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Page 69
| Natural and Herbal Treatments |
| When suffering from a urinary tract infection, first and foremost slow down and rest. Take a little extra time off from your daily routine. Drink lots of fluids during the day to flush the urinary system, about eight ounces of fluid every hour. Alternating between soothing medicated herbal teas, water and unsweetened cranberry juice during the day works well. The cranberry makes the urethra slippery, thereby making it harder for the bacteria to adhere and settle in the area. It must be unsweetened because avoiding natural and refined sugars is important. Cranberry is also available in concentrated gel caps which can be taken easily with water. Use two 250 mg capsules 3 to 4 times a day for acute infections and one time a day to prevent infections if you are particularly prone to them. Avoid the following: |
| Caffeine: tea, coffee, chocolate, soft drinks. |
| High acid foods: orange juice, tomatoes, too much fruit. |
| Vaginal soaps, deodorants, sanitary napkins, noncotton underwear. |
| Sexual activity. |
| We recommend taking the herbs in tea or tincture form rather than in capsules but if only capsules are available, be sure to take them with a full glass of water. Teas and tinctures should be taken three to five times a day if treating an acute infection. Medicinal herbs to include in a urinary formula would include antiseptic herbs such as goldenseal, thyme, juniper berry, garlic, uva ursi and yarrow flowers; soothing demulcent herbs such as marshmallow root, |
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