6 Natural Drinks To Treat Urinary Infections

According to popular beliefs, supplementing daily hydration with some natural drinks, such as cranberry juice and horsetail tea, may help stimulate urination and relieve some of the symptoms of urinary infections. 

Before continuing, we must review some facts about these types of common health problems.

The urinary system and infections

The urinary system is the body’s drainage system for removing waste and excess water. UTIs can occur in any part of the urinary system: kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) urinary infections represent the second most common type of infection in the body.

Although women are more likely to get a urinary tract infection than men, doctors tell us that everyone, at some point in our lives, can suffer from this common problem.

Infections occur in the lower urinary tract (the bladder and urethra) and can be painful and uncomfortable. However, more serious and painful pictures appear in the upper urinary tract (kidneys).

The constant feeling of wanting to urinate and discomfort when doing so (burning, pelvic pain) and frequent going to the bathroom to urinate in small amounts are some of the most common symptoms of UTIs.

In case of experiencing these discomforts, it is important that we go to the doctor for an evaluation. If you diagnose us with a urinary infection, we must follow your instructions and take the antibiotic medications you prescribe.

Additionally, we must eat a balanced diet and pay attention to our daily hydration, as these will play a key role in our recovery.

Natural drinks to supplement hydration

As we mentioned earlier, the following drinks are not in themselves a treatment for urinary infections, but rather a supplement to daily hydration.

1. Cranberry juice

Due to its content of vitamins and antioxidants, it was considered that blueberry juice could contribute to the health of the kidney system and also to the treatment of urinary infections.

However, there are researchers who comment that it is necessary to continue deepening in this regard, since they consider that the consumption of drinks with blueberries does not make a really significant contribution to kidney health.

2. Pomegranate juice

According to a study, the pomegranate is a food that has potential health benefits, due to its antioxidant content.

The Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN) clarifies that this fruit is not a prominent source of nutrients. It does contain a certain amount of potassium and vitamin C, as well as small amounts of B vitamins, which are essential for the brain, among other issues.

Although it has not been proven that pomegranate juice contributes to kidney health, consuming it within a balanced diet can help supplement the diet and maintain variety in it.

3. Infusion of horsetail

The infusion of horsetail, due to its diuretic effect, helps to stimulate urination, release retained fluids and, therefore, contribute in a certain way to relief in case of urinary infections. However, it is not a treatment on its own.

• To prepare a good infusion of horsetail it is necessary to heat water until it boils.
• Then, two or three tablespoons of the dried plant (or a sachet of horsetail) should be placed in a cup. If you want to make a mixed infusion, you can add linden or elderberry.

• Next, the hot water is poured over the plant and immediately covered to let it rest for a few minutes so that the oils that contain the main properties of horsetail do not evaporate.
• Finally, strain and serve .

4. Parsley tea

Although parsley is not a particularly nutritious food, according to popular beliefs, the consumption of its tea would hydrate the body and contribute to the elimination of fluids and waste accumulated in the body.

However, this tea should not be taken during pregnancy. The most advisable thing if you are pregnant and have a urinary infection is to go to your gynecologist.

A study recently published by the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reveals that “it is not advisable because its intake in large quantities stimulates the uterus and can induce threats of abortion or premature labor”, so caution must be exercised.

To prepare this drink, you need:

Ingredients

• 1 liter of water.
• The juice of 1 lemon.
• 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley (10 g)
• Honey (to taste)

Prepara i ng

• The first thing we will do is bring that glass of water to boil to cook the parsley. Allow it to be on the fire for 20 minutes and to rest for another 20.
• Then, we sweeten it with honey, add the juice of a lemon, and drink small sips throughout the day. Parsley tea should be at room temperature.

5. Coconut water

Another drink that is often recommended popularly in case of urinary infections is coconut water. It is believed that by drinking it, it would help to eliminate pathogenic bacteria lodged in the urinary tract and relieve inflammation of the urethra and the walls of the bladder.

6. Garlic tea

Another homemade drink that is thought to help “flush” harmful microorganisms from the urinary tract is garlic tea. According to a study published by the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine: “within a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, garlic has demonstrated its antibacterial effect against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (including E. coli )”. To prepare it, you must have the following.

Ingredients

• 1 clove garlic.
• 1 glass of water (250 ml)
• Lemon juice (1 tablespoon).
• Honey (to taste)

Preparation

• The first thing is to heat the glass of water.
• Meanwhile, we peel the garlic and chop it so that its essential oils come out and are infused with the water.
• Allow this mixture to heat for 15 minutes and rest for another 10.
• Now, we strain the content and we are left with only the tea.

As we have seen, there are several natural drinks that we can consume to supplement daily hydration and take care of the kidney system. They are complements that we can take advantage of whenever we want, not only in case of discomfort or illness.

However, it must be borne in mind that the ideal is always to give preference to water, since this is the best source of hydration for the body.