Urinary tract infection or UTI is an infection in any part of the urinary tract which consists of kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract –the bladder and the urethra. Women are more prone to UTI than men.
Top Homeopathic Medicines For Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Homeopathic medicines work wonderfully well on urinary tract infections, whether acute or chronic. Natural and safe, these medicines strengthen the disease-fighting mechanism of the body and make it strong enough to fight disease and infections such as UTI.
Homeopathic medicines that are highly reliable for treating urinary tract infection are Cantharis Vesicatoria, Apis Mellifica, Sarsaparilla Officinalis, Nitric acid, Sepia and Colibacillinum.
1. Cantharis Vesicatoria – For Extreme Burning Before, During and After Urination
Cantharis Vesicatoria is among the primary medicines for treating urinary tract infection. The key symptom to look out for while prescribing Cantharis Vesicatoria is intense burning before, during or after urination. There is a constant urge to urinate. Scanty urine or urine passed in drops from UTI is also best treated with Cantharis Vesicatoria. At times, blood in the urine can also be seen.
When and How to use Cantharis Vesicatoria?
The most striking feature to use this medicine is burning sensation — before, during and after urination, along with frequent desire to pass urine. Cantharis is best suited in 30C potency. It can be repeated 2 times in a day.
2. Apis Mellifica – For Severe Burning While Passing Urine
Apis Mellifica is the next important medicine for urinary tract infection. The person requiring Apis Mellifica will complain of burning or stinging pain while passing urine, especially last drops of urine cause intense burning. There is also bladder tenesmus (sensation of incomplete bladder emptying even when there is no urine left behind in bladder). In some cases, blood appears in urine.
When and How to use Apis Mellifica?
It can be used when there is burning, stinging sensation during urination mainly when passing last drops of urine. It can be taken in low 30C potency that can only be repeated twice in a day. It is also used in 200C but in order to do so, one should carefully look for the symptoms and not repeat it frequently.
3. Sarsaparilla Officinalis– For Intense Burning Towards The End Of Urination
To treat UTI with intense burning when a person finishes urination, Sarsaparilla Officinalis is the most reliable medicine. Other accompanying characteristics for use of Sarsaparilla are – scanty urine, urine with pus and blood and pain in urethra extending to the abdomen.
When and How to use Sarsaparilla Officinalis?
The key guiding symptom for the use of Sarsaparilla Officinalis is unbearable pain when urination finishes. It is recommended mainly in 30C and gives expected results. Doses can be repeated depending on the severity of the symptoms but not more than 3 times in a day.
4. Nitric Acid – For Burning During Urination With Foul Smelling Urine
Nitric Acid is one of the most effective medicines for urinary tract infection where the major symptoms include burning while passing urine that is highly offensive (foul-smelling) like horse’s urine. Urine is scanty, cloudy, dark or bloody.
When and How to use Nitric Acid?
The offensiveness of urine is the marked feature of nitric acid. This remedy is best suited to patients who have foul smelling urine passed with burning and stinging pain. It works well in low potency i.e. 30C, normally use of this medicine is limited to once to twice in a day. Higher potencies are not recommended until a physician asks you to do so.
5. Sepia – For UTI In Women
Sepia is rated among the most beneficial medicines for treating urinary tract infection in women. Sepia is prescribed when there is cutting pain in the bladder. The urinary stream is weak and the urine smells bad. There is a feeling of the pubic area getting pushed down. Sepia is also very useful in cases of chronic cystitis (bladder inflammation). It is also recognized as the best medicine for urinary tract infection in women going through menopause.
When and How to use Sepia?
Sepia is a highly recommended medicine for UTI which has proven to give phenomenal results, especially in females. From handling symptoms like painful and slow urination, feeling of pubic area getting pushed down to chronic bladder inflammation, this remedy seems to work on every aspect of the problem. It gives remarkable results in 30C potency but should not be repeated frequently.
6. Colibacillinum – For Escherichia Coli (E.coli) Positive UTI
For urinary tract infection that tests positive for Escherichia coli bacteria, Colibacillinum is the best medicine. The symptoms to use it include an urge to pass urine frequently, scanty urination and pain while passing urine. The urine may smell. Blood in urine is noted in certain cases.
When and How to use Colibacillinum?
This remedy is specific for cases of urinary tract infections with Escherichia coli (E. coli) Positive culture report with symptoms of painful, frequent urination.
It is advisable to use it in lower potency 30C only once a day. If there is no improvement, it is strongly recommended to consult a homeopathic physician.
Note The above-listed medicines can be taken for 1-2 weeks. If the symptoms still persist, it is best to consult a homeopath before taking it further or using high potencies (200C, 1M or higher).
