Ahh, the dreaded Urinary Tract Infection. Around one in two women, and around one in twenty men will experience a UTI in their lifetime – an infection anywhere in the urinary system, most commonly caused by bacterial microorganisms. They’re painful, they’re uncomfortable, and they can lead to some pretty serious health issues if ignored.
Living in this digital age, people are increasingly relying on Dr. Google and Internet advice to ease their symptoms rather than the advice of their actual doctors and healthcare professionals.
The result? A bunch of weird and wacky recommendations of ‘home remedies’ and quick fixes that won’t help a UTI go away, and could even make it worse.
These are some of the wildest ways folks have tried to treat their UTIs:
Baking Soda
Baking soda is said to neutralise the acid in urine and in turn, help reduce the symptoms of a UTI, however there isn’t a lot of scientific proof it can actually treat a urinary tract infection. Using it could also mask more serious health issues that, if left untreated, could cause even more pain and discomfort.
Douching
Douching, which is the washing or cleaning of the inside of a vagina, won’t increase the risk of a UTI but it can mess with your vagina’s pH and make you more susceptible to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. In fact, it’s best to avoid douching altogether, according to G. Thomas Ruiz via Self.
Vitamin C Supplements
There have been claims that Vitamin C supplements could help prevent UTIs, but according to OB/GYN Sandra Fleming via Insider, “long term use of high doses (greater than 2,000 milligrams daily) can cause significant side effects gastrointestinal upset, abdominal pain, inflammation of the esophagus, bowel obstruction (blockage), fatigue, headache, sleepiness, insomnia, and kidney stones. It can also interfere with other medications you may be taking.”
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar has long been regarded as a ‘superfood’ and there’s even evidence that it has antimicrobial properties. Despite the many health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar, there’s no scientific evidence to suggest it can treat a UTI, according to Healthline.
If you find yourself experiencing the symptoms of a UTI, it’s probably a good idea to avoid the above and seek the advice of a healthcare professional as you may need a course of antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection. URAL Effervescent Powder is a urinary alkaliniser that works by making the urine less acidic and relieves the burning pain of cystitis which is the most common type of UTI. The great thing is URAL can be used in combination with most antibiotics so you get relief while you are waiting for the antibiotics to kick-in.
There are also a bunch of things you can do to prevent getting UTIs in the first place, like drinking lots of fluids, peeing frequently and not holding it in, taking showers instead of baths, wearing cotton undies, drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry supplements like URAL High Strength Cranberry 60,000mg capsules, wiping from front to back, and always peeing right after you have sex.
Simple, really.
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, WORSEN OR CHANGE UNEXPECTEDLY TALK TO YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.