Overcome the challenges of Urinary Tract Infection with Herbal Remedies

At some point in your life, many of you must have felt the need to urinate urgently, unable to hold it any further. However, if this urgency is very frequent, i.e., more than ten times a day, making your bladder incapable of holding the urine for long is a condition called urinary tract infection (UTI). It is an infection in any part of your urinary system- in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. 

UTI is generally characterized by Dysuria (frequent and painful urination), which brings discomfort and decreases the quality of life.

Functions of the Urinary System:

The renal or urinary system is one of the ten body systems. The urinary system is composed of Kidneys (Vrikka), Ureter (Mutravaha Nadis), Bladder (Mutrashaya), and Urethra (Mutramarga).

The vital functions of the urinary system are as follows:

1. Remove wastes and water from our bodies through urination.
2. Prevent dehydration and at the same time prevent the buildup of extra fluid in the body.
3. Clean the blood of metabolic wastes.
4. Remove toxins from the body.
5. Make hormones that help regulate blood pressure.
6. Keep bones strong.

Definition 

UTI and Ayurveda

Broad headings defining Urinary Tract diseases in Ayurveda’s classical textbooks are Mutrakrcchram and Mutraghata. Although they seem to be overlapping, some Acharyas have differentiated them based on the intensity of obstruction. Mutrakrcchram suggests that the disease is characterized by painful micturition, whereas the latter has more obstruction.

UTI is described under the broad term of Mutrakrcchra. The term consists of ‘Mutra’ and ‘Krichra,’ where Mutra means ooze, and krichra means painful. As per Ayurvedic classical texts, any discomfort during urination and especially lower tract infection problems are included under Mutrakrcchra. Mutrakrcchra can occur as an independent disease as well as in Purvarupa (prodromal phase of a disease) and Rupa (manifested symptoms).

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection 

The symptoms of a UTI can depend on age, gender, a catheter's presence, and what part of the urinary tract has been infected, which varies from one person to another. 

Here are some common symptoms of lower UTI:

• Pain or burning during urination.
• More frequent urination, often with only a tiny amount of urine.
• Cloudy, bad-smelling, and bloody urine.
• Renal angle tenderness.
• Relatively high fever, shivering, nausea, and vomiting.
• Pain in the back or side, usually on only one side at about waist level.

All the lower UTI symptoms may or may not be present in newborns, infants, children, and older adults. 

Other symptoms which are listed may indicate a urinary tract infection among these groups:

• Newborns: Fever or hypothermia (low temperature), poor feeding, and jaundice.
• Infants: Vomiting, diarrhea, fever, poor feeding, and not thriving.
• Children: Irritability, eating poorly, unexplained fever that doesn’t go away, loss of bowel control, and loose bowels.
• Older adults: Fever or hypothermia, poor appetite, lethargy.

Causes of UTI

General (Samanya) causes of UTI (Mutrakrcchra) can be ones that usually vitiate urinary tract channels (Mutra Vaha Srota). UTI can occur due to foods, drinks, sexual activities, and urinary urge suppression.

In Charaka Samhita Vishishta, causes (Nidanas) of UTI (Mutrakrcchra) are described as follows:

1. Taking food, medicament, and other substances with sharp or dry quality.
2. Habitual intake of alcohol.
3. Riding over the back of the fast-moving animals regularly.
4. Intake of the meat of animals inhabiting marshy lands.
5. Consumption of fish in excess.
6. Intake of food before the previous meal is digested.
7. Chronic indigestion.

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Ayurvedic Treatment For Urinary Tract Infection

Ayurvedic Treatments of the lower UTIs (Mutrakrcchram) act through different aspects. Using herbs, body therapies, sensory therapies, changing diet, changing lifestyle, practicing yoga, and meditation are also the tools that Ayurveda suggests to cure this condition naturally. 

1. Diet and Nutrition
By switching to a healthy diet or changing your diet slightly, you can treat UTIs in the long run. 

Ayurveda suggests following diet changes for the same:

• Drink plenty of fluids (2 to 4 quarts each day). Patients with kidney failure may consult with Dr. Shivani, an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Consultant specializing in Panchkarma, to learn how much fluid is healthy and an overall treatment plan.
• Drink cranberry juice or use cranberry tablets.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine drinks.
• Keep the blood sugar under control if you have diabetes.

2. Personal Hygiene 
To manage UTIs, it is also crucial to focus on personal hygiene. The primary aim is to avoid introducing harmful bacteria into the urinary tract due to bathroom habits or sexual activity.

Here are some things you need to consider:

• Use sanitary pads instead of tampons and change the pad frequently.
• Do not use feminine hygiene sprays or powders.
• Do not use any product containing perfumes in the genital area.
• Keep your genital area clean.
• Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom.
• Avoid anal sex.

3. Choice of Clothes 
Along with diet and personal hygiene, the choice of clothes also helps to manage UTIs. 

It would help if you considered the following clothing options to prevent frequent urination:

• Avoid tight-fitting underwear and pants.
• Use cotton-cloth underwear or pantyhose and change both at least once a day.

4. Urination Habits
Due to inappropriate urination habits, people face issues like frequent urination. 

It would be best if you also adopted the correct urination habits mentioned below to avoid this situation:

• Urine when the urge arises.
• Empty your bladder.
• Urinate before and after sexual activity to clean your genital and anal areas.

5. Birth Control
Changing some habits to use birth control methods or changing the birth control methods also helps manage UTIs. 

The following are the habits or tips you can consider for the same:

• Avoid Spermicidal contraception.
• Don't use a diaphragm.
• Avoid spermicidal condoms.
• Avoid unlubricated condoms.

6. Yoga and Meditation
As a therapy for treating physical or mental diseases, Yoga is part of Ayurveda. UTI occurs due to problems of Swadhisthana Chakra, and it is related to the low immune system, Manipura and Anahata Chakra as well. Thus, asanas involving the pelvis, abdomen, and chest region can benefit the condition. Padangusthasana, lotus poses, Bharadvaja's twist, Bhujangasana, Setu Bandha, Sarvangasanathe, Dhanurasana, Dandasana, and also Marjariasana are beneficial Yoga poses for UTI (Mutrakrcchra).  
 

Ayurvedic Medicines For Urinary Tract Infection

Along with all the personal level changes in diet and lifestyle, you may also need Ayurvedic medications to treat UTIs. All these UTI treatment methods work together and ensure faster and more stable results. 

The following are the Ayurvedic medicines that you can consider to treat UTIs:

• Chandraprabha Vati – 2 tablets twice a day with plain water
• Uricare – 1 tablet at night with plain water
• Renalka – 2 tsp twice a day

Also Read: 5 Natural And Ayurvedic Treatment for Vaginal Yeast Infection for Women

Conclusion

Your urinary tract system constantly works throughout the day to ensure your body has the nutrients it needs and removes what it does not. But unfortunately, UTIs are still a common occurrence and should not be taken lightly.

A microorganism causes Urinary Tract Infections, so the patients are recommended to maintain their proper hygiene to decrease UTI risk. Also, physicians can help patients prevent UTIs by advising them about good hygiene, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and hydration, and being aware of the proper bathroom habits. You can find other related lifestyle tips and Ayurvedic herbal products that can treat UTIs at HealthyBazar.