All the blood in the human body, travels through the kidneys, every 30 minutes, each and every day. Also, a couple of quarts, or more, of waste is cleared from the bloodstream and is removed from the body as urine. These functions identify how important the kidneys are. Pyelonephritis, commonly known as a kidney infection, is a specific type of urinary tract infection. Kidney infections begin in the urethra or the bladder and will travel up into the kidneys. Additional benefits of our kidneys, include: regulates our acid-alkaline levels, releases essential hormones that regulate blood pressure, bone mass, helps to distribute vital minerals throughout the body, and the kidney’s manage our red blood cells.
The symptoms of a kidney infection involve:
- Abdominal pain
- Back, side, or groin pain
- Burning sensation or pain, when urinating
- Frequent urination
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Persistent urge to urinate
The following are home remedies for kidney infections that aide in relieving symptoms.
14 Home Remedies for Kidney Infection
1. Herbal teas
Certain herbal teas work great for curing kidney infections. By creating drinkable teas from these herbs, aids greatly in controlling kidney infections. The following effective herbal teas can be taken twice a day:
- Blueberry tea
- Corn silk tea
- Dandelion tea
- Goldenrod tea
- Gravel root tea
- Green tea
- Leaf tea
- Parsley root
- Stinging nettle tea
2. Extra virgin olive oil
Extra virgin olive oil is a very effective product to use, to treat kidney infections and kidney stones. It is the highest quality product, noted for its flavor and balanced acidity. Extra virgin olive oil helps to lubricate and flush toxins from the liver, kidneys, and gall bladder. Extra virgin olive oil works best with its partner, lemon juice. This combination is safe to take every day, by mixing 1 Tbsp of olive oil with a few drops of lemon juice in an 8 ounce glass of water.
3. Baking Soda
This is the cheapest, natural home remedy for kidney infection, which is a popular product that can be found in almost every home. Baking soda is a bicarbonate, which protects the kidneys because the kidneys also produce bicarbonates. When the kidneys begin to reduce their output of bicarbonate or when the acid buildup strips the kidney of its normal bicarbonate levels, baking soda is used to come to its rescue, by replenishing the kidney’s bicarbonate levels. The kidneys produce about ½ lb. of bicarbonate per day to neutralize the proper acids in the body. Dissolve 1 Tbsp of baking soda in an 8 ounce glass of water and drink daily as one of the home remedies for kidney infection.
4. Heating Pad
Back, hip, and groin pain, are experienced with a kidney infection. Applying a heating pad helps to relax the muscles. Some people have uncomfortable pain because the muscles around the kidney can go into spasms and a heating pad gives some temporary relief. Place a low setting heating pad on the lower abdominal area, while wearing loose clothing, like underwear and waistline pants. This is a simple, yet effective use of home remedies for kidney infections.
5. Parsley juice
Parsley has a number of effective health benefits. It is an important natural cleanser, which keeps kidney’s regulated, because it helps to clear up all toxins and harmful substances from the kidney. Parsley contains healthy vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamins A, B, C, copper, potassium, riboflavin, sodium, and thiamin. These vitamins and minerals, repair body tissues, they are antioxidants; they promote cell development, and regulates fluids within the body. The ideal method to incorporate parsley into your daily diet, includes crushing or chopping parsley into some boiling water. After 3 or 4 minutes, let the water cool, strain out the parsley, and drink the water a couple times a day to combat kidney infections.
6. Aloe Vera juice
In addition to many health benefits, Aloe Vera is a popular home remedy for kidney infections. Its main plant properties are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-viral. It soothes urinary burning and helps to control the pain associated with a kidney infection. Aloe Vera’s natural cleansing ingredients, makes it the perfect effective home remedy for kidney effects. Drinking it as a juice or taking it as a capsule, twice a day, is safe and more beneficial.
7. Cranberry juice
Unsweetened cranberry juice is an effective food drink that is a useful home remedy for kidney infections. By drinking cranberry juice daily, people experience fewer urinary tract infections. Cranberry juice makes the urine more acidic, which helps keep bacteria from thriving in an alkaline environment. The juice actually keeps bacteria from making the wall of the bladder, their growing environment.
8. Apple cider vinegar with honey
Honey combined with apple cider vinegar makes a great knock-out punch product, for a kidney infection. Apple cider vinegar helps to detox various organs in the body, as well as the blood stream. It breaks down fatty, mucous deposits, like those that build up in the kidney, liver, and bladder, by preventing the urine from storing high alkaline levels. Honey is not only a healthy sweetener, but it also has purifying and anti-bacterial properties. Combining 1 Tbsp. of apple cider vinegar and 2 Tbsp. of honey together, in an 8 ounce glass of water, gives great results for kidney infections. Drinking this mixture once a day is also recommended by physicians.
9. Fruit juice
Certain natural fruits work to clean the kidneys. The kidney regulates blood pressure and helps to keep the body’s pH levels balanced. Many fresh fruits also do the same thing. Fruits that are high in fiber, anti-inflammatory properties, and which keep the urine more acidic to help prevent urinary tract infections, are apples, red grapes, lemons, and oranges. Cranberry, blueberry, strawberries, and raspberries also contain the necessary vitamins, anthocyanins and properties to keep the right acid levels in the urine.
Water is extremely helpful, by flushing out our system, thus releasing harmful toxins. Granted, there will be a lot of urination with kidney infections, so asking people to drink more water, may seem ludicrous. However, water is always needed to dilute and flush the body free from the bacteria that causes a kidney infection. Drinking more water to urinate, cleanse the kidneys of unnecessary toxins.
Garlic is a natural antibiotic plant that helps to improve kidney functions, through its diuretic properties. Diuretics help to get rid of salt and excess water from the body, by forcing the kidneys to put more salt into the urine. The salt absorbs water from the blood, which reduces the amount of fluids that flow through the blood vessels. The less fluids, the less pressure is created on the walls of the kidney which causes kidney infection symptoms.
Also Read: How to Get Rid Of Kidney Stones
The Echinachea plant or herb is responsible for successfully treating bladder infections, bloodstream infections, the flu and many other bodily infections. Due to its immunostimulant properties and its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, Echinacea reduces swelling of the urethra which makes urination less painful. Echinachea can be taken daily as a capsule or brewed daily as a day.
Marshmallow plants have long been used to treat various medical issues. The roots and leaves of the marshmallow plant helps to relieve coughs, sore throats, skin ailments and heal minor wounds. The marshmallow candy came into existence in the 19th century. Making a marshmallow tea, gives remedial effects for kidney infections.
- 1 Tbsp of dried, chopped roots and leaves in cold water
- Let it sit for 8 hours, then strain
- Drink 2 to 4 cups each day for kidney infection pain relief.
14. Vitamin C
The symptoms of a kidney infection are painful, embarrassing, and very uncomfortable. Vitamin C in the form of oranges and grapefruit juice or tablets, every day, helps to raise the acidity level of the urine. When this occurs, it makes it harder for bacteria to remain in the kidney and urinary tract. Therefore, load up on Vitamin C.