Top 7 Homeopathic Medicines for Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

Urinary tract infection or UTI refers to an infection in any part of the urinary tract which consists of kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract – the bladder and the urethra termed cystitis and urethritis respectively. Women are more prone to UTI than men.
Homeopathy holds a great promise to give excellent results in cases of UTI. Homeopathic medicines are very safe, gentle, natural and effective for UTI. These promote quick symptom relief in UTI. Symptoms such as pain, burning with urination, frequent and urgent urination all get significantly better with these medicines. Homeopathic medicines stimulate the body’s innate healing mechanism to fight the infectious agent which is causing UTI and exclude it from the body. To boost this mechanism, homeopathy uses very tiny amounts of highly diluted medicines procured from natural sources. This way it aids excellent natural cure with no side effects. Homeopathic medicines are highly recommended for mild to moderate cases of UTI. However, in severe cases and cases where kidneys are involved urgent help from conventional mode of treatment should be taken.
Homeopathy is a symptom-based science. Among a wide range of homeopathic medicines available to treat recurrent UTI, the most appropriate is selected after a thorough assessment of the detailed symptoms of the individual. Afterwards its potency, dose, repetition is decided as per homeopathic principles. In this way, effective cure happens with correctly selected medicine.
Homeopathic medicines work wonderfully well in urinary tract infections, whether acute or chronic and recurrent types. Homeopathic treatment gradually reduces the frequency and intensity of recurrent UTI episodes remarkably. It also helps to reduce chances of any complications. With proper homeopathic treatment the need for frequent antibiotic use can be highly minimized.

Top 7 Homeopathic Medicines For Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

The seven  top-most homeopathic medicines that are highly reliable for treating urinary tract infection are Cantharis Vesicatoria, Apis Mellifica, Sarsaparilla Officinalis, Nitric acid, Sepia, Colibacillinum and Merc Cor.

1. Cantharis Vesicatoria – For Extreme Pain / Burning Before, During and After Urination

Cantharis Vesicatoria is among the primary medicines for treating urinary tract infection. The key symptom to look out for while prescribing Cantharis Vesicatoria is intense pain or burning before, during or after urination. There is a constant urge to urinate. Scanty urine or urine passed in drops from UTI is also best treated with Cantharis Vesicatoria. At times, blood in the urine can also be seen.

When to use Cantharis Vesicatoria?
The most striking feature to use this medicine is pain / burning sensation — before, during and after urination, along with frequent desire to pass urine.

How to use Cantharis Vesicatoria?
Cantharis is best suited in 30C potency. It can be repeated 2 times in a day.

2. Apis Mellifica – For Severe Burning, Stinging While Passing Urine

Apis Mellifica is the next important medicine for urinary tract infection. The person requiring Apis Mellifica will complain of burning or stinging pain while passing urine, especially last drops of urine causing intense burning. There is also bladder tenesmus (sensation of incomplete bladder emptying even when there is no urine left behind in the bladder). In some cases, blood appears in urine.

When to use Apis Mellifica?
It can be used when there is burning, stinging sensation while passing urine mainly when passing last drops of urine.

How to use Apis Mellifica?
It can be taken in low 30C potency that can only be repeated twice in a day. It is also used in 200C but in order to do so, one should carefully look for the symptoms and not repeat it frequently.

3. Sarsaparilla Officinalis– For Intense Burning Towards The End Of Urination

To treat UTI with intense burning when a person finishes urination, Sarsaparilla Officinalis is the most reliable medicine. Other accompanying characteristics for use of Sarsaparilla are – scanty urine, urine with pus and blood and pain in the urethra extending to the abdomen.

When to use Sarsaparilla Officinalis?
The key guiding symptom for the use of Sarsaparilla Officinalis is unbearable pain after the urination is done.

How to use Sarsaparilla Officinalis?
It is recommended mainly in 30C power that can be repeated depending on the severity of the symptoms but not more than 3 times in a day.

4. Nitric Acid – For Burning During Urination With Foul Smelling Urine

Nitric Acid is one of the most effective medicines for urinary tract infection where the major symptoms include burning while passing urine that is highly offensive (foul-smelling) like horse’s urine. Urine is scanty, cloudy, dark or bloody.

When to use Nitric Acid?
This remedy is best suited to patients who have foul smelling urine passed with burning and stinging pain.

How to use Nitric Acid?
It works well in low potency i.e. 30C, normally use of this medicine is limited to once to twice in a day. Higher potencies are not recommended until a physician asks you to do so.

5. Sepia – For UTI In Women

Sepia is rated among the most beneficial medicines for treating urinary tract infection in women. Sepia is prescribed when there is cutting pain in the bladder and there is a feeling of the pubic area getting pushed down. The urinary stream is weak and the urine smells bad. Sepia is also very useful in cases of chronic cystitis (bladder inflammation). It is also recognized as the best medicine for urinary tract infection in women going through menopause.

