Urinary tract infection (UTI) is well-treated using naturopathic medicine.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) describes an infection of the bladder (cystitis) or the urethra (urethritis).

Urinary tract infections typically occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra.

Complications of urinary tract infections (UTIs) may include recurrent infections (especially in women who experience three or more urinary tract infections [UTIs]), permanent kidney damage from an acute or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) and increased risk of women delivering low birth weight or pre-mature infants.

Seek professional healthcare if you suspect you have a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Possible symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) include:

• Strong, persistent urge to urinate
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Urine that appears cloudy
• Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored
• Strong-smelling urine
• Pelvic pain (in women)
• Rectal pain (in men)

Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) at Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine

At Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, the goals of urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment are to reduce pain, resolve underlying infection and prevent recurrence.

Conventional treatment for urinary tract infection (UTI) is generally antibiotics, which may have short- or long-term side effects or complications.

For this reason, you may choose to try natural treatment to possibly avoid use of conventional treatments, or together with conventional treatments in order to limit conventional treatment required to treat your urinary tract infection (UTI) or non-infectious cystitis symptoms.

Naturopathic treatment of any chronic health concern must be recognized as a process that involves:

• Identifying specific treatment goals
• Development by your naturopathic doctor, of a thorough understanding of all factors affecting your health, including physical, psychological, emotional and lifestyle factors
• Development of a comprehensive treatment plan
• Implementation and maintenance of that plan through periodic monitoring and adjustment

At Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, a typical approach to treating urinary tract infections (UTI) and other causes of cystitis may be to:

• Identify and address underlying factors in your lifestyle (e.g., insufficient water intake, delaying urinary voidance, frequent tub baths, poor genital hygiene, birth control selection) or general health (e.g., kidney stones, enlarged prostate gland), compromised immune system, prolonged use of bladder catheters) that may be contributing to your cystitis symptoms
• Resolve infection using botanical (herbal) medicines and nutritional supplements
• Prevent recurrence by increasing immune system activity using botanical (herbal) medicines

Where appropriate, a number of therapeutic options are available, to be used alone, or more often in a complementary fashion, including:

• Nutritional counseling 
• Nutritional supplements
• Metabolic detoxification protocols
• Botanical (herbal) medicines
• Acupuncture 
• Homeopathy
• Bowen Therapy
• Suikodo™
• Hydrotherapy
• Exercise prescription
• Relaxation (meditation) training
• Lifestyle medicine and counseling

Treatments provided by naturopathic doctors are covered by most extended healthcare plans.

References

Urinary tract infection (UTI) [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; [cited 2015 Mar 28]. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/basics/definition/con-20037892.