Can you really treat UTI without antibiotics? Want to get rid of Urinary Tract Infection pain fast? My list of 9 Natural Remedies for instant UTI relief and UTI treatment without antibiotics! You really can cure bladder infections with natural remedies!
Uncomfortable, painful, and expensive to treat – UTIs had become the bane of my existence and I found myself living with more infected urinary tract days than healthy ones.
So, I scoured the Internet to find any natural remedy that worked to cure my UTI without antibiotics. And I’ve tested them all! Again and again, to figure out which treatments worked best for healing my chronic bladder infections.
Using natural remedies to treat UTI –
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I was terrified when I set out to test whether I could cure a UTI without prescription antibiotics…
I had been on a natural healing path for a while and stopped using antibiotics for colds and flus.
But, because bladder infections are so painful, and I always wanted relief immediately, I was scared to go full natural remedy for what ailed me.
I had gone from having a couple of bladder infections a year to having one every couple of months!
To make matters worse, the first round of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor rarely got rid of the infection completely anymore.
It started taking me 2 – 3 rounds of different antibiotics to get complete relief from the infection.
Urinary tract infection is commonly treated with prescription antibiotics. However, it is increasingly recognized that using antibiotics frequently may contribute to recurring UTIs and increased dependency on antibiotic use may further weaken the immune system.
Natural remedies can provide an effective alternative to prescription medications and their side effects. (4)
How to Cure a UTI Naturally Without Antibiotics
I started having to be on antibiotics for three weeks out of every month!
It was getting extremely expensive to go to the doctor and buy that many prescription antibiotics without health insurance, so I decided to pray, meditate for answers, follow guidance, and be brave!
I was already doing things recommended by my doctor to lessen the frequency of infections.
I was drinking plenty of water and washing my kibbles and bits with warm soapy water after sex. But I was still getting terrible infections.
Three years later I am happy to report that I haven’t been to the doctor for a bladder infection in all that time.
I used to still get one to two infections per year, but they were short-lived when I immediately gave them the arsenal of natural remedies I’ve discovered that give me faster relief than antibiotics ever did.
Plus, I’m not destroying the beneficial bacteria in my gut which made it hard for me to fight off colds, flus, and other types of infection.
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Related Post: My 7 Simple Steps for UTI Prevention (I’m 4 years UTI Free!)
Just 3 Ingredients Treat Yeast Infection Fast (Without Antifungals!)
If your bladder infection has symptoms of severe infection, such as blood in your urine, extreme pain in your lower back (a sign of kidney infection), has lasted longer than 4 days, or is accompanied by a high fever – Please, please seek medical advice. You can always try these recommended home remedies for UTI at the first signs of your next urinary tract infection. Always follow your own intuition and trust yourself and your body.
9 BEST Natural/Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) That Work for Me Every Time (Without Antibiotics!)
✅Cranberry Natural Remedy for UTI –
For decades, cranberries have been widely used for the natural prevention and treatment of UTIs. (2) The proanthocyanidins (PACs) in cranberry have a special structure (called A-type linkages) that makes it more difficult for certain types of bacteria to latch on to our urinary tract linings. (4)
I take organic cranberry pills every day to help cleanse my urinary tract. I take one pill per day, unless I feel signs of infection, then I up the dose.
In my opinion, cranberry should be your first go to natural remedy for UTI.
This is the brand I personally use that is made with organic cranberries and has more pills per bottle (so they are cheaper per pill). It has a potent 60:1 concentrate meaning it works fast!
If you choose to drink your cranberries, opt for a juice that is 100% cranberry, has no added sugar, and is preferably organic.
If pills or juice don’t suit you, you can try extracts! I am a huge fan of this company’s organic liquid extracts!
They are convenient, affordable, and you don’t have to swallow a million pills every day!
✅D-Mannose –
I’m adding D-Mannose to this list, because it has been suggested by readers, over and over again!
From the manufacturer, D-Mannose is a simple sugar that promotes normal urinary tract function by cleansing and maintaining the health of the bladder lining.
In fact, one study found D-Mannose to reduce recurrent UTIs by as much as 50%!
From other readers who are also getting rid of UTI naturally, without antibiotics – D-Mannose is highly effective and cheap! You can find a Non-GMO option on Amazon, here.
There are also great supplements that combine D-Mannose with Organic Cranberry!
