Cystitis - Home Remedies

Marian Grosser studied human medicine in Munich. In addition, the doctor, who was interested in many things, dared to make some exciting detours: studying philosophy and art history, working on the radio and, finally, also for a Netdoctor.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

Can home remedies help with a cystitis? Yes, they can: In addition to the important treatment with antibiotics, it is often helpful to support the healing process with additional measures. Read here which home remedies really help with recovery and what can be used to prevent cystitis from developing.

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. N30

Proven for generations

Even in the days before antibiotics were discovered, people knew effective tips against the symptoms of cystitis. Home remedies such as kidney and bladder teas, for example, use herbal ingredients that have been known for centuries. There are also other measures that support the healing process in the case of a bladder infection:

• Drink a lot and pee as often as possible
• Hot water bottle, envelopes and hip baths
• Cranberry juice, also blueberry or lingonberry juice
• If possible, no citrus juices and no coffee and alcohol

These tips can be very helpful and are always a useful addition to medication treatment. However, those affected should not rely on it alone. Therefore, if the symptoms of cystitis do not go away soon, a doctor should always be consulted. This can decide whether the use of antibiotics is necessary.

How do the home remedies for cystitis work?

Drink at least two liters

Drinking enough is important and healthy in any case.

In the case of a bladder infection, however, the absorption or excretion of fluid is of particular relevance. Because if you drink a lot, you often have to go to the toilet and thus help to “flush out” the pathogens. The less you urinate, on the other hand, the better the germs can multiply and, in unfavorable cases, even spread to the ureters and renal pelvis. Anyone suffering from cystitis is therefore well advised to drink a lot (at least two liters a day) and not to stop going to the toilet despite the possible pain.

Avoid coffee and alcohol

But it is not just the amount of fluid that is ingested that is decisive. Even What drinking plays a role. For example, some drinks contain substances that irritate the urinary tract, making them more susceptible to infections and their spread. These include coffee and various citrus juices as well as alcohol in general. Especially sugary drinks such as lemonades and iced tea are rather counterproductive, as increased sugar levels can promote bacterial growth. That is why diabetics are more often affected by bladder infections. Pure water or unsweetened teas of all kinds are the better choice of drink.

Do kidney and bladder teas help?

In contrast to normal herbal and fruit varieties, special bladder teas from the pharmacy contain herbal ingredients that also have a diuretic effect, such as teas with birch leaf extracts. Goldenrod not only increases urine output, it also has an antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect. Bearberry leaves have a disinfecting effect, which is reinforced with a pinch of baking soda. Other herbal remedies that are useful for cystitis include nettle, juniper, and horsetail.

Four to five cups of such a tea a day are sufficient. Bear grape tea should be drunk before going to bed so that the active ingredient can accumulate in the bladder.

A tea mixture made from birch, goldenrod and orthosiphon (cat's beard) is also recommended if you have a bladder infection. Mix one to two teaspoons of birch leaves, goldenrod and cat's whiskers and pour 150 milliliters of boiling water over them. Let the tea steep for ten to 15 minutes and drink three to four cups a day.

The teas are available in the pharmacy as normal sachets, but also as a powder that is simply stirred into hot (or warm) water and does not have to be steeped. You do not need a prescription for this, but caution should be exercised in people with heart or kidney disease with regard to “flushing therapy”. These patients should consult their doctor beforehand.

Cranberry juice miracle cure?

The juice of the cranberry (large-fruited cranberry) has long been said to have miraculous powers in the fight against cystitis, and indeed it seems to have a positive effect, although it is certainly not a miracle cure. The responsible active ingredient in the fruits is called proanthocyanidin and apparently makes it difficult for the pathogen to adhere to the walls of the urinary tract. Regular consumption of cranberry juice can therefore help reduce the spread of the infection and prevent recurrence of cystitis. Blueberries (blueberries) and lingonberries also contain the protective proanthocyanidin.

Warmth relaxes

Applying a hot water bottle or warm compresses has a relaxing effect on the muscles, which are often cramped in the case of cystitis, and thus alleviates the symptoms. Foot baths can also be helpful.

Incidentally, a hot water bottle should not be placed on bare skin, otherwise burns could result. It is best to wrap them in a towel beforehand.

How can you prevent it?

So with the right measures, healing can be supported, but how do you prevent cystitis? The most important thing here is proper hygiene in everyday life.In order to prevent cystitis, you should therefore pay attention to the following things:

• When cleaning up after a bowel movement, always wipe from front to back to avoid carrying germs from the anal region into the vicinity of the urethral entrance.
• If possible, go to the bathroom within the first ten minutes after intercourse to flush out possible pathogens.
• It is best to use only water or pH-neutral substances for intimate cleansing so as not to irritate the natural pH environment.
• Underwear should not be too tight and should be washed regularly at 60 ° C. Cotton is more breathable and therefore better than synthetic.

During sexual intercourse, it can hardly be avoided that germs that do not belong there get near the urethra. Anal intercourse in particular poses a particular risk here. In addition to urinating early, it is therefore also advisable to clean the genital area afterwards.

A condom significantly reduces the risk of developing a bladder infection. Other contraceptives such as spermicides, the IUD or a diaphragm increase it.

Further advice on preventing cystitis: Get out of wet clothes quickly, avoid cold feet and always dress warm enough. Because if the body is hypothermic, pathogens have an easy time - also the triggers of a cystitis. Home remedies and tips that support the treatment (drink a lot, cranberry juice, etc.) can also have a preventive effect.

Tags:  toadstool poison plants vaccinations elderly care