Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be painful and inconvenient, often requiring medical attention and antibiotics. However, Ayurveda, an ancient holistic healing system, offers a range of natural remedies that can complement conventional treatments and relieve urinary tract infections. Ayurvedic remedies balance the body, enhance immunity, and promote overall well-being. This article will explore some effective Ayurvedic home remedies for urinary tract infections that can help alleviate symptoms and support the healing process.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water is vital for flushing out toxins and maintaining proper urinary tract health. Drinking adequate water throughout the day helps dilute the urine, making it easier to flush out bacteria and prevent their growth. Aim to consume at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. For additional benefits, you can also infuse the water with natural diuretics such as coriander, cumin, or fennel seeds.
Herbal Teas
Several herbs possess natural antibacterial and diuretic properties, making them valuable in combating urinary tract infections. Ayurveda recommends the following herbal teas to alleviate symptoms and promote healing:
- Cranberry Tea: Cranberries are well-known for their ability to prevent and treat UTIs. Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice or cranberry tea can help inhibit bacterial growth in the urinary tract.
- Coriander Tea: Coriander seeds have diuretic properties and can aid in flushing out toxins from the urinary system. Boil one tablespoon of coriander seeds in 2 cups of water, strain, and drink the tea twice to three times daily.
- Cinnamon Tea: Cinnamon possesses antimicrobial properties that can help fight off bacterial infections. Add a cinnamon stick to the cooking water, let it steep for 10 minutes, strain, and consume the tea twice daily.
Triphala Powder
Triphala, a blend of three powerful Ayurvedic herbs (amla, haritaki, and bibhitaki), offers numerous health benefits, including supporting urinary tract health. Its natural antibacterial and antioxidant properties make it effective in combating urinary infections. Mix half a teaspoon of Triphala powder in warm water and consume it before bedtime to aid digestion and promote urinary health.
Coriander and Cardamom Seeds
Coriander and cardamom seeds have antimicrobial properties that can help fight urinary tract infections. Boil one teaspoon each of coriander and cardamom seeds in two cups of water, strain, and intake this mixture two to three times a day to relieve symptoms and inhibit bacterial growth.
Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe vera has calming and anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate the discomfort associated with urinary tract infections. Mix two tablespoons of pure aloe vera juice with a glass of water and ingest it on an empty stomach in the morning. Aloe vera juice also supports overall immune function, aiding the body’s fight against infection.
Indian Gooseberry (Amla)
Amla is a potent immune booster and antimicrobial agent. Consuming amla juice or adding amla powder to your diet can enhance the body’s natural defense mechanisms and reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
Gokshura
Gokshura, or Tribulus Terrestris, is an Ayurvedic herb with diuretic and antimicrobial properties. It helps in relieving urinary tract infections and improving kidney function. Gokshura can be consumed in the form of capsules or brewed into tea.
Ayurvedic Herbal Formulations
Ayurvedic practitioners may prescribe specific herbal formulations to address urinary tract infections, such as Chandraprabha Vati, Gokshuradi Guggulu, or Punarnavadi Guggulu. These formulations contain a combination of herbs with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic properties.
Urinary tract infections can cause significant discomfort, but Ayurveda provides a variety of natural remedies that can help alleviate symptoms and support the healing process. From staying hydrated and consuming herbal teas to using Triphala powder and aloe vera juice, these home remedies offer a holistic approach to urinary tract health. It’s essential to note that while these remedies can provide relief, severe or recurring infections may require medical attention. It’s always recommended to consult with a healthcare expert if symptoms persist or worsen. Incorporating these Ayurvedic remedies into your routine can enhance your body’s natural defenses, promote healing, and naturally maintain urinary tract health.
Ayurveda For Urinary Infection
NourishDoc: Hello, everyone, and happy weekend. I hope everyone had a good yoga week. I know we did. So today’s session is on a completely different topic urinary tract infection and how Ayurveda can help. To talk about this, we have Doctor Lakshmi, Doctor Lakshmi Krishna is an Ayurveda doctor, and she is joining me live from Kerala. Welcome and namaste. Namaste.
Dr. Laksmi: Namaste. Okay, I am Lakshmi Krishna. I completed my BMS and worked in Desha Manglam in J. K. Health centers. So now, let’s move on to the topic. Okay. Urinary infection. So, first, I’ll give you some information about urinary infections. According to Ayurveda, there is like different terms. We have different terms. We use Mutrakruccha, which means difficulty in passing urine, which is one of the symptoms of urinary tract infection.
Also, this urinary tract infection is the second most infectious disease; like every other woman suffers from a urinary tract infection, and it’s common in our OPs that women come to OP with this urinary tract infection. Men come, but they are rare. In women, it is more because I think it is due to some hygienic problems. Whenever we talk to patients about how to track the route from where they got this urinary tract infection, first of all, the wiping. Whenever you clean the vagina, people do it like they wipe the vagina from the back to the front side, which is the wrong way. We have to wipe the vagina from the front to the back side because the major cause of this urinary tract infection is E. coli which is situated around the anal region and enters the urinary tract and further creates problems.
So I can’t like there is no certain medicine or anything I can disclose. Every person’s body is different. So the medicine is different. For one person, that medicine will be medicine, but for others, that medicine will be poison. In Ayurveda, it’s according to the prakruti. Like we have three prakrutis, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. So according to that, we give medicines.
