Every time Linda went to the restroom she felt a burning sensation. Though she knows that something was wrong, she was too embarrassed to tell anyone about it. At times, she had an intense urge to go to the toilet, but when she went, she could only urinate a little.
Linda’s experience is not unusual—in fact, her problem, urinary tract infection (UTI)— is the most common reason for which women visit a doctor. About one out of five women gets urinary tract infection during her lifetime. That is not to say that men do not have UTIs. However, they are not prone to infection as often as women do.
Symptoms
Many a time, the symptoms are not very obvious. But most often, the symptoms are only too obvious to neglect.
• The person urinates more frequently than usual.
• There is a sharp pain or burning sensation in the urethra while passing urine.
• There could be blood in the urine.
• The person has a feeling as if his or her bladder is full after passing urine.
• The person experiences soreness in the belly, back, or sides, and chills, fever, and nausea.
Self-Help Guidelines and Ayurvedic Remedies
Removing the cause of trouble can treat the problem. However, there are ayurvedic remedies that will reduce the burning sensation:
• Wash the genital area and drink a glass of water before intercourse.
• Urinate before and after intercourse.
• Drink at least eight glasses of water a day, preferably hot to dilute the urine and flush bacteria out of the bladder. Barley water and coconut water can be used to dilute the urine.
• Avoid alcohol, spicy foods, chilies, and coffee. Restrict intake of beans, pulses, spinach, tomatoes, and ladyfingers.
• Go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge. Empty your bladder completely when you pass urine. Do not give bacteria a chance to grow.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Wipe properly after urinating or having a bowel movement to prevent the bacteria from entering anus and the urethra.
• Wear cotton undergarments. Bacteria thrive in warm and wet conditions. Cotton helps keep you cool and dry because it lets through airflow. Do not wear tight jeans, pants, or undergarments.
• Avoid bath tubs. Take a shower instead of a bath.
• Avoid using strong soaps, feminine hygiene products, and antiseptic creams that may irritate the urethra.
• Eat a cup of curd made with active, live cultures daily. Curd contains Loctobacillus acidophilus, which may create an acidic environment and prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria.
• Taking Vitamin C in the form of fruit juices regularly makes urine more acidic and less hospitable to bacteria. Take six grams of equal parts of aamla and jaggery everyday.
• On the other hand, a solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) alkalizes the urine, which makes it less hospitable to bacteria.
• Apply hot compresses over the bladder. Do the same, but this time with a cold pack after half an hour. Powder of saltpeter (Shorakshar), applied on the bladder and covered with a wet cloth also gives better results.
• Boil 20 grams of corncob hair (hair of maize) in water and drink the infusion.
• Internally, take half a cup of decoction of equal parts of fruits of Gokshura (gokhru) and coriander (dhania), thrice a day.
• Most of the ayurvedic practitioners prescribe shilajit for this condition. Paashaanabheda (Bergenia ligulata) root powder will also help. Take a teaspoonful of the same.
• You can prepare an effective remedy by mixing the powders of cardamom—one part, root of paashaanabheda—half part, purified shilajit—half part, and long pepper—half part. Take this preparation in doses of three to four grams with half a glass of water in which rice has been washed, twice a day.
• Elaadi-choorna, taarakeswara ras, Chandraprabhavati, Pravaala-bhasma, Chandanaasava etc., are some of the important ayurvedic medicines which can effectively treat this condition. Consult your ayurvedic physician before using these medicines.