What are the causes of urinary tract infections, the common mistakes we make in dealing with them, and how to relieve the pain and prevent it with natural means.
We will review approaches from the field of science, conventional medicine, traditional healing, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) and the meaning of urinary tract infections in Jewish Kabbalistic medicine.
It is interesting to note that conventional medicine sees the causes mainly in bacterial infection, while traditional approaches see the imbalance that caused the inflammation.
Hence the difference in treatment, and in the ability of traditional approaches to prevent such infections effectively over time.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most painful and common conditions, especially in women.
While conventional medicine typically treats urinary tract infections by focusing primarily on the body, with antibiotics and painkillers, holistic healing systems look at symptoms as a whole: body, mind, emotion, and social situation.
In this article, we will review the different perspectives: conventional medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, and Kabbalistic Jewish medicine, which offer holistic perspectives that address the deeper roots of symptoms while focusing on balance, cleansing, and prevention.
Medical definition
Urinary tract infection refers to infection in any part of the urinary system – the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract.
Symptoms – What it feels like to have a urinary tract infection
- Urinary tract infections do not always cause symptoms. When they do, they may include one or more of the following:
- A burning sensation when urinating.
- Urine that has a strong odor.
- Urine that appears cloudy (“cloudy”).
- A strong urge to urinate many times during the day.
- Urinating frequently, and passing small amounts of urine.
- Urine that appears red, bright pink, or cola-colored – signs of blood in the urine.
- Pelvic pain, in women – especially in the center of the pelvis or around the area of the lower pelvic bone (pubic bone).
Root causes (according to conventional medicine and science)
- Bacteria entering through the urethra. Mainly E.Coli bacteria found in the intestines.
- Short urethra in women
- Diabetes
- Hormonal changes (e.g., menopause)
- Dehydration – drinking too little.
- Catheter use
Root causes according to holistic and traditional medicine
- Chinese medicine says that recurrent urinary tract infections are not necessarily due to bacterial infection. They are due to excess heat in the pericardium meridian, which results from restlessness, overexcitement, and from which it comes to heat up the urinary system. At first glance, for those who are used only to conventional medical surgery, this sounds strange, but in traditional practice over the centuries it has a deep inner logic, and the treatment will be different. It will not include antibiotics, and a minimum of painkillers. We will address this later in the methods of treatment, relief and prevention.
- Chinese medicine treats the root causes as a lack of Yin energy in the kidneys and emotional repression of problems – for example, problems with sexual relations. As well as problems of an unbalanced diet and drinking little.
- Traditional Indian medicine Ayurveda – Ayurveda holds that the problem is excess heat, stress, overexcitement and emotional imbalance, mainly in the element called Pitta. Here too, recurring infections are not necessarily attributed to bacterial infection.
- Ayurveda refers us to root causes of eating spicy foods, drinking little (dehydration), and mental states of imbalance and overexcitement.
- Kabbalistic Jewish medicine describes a problem of the inability to distinguish between what is good for us and what is bad for us. The urinary system expresses the ability to distinguish between good and bad for us. And difficulty parting with things that are no longer useful. This is in addition to the factors already raised here in traditional approaches and science.
- Holistic medicine directs us to look at sexual relations or sexual intercourse. Are they suitable for us, in hygiene, in the way they take place and how often they take place.
Common mistakes in treating urinary tract infections
- Avoiding drinking because it hurts to urinate. Avoiding drinking exacerbates the problem.
- Going too quickly to antibiotics, especially when the infections recur. If the infections recur, it is worth looking more deeply, considering traditional – alternative healing approaches.
- Failure to maintain hygiene. Hygiene when entering the bathroom (especially public ones), or hygiene and washing after sexual intercourse. Sometimes hygiene is maintained, but cosmetic products are used that are not good for the skin.
- Choosing a doctor who does not have a background in holistic medicine, and who follows only the protocol of drug treatment for the body.
Who is most affected by urinary tract infections
- Women (shorter urethra).
- Women in menopause (loss of estrogen).
- Diabetics and those with a weakened immune system.
- Those who are under emotional or spiritual stress.
- People who are less careful about physical hygiene, in the bathroom, and during sexual relations.
Treatment, cure and prevention of urinary tract infections
Recommendations for the treatment, cure and prevention of urinary tract infections
Healing protocol What to do more:
- Drink a lot, in small sips. What is recommended to drink: Take something different each time with drinking water – not juice (lukewarm to slightly cool water in the summer. Not cold). What can be added to water:
- Parsley – preferably chopped by hand to increase the surface area for assimilation with the water,
- Baking soda powder,
- Lemon slice, cucumber slices,
- Apple cider vinegar (2 teaspoons) plus water,
- Ginger, a little honey and lemon, also turmeric and a little black pepper, and cinnamon,
- Coconut slices, or coconut liquid,
- Coriander – preferably chopped by hand, can be with the parsley.