✅Uva Ursi is a Great Antimicrobial for Urinary Tract Infections –
Uva Ursi, also called bearberry, has antimicrobial, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Uva Ursi is a great natural remedy for UTI and is best taken at the first sign of UTI symptoms and until the infection has cleared.
Uva Ursi is not to be taken during pregnancy. (4)
Please follow manufacturer instructions carefully, as I’ve overtaken Uva Ursi and had severe gum swelling.
Moderation in all things, even when you’re in pain.
✅Goldenseal Home Remedy for UTI –
Goldenseal is a strong antimicrobial and a mild anti-inflammatory. It is often used to treat colds, flus, and canker sores and is a great natural remedy for Urinary Tract Infections!
(I keep it stocked during the winter months and especially during the changing of the seasons).
Goldenseal is one of the most recommended natural treatments for UTIs. Its antimicrobial activity has been shown to be effective against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and even Chlamydia. (4)
This is a great option for Organic Goldenseal Root from a very reputable company:
✅Apple Cider Vinegar Inhibits Urinary Bacterial Growth –
Raw, organic, apple cider vinegar (I prefer Bragg’s) is rich in enzymes that prevent bacterial growth.
It contains acetic acid that kills resistant bacteria. It has been shown to boost your immune system by helping the body to eliminate toxins.
To help heal UTIs, try mixing one Tablespoon with a glass of water three times per day. (3)
I always take this natural remedy for bladder infection with baking soda and water, to lessen the strong vinegar taste.
But, if you still hate the taste, you can try it in pill form:
✅Garlic Treats UTI’s Without Antibiotics –
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory. High in allicin (assists detoxification) and glutathione (powerhouse antioxidant).
I use garlic to treat colds, flus, UTIs, and yeast infections, so basically everything that ails me!
Garlic has also been reported to decrease pain and burning! I love garlic for its many uses, as well as wonderful flavor and aroma in cooking! (3)
If available, I always use the organic or organically grown version of things to keep pesticides and GMOs out of my body.
I don’t like the thought of eating bug spray, so I personally use this brand of organically grown garlic.
It’s cheap, organically grown, and best of all – it works!
✅Marshmallow Root Soothes Urinary Tract Infections –
Marshmallow root has a soothing effect on the mucous membrane of the urinary tract.
I also use marshmallow root when I have a sore throat for the same reason. Helps with the pain and burning when you are screaming! (3)
As always, I opt for the organic versions of supplements that give me the most bang for my buck.
With marshmallow root, I use this powder:
You can make it into a tea, but I recommend Cheesecloth since marshmallow root is very sticky and doesn’t blend with water well.
Stick the recommended amount of marshmallow root into a bit of cheesecloth and steep for 3 – 5 minutes in hot water before drinking.
If I’m low on time, I simply take a small spoonful of marshmallow root powder followed by a lot of water.
Sometimes, it does stick to the roof of my mouth, but it’s quicker than the tea and cheaper than the pills!
✅Baking Soda Neutralizes Acidic Urinary Tracts –
A great natural remedy for UTIs, baking soda prevents the spread of infection by neutralizing acidic urine.
It’s cheap, probably already in your home, and helps with the pain!
I like to mix one teaspoon of baking soda with my apple cider vinegar in 8 ounces of water to make a fizzy drink! (3)
My Best Intuitive Answer for Urinary Tract Infection Treatment without Antibiotics:
✅Honey! A Potent Antibacterial for Antibiotic Resistant UTI Strains –
Although not widely used in the treatment of UTIs, I received “Honey” as an answer during a meditation asking for assistance with a particularly bad bladder infection.
I always have honey on hand and it worked so well, that I’ve continued to use it ever since.
Try to choose organic, raw honey whenever possible that has been minimally processed and still contains all the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. You need to use raw honey that has more antibacterial properties retained.
A 2018 study showed honey as having potent antibacterial activity for drug resistant UTI strains taken from pregnant women. (1)
I like Nature Nate’s Raw Organic Honey and you can also find raw organic honey at most grocery stores and natural food stores.
✅Heat! –
Although showers are recommended for UTIs, I love a hot bath with Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda added to the water to help ease pain.
I also love to use my heating pad or a hot water bottle!
You can use a Regular Heating Pad, but I like to use this one that is small, cordless and fits perfectly in that area!:
✅Celery and Celery Seed–
(Another intuitive answer) I’ve added this as an update, but have kept the list to 9 because this doesn’t treat the UTI, but does provide some much needed pain relief.
Celery has a natural astringent property that you can even taste on your tongue. It numbs it a little.
