Hi Jaci!
My first bladder infection was treated the typical allopathic medicine way: antibiotics and pain killer (which I was really glad for as the pain was almost unbearable by the time I got to the Dr.) I was out of town, the symtoms hit with vengence in the middle of the night, so in desperation I went to the emergency room!
Second bladder infection:
I used Cranberry concentrate capsules from the health food store. The reason cranberry juice is a problem is because all that sugar feeds the bacteria! You should avoid all sugar for a few days...even "natural" sugars such as honey, maple sugar, etc.Â
A sugar substitute you can use is xylitol. It comes in granular form and is a natural fruit alcohol existing in raspberries, plums, etc. It prevents tooth decay by preventing the bacteria from adhereing to the teeth, and some recent research indicates that it may be useful in the same way for bladder infections!!
I use the NOW brand for both the Cranberry Concentrate and xylitol, because it is high quality and cheaper than most others due to the fact that they deal directly with the store therefore eliminating the middle-man.
Oregano leaves are not only anti-bacterial but also anti-fungal. A fungus (often Candida) can also be the cause of a bladder infection, which is why a test for bacteria in a urine specimin at the Dr's can be negative. You can get them it in capsules, in tincture, or grow your own! I like another NOW product called Candida Clear because it has the oregano leaves plus a lot of other anti-fungals.
You can also get Oregano Oil (in enteric coated capsules or liquid) which is very potent and effective. The only problem with it is it can cause burning in the stomach for some.
Of course, TONS of water!
For the pain...You can now get over the counter the same pain med that Dr's prescribe. It is not as potent as the prescription, but very effective. I took 1/3 of the suggested dose two times (once a day for 2 days), and it gave enough relief so I could function! (called AZO) Remember it takes a while for this to kick in, so give it time to work. You want to take as little as possible since the side-effects as usual are awful!
You also want to address your over-all health, as recurring bladder infections are an indication of a lowered immune system. (I had both of mine during very stressful times in our family!) Extra anti-oxidants like Vit C and immune builders like Echinacea would be good as well.
All symptoms were gone in 2 days, but I contiued the regimen for a week.
Cranberry Capsules are a great supplement to have around "just in case" you start to notice those vague symptoms again. Once you've had a bladder infection, you know the symptoms early on (what a horrible sensation it is!!) So, the sooner you start on a problem, the easier it is to resolve!
Hope this helps!
Cheryl
