URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

I used to have a major problem with urinary tract infections. That was before I drank a lot of water and knew the do's and don'ts of a healthy urinary tract. Do drink lots of water. Do urinate before and after sex (drink water, if necessary, to facilitate the process). Do urinate when you feel the urge. Don't hold it. If you have problems drinking water, try adding something to it, like lemon essential oil or those drops they sell at the grocery store that flavor water. Some people like to do the half water, half juice routine, but I find that is too sugary and defeats the purpose. Increasing water intake is a vital part of healing your body in many ways.

After years of antibiotic treatments, I was relieved to find alternative treatments. One that I found in my own travels through this problematic condition is made up of sugars naturally occurring in certain foods. The active ingredient in foods such as cranberry is d-mannose. The bacteria in the urinary tract sticks to it and is excreted with it in the urine.

However, probably the most helpful information was given to me by a physician's assistant. He told me to drink straight lemon juice. The acid in the lemon juice kills the bacteria in the bladder and urinary tract. I prefer lime juice, which I buy in bottles on the shelf at the grocery store. It is inexpensive, and it works much better than anything else I have tried. Cranberry juice is all fine and good, but it doesn't work.

Another helpful remedy is raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. This particular home remedy also helps with heartburn. I used to carry around a big jar of apple cider vinegar mixed with water, lemon and honey. (2 tablespoons of each mixed with 16 oz. of water in a travel mug)

I have not had a urinary tract infection since. And that is saying a great deal, because I was on a regular regimen of preventative antibiotics prior to this, which made me allergic to those antibiotics from overuse. Some of the antibiotics also have some horrible side effects.

Louise Hay talks about various health problems in her books, and she describes people who have urinary tract problems as, "pissed off." As with any physical manifestation of illness, there is always an underlying cause that should be identified and eradicated as well. If one does not address this underlying issue, the temporary relief brought by ANY remedy will not be longloasting.