Finding a natural treatment for urinary infections

May 21, 2006 5:42 PM

My question is, other than antibiotics what can be a natural medicine known to treat urinary infections. I heard a lot about drinking chamomile, cranberry juice, even weird things like boiling and drinking cherry stems! Any ideas of possible natural treatments that work to avoid medications?

I am a male in my late 20's, recently started experiencing a pain when peeing caused by what seems to be kidney sand. The small scartches to my urethra caused by passing the sand granules caused me to pee blood and a urinary infection.

posted by convex to health & fitness (23 comments total)

I went through a period where I had a lot of UTIs and I can attest that drinking cranberry juice and taking cranberry pills definitely helped.
posted by zinegurl at 6:04 PM on May 21, 2006

You should really see a doctor. Depending on what the granular material in your urine is, drinking cranberry juice could help or it could make things worse.
posted by oats at 6:22 PM on May 21, 2006

Make of this whatever you will.
posted by 517 at 6:31 PM on May 21, 2006

Yepp, oats nails it. Go see a doctor, urinary infections can become much worse things like kidney infections.
posted by doctor_negative at 6:32 PM on May 21, 2006

Yeah, see a doctor. Depending on what's actually wrong and whether or not you are allergic, s/he will probably give you a sulfa drug. The cranberry juice is preventative. If you start on that later (which isn't a bad idea) get actual juice, not crap juice. 1/2 serving of Northland Cranberry/Blackberry each morning or a similar Apple & Eve juice keeps my system happy. I have not tried, but have heard good things about, the cranberry supplements.
posted by Medieval Maven at 6:49 PM on May 21, 2006

Please do go to a doc - kidney sand doesn't sound good. It sounds like kidney stones are in your future. It's a common thing - but from what I've heard passing a kidney stone is one of the most painful things you can experience. It would be so much better to see a doc and figure out how to prevent having a bigger stone. Even if it costs more money than you think you have. Believe me -- when you are doubled over with agony with a big stone, that preventative doctor visit will sound VERY cheap!!

Here's some info about kidney stones from NIH, and from Howstuffworks.
posted by selfmedicating at 7:05 PM on May 21, 2006

See a doctor. I have had lots of urinary tract infections(UTI.) I am female if it makes a difference, which it may as women seem to be more prone to infections due to how anatomy is located. I have tried cranberry juice, cranberry pills, beer (somebody told me it would work - it just made me drunk and pee more.) The only thing that works is antibiotics. If you do indeed have a UTI then you will get a fever soon, and have awful back pain as well as having to pee constantly with little but painful results.

Doctors prefer to give sulfa based drugs for this, but penicillian types also work. I happen to be alergic to the sulfa, but have taken it a few times and it does work fast.

If you have kidney stones (which I was told once I did) drink lots of water to help hydrate your body and hopefully disolve the stones. Avoid stuff like alcohol or colas that dehydrate. Also, if you still decide to go with natural stuff, be sure that whomever you are getting it from knows that kidney stones may be the problem. Some of the herbal stuff may be advertised to clean out you system but can actually make the stones worse.

Mostly, just see a doctor. First thing in the morning if you can.

wife of 445supermag
posted by 445supermag at 7:21 PM on May 21, 2006

Blood in urine and urinary tract infections are not something you want to mess around with or treat at home. See a doctor!

(Infections can spread up into the kidneys and just generally do stuff you don't want to have happen. My dog died from a not-fully-eradicated urinary tract infection that ended up spreading through her body quite quickly.)
posted by needs more cowbell at 7:21 PM on May 21, 2006

Two previous questions about UTIs: Help with recurrent UTIs and antibiotic dangers.
posted by Chuckles at 7:26 PM on May 21, 2006

Mix 2 oz of olive oil and 2 oz of lemon juice, drink it straight down and follow with a large glass of water at the first sign of stone pain.
posted by hortense at 7:27 PM on May 21, 2006

If you are a smoker, and are having recurring urinary tract issues, quit smoking immediately. Smoking is now recognized as a leading cause of bladder cancer, and the irritants added to urine from the kidneys filtering the metabolic byproducts of tobacco smoke are significant enough to change the average pH of a smoker's urine measurably.
posted by paulsc at 8:55 PM on May 21, 2006

Urinary tract infections and kidney stones are two different things.

UTIs are caused by bacteria. Cranberry juice/supplements can help prevent an infection in the first place when taken regularly by acidifying the urine and making it a less hospitable place for bacteria, but once you've already got the infection, antibiotics are pretty much the only thing that will get rid of the problem. You can get over-the-counter phenapyradine (Uristat) to relieve symptoms, but a cure for the infection itself usually requires antibiotics.