Also, certain features like certain things you should take care of first, do not use any vaginal wash like people are branding so much about a vaginal wash, create one of the major problems of this urinary infection. Recently a girl came to me about she is using some vaginal washes. She is having a little bit of irritation. But for the odour, like for the smell, she has some licorice and things. She is using this vaginal wash, creating so many issues that she has full recurrent urinary infection symptoms. She has abdominal pain, lower back pain, painful urination, burning sensation, itching, and several rashes due to sitting; there is all full of rashes.
Ayurvedic Tips for Urinary Infection
So like, I think one must avoid it. Women must avoid vaginal washes. Instead of that, we have Ayurveda; we have Triphala churna powder. It maintains the PH, and you can use simple plain water. The second one is you should drink plenty of water, plenty and plenty of water. Here, it’s the rainy season, and people don’t drink much water. At this time, the urinary infection people come a lot about a complaint about a lot about urinary infections. So drink lots and lots of water, like whatever your body needs. Third, according to Ayurveda, one must avoid spicy things.
Avoid hot spicy, pungent, and sour things if you have a urinary tract infection. So pickles should be avoided if you have a urinary tract infection. So there are some do’s and don’ts according to our Ayurveda. There are many medicines, but we cannot suggest one single medicine as it is, according to the Prakruti. But one medicine I want to refer to is Gokshura. Tribulus Terrestris is the Botanical name; you can make decoction water using this gokshura and drink it throughout your day. It’s little, like, not tasty at all. But you can have if you are having urinary tract infection, you can have it throughout the day, and it gives really good results; you have Triphala churna, Ashwagandha, and Brihatyadi Kashayam, but it’s it all depends upon prakruti. like what prakruti you are before taking any medicine, whether it’s Ayurveda or any medicine, you should consult a registered practitioner.
If that suits Ashwagandha, it is one of the most known medicines, and everybody uses it as protein powder. But in the longer run, it can cause side effects to your body. Even if it’s Ayurvedic, it has several side effects. So like any medicine, whether it is Triphala, Varunadi, or Chandra Prabha, you should consult a registered practitioner before taking it. But Gokshura, you can take it if you have a urinary tract infection.
Then some of the things you should take care of our avoiding public toilets like it is quiet if you are having recurring urinary tract infection; you can take Triphala, which has really good results, and you can use Ashwagandha too, but as I said, you should consult a registered practitioner before taking because this Ashwagandha and Shatavari they calm vata. Otherwise, you can take Gokshura if it’s a Pitta imbalance.
Ayurveda classifies people into three, vata, pitta, and Kapha. Similarly, this Mutrakruchha urinary tract infection in Ayurveda is also classified into vata, pitta, and kapha.
Vata, in which there is more of like itching sensation is more. Pitta, there is more of a burning sensation, and Kapha, with many secretions coming out of them. So, there are three or for Vata, we can take Ashwagandha or Shatavari, and for pitta, we can take Gokshura and kapha that of Kashaya like astringent property drugs you can take and I want to point out like what are home remedies we can do is like coconut water, one of the best things we can do is having coconut water. You can take it frequently if you have a urinary tract infection, ginger, amla, and Indian gooseberry. It is rich in antioxidants; if you take it daily, it is considered to have a rasayana property.
Amla is one of the contents in Triphala churna that I suggested; also, you can have ginger tea. In case of urinary tract infection. If you have diabetes, you can have barley water. But in the case of barley water, you have to take care that you take it before 6 PM because it has some diuretic properties. What does if we take barley water after 6 PM? Your sleep will be disturbed due to frequent maturations. All things can help you with your urinary tract infection.
But the drug of choice is Gokshura means decoction in the water form, not in a concentrated form, water form should be taken throughout the day, and you can take it frequently. You can add sugar candies or anything for sweet honey because the taste is bad. You can add honey or sugar candy and have it frequently throughout the day, which has shown a good result. In modern we all know that the first line of treatment is antibiotics.
But in Ayurveda, with these simple drugs, we can get a result in red without any side effects or harming our bodies. Some research has shown that Triphala has a very good effect; it has been found useful in people’s urinary tract; when you have recurrent urinary tract infections, you have antibiotics frequently you have antibiotics and these microbes or these bacteria become resistant to these antibiotics. So there is no medicine for such people, and Triphala has shown a good result in cases where antibiotics have not worked. So, without an antibiotic, we can cure our urinary tract infection without having any side effects from natural waste, Triphala, Gokshura, etc.
What Can Cause Urinary Infection?
NourishDoc: Okay, I think that’s great, and you talked about the hygiene part of it. If especially, women use public toilets that are not clean, that is also one of the concerns. Also, I know it’s a very sensitive topic about the sexual part, right? If, that also can give urinary tract infection. I just wanted to bring this topic up. I know, talk about it, but it’s important to talk.
Dr. Laksmi: Yes, people do not urinate after having sexual activities and all. Like, it should be cleaned after that, and this can be one of the causes of recurring urinary infections. You have to once after having any sexual contact, you should like clean your vagina and parts around it so that you don’t have further infections. Like is like people in OP, come, and this can be one of the reasons they do not wipe off their vagina or clean their vagina after sexual contact. In the case of STDs also, people can transmit this urinary tract infection if they are not using proper contraceptives.
NourishDoc: Okay, all right. Well, this was a completely different session; we wanted to bring up this sensitive topic but very important topic for women, especially, right?
Dr. Laksmi: Right. Women are more prone to urinary tract infections, and men are not that prone. Women are more prone to urinary tract infections.
NourishDoc: Absolutely. Okay, well, thank you so much, doctor Lakshmi. To everyone, please keep supporting us. We are so humble that you are supporting us every day because we want to educate and empower you; that’s our mission, and we will continue to do that. With that, have a great weekend, everyone. Namaste. Thank you.
