Pyelonephritis

If you think you have a urinary infection, you must see a doctor. Some can only be treated effectively with antibiotics.
Many pregnant women will get the occasional episode, however, but if it’s a regular problem you must take steps to prevent and treat.

Beneficial supplements include:

  • Vitamin C
  • Bioflavonoids
  • Potassium citrate
  • Zinc

    Nutritional and lifestyle changes could be a key factor for this condition. Local trauma can make tissues more susceptible to infection. If necessary, use a lubricant before sex and always go to the loo as soon as decently possible afterwards. The latex in condoms can be a local allergen, so try the newer varieties made from inert plastics, like Avanti made by Durex.

    Avoid irritant soaps, bath and shower gels, and add a few drops of Tea tree oil to the bath.

    There are also some essential dietary changes:

  • Drink at least 2 litres of fluid every day, including 250ml of unsweetened cranberry juice – always dilute 50/50 with water because it may be too acidic
  • Drastically cut down on sugar and refined carbohydrates
  • Don’t drink coffee, and stick to green or weak Indian tea
  • Dilute all juices 50/50 with water and avoid any foods you know may be allergic to
  • Eat plenty of the diuretic foods – celery, parsley, dandelion leaves – and make sure you take some of your fluid as home-made lemon barley water to relieve the burning and prevent the growth of bacteria. The commercial drinks, delicious though they are, do contain chemicals which could be irritant. If you have cystitis, it’s safer to make your own by:

  • Pouring 1 litre of boiling water over 75 g of washed barley
  • Adding the grated rind and juice of an un-waxed lemon
  • Adding half a tspn of sugar
  • Leaving it to cool and drinking a glass three times a day

    It’s also important to:

  • Wear cotton pants
  • Wherever possible, avoid tights unless they have a cotton gusset

    Cystitis may also be aggravated by stress, so any form of relaxation helps – try meditation, biofeedback, aromatherapy.

    Avoid all coloured toilet paper, as the dyes may be irritant. From the earliest age, all girls should be taught to wipe their bottoms from front to back, using fresh paper for each wipe to prevent spreading bacteria from the anus to the urethra.

    It’s also essential to pass urine as soon as you feel the need to. Delay may cause pressure in the bladder and force infected urine back into the kidneys.
     
     
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    The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.