No matter what you call it—cystitis, bladder infection, urinary tract infection or UTI—the symptoms are a real pain in the bladder. You have the sudden urge to pee, but when you make it to the bathroom you feel more of a burning sensation than relief. And if you don’t nip it in the bud, that burning can progress to a full-blown infection that includes fever, chills, lower abdominal pain and/or blood in the urine.

About one out of two women will have a UTI at least once during her lifetime. But men can also get bladder infections, especially if they have an enlarged prostate. Also, a large percentage of individuals with spinal cord injuries suffer from UTIs.

Preventing UTIs … naturally

The typical treatment for urinary tract infections is a round of antibiotics. The problem is, antibiotics kill both the good and bad bacteria in your gut, which leads to other health problems. The good news is that D-Mannose can prevent UTIs before they take hold.

What is D-Mannose ?

It is a simple sugar structurally related to glucose, that is found in many fruits, including peaches, apples, oranges, cranberries, and blueberries. It is also produced in your body. D-Mannose is considered a safe and natural nutritional food supplement. Since it isn’t metabolized, it doesn’t interfere with blood sugar regulation, and is therefore safe for diabetics.

Most UTIs start when Escherichia coli (E. coli)—a microorganism that lives in the digestive tract and is found in the anal area—invade the bladder and penetrate a protective coating of the superficial cells that line the bladder. In most cases, urine flow washes out bacteria from the bladder. But the cell wall of E. coli bacteria has tiny finger-like projections that contain complex molecules called lectins on their surface. These lectins are cellular glue that binds the bacteria to the bladder wall so they cannot be easily rinsed out by urination.

The chemical structure of D-Mannose causes it to stick to E. coli bacteria, maybe even more tenaciously than E.coli adheres to human cells. Although the mechanism of how it works is complicated, theoretically, if enoughD-Mannose is present in the urine, it binds to the bacteria and prevents them from attaching to the urinary tract lining.

E. coli cells coated byD-Mannose in the urine become unglued and get flushed right out of the body. And the beauty about D-Mannose is that you can take it year-round without any side effects. You don’t have to wait until symptoms appear.

Won’t drinking cranberry juice have the same effect?

Drinking cranberry juice is said to be helpful in supporting a healthy urinary tract. The active ingredient of cranberry juice is d-mannose, but because cranberry juices are loaded with fructose this remedy causes an imbalance in your gut flora. Pure D-Mannose is amazingly 10-50 times stronger than cranberry, non-toxic and completely safe, with NO adverse effects.

So, the symptoms have eased, now let’s address the underlying causes of UTIs

D-Mannose is a really effective way to address the physical symptoms of UTIs and will often give fast relief from symptoms. We can also see symptoms such as pain, as a clear message that something is out of balance in the body/mind system, and an invitation to consider what we can do, not just to prevent future ill-health, but also to heal ourselves.

A good starting point in preventative healthcare is to look at what dietary changes and nutritional supplements could be helpful at this time. Herbs restore balance on a cellular level and Homeopathic Complexes combine re-balance the more subtle levels of the body-mind. Considering possible mind-body connections can bring insight and sometimes deep shifts in consciousness.

Diet therapy for a healthy urinary system

We can support the kidneys and bladder by making sure we are adequately hydrated and we have the correct pH.

• Reduce acidic foods in the diet and increase alkaline foods
• Begin the day with a glass of warm water with lemon juice squeezed into it. Lemon juice changes the PH of the blood and urinary tract so that the opportunistic bacteria is not able to proliferate.
• Eat plenty of foods high in anti-oxidants such as blueberries, grapes and cranberries. Supplement with a good quality antioxidant http://www.nutrivital.co.uk/shop/superantiox
• Beneficial bacteria in fermented foods and Acidophilus Complex may help to prevent UTI’s and reduce the length and severity of them by re-inoculating the urinary system with healthy bacteria
• Alkalise the blood: vegetable juices, lemon juice, miso soup and plenty of water. Daily Greens are an easy way to take a daily dose of alkaline-forming green foods and herbs
• Avoid sugars and grains, since they rapidly break down to sugars, which feed the pathogenic disease-causing bacteria in the intestine.
• Avoid foods which can aggravate urinary tract infections such as alcohol, coffee, soft drinks, citrus foods, tomatoes, vinegar, yeasts, sugar and artificial sweeteners.
• Drink at least 2 litres of filtered water daily to encourage frequent urination and flushing of the urinary tract. “The solution to pollution is dilution”
• Microorganisms such as Candida species are responsible for approximately 25% of urinary tract infections. If there are additional symptoms such as bloating, thrush or constipation, consider Vitalyze and Acidophilus Complex

Herbs for cellular health

Specific herbs are shown to have beneficial effects on the kidneys and bladder. The NutriVital Herbals were developed to make this wonderful healing modality available to non-specialist practitioners. The remedies combine herbs with specific functions and those that have a tonic effect.

• Bearberry may inhibit the ability of the bacteria to adhere to the wall of the Bladder and thereby helps to prevent and control urinary tract infections (due to the Berberine content). Bearberry Plus also contains marshmallow which is used for soothing irritation to the mucosal linings of the urinary tract
• Echinacea may support the underlying immune system weakness and is also an anti-bacterial. Echinacea Plusalso contains herbs to support liver and lymph function.

Wisdom from the Mind-Body connection

The kidneys filter how we relate to those who are closest to us, in other words, what we hold on to and what we let go. They are sensitive to issues with families and relationships, particularly regarding the balance of power and our sense of empowerment in relationships.

Health issues involving kidneys or bladder may relate to a relationship issue that has come to the surface to be resolved. We need to release any anger associated with this and focus our energy on what we truly want for this relationship.

Louise Hay says bladder infections are to do with conflict, in particular with your partner. She calls it being “pissed off” which is pretty apt for a bladder infection.

Christiane Northrup, author of “Women’s bodies, Women’s Wisdom” advises us to “Pay attention to what happened in your life and relationships 24 to 48 hours before the onset of the symptoms”.