10 Of The Most Powerful Natural UTI Remedies, According To A Functional Medicine Expert

The best natural remedies for UTI

Now that you know how bad antibiotics can be if they aren’t needed, you’re probably asking yourself “How can I get rid of my UTI without antibiotics?” and “What is the fastest way to cure a UTI naturally?”. Although I can’t promise you that you won’t ever need to take an antibiotic for a UTI again, these natural UTI remedies can greatly diminish the likelihood that you’ll have to turn to an antibiotic for relief.

1. D-mannose

D-mannose is a naturally occurring sugar that is found in foods like apples, blueberries, and cranberries. D-mannose is effective at preventing UTIs because it’s known for binding themselves to E.coli bacteria (5) - the same E.coli that causes upwards of 80% of UTIs - and making sure they get eliminated through the urine instead of sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. 

One study tested the effects of 2 grams of D-mannose powder in 200 ml of water daily for 6 months and found that it significantly lowered the incidence of recurrent UTIs and has fewer side effects than Nitrofurantoin, an antibiotic commonly used for recurrent UTIs. D-mannose can be taken daily in a glass of water as a preventative measure or multiple times a day if you are trying to get over a current infection. 

2. Probiotics

Probiotics are most often known for improving digestive health, but the truth is, supporting a healthy microbiome can benefit your health in more ways than one. For example, the use of probiotics can enhance your immune system, which can help you prevent infections — including UTIs. In fact, one study found that taking the beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus (6) helped cut recurrent UTIs in a group of women by about half. 

3. Vitamin C

We all know Vitamin C is a superstar immune supporter. While this is helpful for fighting off any sort of infection, studies have shown (7) that Vitamin C is also particularly great at treating UTIs by increasing the acidity of your urine resulting in less bacterial growth. 

4. Oregano oil

If you are wondering, “what is the best natural antibiotic for UTI?”, oregano oil is your answer. Known for its powerful antibacterial properties, oregano oil has been shown (8) to kill off E.coli - the same bacteria that causes the majority of UTI cases. You can find oregano oil in capsule form and take it daily.

5. Garlic

Talk about a superfood! Crushed garlic in particular has high levels of the active compound, allicin, which studies have shown to have strong antimicrobial properties against multiple strains of bacteria, including E. coli. (9) So if you’re fighting off a UTI, just add a few more garlic cloves to your next meal!

Tips to prevent UTIs

The best natural remedy for UTIs is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Here’s what you can do now to fight off a UTI before it even starts.

1. Pee often

If you’re suffering from recurrent UTIs, this might seem overly simple. But the truth is, regular urination can help flush bacteria from the urinary tract to prevent infections. Research supports this; for example, a 2003 study on 141 girls (10) showed that infrequent urination is associated with recurrent UTIs.

2. Drink enough water

With that being said, what’s the best way to pee frequently? Drinking a ton of water. The same 2003 study found that low fluid intake also plays a role in frequent UTIs. So more water is always the key when it comes to urinary health. How much water does it take to flush out a UTI once you already have one though? It’s recommended to drink as much as comfortably possible but at least 1.5 or 2 liters a day until the UTI and its accompanying symptoms have been relieved. 

3. Urinate after sex

Peeing helps to clear out any bacteria that might have entered your urethra while having sex that can contribute to a UTI. 

4. Stay dry

Pathogenic bacteria love a moist environment. Drying completely after showering or swimming can prevent bacteria from multiplying and causing an infection down there. If you are working out or doing an activity where you are sweating more, make sure to wear loose clothing and/or shower and dry off completely immediately afterwards. This is good practice if you are trying to prevent a UTI or fight off a current infection.

5. Switch out your birth control

Spermicide is a chemical that kills sperm before it has a chance to fertilize an egg. They can be found in different forms such as gels, creams, or diaphragms that are inserted into the vagina. Although these are effective at preventing pregnancy, they can significantly increase your risk and frequency of UTIs.

When to see a medical professional

If you have frequent UTIs or symptoms of urinary tract infections, it’s important to rule out Interstitial Cystitis. Often mistaken for a UTI, this chronic bladder infection is an autoimmune condition that mimics the symptoms of a urinary tract infection but without the infection, leaving many women to be misdiagnosed. The telltale sign as to whether or not your symptoms are actually a UTI and not IC is that your symptoms don’t go away with antibiotic use. This is because your symptoms are due to autoimmunity and there is no bacterial infection for the antibiotic to fight off.

If your UTI symptoms don’t seem to get better after a day of at-home treatments, it is important to see your doctor right away so that they can prescribe you antibiotics to avoid the infection spreading to your kidneys.

How do you know if a UTI is going away without antibiotics?

You should see your urine quality return back to normal and a significant decrease in discomfort. If symptoms return after a day or so of relief, you have not effectively flushed out the infection and should seek medical assistance outside of home remedies.

Seeking help from a functional medicine doctor

If you are struggling with recurring UTIs it’s important to seek out help from a functional medicine doctor. In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, we run extensive labs to look at the root cause of why you are struggling with UTIs and if autoimmunity might be a factor. By looking at your health case in its entirety we can come up with the best treatment plan depending on factors such as diet and lifestyle that could be contributing to the development of these infections. Schedule a telehealth consultation today to learn more about how we can help you with functional medicine.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.