This works to suppress pain once it enters the urinary tract!
Be careful with celery seed if you have any issues with your kidneys. If you have kidney issues, just stick to munching on stalks of fresh celery to be safe!
I haven’t been able to find an organic version of celery or celery seed pills, but I did find organic celery in a tincture!
I love this brand and use so many of their products because I get sick of taking pills all the time! Just put a dropper full in a little water, drink, and voila!
If you’re in a hurry (or confused about what will really work!):
✅ The 4 must-have natural products that will clear most urinary tract infections!
(These are THE MAIN 4 natural remedies I take to treat UTI’s naturally. Most of the rest of the natural remedies are for the pain and burning associated with the infection…)
Then, bookmark this page if you need further assistance!
Have you tried these natural remedies for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), aka, bladder infections? How have they worked for you? What other natural remedy for UTI has worked for you? Please comment and share below!
Learning to pray and meditate for answers is key to keeping me happy, healthy, and balanced. Find out more about DEVELOPING YOUR PSYCHIC GIFTS here…
My favorite meditation technique for getting into the “meditation zone” to receive answers to my health questions has been life-changing: The Ancient Meditation Techniques for Reaching Higher States of Consciousness
** Medical Disclaimer. … This Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. **
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References (4)
1. Bouacha, M., Ayed, H., & Grara, N. (2018). Honey Bee as Alternative Medicine to Treat Eleven Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Causing Urinary Tract Infection during Pregnancy. Scientia Pharmaceutica, 86(2), 14. Retrieved 11 19, 2018, from http://mdpi.com/2218-0532/86/2/14
2. Jepson, R., Williams, G., & Craig, J. C. (2013). Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 131(5). Retrieved 11 18, 2018, from http://cochranelibrary-wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.cd001321.pub5/abstract
3. Sowjanya, Pulipati, Puttagunta, Srinivasa Babu, M Lakshmi, Narasu and Nagisetty, Anusha. (2017). An overview on urinary tract infections and effective natural remedies. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 5(6): 50-56. Retrieved 11 19, 2018, from http://www.plantsjournal.com/archives/2017/vol5issue6/PartA/5-6-7-566.pdf
4. T, G. R. (2011). Nature’s Weapon against Urinary Tract Infections. International Journal of Drug Development and Research, 3(3). Retrieved 11 18, 2018, from http://ijddr.in/drug-development/natures-weapon-against-urinary-tract-infections.pdf
I was always experiencing worse conditions after a night of sleep, so I do use most of the natural remedies you mentioned and on top of that I set an alarm 3-4 times per night first couple of nights to drink and go to the toilet, for me thats a must to get rid of it asap
Thank you for your UTI natural remedy insight! Lots of water to flush the infection is definitely a must!
I love all of these & got the products today. I too struggle with UTI’s & it’s so annoying. I do not take medicine nor do I do well with pills. If I’m taking the liquid ACV & baking soda, how much ACV should I take?
Hi LaShona!
Thanks for your comment! I go with the manufacturer recommended amount to make sure I don’t overdo it! Apple cider vinegar is great for UTI’s and here is the recommendation from Bragg’s website. 30 mL per day. So, roughly a tablespoon twice per day. https://www.bragg.com/products/organic-apple-cider-vinegar
Hope this helps! And, also check out my post on UTI prevention to help keep you from getting the dumb things in the first place. https://strengthessence.com/uti-prevention-tips/
Jamie
Can you tell me a basic Break down of how much & how often a day for the named above, For a chronic UTI. I’ve been on 7 different antibiotics that will not rid my UTI. I’m Taking D Mannose & it’s amazing at relieving symptoms but I feel like I need more to kick this.
Hi Crystal!
I feel your pain! It sounds pretty similar to what I was going through and it was awful! First off, make sure your UTI has the painful urination with it. I mistook too much yeast in my body as a UTI before because I felt urinary frequency from it, but not burning. I didn’t have any other typical yeast infection signs, such as discharge, but I did have urinary urgency. So, make extra sure you have the urinary burning, or you may have yeast, aka candida overgrowth from all the antibiotics. Second, I would for sure try a combination of cranberry, garlic, uva ursi, and apple cider vinegar/baking soda.
If you haven’t already tried uva ursi, try it! It is amazing at clearing UTI’s! I can’t really give you doses and how often to take, since each supplement has different recommendations depending on how strong the pills you buy are. ALWAYS follow the manufacturer doses, as I’ve overtaken natural supplements before and had consequences. If things are still not clearing, I’d add in honey and maybe the goldenseal.