Kidney stones (which I think is what you mean by "kidney sand") aren't a bacterial infection and don't require antibiotics. You can try to get rid of them by diluting the urine by drinking enormous amounts of water (like, several liters a day), but if that doesn't work, you'll need to see your doctor for more aggressive treatment. Passing a kidney stone is a misery, so if you find that after a few days of chugging water your symptoms aren't improving, I'd definitely get to a doctor.
posted by jesourie at 8:56 PM on May 21, 2006

Doctor doctor doctor doctor doctor! Did I say doctor?

Non-geriatric population boys and men should not get recurent UTIs. If they are getting them, something's up.

If you're having pain with urination or blood with urination, you really, really need to see a doctor.

You may be a "stone former," if in fact you're passing tiny little kidney stones; often this runs in the family.

Kidney stones (which I think is what you mean by "kidney sand") aren't a bacterial infection and don't require antibiotics.

No, they're not, but one type of stones (struvite) are caused by bacterial infections.
posted by gramcracker at 9:56 PM on May 21, 2006

Yes, yes, go see a doctor. Men should go to a physician anyway, if UTI symptoms are noted. UTIs are much more common in women due to anatomy. Besides getting your urine checked out, your penis and prostate may be examined as well.

Do not skip out on seeing an MD. Who knows what's going on? I certainly don't. If you were my brother, father, male cat or whatever, I'd strongly urge you to make an appointment.
posted by herrdoktor at 10:00 PM on May 21, 2006

Antibiotics are not exactly expensive.
posted by delmoi at 10:36 PM on May 21, 2006

Even without insurance, I went to a doctor to get antibiotics for an infection back in December and it was a one-trip deal with a one-dose miracle antibiotic that made my life IMMEDIATELY better.

Stock up on cranberry juice to help *prevent* future infections.

Also, eat plenty of yogurt to help replenish your natural bacteria when you're on antibiotics. Your intestinal tract will thank you.

Seriously though, if you ever start excreting blood from ANY orifice that is NOT your vagina, go to a doctor.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 10:45 PM on May 21, 2006

If you've got a urinary tract infection and don't treat it, the infection can spread up to the kidneys (that's not just a small risk either, it's a very obvious route of transmission). I had this happen once and without antibiotics I probably would have died. Go to the doctor.
posted by altolinguistic at 1:05 AM on May 22, 2006

I was born with a UTI and have had reoccuring infections due to crappy medical care when i was born. I know that everyone says cranberry only prevents but it's always fixed mine, or at the very least made them not hurt anymore. The secret is quantity. I would get an entire bottle and i'd have 24 hours to finish it. I'd repeat it as many times as were needed.

Also: for girls at least, peeing and washing the genital area right after sex is recommended. I wonder if that'd work for boys.

Finally, as everyone said. kidney sand/stones are way different than a UTI.
posted by nadawi at 1:08 AM on May 22, 2006

I 100% concur that you should go see a doctor, and get a renal ultrasound, but to actually answer the question:
Hippuric acid is a natural (ish) substance, that treats and prevents urinary tract infection.
posted by roofus at 2:39 PM on May 22, 2006

Late to the party, as usual...but really: I have never experienced agony worse than when I once let a UTI get out of control and it turned into a kidney issue. Given how quickly this can and did happen and how quickly proper medical attention can and did help it, you just don't want to mess around on this one.
posted by shelbaroo at 4:57 PM on May 22, 2006

UPDATE:
I am seeing a doctor tomorrow morning. Will update you with the results, medications, etc... I will pass this same question to my doctor to see what answers he has, and also discuss some of the mentioned advice here. Thank you all for your answers thus far.
posted by convex at 7:20 PM on May 22, 2006

The Dr said it is not as bad, he did not prescribe me anti inflammatory medications yet, because he wanted to make sure of what was going on. I am supposed to have more tests done.
posted by convex at 4:48 PM on May 23, 2006

After a couple urine exams and culture and stuff. The infection has gone by itself. The exam found a kind of bacteria called "staff"? The Dr said that it is weird that this bacteria was found in the bladder since it is usually found on the skin. Anyway I feel better now, I do drink more water and cranberry juice, but try not to drink much juice since it has lots of sugar as well. in 2 weeks I will do another follow up urine exam and see if anything will show up, if not then it might have been a passing infection that happens 'rare', but ah well.

Thanks again everyone, who knows if you did not push me to see a doctor and I might have ignored it, it might have gotten worse!
posted by convex at 12:23 PM on June 1, 2006