Natural Kidney Cures

Kidney infection, also known as pyelonephritis, is a particular type of urinary tract infection, or UTI. It usually starts in your urethra or bladder and travels up into your kidneys. Left untreated, a kidney infection can cause permanent damage to your kidneys or even spread to your bloodstream and cause a life-threatening infection. These infections are more prevalent in women, but men are not immune.

Relieving the Pain

• The pain involved with a kidney infection is generally the first issue that those affected need to address. According to Lauretta Forday, R.N., Midwife, and Public Health Practitioner, there are three things that will help to relieve the pain. These include: a heating pad on the abdomen, back or side; non-aspirin tablet or solution pain-killers; and drinking lots of water.

Treating the Infection

• Cranberry juice is an age-old treatment for kidney infections. According to Forday, cranberry juice prevents the growth of bacteria on cell walls and the hippuric acid in it acts as an antibiotic. She also suggests that uva ursi, goldenseal, marshmallow root, buchu, corn silk, and horsetail as excellent natural treatments for kidney infections.

  Diuretic herbs, like hydrangea, parsley, and dandelion, help to reduce kidney infection symptoms. Parsley seeds reduce inflammation. Horsetail herb promotes urine flow and marshmallow reduces inflamed zones. Mullein is known as an anti inflammatory. Nasturtium contains natural antibiotics that may be helpful in preventing UTI's.

Prevention

• Once the kidney infection is resolved, it is important to prevent any further infections. It is highly recommended that you drink plenty of water. You should also avoid drinking caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. Continue to drink unsweetened cranberry juice and be selective in your food choices.

  Do not eat spicy foods or sweets. Eat alkaline foods, vegetables, citric juices, and foods rich in grains. Forday also recommends that you eat at least a clove of garlic daily. She also points to vitamins A, which makes cells more resistant to bacteria, and vitamin C, an immune booster, as great preventions of kidney and urinary tract infections.