Don’t worry about why I’m writing about this today. Just don’t even worry. The point is, how does one get rid of the excruciating pain that is an infection of the urinary tract (from which women suffer at an exorbitantly higher rate than men)? We all know about cranberry juice…so I thought I’d see what else is out there by way of alternative medicine (taken, of course, in conjunction with Cipro, which is what they gave people who got Anthraxed. Just saying.) Here’s what I found:

• Via About.com: Uva ursi is a herb that is used as a folk remedy for certain types of urinary tract infection. The active component, arbutin, appears to be broken down and then excreted in the kidneys, where it appears to have antiseptic properties…Side effects of uva ursi can include brown or green colored urine, nausea, ringing in the ears, or indigestion. Rarely, uva ursi has been associated with retinal damage, seizures, cyanosis, cancer, or even death when taken in large amounts for long periods of time. (JESUS!!! No thank you.)

  
• Via Health and Age: Marshmallow root is best used alone in a cold infusion. Soak 1 heaping tbsp. of marshmallow root in 1 qt. of cold water overnight. Strain and drink during the day in addition to any other urinary tea.

• Via Healthy New Age: Echinacea - an herb which can help to disinfect and fight the infection. Goldenseal - an herb which is a powerful disinfectant and antibacterial. Be careful not to take too large a dosage as it will cause irritation and also lower the blood sugar in some people with hypoglycemia

• Via Healing Kitchen: Vitamin C helps to acidify urine. As a result, the bladder is a less appealing environment for harmful bacteria to colonize. Vitamin C also reinforces the body’s immune defenses. Leading Food Sources of vitamin C: Cabbage, red, Strawberries, Potatoes, Tangerines & other mandarins, Peppers, bell, red, Kiwi fruit, Oranges.

OK, so there you have it! Plenty to try, you know, in case any of you happen to have woken up this morning in a mad dash to the ladies room, only to experience a profound burning sensation. Just looking out for you.

Photo by mariaboismain via Flickr