Urinary tract infection (UTI) is most common infectious disease in the general population after respiratory tract infection such as common cold, tonsillitis, acute rhinitis and acute otitis media. Although UTIs occur in all age groups including men and women, clinical studies suggest that the overall prevalence of UTI is higher in women. An estimated 50% of women experience at least one episode of UTI at some point of their lifetime and between 20% and 40% of women can have recurrent episodes [1].
Increasing antibiotic resistance has motivated interest and need in non-antibiotic prophylaxis (In medicine, the term prophylactic is used to describe treatments that prevent something from happening) of recurrent UTIs and studies have shown that women who prone to infections that use Acupuncture have one third the rate among untreated women [2]. In a recent systematic review in 2020, Acupuncture appeared to be beneficial for treatment and prevention of recurrent UTIs [3].
What can you do yourself, besides going to an Acupuncturist, and actively treat and possibly prevent your recurrent UTIs?
Lifestyle habits:
Don’t hold urine and go to the toilet whenever you need to. It’s recommended to use full cotton underwear and wash it with a sensitive skin laundry soap without any odor. If you use a condom during sexual intercourse, don’t use the one with lubrication and wash the vaginal area after intercourse.
Diet:
Reduce the 3-whites which are sugar, wheat and dairy products. Also avoid spicy food. Vegetarian diet is recommended as animal based protein increase inflammation markers such as CRP, IL-6, TNF-α. Obviously, drink plenty of water everyday (2 litter at list)
Dietary supplements:
High dose of probiotics (!!) You can either buy a good product or try to make probiotic drink by yourself. Below you can find a receipt for natural Rejuvelac drink [4] rich with acidophilus bacteria (probiotics) and other ingredients that produce lactic acid, Carbon dioxide, vitamin B12 and digestive enzymes.
Rejuvelac drink
The ingredients:
2 cups of mineral water
3 cups coarsely chopped, uncompressed cabbage.
Several glass jars that were washed (sanitized) in boiling water.Preparation:
Phase I
In the morning, put the water and cabbage in the blender, start grinding at a slow speed and gradually increase the speed, continuing for about 30 seconds.
If you don’t have a blender, use 1/2 cups of finely chopped cabbage by hand, pressed with the same amount of water.
The mixture is transferred to a jar, covered loosely, left to stand at room temperature, in the shade, for 3 days (afterwards it will take a day each time).
Phase II:
After 3 days:
Filter the REJUVELAC liquid, which is rich in acidophilus bacteria, and throw away the cabbage leaves (or save them separately and eat them). Immediately transfer 60 cc (about ¼ cup) to a jar with 3 cups of coarsely chopped cabbage (or ½ cup of finely chopped cabbage) and with 2 glasses of mineral water.
Shake and leave at room temperature for 24 hours.
The rest of the liquid from the first round is put in the refrigerator, and drunk 3 times during the day, preferably with meals. From now on, every 24 hours, repeat the process:
Take ¼ cup of the newly formed liquid, from which a new mixture is prepared, (which will be ready within 24 hours), together with ½-2 -3 cups of cabbage
and ½-1/2 glasses of mineral water, thus constantly renewing the liquid supply.
It is important to note:
A good quality REJUVELAC has a sour and slightly fizzy taste, like yogurt. If it tasted or smelled a bit like rotting water, throw it away and start over. Make sure you use clean water and dishes that have been washed in boiling water.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3663160/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447293/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32406571/
- Receipt credit is to Dr. Barak and his great blog