When to use Sepia?
Sepia is a highly recommended medicine for UTI in females to manage symptoms of painful urination with a feeling of pubic area getting pushed down. It works great in chronic bladder inflammation.

How to use Sepia?
It gives remarkable results in 30C potency that can be administered once a day.

6. Colibacillinum – For Escherichia Coli (E.coli) Positive UTI

For urinary tract infection that tests positive for Escherichia coli bacteria, Colibacillinum is the best medicine. The symptoms to use it include an urge to pass urine frequently, scanty urination and pain while passing urine. The urine may smell. Blood in urine is noted in certain cases.

When to use Colibacillinum?
This remedy is specific for cases of urinary tract infections with Escherichia coli (E. coli) Positive culture report with symptoms of painful, frequent urination.

How to use Colibacillinum?
It is advisable to use it in lower potency 30C only once a day. If there is no improvement, it is strongly recommended to consult a homeopathic physician.

7. Merc Cor – For Hot Urine Passed In Drops With Severe Pain

It is an excellent medicine for cases having hot urine passed in drops with intense pain. There is frequent almost a constant urge to pass urine with this. Severe burning is also felt in the urethra along with these symptoms.

When to use Merc Cor?
Passage of hot urine in drops with severe pain is the most remarkable symptom guiding use of this medicine.

How to use Merc Cor?
One may take this medicine one or two times a day in 30 C power.

Note The above-listed medicines can be taken for 1-2 weeks. If the symptoms still persist, it is best to consult a homeopath before taking it further or using high potencies (200C, 1M or higher).

Pathophysiology And Causes Of UTI

A urinary tract infection arises when bacteria gain access to the urinary tract and begin to multiply there. Escherichia coli, commonly known as E.coli, (a type of bacteria commonly found in Gastrointestinal tract, GI) is the most common bacteria infecting the urinary tract. The bacteria mainly enter the urinary tract via the urethra and gut. Other less commonly known bacteria causing UTI are Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella.
Cystitis is mainly caused by Escherichia coli (E coli), 90 % of bladder infections are caused by E coli, however, sometimes other bacteria are also responsible.
Urethritis: This type of UTI occurs when GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra. Also because urethra in females is close to vagina, sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea, herpes, Chlamydia and mycoplasma can cause urethritis.

Risk factors include:
Suppressed immune system: People who suffer from conditions like diabetes (high blood sugar) are more likely to develop UTIs because their bodies are less capable of fighting infection effectively.
Obstruction in the urinary tract: Prostatitis, or obstruction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate, can cause insufficient bladder emptying in men which raises the risk of infection. Most elderly men experience it.
Usage of Catheter– People who are unable to urinate on their own and use a tube(catheter) to pass urine are at more risk of developing UTI.

Risk Factors specific to women
Women are more likely to contract this disease. Risk factors specific to women for UTI are mentioned here:
1. Anatomy of female urethra: The length of urethra is short and its orifice being quite close to the anus in women, makes it easier for the bacteria to spread to the bladder. This leads to higher chances of acquiring a urinary tract infection in women as compared to men.
2. Menopause: After menopause, there is a decline in circulating oestrogen that causes changes in the urinary tract that makes the females more prone to UTI. Some women have urinary tracts that make the bacteria easy to cling to and are genetically prone to UTIs.
3. Sexual activity: Sexually active women suffer from UTI more times than women who are not sexually active.
4. Birth control agents: Women using diaphragms for birth control and also those using spermicidal agents are at higher risk of UTI.

Symptoms Of UTI

Lower UTI Symptoms: It affects urinary bladder and urethra, the symptoms are:
1. The most typical symptom is burning or pain when urinating.
2. Increased urinary frequency without passing much urine.
3. Strong need or urge to urinate but only producing a few drops of urine.
4. Urine has a foul odour and is cloudy.
5. Non-visible or visible haematuria (urine can appear bloody)
6. Pain in the lower back, lower abdomen, and even the pelvic region will typically make you feel the need to urinate more frequently.

Upper UTI Symptoms: It affects kidneys, the symptoms are:
1. Fever and chills
2. Nausea and Vomiting
3. Flank Pain (pain on either side of lower back between pelvis and ribs)
If the bacteria moves from the infected kidney to the blood, it can be life threatening, the condition is termed as ‘urosepsis’ which can cause extremely low blood pressure, shock and death.

How to diagnose UTI?

In cases presented with symptoms of acute UTI, a simple test of routine urine examination is the first step. In this test a sample of urine is tested in the laboratory. If pus cells are revealed in the urine report of this test then it means UTI is present. Next recommended test is a urine culture test in which a sample of urine is checked in the lab for growth of any bacteria that might be causing this urinary tract infection. In cases of recurrent UTI an ultrasound may be recommended to check for any issues in bladder and kidneys.