Looking for natural remedies for kidney infection? We can help, but you need to ensure that the source of your problem is not something more serious. We’re here to talk about kidney “infection” so if you’re experiencing kidney pain, be sure that it’s due to an infection. Kidney pain can also be a sign of more serious conditions such as “kidney stones” or other problems leading to renal failure. In such cases, you should immediately seek medical attention.
Here’s a remarkable fact: Every 30 minutes, all the blood in your body travels through the kidneys. Every single day – thanks to your kidneys – more than two quarts (1.89 litres) of waste are cleared from your bloodstream and removed from the body in the form of urine. Without this vital kidney function, waste would accumulate and serious damage to the organs throughout your body would occur.
- Oversee distribution of important minerals.
- Regulate the body’s acid-alkaline balance to keep you from becoming too acidic.
- Manage the body’s fluid levels.
- Release three essential hormones involved in blood pressure, bone building, and maintaining healthy red blood cells, among their other duties.
So What Causes Kidney Infections?
Kidney infections are primarily caused when bacteria from outside your body enter the urinary tract and reach the tube that carries urine. For example, some women can get kidney infection from “too much of a good thing” sometimes called “honeymoonitis”.
These bacteria find the kidneys to be a very nice place to breed and multiply. Next thing you know, you have a renal infection. Sometimes, bacteria that have been residing in other parts of your body find their way to your kidneys by getting into your bloodstream and again, you have a kidney infection.
Potential Kidney Infection Symptoms Include:
- Back pain or abdominal pain (high degree)
- Fever accompanied by night chills and sweating
- State of confusion
- Nausea or bloating
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Swollen legs, hands, feet, or ankles
- Ridges in fingernails
- Loss of appetite
- Redness on the skin
- Blood in the urine
- Burning sensation in the urine
- Frequent urination
Natural Remedies for Kidney Infection
Drink Plenty of Water
One of the simplest, if not the most obvious, natural remedies for kidney infection is to drink more water. The more water you consume, the more urine you produce.
According to a 1965 study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, water diuresis, or the process of excreting urine after intake of water, is an excellent way to prevent renal infection.
It is through urination (and bowel movement) that the body gets rid of toxic substances inside your body including those infection-causing pathogens. So the simple habit of drinking water flushes out bacteria from the kidneys and keeps them functioning optimally.
Drinking water has a superior effect to other fluids. Coffee, soda and alcoholic beverages don’t work the same way water does, and may only aggravate your condition.
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- 8 to 10 glasses of water
- Slices of cucumber, lemon, and watermelon
- 2 to 3 glasses of coconut water
Here’s What to Do:
Drink eight to ten glasses of water a day. You can also try infusing the water with flavor by putting slices of fruits in it. Chill the water for several minutes before drinking. It’s also a good idea to drink coconut water.
Cranberry juice is often recommended for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI). In fact, it even works for recurrent cases of UTI that cannot be treated by antibiotics. You may already know that some strains of bacteria have already grown resistant to antibiotics, which means that they’ve become stronger and can no longer be controlled by medication.
Cranberry juice is also an effective preventive measure, and can keep the kidneys healthy and working to their full capacity. It can also help with more severe infections such as those that have progressed to the kidneys.
The Saudi Medicine Journal published a set of guidelines for inpatient care of children with kidney infection. One of the interventions suggested is drinking cranberry juice, which contains active compounds such as proanthocyanidin and fructose that work to inhibit the adhesion of E. coli in the kidney cells.
The anti-adhesion properties of cranberry juice have also been confirmed in a 1991 study that investigated the effects of various juices in the kidneys. Of all the fruit juices tested (blueberry, grapefruit, orange, mango, pineapple, guava and cranberry), only cranberry and blueberry have the ability to stop bacteria from adhering in the kidneys and causing infection.
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- 2 to 3 slices of cranberry
- 1 glass of water
Here’s What to Do:
Squeeze the cranberry slices to extract the juice, then add to a glass of water. Mix well. Do not add sugar or any sweetener. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for several minutes.
Drink the juice once a day for one to two weeks, but don’t drink more than the recommended amount.
Drinking more than a litre of cranberry juice for extended period can increase the risk of kidney stone formation.
Make certain you have healthy population of friendly bacteria in your intestines. Studies have shown that these micro-organisms are linked to better overall and digestive health, as well as a long list of other benefits, including assisting your kidneys in processing waste materials, as well as reducing the likelihood of developing kidney stones. As such, probiotics are a great complement to these natural remedies for kidney infection. It is better to take probiotics in natural form rather than pills though, otherwise the acid in your stomach will destroy these “good bacteria” before they get to do their work.
A recent clinical trial involving patients with chronic kidney disease found that the group taking probiotics improved kidney function test scores as well as overall quality of life.
Eat Kidney Supporting Foods
Stock-up on watermelon, berries (cranberries, blueberries, and strawberries), peppers, apples, garlic, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, and olive oil.
Like the way your skin needs cleansing, your body and its internal organs also need to be cleansed. Parsley juice serves as a cleanser for the kidneys and flushes out toxins present in it. It contains an array of nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, B, potassium, sodium, copper, thiamin, and riboflavin. Take a few parsley leaves and boil them thoroughly in a boiler along with water. Strain it, cool it and drink it. It is one of the best and the most effective treatments against renal infections.
Vitamin C is extremely important and beneficial against the renal infections as it raises the acidic levels in the kidney, thus, making it impossible for bacteria to grow. Emerging studies also show that vitamin C can reduce peroxidation of lipid and boost the antioxidant enzymes in the kidneys. Moreover, according to a study conducted in Poland, vitamin C has also been proven capable of preventing kidney scars during cases of acute kidney infection.
So, it is advisable to consume an orange or any other citrus fruit every day for best results. However, if you don’t like citrus fruits, then get yourself some vitamin C tablets and take them once in a day, preferably with the breakfast.
Baking soda is very effective in replenishing the bicarbonate levels in the kidney, which makes it one of the good natural remedies for kidney infection.
Take 8 ounces of water and dissolve 1 tbsp of baking soda in it. Drink it daily.
In the same way that diuretics like water play a crucial role in maintaining kidney health, so another type of diuretic that can help curb the problem of kidney infection is marshmallow. Its seeds are said to be efficient in increasing urine output.
Marshmallow root is also a potent antibacterial that fights E. coli and other bacterial strains the can cause infection in kidney. It does so by preventing them from growing and spreading.
Marshmallow root also has a high amount of mucilage content that protects the bladder, preventing infections and complications.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 piece of marshmallow root
- 3 seeds of marshmallow
- 3 cups of water
Here’s What to Do:
Boil some water in a pot and add the marshmallow root and seeds. Then lower the heat and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the stove and strain the solution. Drink it two to three times a day for four to five days.
A warm compress will not kill the microbes causing the infection inside your kidneys, but it can do so much in alleviating your pain and suffering. Various studies show how a warm compress can minimize pain in different conditions and situations.
As you know, pain in the abdominal area, in the back, and on your sides are just few of the many symptoms of kidney infection. Fortunately, you can find immediate relief from heat therapy. Heat therapy is a viable method for pain management not only in the hospital setting but also at home.
Take a bowl of hot water, soak a clean towel in it and wring out the excess water. Then place the towel on top of your abdomen for about 15 minutes or until it cools. Do this every hour.
Kidney infection is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease. While these natural remedies for kidney infection can definitely help make you feel better, you should not rely solely on them for treatment. Be sure to get a medical diagnosis so that aren’t in any doubt as to the source of the problem.