- Foods that contain vitamin C (citrus fruits, kiwi, pepper).
- Purifying foods: parsley, cucumber, cilantro, mash beans, watermelon.
- Hygiene: Going to the bathroom (to urinate) after sex.
- Washing – preferably with lukewarm water (without cosmetics).
- No contact in public bathrooms or after disinfecting and isolating the body from the toilet,
- Wiping from front to back.
- Be careful to shower and clean the body.
- Use breathable underwear.
- Practice meditation, qigong, prayer, introspection and releasing unnecessary, stressful and toxic things from our lives.
- Reduce stress, drama, and overexcitement.
- As infections recur, look for more ways to reduce stress and less antibiotics.
- Ayurveda recommends massage with oils for relaxation.
- Observe our sexual system. Is it suitable, empowering. This is not necessarily the source of the problem, but another factor worth looking at when there are recurring infections.
- Use herbs – natural food supplements. Specifically, we recommend the Urilief™ nutritional supplements based on yarrow and parsley flowers, which are designed to treat urinary tract infections.
What to avoid – what to reduce:
- Urinary retention. Contrary to the usual practice of preventing urinary incontinence, which teaches control. When an infection appears, do your best to remove, clean, and purify the area as quickly as possible.
- Stress, repressing emotions and things that make us feel bad and we leave them in our lives.
- Processed, spicy, and spicy foods.
- Avoid sugar and greatly reduce carbohydrates.
- Clothes that do not breathe.
- Reduce alcohol consumption.
- Antibiotics – only as prescribed by a doctor. In cases of recurring infections, consider additional healing methods and do not overload the body with antibiotics in large quantities over time.
- Along with antibiotics, consider, on the advice of a doctor, adding probiotics to maintain the vitality of intestinal bacteria.
- Minimize painkillers as a solution to recurring infections.
- Distinguish between chronic pain – which happens many times and over time, and signals to us that the real problem probably lies in emotional, social matters and there are issues that we should deal with differently in life, and one-time pain. It is recommended to find a doctor with a holistic background and understanding of medical traditions beyond conventional body medicine. It is recommended to consult a doctor.
Acupressure points according to Chinese medicine for the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections
To relieve and cure urinary tract infections, it is recommended to press (light pressure and also with a slight rotation) for about a minute several times a day on the Kidney3 point.
The third point on the kidney meridian.
The point is marked in the picture above. The point is on both legs.
Press once on one leg and once on the other.
To relieve and cure urinary tract infections, it is recommended to press (light pressure and also with a slight rotation) for about a minute several times a day on the Spleen9 point – the ninth point on the spleen meridian, indicated in the image above.
The point is located on both legs. Press once on one leg and once on the other.
Recommended video on 2 effective homemade drinks for naturally cleansing and purifying urinary tract infections
Video on the differences in approaches between Chinese and Western medicine
Sources
- Mayo Clinic Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447
- Cleveland Clinic UTIs: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9135-urinary-tract-infections CDC UTIs: https://www.cdc.gov/uti/about/index.html
- Yinova Center TCM and UTIs: https://www.yinovacenter.com/blog/treating-a-uti-with-chinese-medicine
- How to cure your UTI – a most recommended Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3oA_Z3wYC8
- Chronic UTI Info TCM Perspective: https://www.chronicutiinfo.com/treatment/complementary-medicine/traditional-chinese-medicine
- Ayurclinic Natural Remedies for UTIs: https://www.ayurclinic.com.au/natural-remedies-for-urinary-tract-infections
- Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties**: “Flavonoids in Parsley: Health Benefits and Bioavailability.” Nutrients Journal.
- Urinary Tract Health: “The Role of Parsley as a Diuretic in Herbal Medicine.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
- Healing Benefits: “Traditional Uses of Parsley in Digestive Health.” HerbalGram.
- Dr. Sharda Ayurveda Ayurvedic UTI Guide: https://drshardaayurveda.com/blogs/urinary/ayurveda-for-urinary-tract-infection-cause-symptoms-and-treatment
- Breslev” : https://breslev.co.il/283774
- Chabad.org The Human Body in Kabbalah: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/622986/jewish/The-Human-Body-in-Kabbalah.htm
- My Jewish Learning Jewish Views on Illness: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/jewish-perspectives-on-illness
- YouTube Ayurvedic Approach to UTIs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79dzjwKUVtw
- https://www.healthline.com/health/nopal
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/prickly-pear-cactus/faq-20057771
- https://acupuncturistseattle.com/the-12-meridians-of-acupuncture – A good summary about the 12 meridians in TCM.
- https://prisso.co.il/uti
