Homemade Remedies for Urinary Infections

Homemade Remedies for Urinary Infections

Last update: 15 December, 2022

This type of problem is more frequent in women than in men because their urethra is shorter. The symptoms are burning when urinating, increased frequency in urination, a feeling of a full bladder, and murky color in urine. Find out some of the homemade remedies for urinary infections in the following article.

Causes and symptoms of a urinary infection

Urinary infections are divided into two kinds: the upper urinary tracts (affects the kidneys and urethra) and lower urinary tracts (affects the urethra and bladder). Both can be caused by the same factors, however the difference is in the time that goes by until they are treated.

Some of the causes of urinary infections are: poor hygiene, hormonal changes, constipation, pregnancy, diabetes, prostate inflammation for men, holding urine for too long, sitting down for many hours without moving, bacteria like E Coli, fungus, viruses, and parasites.

Read more: Watch Out for These 9 Dangerous Bacteria That Are Harmful to Humans

Woman with weak bladder

The characteristic symptoms of urinary infections are:

  • Pain or strong burning when urinating
  • Shivers
  • Pain in the lower part of the back
  • Fever
  • Urine with a murky or intense color, or foamy
  • Sudden or frequent urges to urinate
  • Sensation of a full bladder
  • Small amounts of urine

Here are some great remedies for urinary infections for you to try out:

  • Make a drink by mixing 125 ml of water and 1/4 tablespoon of baking soda. Drink two glasses of water and then this mixture.
  • Drink large amounts of cranberry juice every day to prevent bacteria from “sticking” to the walls of the urinary tract and getting rid of urine quicker.
Plate of blueberries
  • Try drinking two tablespoons of unrefined virgin coconut oil a day. You can also drink a glass of water or coconut milk on an empty stomach and another before going to sleep. This will help kill E Coli since it is resistant to antibiotics.
  • Asparagus are great purifiers of urinary tracts and help cure infections in this area. Don’t worry if the color of your urine changes a little bit while you are eating this vegetable, this is normal.
  • Peel two garlic cloves and crush them. Add a cup of warm water and let it sit for five minutes. Repeat this treatment three times a day until the symptoms disappear. The garlic will kill the bacteria in the urinary tract.
Peeled garlic cloves

Apple cider vinegar

  • Another one of the best remedies for urinary infections is to dissolve two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a liter of water and drink it throughout the day. It is great for people who have cystitis.
  • Cut an onion into four pieces and boil in a 2 pints of water for 20 minutes. Remove and let it sit for 8 hours (it can be at night). Strain and drink the broth. Onion is diuretic and antibacterial.
  • Eat a few pieces of watermelon a day, because it will help cleanse and refresh the kidneys. It is a good method to prevent urinary infections if you are prone to them.
  • Blend two celery stalks with their leaves on in three liters of water. Add two slices of pineapple and a cup of chamomile tea. Mix all and drink on an empty stomach.
  • Make an infusion with two tablespoons of basil per cup of water, let stand for ten minutes and drink twice a day for 48 hours.

 

More remedies

  • Make a juice with two cups of fresh cranberries, half a cup of stemless cherries, and a slice of watermelon. Put it all in the blender and mix well. Drink immediately, preferably on an empty stomach, and repeat every day until the infection goes away.
  • Drink juice made with a banana and an apple twice a day for a week.
  • Apply heat to your lower stomach with a hot compress or bottle. It is also good to take an immersion bath to relieve the symptoms and make blood circulate more in the area. It is not recommended for pregnant women because it can cause premature births.
Inflamed abdomen
  • Drink a glass of green coconut water to cleanse the urinary tracts. Then, dice a garlic clove and half an onion and eat them raw. This “combo” is one of the best remedies for urinary infections.
  • Pour a tablespoon of celery seeds in a cup of boiling water. Cover and let stand for ten minutes. Drink three times a day.
  • Boil four tablespoons of thyme, four of horsetail, four of marigold, and four of linseed in a liter of water. Let stand for ten minutes and remove from the heat. Cover and wait for fifteen minutes. Strain and take baths once or twice a day. It has disinfecting and soothing effects.
  • Boil 1 oz of barley in 2 pints of water, and when it boils, pour in 1 oz of juniper, and leave it on there for a minute. Let it stand while covered for fifteen minutes. Then strain it and drink three cups a day.

Recommendations for urinary infections

  • Don’t hold your urine because this boosts the accumulation of urine, inflammation, dilation of the bladder, and creates more space for the bacteria to grow.
  • Drink a lot of liquid in order to eliminate bacteria and so that they don’t reproduce. Your urine should become transparent.
  • Eat foods with a lot of vitamin C like citrus fruits to acidify the urine and prevent bacteria from growing.
  • Keep good intimate hygiene, especially in the case of women, to prevent bacteria from “going back into” the body. Use pads instead of tampons.
  • Avoid alcoholic beverages because they irritate the urinary tracts and worsen the problem when there is an infection.

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.


  • Salvatore, S., Salvatore, S., Cattoni, E., Siesto, G., Serati, M., Sorice, P., & Torella, M. (2011). Urinary tract infections in women. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.01.028
  • Mansour, A., Hariri, E., Shelh, S., Irani, R., & Mroueh, M. (2014). Efficient and cost-effective alternative treatment for recurrent urinary tract infections and interstitial cystitis in women: A two-case report. Case Reports in Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/698758
  • Bayan, L., Koulivand, P. H., & Gorji, A. (2014). Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects. Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine.
  • Jepson, R. G., Williams, G., & Craig, J. C. (2013). Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Sao Paulo Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-3180.20131315T1
  • McCollum BJ, Garigan T, Earwood J. PURL: Can drinking more water prevent urinary tract infections? J Fam Pract. 2020; 69(3): E19-E20.
  • Grin PM, Kowalewska PM, Alhazzan W, Fox-Robichaud AE. Lactobacillus for preventing recurrent urinary tract infections in women: meta-analysis. Can J Urol. 2013; 20(1): 6607-6614.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.