Cranberry Pills & Bladder Infections

A bladder infection is a kind of urinary tract infection. Symptoms include a frequent need to urinate, burning when urinating and blood in the urine. Cranberry pills can be taken to naturally treat and prevent bladder infections.

Features

• Cranberry pills contain concentrated dried cranberries, which are more nutritious and potent than traditional cranberry juice.

Function

• Cranberry pills are thought to inhibit bacteria from taking up residence in the urinary tract, which may prevent bladder infections from occurring.

Scientific Studies

• Organizations such as the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases are funding studies to learn more about the role of cranberry in preventing bladder infections.

Oxalate Warning

• According to Dr. Dean Edell, Stanford Medical Center found that cranberry pills increase the level of oxalate in the urine, which can cause kidney stones to form.

Controversy

• According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, cranberry pills should not be used to treat an existing urinary tract infection. Medical treatment and diagnosis is needed to prevent a bladder infection from moving into the kidneys.