of urinary infections. However, it’s not a treatment on its own.
- To prepare a good horsetail infusion, it’s necessary to heat water until it boils.
- Then, place two or three tablespoons of dried plant (or a bag of horsetail) in a cup. If you want to make a mixed infusion, it’s possible to add linden or elder leaves, as well.
- Then, pour the hot water over the plant and immediately cover it to let it steep for a few minutes so that the oils that contain the main properties of horsetail don’t evaporate.
- Finally, strain and serve.
We think you may be interested in reading this, too: A Basil and Sage Cleanse to Naturally Detox Your Kidneys
4. Parsley tea
Although parsley is not a particularly nutritious food, according to popular beliefs, the consumption of its tea could help to hydrate the body and contribute to the elimination of liquids and waste accumulated.
However, you should not drink this type of tea during pregnancy. The most advisable thing to do if you are pregnant and have a urinary infection is to go to your gynecologist.
In fact, a study recently published by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal reveals that “parsley tea is not advisable because its intake in large quantities stimulates the uterus and may induce threats of miscarriage or premature birth”, so caution should be taken.
To prepare this drink, you need:
Ingredients
- 1 liter of water
- The juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley (10 g)
- Honey (to taste)
How to make it:
- The first thing to do is to boil the glass of water to cook the parsley.
- Let it boil for 20 minutes and let it steep for another 20 minutes.
- Then, sweeten with honey, add the juice of a lemon, and drink small sips throughout the day.
- The parsley tea should be at room temperature when you drink it.
5. Coconut water
Another drink that’s often recommended at the popular level in case of urinary tract infections is coconut water. It’s believed that drinking it can help to eliminate pathogenic bacteria lodged in the urinary tract and relieve inflammation of the urethra and bladder walls.
However, more research is still needed.
6. Garlic tea
Another homemade beverage that is thought to help “sweep” harmful microorganisms from the urinary tract is garlic tea.
According to a study published by the Journal Medicina Naturista: “within a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, garlic has demonstrated its antibacterial effect against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (including E. coli)”. To prepare it, you must have the following.
Ingredients
- 1 clove of garlic.
- 1 glass of water (250 ml)
- Lemon juice (1 tablespoon).
- Honey (to taste).
How to make it:
- The first thing to do is to heat the glass of water.
- Meanwhile, peel the garlic and chop it so that its essential oils come out and infuse it with the water.
- Allow this mixture to simmer for 15 minutes and let it steep for another 10 minutes.
- Now, we strain the contents and we are left with just the tea.
As you’ve seen, there are several natural drinks that you can consume to supplement daily hydration and take care of the renal and urinary tract system. They are dietary complements that you can take advantage of whenever you want, not only in case of discomfort or illness.
However, we must keep in mind that the best treatment is always to drink plenty of water since this is the best natural source of hydration for the body.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Instituto Nacional de Diabetes y Enfermedades Digestivas y Renales (NIDDKD por sus siglas en inglés), Cámara Nacional de Información sobre Enfermedades Renales y Urológicas (NKUDIC por sus siglas en inglés). Urinary tract infections. (2011). niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases
- Lionel, O. O., Adegboyega, I. P., Ezekiel, A. O., & Olufunke, B. C. (2020). Antimicrobial activity of garlic (Allium sativum) on selected uropathogens from cases of urinary tract infection. Annals of Tropical Pathology, 11(2), 133. https://www.atpjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2251-0060;year=2020;volume=11;issue=2;spage=133;epage=138;aulast=Lionel
- Maciel Carneiro, D., Veiga Jardim, T., Luciana Araújo, Y. C., Carolina Arantes, A., Cristina de Sousa, A., Sebba Barroso, W. K., … & Brandão Veiga Jardim, P. C. (2019). Equisetum arvense: New Evidences Supports Medical use in Daily Clinic. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 13(26). https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A11%3A21024603/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A144399620&crl=c
- Shaza, M. A. (2016). Phytochemical screening of Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss and in vitro evaluation of its antimicrobial activity against some uropathogens. Arabian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 2(2), 86-98. https://revues.imist.ma/index.php/AJMAP/article/view/6692
- Viedma-Contreras, S., Pérez, M. D. M. P., & Seva, J. P. (2022). Evidencia sobre el uso de arándanos en la prevención y tratamiento de las infecciones urinarias. Enfermería integral: Revista científica del Colegio Oficial de Enfermería de Valencia, (132), 43-46. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=8607946
