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Natural remedies to relieve kidney infections

Natural remedies to relieve kidney infections

Written by Anusuya Suresh |Updated : September 25, 2014 3:03 PM IST

kidney painThe kidneys produce urine, which is carried through tubes called the ureters into the urinary bladder; from there it is eliminated through the urethra. An infection in the urinary tract is generally seen in the urethra or the bladder which comprises the lower urinary system. However, if this infection is not treated appropriately, it may lead to the condition called pyelonephritis that involves the ureters and the kidneys. If such an infection is not treated, it can lead to an infection in the blood that is potentially dangerous. Therefore, it is vital to treat kidney infections at the earliest. Although antibiotics are necessary to treat the infection, there are several natural remedies that can supplement this therapy and provide relief.

Water

Drinking a lot of water helps to increase urine output; along with urine, the bacteria in the kidneys and urinary tract also get flushed out. Make sure that you consume plenty of fluids, but keep away from diuretic beverages such as coffee, tea and alcohol that increase the frequency of urination.

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Apple Cider Vinegar

Malic acid is one of the important components in apple cider vinegar and this has antibacterial properties. Additionally, vinegar has a highly acidic pH of 3 that does not allow bacteria to multiply any further. Thus, consuming this product can help give relief from kidney infections. Mix in 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink twice a day.

Ginger

Ginger contains a volatile oil that is made of components such as gingerol; this has a strong antibiotic action and therefore, consuming ginger tea is good to find relief from kidney infections. Steep about 1 teaspoon of chopped ginger in hot water for about 15 minutes, strain and drink the warm ginger tea.

Garlic

Garlic is another herb that is known for its natural antibacterial effect. The allicin present in garlic also has an anti-inflammatory action and both these effects make it an effective remedy in kidney infections. Make it a point to consume about 3 cloves of raw garlic every day until the infection subsides.

Turmeric

The colouring material called curcumin that is present in turmeric has an antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory action. This makes turmeric an important natural remedy to be used in kidney infections. Add turmeric to the food you cook or mix in half a teaspoon of turmeric into a glass of hot milk and drink.

Parsley

Parsley works quite well as a detox agent. When it is consumed by a person with kidney infections, it helps to get rid of the bacterial metabolites that build up in the kidneys. Sprinkle a little washed and finely chopped parsley onto your food so that you can consume it raw, as this is when it's most beneficial. Alternately, you can also add a little chopped parsley into boiling water, steep for 5 minutes and strain the liquid to obtain parsley juice that you can consume twice or thrice a day.

An important point to be stressed here is that all of these natural remedies can be used as complimentary therapies that supplement conventional treatment, but they cannot be relied on as a cure for kidney infections. This is important because if the infecting organisms are not destroyed with the use of synthetic antibiotics, the infection can rapidly spread to the blood, leading to more serious complications. Therefore, if your doctor has prescribed antibiotics for the urinary infection, please continue to take these drugs as prescribed and only use these natural remedies to facilitate the action of the drugs and to get relief from the symptoms.

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