Here are 5 herbs and natural supplements that can help prevent and treat mild UTI.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea is used in herbal medicine to treat a variety of physical diseases including UTI.
Like parsley, chamomile has a weak diuretic effect and contains plant compounds with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
These properties are said to help reduce inflammation, inhibit the growth of bacteria and drain the urinary tract of infected bacteria, but more research is needed.
Peppermint tea
Teas made from mint and other wild mint are sometimes used as a natural remedy for UTI. Somekgonal studies have found that peppermint leaves have antibacterial effects against different types of UTI-causing bacteria such as E coli. Some compounds found in mint leaves may also help reduce bacteria's resistance to antibiotics.
Garlic
Garlic is a popular herb that has been widely used in both traditional medicine and cuisine throughout history. It often uses drugs to treat a wide range of physical diseases, including fungal infections, viruses and bacteria.
Endocrinological studies and case reports show that the antibacterial effects of garlic and garlic may help treat urinary tract infections, but better-than-expected human studies are needed to confirm these claims.
D-mannose
It is a simple sugar that is often used to prevent and treat mild urinary tract infections. It occurs naturally in many foods, including cranberries, apples, and oranges, but is often consumed in powder or tablets when used as an UTI therapy.
According to Heathline, a 2016 study assessed the effects of D-mannose on 43 women with tricky infections and a history of recurrent urinary tract infections.
For the first 3 days, participants used a dose of D-mannose of 1.5 grams twice a day, then a dose of 1.5 grams per day for the next 10 days. After 15 days, about 90% of their infections were resolved.
Although these results are encouraging, the research design is somewhat flawed due to small sample size and lack of control groups.
Uva ursi
Uva ursi - also known as Arctostaphylos uva ursi or strawberry leaves - is a herbal medicine for UTI that has been used in traditional medicine and folk medicine for centuries. It is native to a wild bush that grows in many different regions of Europe, Asia and North America.
Modern research supports the use of uva ursi for UTI treatment is still limited, although some compounds in plants have shown strong antibacterial properties in in vitro studies. An old study in 57 women showed that using uva ursi supplement with dried fruit significantly reduces UTI recurrence. However, its long-term safety has not been established and it should not be taken for more than 1-2 weeks at a time due to the potential risk of liver and kidney damage.