Types Of Urinary Tract Infection
An infection can happen in any part of the urinary tract, following are the types of UTI:
Urethritis: An infection in the urethra is known as urethritis.
Cystitis: An infection in the urinary bladder is referred as cystitis.
Pyelonephritis – Infection in the kidneys is referred as pyelonephritis.
Pathophysiology And Causes Of UTI
A urinary tract infection arises when bacteria gain access to the urinary tract and begin to multiply there. Escherichia coli, commonly known as E.coli, (a type of bacteria commonly found in Gastrointestinal tract, GI) is the most common bacteria infecting the urinary tract. The bacteria mainly enter the urinary tract via the urethra and gut. Other less commonly known bacteria causing UTI are Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella.
Cystitis is mainly caused by Escherichia coli (E coli), 90 % of bladder infections are caused by E coli, however, sometimes other bacteria are also responsible.
Urethritis: This type of UTI occurs when GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra. Also because urethra in females is close to vagina, sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea, herpes, Chlamydia and mycoplasma can cause urethritis.
Risk Factors
Following factors make a person more prone to UTI. Women are more likely to contract this disease, risk factors specific to women for UTI are mentioned here:
1. Anatomy of female: The length of urethra is short and its orifice being quite close to the anus in women, makes it easier for the bacteria to spread to the bladder. This leads to higher chances of acquiring a urinary tract infection in women as compared to men.
2.Menopause: After menopause, there is a decline in circulating oestrogen that causes changes in urinary tract that makes the females more prone to UTI. Some women have urinary tracts that makes the bacteria easy to cling to them and are genetically prone to UTIs.
3.Sexual activity: Sexually active women suffer from UTI more times than women who are not sexually active.
4. Birth control agents: Women using diaphragms for birth control and also those using spermicidal agents are at higher risk of UTI.
Other risk factors include:
Suppressed immune system: People who suffer from conditions like diabetes (high blood sugar) are more likely to develop UTIs because their bodies are less capable of fighting infection effectively.
Obstruction in the urinary tract: Prostatitis, or obstruction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate, can cause insufficient bladder emptying in men which raises the risk of infection. Most elderly men experience it.
Usage of Catheter– People who are unable to urinate on their own and use a tube(catheter) to pass urine are at more risk of developing UTI.
Symptoms Of UTI
Symptoms of lower Urinary tract infection (bladder and urethra):
1. The most typical symptom is burning or pain when urinating.
2. Increased urinary frequency without passing much urine.
3. Strong need or urge to urinate but only producing a few drops of urine.
4. Urine has a foul odour and is cloudy.
5. Non-visible or visible haematuria (urine can appear bloody)
6. Pain in the lower back, lower abdomen, and even the pelvic region will typically make you feel the need to urinate more frequently.
Upper UTI Symptoms: It affects kidneys, the symptoms are:
1. Fever and chills
2. Nausea and Vomiting
3. Flank Pain (pain on either side of lower back between pelvis and ribs)
If the bacteria moves from infected kidney to the blood, it can be life threatening, the condition is termed as ‘urosepsis’ which can cause extremely low blood pressure, shock and death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explain E.coli and its role?
Escherichia coli or E.coli is a bacterium that causes a majority of the urinary tract infections, nearly 85%. E. coli sits in the human intestine and is passed out in stool. If for some reason, the bacterium manages to reach the urethra, it leads to infection and subsequent symptoms of UTI.
What tests would have to be conducted to confirm UTI?
In suspected cases of acute UTI, a routine urine examination is the first step. Pus cells means UTI. A urine culture reveals the bacteria involved in causing this urinary tract infection. In case of recurrent urinary tract infections, a CT scan, MRI and cystoscopy may be recommended.
Can UTI lead to other complications?
A urinary tract infection, if treated well in time, does not lead to any complications. However, if untreated, there are chances of the infection ascending and travelling up to the kidney leading to its damage. In recurrent urethritis, there are high chances of developing urethral stricture.
I have recurrent UTI and the doctor prescribe antibiotics each time. Does homeopathy have a permanent solution?
Yes, recurrent urinary tract infection can be treated with great success under the homeopathic mode of treatment. Homeopathy is a symptom-based science. Therefore, even though there are a wide range of medicines to treat recurrent UTI, the most appropriate among them is selected after a detailed study of the individual symptoms involved.
My routine urine test shows pus cells, what does that mean?
Pus cells in the urine mainly arise from two reasons – a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
Can lifestyle changes help manage urinary tract infection (UTI)?
Taking the following lifestyle measure can help manage urinary tract infections:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Clean anus from front to back after defecation as the bacteria Escherichia Coli (E.coli) majorly involved in causing UTI is passed in stool.
3. Avoid holding urine for long and attend the call of nature without delay.
4. Maintain personal hygiene.
