Urinary Tract Infection - Homoeopathy To Rescue!

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the urinary tract caused by bacteria, occasionally by fungi and in rare cases by viruses. Most UTIs only involve the urethra and bladder, in the lower tract. However, UTIs can involve the ureters and kidneys, in the upper tract which is severe but rare. Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than are men.

Symptoms of a UTI depend on the part of the urinary tract infected. Lower tract UTIs affects the urethra and bladder showing symptoms of -

• burning with urination
• increased frequency of urination without passing much urine
• increased urgency of urination
• bloody urine/cloudy urine
• strong odor urine
• pelvic pain in women
• rectal pain in men

While symptoms of an upper tract UTI include -

• pain and tenderness in the upper back and sides
• fever with chills
• nausea and vomiting

Risk factors -

• Anatomy - A woman has a shorter urethra than a man does, which shortens the distance that bacteria must travel to reach the bladder.
• Sexual activity - Sexually active women tend to have more UTIs than do women who aren't sexually active. Having a new sexual partner also increases your risk.
• Contraceptive agents - Use of diaphragms and spermicidal agents.
• Menopause - After menopause, a decline in circulating oestrogen causes changes in the urinary tract that make you more vulnerable to infection.
• Urinary tract abnormalities – Doesn’t allow urine to leave the body normally or cause urine to back up in the urethra.
• Blockages - Kidney stones or an enlarged prostate.
• Catheter use
• Suppressed immune system

UTI prevention:

• Drink six to eight glasses of water daily.
• Don’t hold urine for long periods of time.
• Intake of cranberry juice.
• Wipe from front to back after urination to prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
• Empty bladder soon after intercourse. 

Homeopathy works wonderfully on urinary tract infections strengthening the immunity. Common remedies are:

• Arnica – Following injuries of the perineum, after childbirth, etc.
• Sepia – For recurrent urinary tract infections, extreme weakness, indifferent, decreased sexual desire.
• Aconite – Sudden onset of symptoms, early stages with the sensation of pressure in the bladder and burning before urination.
• Pulsatilla – The pain is worse when urination is delayed and after urination. The changeability of symptoms, urine tends to spurt out.
• Cantharis – Commonly used the remedy, severe pain before, during and after urination. Each drop of urine feels like scalding acid, burning sensation, surrounding skin may become excoriated. Strong urges to urinate.
• Nux vomica – Constant urging and a sense that the bladder is full, although tiny amounts of urine are passed. Burning or pressing pain in the bladder during urination, frequent passage of urine.
• Staphysagria – “Honeymoon cystitis”, pain is felt during and after urination.
• Sarsaparilla – Severe pain comes on after urination, at the end of urination. Retention of urine, better by passing urine while standing, bloody urine.
• Apis – Severe burning and stinging pain in the urethra before, during, and after urination with a sensation of swelling in the urethra; violent urging to urinate, but must strain to pass urine, and it comes out in only tiny amounts; abdomen sensitive to slightest touch; burning and stinging worse from heat and at night and better from cold.
• Mercurius – Burning, uncontrollable urge to urinate; dark urine passing in small amounts; burning pain worse when the patient is not urinating; burning may also be severe just before when beginning or at end of urination; worse at night.
• Uva Ursi – For UTI with pus and blood in urine with Tenesmus, nausea and vomiting.