A natural treatment for when you have issues "down there"

Antibiotics are overused. They are overprescribed for a range of sicknesses from a sore throat to a bladder infection. And when things go wrong down below most women immediately call their doctor and rush to the pharmacy to get a script of antibiotics.

Bladder infections also known as urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common type of infection in the body, accounting for over eight million visits to health care providers each year. Women are especially prone to UTIs for anatomical reasons. One factor is that a woman’s urethra is shorter, allowing bacteria quicker access to the bladder. Also, a woman’s urethral opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina.

However, there are a number of ways to stop the clinging of bacteria on the bladder wall without antibiotics. The secret is catching it as soon a symptoms arise—usually an odd feeling in the lower abdomen and mild pain during urination. If you feel this—there are some homeopathic remedies that really work almost instantaneously.

Note for men: Although women face the lifetime risk of having a UTI is greater than 50 percent, UTIs in men, though not as common, can be serious when they occur. Men with prostatitis are also more prone to UTIs that, if left unaddressed can cause excessive inflammation, slowing down excretion and decreasing sex drive and performance. If a man in your life suffers from ED or prostatitis, it’s all linked to the same excretory system and can help reduce unwanted inflammation.

Now back to my recommended natural treatments for UTIs. Here’s one of my homemade recipes that not only taste pretty good, the natural anti-microbial, anti-bacterial properties act fast to ease pain, symptoms, and actually eliminate the bacteria that’s causing the UTI. If you are pregnant or have any blood disorders, before trying homeopathic remedies, check with your physician to insure these herbs are safe for you.

1 bundle of fresh parsley

1 lime

1 cup organic not-from-concentrate cranberry juice (no sugar added, or use cranberry extract and add water to the mix)

2 tbsp of ginger juice or fresh ginger

Mix this in a blender (I use a VitaMixer) and drink it 3x a day for 3 days

Also taking high doses of the following pill-form of these antimicrobial herbs and fruit can help coat the lining of your bladder which pulls the bacteria out of the bladder:

300-600mg of oil of oregano 2x a day (3- 180mg pills)

900 mg of parsley (2 pills)

1000-1500 mg of cranberry extract

Some other things to use if you want to help your urinary tract:

2 tbsp of D-Mannose (see below) in your water all day

High-quality probiotics: There are many on the market so you may want to try different ones until you find the one that works for you best.

One pill form I really like is Dr. Mercola’s D-Mannose Pills. They have cranberry extract and probiotics in them so you can take less pills and gain the same benefits. Here’s some tips from Dr. Mercola as well to sustain optimal bladder health.

• Drink plenty of water every day. This dilutes your urine and helps you regularly flush your system.

• Urinate when you feel the need. Don’t resist the urge to go.

• For women, wipe from front to back, and use unscented and unbleached toilet paper as many women react to the dyes and chemicals in other toilet papers.

• Take showers instead of baths.

• Cleanse your genital area prior to and after sexual intercourse, or better yet use a bidet.

• Avoid feminine deodorant sprays, douches, and powders that can lead to irritation of the urethra and genitals. Note: Only use natural cotton sanitary napkins and tampons. 97% of women believe they are made of cotton, but the truth is LESS THAN one percent actually is.

So when things don’t feel so good down there, before you rush to take an antibiotic, know that there are ways to eliminate bacteria from your urinary tract and get out of taking antibiotics that then mess up the flora in your gut, causing candida, constipation, and other unwanted symptoms.