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A UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) is an infection of the urinary system. The urinary system cleanses the blood, removes waste products from the body, produces urine, regulates hypertension levels, regulates blood volume and much more.
The bladder, kidneys, renal pelvis, ureters, and urethra form the urinary tract. (1)
Although female patients are usually more susceptible to UTIs, male patients can also be affected.
Therefore, it is crucial for patients to understand the causes of a UTI, various home remedies that can help alleviate UTI symptoms as well and the benefits of hibiscus tea for UTI.
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1. Causes of a UTI
Most urinary tract infections develop if bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and develop in the bladder. (2)
Although the urinary system is built to keep harmful bacteria out, these barriers do backfire on occasion. If this happens, bacteria may infiltrate the system and multiply, hence causing a UTI.
2. Symptoms of a UTI:
Patients may experience any of the following symptoms if they contract a UTI:
- Pungent urine
- Pain in the back, lower abdomen, side, pelvis
- A burning sensation when urinating
- A persistent urge to urinate
- Blood in urinal discharge
- Cloudy urine
- Fatigue
- Fever
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3. How Can Tea Help With A UTI?
Studies have shown that various home remedies may be effective in preventing or reducing symptoms of a UTI.
Herbal teas and other alternative remedies have been shown to be useful against a wide variety of diseases on occasion.
Certain studies have shown that specific types of tea such as green tea and hibiscus tea may have high amounts of polyphenols and antibiotic properties that can protect the body against certain pathogens. (3)
These include E. Coli, which is a type of bacteria that is mainly responsible for urinary tract infections.
4. Can Hibiscus Tea Treat UTI?
Is hibiscus tea good for UTI? Hibiscus sabdariffa, often known as Roselle, is a Hibiscus species native to West Africa and Asia.
Hibiscus sabdariffa has been utilized for urinary and renal health in traditional alternative medicine for centuries. (4)
This flower's dried stems are used to make hibiscus tea, a calorie-free and caffeine-free drink with numerous acidic and antibacterial qualities that are considered to be useful for addressing and protecting against urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Recent studies have been conducted to establish the impact of hibiscus on high blood pressure and excessive cholesterol.
Hibiscus sabdariffa is also broadly recognized for its anti-oxidative effects, due to its high concentration of bioflavonoids and anthocyanins, particularly hibiscin, which has been proven to be somewhat effective in the prevention and treatment of UTIs.
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5. Recipe For Hibiscus Tea:
Follow this recipe to prepare hibiscus tea:
- Bring water to a boil.
- Steep for 5 minutes with dried hibiscus petals.
- Add honey or sugar as per taste.
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6. Other Teas That May Help Ease UTI Symptoms
- Green Tea
- Cranberry Tea
- Mint Tea
- Parsley Tea
- Chamomile Tea
7. Precautions To Take To Prevent a UTI:
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Personal Hygiene: since the rectum is a key source of E.coli, patients should ensure that they clean their genital area from front to back after using the bathroom.
This technique can substantially lower the possibility of E.coli spreading from the anus to the urethra.This precaution is especially important if a patient has diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea can make it harder to manage bowel movements, thus increasing the chance of E.coli migrating to the urethra.
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Douching: douching can not only irritate the urethra but also affects the vagina's normal defensive pH equilibrium and innate bacteria.
Douching can put patients at risk for both a UTI and other vaginal infections. (5)
-
Avoid Products With Fragrance: heavily perfumed bath and shower products, particularly those intended for contact with the genitals, can cause irritation and may disrupt the vagina's natural defensive pH, therefore leading to urinary tract infections.
These perfumed items may also cause considerable skin irritation.
- Staying Hydrated: including more fluids, particularly water, in your daily routine can aid in the removal of excess germs from your urinary system. It is advised that you drink six to eight glasses of water every day.
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8. Dosage of Hibiscus Tea For A UTI:
Although over the past few years there have been links drawn between hibiscus tea and UTI, there is no exact recommended dosage because hibiscus is not officially FDA-approved for any illness or ailment.
Unofficial dosages have been created by users and supplement producers through trial and error.
Consult a doctor about whether or not hibiscus tea could be effective as a supplementary strategy in your instance for treating a UTI, and how much to take.
In experimental studies, hibiscus tea doses varied from 3 to 10 g/day of dried hibiscus calyxes or flowers.
Infusions of dried hibiscus can be manufactured at 150 mg/kg/day. For most people, this translates to a somewhat greater range of 7-15 g/day of dry herb (110-220 lbs).
9. Conclusion
A UTI can be an extremely painful if it is untreated and tedious ordeal for patients. Therefore, it is crucial for patients to understand how they can avoid and address a UTI.
Is hibiscus tea good for UTI? Natural home remedies such as drinking hibiscus tea have been observed to be beneficial for avoiding and treating UTIs.
Therefore the aforementioned information can help patients leverage the benefits of hibiscus tea for treating and avoiding a UTI.
Corn Silk Tea can also be an extremely effective alternative to hibiscus tea for treating a UTI.
Corn Silk Tea is equipped with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that can help cleanse the urinary system and help you recover from a UTI much faster.
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