Unlocking Ayurveda Secrets Series Part III

Stop The Burning Naturally

Soothe, Treat, and Prevent the Pain of Reoccurring UTIs Without Antibiotics and Restore Your Healthy Female Balance Permanently

There is nothing more annoying and crippling than a Urinary Tract Infection or UTI. It’s nearly impossible to get anything done at home, at work, or at play when you can’t be far from the nearest restroom.

And then, the countless potty visits are either incredibly painful or totally uneventful….or both. No thanks!

Much to the dismay of women, UTIs are among the most widespread bacterial infections the world over. It is an infection of the urinary system and occurs when bacteria make their way into the urine. Such infection may result in serious complications including kidney or bladder infections.

Let us see some of the common symptoms of UTI–

• Frequent urge to urinate

• A burning sensation while urinating

• Pressure in the lower abdomen or bladder

• Blood in the urine also known as Hematuria

Usually, physicians prescribe antibiotics to deal with UTIs. But using antibiotics for any prolonged periods or frequently can result in serious health complications long term. So, prevention is the ‘best cure’ to avoid these debilitating infections.

One very important idea to consider is the fact that women have had UTIs for thousands of years, way before modern Western medicine named them and created chemical drugs to treat them. What did our ancestors do then? How did women in history handle these devilishly crafty ailments?

Well, in the East—the answer was Ayurveda…both back then and now. Ayurveda is considered to be highly effective (and a much safer treatment as compared to antibiotics.) So, we are going to examine natural Ayurvedic herbs and supplements that can not only treat UTIs but may also prove helpful in preventing them.

Ayurvedic Herbs and Supplements For UTIs

Cranberry

Consuming cranberry juice can help in curing UTIs due to the Proanthocyanidin ingredient in it. This highly energetic natural ingredient prevents bacteria from attaching to the cell walls of the urinary tract, which makes it a natural preventative measure. In fact, the National Center for Biotechnology Information revealed that 2-3 tablespoons of pure unsweetened cranberry juice alone consumed twice daily drastically reduced the number of UTIs experienced by women prone to chronic suffering. Some find the unsweetened juice a bit too tart, so diluting it in water is completely acceptable. It heating energy balances an aggravated Vata Dosha, which can offer quick relief as well as keep the urinary tract functioning naturally.

Parsley Tea

Consumption of Parsley tea has proven to be useful in the treatment of UTIs thanks to its natural diuretic properties. It can eliminate the infectious organism from the urinary bladder by enhancing the healing process of the infection. This helps rid yourself of the burning pain and stinging during urination.

It is extremely easy to make. Simply boil water and add a handful of freshly chopped parsley leaves to it. Let it steep for 10-15 minutes. You can add honey if you need to sweeten it a bit. You should have this about every three hours or so when you’re dealing with the pain and stinging. After that, once day is sufficient.

Tribulus Terestris(Gokshur)

This wonderful Ayurvedic herb helps in controlling inflammation and swelling in the bladder and urethra by acting as an aphrodisiac and a diuretic while balancing your kidneys. Gokshura Churna is usually prepared as a formula of several herbs to treat any number of genitourinary problems.

DIY Recipe for Gokshura Churna

Ingredients:

1 equal measure of each herb below:

• Gokshura (or Vajravalli) – Tribulus terrestris

• Haritaki – Terminalia chebula

• Punarnava – Boerhavia diffusa

• Devdaru – Cedrus deodara

• Adrak (or wet ginger) – Zingiber officinalis

• Shunthi (or dry ginger) – Zingiber officinalis

• Lashuna or garlic – Alium sativa

Preparation:

• Wash herbs and always sun dry.

• Ground each herbs separately into a powder and then expose them to direct sunlight until no moisture is present (usually 3-4 days)

• Mix all 7 herbal powders in equal measure together.

• Use a No. 100 sieve to remove any impurities and reduce the mixture to a fine powder

• Always store in airtight containers

Consumption:

• Take about ¼-½ teaspoon and mix it with water or milk after meals twice daily (you can add honey if you need some sweetness)

Uva Ursi

Also known as bearberry leaf or Arctostaphylos uva ursi, it is an Ayurvedic herbal remedy that has been used to treat UTIs in traditional medicine practices for several centuries. Leaves of this plant or herb are used for making herbal medicine. It is a flowering shrub found in different parts of Asia, North America, and Europe. However, you must not consume this herbal medicine for more than two weeks consecutively as long-term exposure to synthetic hydroquinone might be carcinogenic.

Vaccinium Myrtillus

Commonly known as Blueberry, this is a well-known Ayurvedic herb for the treatment and prevention of UTI. The extracts of this herb have constituents similar to cranberry extracts. These extracts also possess anti-adhesive activities to work against uropathogenic bacteria. As a result, bacteria find it difficult to adhere to the urinary bladder walls.

