Using Herbs As A Home Remedy For UTI

Corn Silk Provides Rapid Relief of UTI Symptoms

Fresh corn silk, preferably from organic local corn, is one of the most amazing herbal remedies on earth, in my opinion. I have recommended this herb for many people. I’ve also experienced its incredible soothing powers myself.

I have occasionally suffered from UTIs. When that happens, I take a handful of corn silk, approximately the amount that one ear of corn contains, and pour one cup of boiling water over the silk. Then I cover the container and let the tea steep for about twenty minutes. I drink the entire cup of tea as soon as it is cool enough. The flavor is mild. It tastes like sweet corn.

Within twenty minutes or so, I immediately begin to feel soothing relief. My bladder becomes less irritable; the constant burning and urge to urinate lessons. I continue to drink the tea several times a day for a few days. It is amazing, to me, how rapidly and well this simple remedy works. Relief is literally just a cup of tea away. Use the pale colored part of the silk to make the tea.

You may make an alcohol or vinegar based extract when corn is in season if you prefer. Simply pour apple cider vinegar or vodka over a jar of silk. Let it sit for a couple of weeks, covered with a tight fitting lid. Shake the remedy daily for two weeks. After two weeks, strain out the silk. Drink one teaspoonful of the extract four times daily if you have a urinary infection. In this case, the vinegar is superior to the vodka. I think the tea works best, but the extract is nice to have on hand if fresh corn is unavailable. I do not recommend using dried corn silk as it is not very effective, in my opinion.

The Bottom Line – Herbal Home Remedies for UTIs

Home remedies are an essential component of a plan designed to prevent and treat urinary tract infections whether or not conventional interventions are used. Home remedies prevent infections from occurring and provide rapid symptom relief if infection is present.

If using home remedies, check with your health care provider if relief does not occur within twenty four hours of implementing them. Get expert advice if you develop a fever, back pain, or see blood in your urine. If you have never had a UTI before or if the affected individual is a child, elderly, or has underlying health concerns, check with a qualified health care provider. Sometimes, recurrent UTIs are indications of other underlying health conditions. Consult with your health care provider if you suffer from frequent UTIs.

Author

This article was written for Insights-on-Health.com in 2014 by Patricia Bratianu RN PhD RH-AHG. Patricia has been a Registered Nurse for almost forty years in a wide variety of settings. As a Registered Nurse, she realized that conventional healthcare was not meeting the needs of all patients. She became an herbalist and obtained a PhD in Natural Health. Patricia is a professional member of the American Herbalist’s Guild, passing the stringent peer reviewed process to become a Registered Herbalist.

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