Obviously, honey has no dosage recommendations, but I thought of it as an antibiotic and would take a spoonful 3-4 times per day, just as I would an antibiotic to keep it fighting the infection in the urinary tract on a regular schedule. (Just always be sure to consult your own healthcare provider/homeopathic provider if you ever need specific instructions or more assistance as I don’t give medical advice. =) I just lived through the horror and pain of UTI burning and urgency over and over and wanted to share how I got rid of it.)
I sincerely hope this helps!
Jamie
Great post! I would get UTI’s all the time with my ex and I don’t with my current partner so I believe that our skin microbiota may not always be compatible with our partners in which case it’s a great idea to take these supplements regularly. I highly recommend D-mannose, a simple sugar related to glucose. It comes in a blend with Cranactin in capsule form and helps with immediate relief. Great for maintenance as well. Pipsissewa, an herb, is also great for instant relief. It’s harder to find in stores but can be ordered online. I’ve also used Grapefruit Seed Extract if it’s taking longer to go away. I’ll have to add the acv to my repertoire!
Thanks for your comment Katrina!
I’m glad you’ve found natural remedies to work for your bladder infections as well! I will probably have to add D-mannose to the list for UTI relief, since it also works really well! Have never heard of pipsissewa for UTI’s! You learn something new every day!
Love and light to you!
Jamie
What about staph UTI’s, can’t keep taking antibiotics and not working!
Hi Estelle!
I was doing the same thing! Taking antibiotics and missing work! Obviously staph infection is a major infection and more difficult to get rid of. I may have to update this post for hard to beat UTI’s, such as staph. When I have a really stubborn urinary tract infection, I use honey, black garlic, and turmeric. Always use turmeric supplements that have black pepper extract to increase absorption and bio-availability of the turmeric to your body.
Curcumin, the compound in turmeric has been shown in studies to be effective against staph infection. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5124450/
And, black garlic’s antimicrobial properties are stronger than regular garlic and it has twice the antioxidant power! https://sciencescholar.us/journal/index.php/ijhs/article/view/86
And, please always consult your healthcare provider if you have ANY concerns about staph infection or difficult to treat UTI’s. You DO NOT want to risk a kidney infection.
Hope this helps!
Jamie
This is my first UTI and while I know about cranberry I wanted to see what else was out there. I prayed for wisdom from my heavenly Father and He led me to your website. Thank you for all of the clear, helpful information!
Thank you for your kind words Lisa!
I’m really glad you found my blog and I hope these natural remedies helped clear up your bladder infection. They are the worst!
Blessings!
Jamie
How long do you take these natural remedies for to know the infection is actually cleared?
Hi Claudia! It all depends on how bad the UTI is. If I start taking the remedies right away, it usually stops burning in a few days, then I continue taking for 2 or 3 days, just to be safe! While drinking plenty of fluids to flush out the bacteria.
I have had some particularly bad bladder infections that start while I’m camping and can’t begin taking anything right away. For those, I’ve needed to take uva ursi, garlic, cranberry, and goldenseal for longer (around 10 days) to get rid of the infection completely.
I now travel with at least garlic & cranberry pills everywhere I go so this doesn’t happen! And uva ursi is a powerhouse for UTIs, but I’ve found it to work best when used in conjunction with the other remedies. (Since they all do different things).
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!
Jamie
Very nice article, just what I wanted to find.
I’m so glad you liked the post! Hope it helps you treat UTI’s without antibiotics now! It’s awesome!
Jamie
My wife just had a UTI that she got from a catheter while in the hospital. Cranberry Juice did help but she went with the antibiotic.
Thank you for your comment!
Ha ha, yes, I don’t blame her! I’ve never had just cranberry get rid of a urinary tract infection completely either! It is best to combine some of the antibacterials with the cranberry, such as the garlic and uva ursi.
It is common to suffer more than once a urine infection. Cranberries, the best food for urine infections! I love that fruit so much
Thanks Lina! Yes, it’s true that UTI’s reoccur! I do still get urinary tract infections, but very rarely (taking CRANBERRY & GARLIC regularly helps a lot!). When I do get them, I immediately start with Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda, Raw Organic Honey, Garlic, Uva Ursi (the fastest help for me!) & Cranberry! Then, if they are extra stubborn or painful, I will take the additional Goldenseal, Marshmallow Root, and Celery Seed for the pain!