Agathosma Betulina

Also known as Buchu, it is regarded to be among the oldest Ayurvedic herbs for treating UTIs. Phenolic compounds contained in the leaves of this herb can help in dealing with urinary tract infections due to their antiseptic and diuretic properties. There are many Western studies that highlight the effectiveness of Buchu as a natural antibiotic. Since Buchu contains rutin, it induces renal output so it also flushes the kidneys.

It’s been said that Buchu has a three-pronged approach: Anti-inflammatory (stops the burning), anti-infective (gets rid of the bacterium causing the infection) and diuretic properties (increased urinary output). What’s really amazing is that you can often feel the impact of Buchu within 2-3 hours!

It comes in a variety of forms, but the most common forms and dosages include:

• 1 to 2g dried Buchu leaf in capsules three times daily

• A tincture of 1 to 4ml daily for three times a day, or 10 to 20 drops of tincture in water three times a day after meals

• For Buchu tea, infuse 1 to 2 teaspoons of Buchu leaves for 5 to 10 minutes in a cup of hot water, two or three times a day

D-mannose

This is a kind of sugar used for the prevention and treatment of UTIs. We can find this natural ingredient in several foods like apples, oranges, and cranberries. However, when used to treat UTIs, it is consumed in tablet or powder form. It is believed that this wonderful herb prevents infectious bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract cells, thereby getting them flushed out easily. The only restriction is that it might not be suitable for people dealing with unregulated blood sugar levels.

Green Tea

Of course, this remedy has found its way into popular pop culture. It is obtained from the leaves of a plant called Camellia sinensis. This natural Ayurvedic herb has been used widely for centuries in several traditional medicine practices. It has a rich amount of plant compounds named polyphenols which have great anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. A compound named EGC(Epigallocatechin) found in green tea has been found to have vital antibacterial effects against E. coli’s UTI-causing strains. However, only a moderate quantity of green tea is considered safe for the majority of people to avoid restlessness.

Garlic

Allium sativum or garlic gives a big boost to your immune system and is well-known for having antifungal and antibacterial properties. One of its compounds named allicin helps kill E.coli due to its antimicrobial properties. Again, much research has been done about the use of garlic and its incredible effect on UTIs..

UTI Prevention

• 600-1,200 mg garlic extract, usually divided into multiple doses and taken with or after food (comes out to be about one 4-7gram clove).

• 2-6 garlic oil softgels per day

UTI Treatment Dosage

• Up to 9 raw garlic cloves a day in 3 equal measures WITH food (crush into small, swallowable pieces so you release the Allicin fast)

You can cut garlic into pill size pieces, but I would recommend crushing it as much as possible before swallowing to release potent Allicin. (Please note that garlic cloves can vary drastically in weight from 4-30 grams. It’s important you weigh with a digital scale, so it is clear what you are consuming. As a general rule of thumb, women shouldn’t exceed 20gm a day because overdoing it on garlic can be toxic.)

Mint Tea

Mint leaves possess antibacterial effects against certain bacteria causing UTIs, especially E. coli. It further revealed that some compounds in mint leaves can control bacterial resistance to many antibiotic medicines.

Medicated Enema or Vasthi

To deal with chronic UTI, panchakarma procedures might be required. Vasthi is among the commonly used procedures for cleansing the srothas(subtle channels) in the body. It helps to remove the blockage of vatha humor pathways to calm the aggravation of Vatha.

The Vasthi is divided into two main categories: Anuvasana Vasthi(or Basti) and Niruha(Nirooha) Vasthi(Basti). While Anuvasana Vasthi is medicated oil enemas, Niruha Vasthi is medicated enema of decoction mix.

Anal administration(through the anal route) of Sneha (medicated oil or ghee) is termed as Anuvasana Vasthi or Basti(oil enema). This is followed by Nirooha Vasthi in which appropriate herbal decoction, honey, rock salt, medicated oil, and herbal powder paste are mixed together. These are administered together to keep PH levels balanced.

Nirooha Basti differs from Anuvasana Basti in its use of special herbal decoction instead of medicated oil. Fats and oils are administered in Anuvasana basti while a decoction mix is administered in Niruha Basti. The dosha characteristics of the patient are considered before administering Nirooha Basti. Hence, ingredients and dosage strength are decided while keeping in view the severity of the problem.

Last Words

UTIs have been occurring since womankind have walked the Earth. Ayuerveda is one of the most ancient forms of natural medicine and has proven to be a viable means of treatment and prevention. If you chronically suffer or you just simply want to take control of and enhance your female energies, consider giving these incredible Ayurvedic herbs a go as a great means of avoiding other, more invasive synthetic medications.