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About a week ago, I realized I had a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). And it was late at night because that of course is always when you get a UTI.
I mean seriously, do you ever get a UTI at a normal hour of the day when the doctor is actually in?
No, you always get them late at night, kids are already in bed, doctor’s office is closed and there’s nothing but a big co-pay and hours at the ER waiting for you!
As I was not wanting to drag everyone out of bed and go pay way too much at the ER. I researched the usual natural UTI remedies: cranberry juice, colloidal silver, drinking tons of water.
However, I didn’t have cranberry juice or colloidal silver and I was chugging tons of water and my red raspberry leaf tea but I knew that wasn’t going to be enough.
When I get a UTI it pretty much goes from nothing to verge of kidney infection in seconds. I was already in decent pain and starting to bleed.
Then I came across baking soda. Hello my faithful little friend!
I mixed baking soda (I made sure to go with the chemical free kind) in water.
Forced it down (baking soda tastes like soap!)
I then proceeded to down quite a few more cups of water.
A few hours later the pain was almost gone! The bleeding had also stopped. Wow!
I went to bed and a few hours later, had to go to the bathroom (you can’t drink that much water and expect to sleep through the night) and I made another batch of the baking soda water (yet another reason to keep baking soda in the bathroom.)
The next morning I was pretty much back to normal. I drank one more glass that day and kept drinking water like it was going out of style.
The next few days, I made sure to drink tons of water and tea but I did nothing else. Well, I shouldn’t say nothing else…
In addition to my usual prenatal vitamin (not pregnant right now, just breastfeeding) I took some extra vitamins. (okay I took an Airborne. Not my favorite or recommended vitamin but it’s what I had. 1 a night for a few days)
Baking soda can deplete your body of vitamins and nutrients. Plus vitamin C is good for UTIs.
This remedy is not suited for those with sodium restricted diets or pregnant women.
Natural UTI Remedy
1/2 tsp baking soda
4oz water
Directions:
Dissolve baking soda into water. Drink all.
Follow with a few glasses of water, red raspberry leaf tea, or unsweetened cranberry juice.
Repeat ever 4-6 hours.
Do not continue this remedy for longer than 2 days. If symptoms subsist then go to the doctor.
Now I have a few notes to add to this.
- I am not a doctor, I’m not in medical school. The closest I come to being a doctor is playing Dr. Mom.
- I’m not necessarily saying baking soda will cure all UTI’s. It cured mine but I’m not guaranteeing anything. If you do decided to give the baking soda a try and if in 2 days you aren’t back to normal; go to the doctor!
- Even if baking soda doesn’t cure a UTI, it will help with the pain and can get you through the night.
- Do not take more than 3 tsp of baking soda in 24 hours.
- Baking soda has quite a bit of sodium so if you are on a sodium restricted diet then you probably should avoid this remedy.
- You should probably avoid this remedy if you are pregnant as it’s high in sodium but it also robs your body of nutrients/vitamins.
I’m so glad I’ve found out about another use for baking soda! Even if it doesn’t cure any other UTIs that I might get, I do know that it will help me get through the night!
So glad you found a home remedy for the UTI pain – oh, it's miserable.
A note though from personal experience about being cured – about 5 years ago I had a UTI and was on high-dose antibiotics for 3 days. It was an unusual prescription because it's normally a lower dose for something like 10 days…
In any event, I thought it went away. About a week later, I got a horrible kidney infection. The UTI had been suppressed enough that I couldn't feel it, but it traveled up to my kidney, which was a more difficult infection to treat and WAY more uncomfortable.
I would still recommend getting checked out!
Thanks for sharing Megan. Yes as I was doing my research I did come across those who had thought the UTI was gone, only to have it reappear later on.
I definitely suggest keeping an eye on things an making sure the UTI doesn't come back with a vengeance.
Wow, is there anything that baking soda can not do, lol! I used to get UTI's ALL THE TIME and kidney infections ALL THE TIME but *fingers crossed* have not had one since getting pregnant. If one ever sneaks up again I will just go consult my bag of baking soda 😛
Hi! I ran across your blog through pinterest and love it! I had to comment on this post. I have a bladder disease called interstitial cystitis. Very painful. When I first was diagnosed my urologist gave me a sheet of self helps and listed was this baking soda tip. I have been using it for years now and when I am in a bad bladder flare it is a life saver. I do however use a 1/2 tsp with 8 oz. of water and I drink it fast. lol You can repeat this up to 4 times a day. If you have high blood pressure I would definitly be cautious. Another thing…you mentioned that you were out of cranberry juice, according to my doctor that is the worst thing you can do for an UTI as it is high in acid which can irritate the bladder further. I am really trying to go green and your blog is very helpful! Looking forward to more posts!
Do some research on DMSO. It can cure interstitial cystitus.
just stumbled across this page but so awesome, ive been using baking soda for uti for years, my daughter is prone to them as well and as son as she feels one coming on i have her drink baking soda water instead of making her chuck the huge bottle of sulfa drug the docs will give her works just as well at a much faster rate too and ive come to find along with a cranberry pill regime and baking soda water at least once a week she hasnt had a uti for about 6 months now.
Here's one that worked for me! 8oz. of cranberry juice and 1t of cream of tartar three times a day for 3 days!! Worked for me!! My suggestion is that you just chug it! Doesn't taste great but the results are great!
thanks for the baking soda tip! I had no idea. After experiencing UTIs frequently, I started using probiotics….at first I used yogurts and probiotic formulas I found in the "natural" health food dept in the local grocery store. I now use encapsulated probiotics (8 billion or more per capsule)from the natural remedies section of the drug store….It works better than cranberry juice, cranberry capsules and all the yogurt in the world!
being diabetic i just can't chug up so much cranberry juice so i'll try this instead i don't like going to the Dr. unless truly necessary. ty will report at later date, found you thank to pinterest.com
Hope it helps Denise. I never even though about how this might be helpful for diabetics. Good to know!
I am prone to UTI's and after a terrible bout of 4 infections in 3 month I had had enough. I was worried about taking so many anti-biotic and of course hated the Doctor's bills. I did a ton of online research and experimenting and this is what I found:
Cranberry juice is a good preventative step, but once you have an infection, leave it in the fridge! It only further irritates an infected bladder. The secret combo for me is to take two alka-seltzer (which is basically baking soda and asprin)in 12 oz of water. Then follow with 1000 ml of a vitamin C supplement and a lot more water. Your body can't absorb that much vitamin C which is perfect the rest goes straight to your bladder and helps kill the bacteria. These usually yield relief within 1 to 2 hours. If you are prego or nursing then alka-seltzer should not be taken due to the asprin, but you can replace it with straight baking soda. Since finding these remedies I have been UTI free for about two years! I just follow these steps at the first sign. It is fantastic! I am really careful in the days following to drink lots of water just in case, but haven't had one come back yet.
Thanks for your take on this. Although I think those who are pregnant should still probably avoid baking soda as it does deplete the body of nutrients and is high in sodium.
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Thank you so much for the tip Brittany! The pain is terrible throughout the day.
I just got proscribed antibiotics, so I purchased probiotics specific for urinary tract, lots of water, and now, I’ll try the baking soda too! I hope the pain disappears soon.