Antibiotics for UTIs: Natural Alternatives
Fustrated by the lack of success with antibiotics for UTIs, many people are now searching for natural UTI treatments instead of antibiotics. Consequently, they encounter a bewildering array of supplements and herbs at drugstores, health food stores, and online retailers like Amazon.
These products claim to help with UTIs, ranging from pain relief to “cleansing” and “urinary health.” For instance, supplements such as cranberry, hibiscus, Uva Ursi, D-Mannose, aloe, green tea, bearberry leaf, marshmallow root, and goldenrod come from various unknown brands with different formulas and strengths.
Fact – Find a Trusted Brand
Unless a doctor, pharmacist, or friend has recommended a product or company, you need to conduct your own research.
To make a quick and confident decision, consider the following four factors when choosing UTI supplements:
First, select a company that specializes in UTIs and offers a wide range of products for all stages of the infection.- Second, look for a company with medical professionals, such as pharmacists, who can answer your questions.
- Third, ensure that their products are manufactured in FDA-certified US facilities and tested by reputable third-party labs.
- Finally, review customer feedback to confirm that the company is committed to helping you completely eliminate your UTI.
Fact – Only A Few Natural Supplements Have Proven Effective
Due to the “antibiotics resistance crisis,” US medical scientists have rigorously tested natural alternatives for UTI treatments. As a result, the NIH (National Institute of Health) database now feature more articles supporting non-prescription solutions.
Currently, only three natural supplements are clinically proven as safe and effective for UTIs: D-Mannose, apple cider vinegar, and cranberry extract. Other herbs and botanicals lack sufficient evidence to support their use.
Each of these three supplements plays a unique role in UTI treatments.
D-Mannose for Active UTI Treatment
D-Mannose is the first and only natural supplement proven to quickly relieve the symptoms of an active UTI.
Extracted from fruits, this rare sugar’s molecules have unique properties that attract and bind to bacteria in the bladder, allowing them to be washed out with urine. Moreover, naturopathic doctors have been recommending D-Mannose for natural UTI treatment for years. Jonathan Wright, MD, first documented its success at the Tacoma Clinic in the 1980s.
As antibiotics resistance grew, scientists searched for effective substitutes. . Numerous international studies have confirmed D-Mannose’s effectiveness with fewer side effects compared to antibiotics.
When Choosing D-Mannose, Look For:
- Powder over capsules: Capsules can lose effectiveness in the digestive tract. Therefore, powder mixed in water targets the bladder directly and provides fast relief.
- 100% Pure, no additives: Avoid products with cranberry or hibiscus, as they dilute the supplement’s effectiveness.
- Complete dissolution: A top-quality D-Mannose should dissolve in water without leaving residue or taste.
Apple Cider Vinegar for Biofilms
If symptoms persist after using D-Mannose for 30 days, you might have an embedded UTI. This means bacteria have formed a biofilm on the bladder lining. Fortunately, apple cider vinegar can dissolve these biofilms, exposing the bacteria so they can be flushed out by D-Mannose.
A 2015 NIH study “Antibiofilm Properties of Acetic Acid” reveals: “We have discovered that not only does acetic acid kill planktonic bacteria but it also eradicates bacteria growing in biofilms.”
When Choosing Apple Cider Formulations, Look For:
- Apple cider vinegar
- D-Mannose
- Cranberry
- A blend of 25 botanicals and 4 vitamins
Cranberry PACs to Prevent New Infections
Cranberry protects the bladder from new infections after an active UTI is cleared. The active ingredient, PACs (proanthocyanidins), coats the bladder and prevents new bacteria from sticking, allowing them to be flushed out with urine.
Cranberry juice alone lacks sufficient PACs for effectiveness. Therefore, choose cranberry extract in capsule form that delivers 36 mg of PAC daily.
When Choosing Cranberry, Look For:
- Delivers 36 mg PAC per capsule
- 100% pure cranberry extract, no additives
- Sourced from pure cranberry juice concentrate, not skins or stem
By following these guidelines and selecting the right supplements, you can find effective natural alternatives to antibiotics for managing and preventing UTIs.
Hair loss with D Mannose?
When I was first instructed to start taking d-Mannose for chronic UTI, I was instructed to take 4000 mg daily. 2000 in the morning and the same at night. About a month there after I started losing a lot of hair. Realizing that Matos was the only new thing I’d introduced to my body, I quit taking it and my hair stopped falling out.
Have you had any others who had similar experience?
I am back on it again now, but only taking 500 mg daily. Is this going to be a sufficient dose?
Hi Barbara: we have not had a single report from any of our 6000+ customers about hair loss resulting from D-Mannose use. We have also read every scientific article available in the medical databases about D-Mannose and have never seen this effect. The daily recommended dose is 2000 mg to keep the bladder clear of bacteria. If you do ot have an Active UTI right now, we would suggest that you switch to taking a daily capsule of 36mg PAC cranberry extract. Read more about it here:https://understandingutis.com/two-simple-words-to-beat-utis-clear-and-protect/