For those looking for non-pharmacologic alternatives to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections several options exist. Some are "old cures" now validated by rigorous research.
Various over-the-counter formulas await motivated consumers who have grown tired of treating their animals with antibiotics and are fearful that with each course, they are fostering more resistant strains of bacteria.
Typically, herbal mixtures may contain botanical diuretics, urinary antiseptics, anti-adhesion plants or anti-inflammatory agents. Fortunately, most of the products enticing consumers appear relatively innocuous, at least based on information gleaned from human trials.
Additional options, such as probiotics and acupuncture, may not typically be considered "first-line" alternatives for UTIs, but could be helpful integrative adjuncts, nonetheless.
Diuretic Herbs
Herbal diuretics span a continuum in terms of strength.1 Weak diuretics include plants such as cleavers, horsetail and pipsissewa. Dandelion and stinging nettle fall in the moderate category, while parsley, celery, birch, lovage, and goldenrod rank as strong diuretics.
Parsley's diuretic effect, recognized since ancient times, appears to be mediated through an inhibitory action on the sodium-potassium pump.2
Each of these plants also has a spectrum of other benefits. For example, parsley and its relative, celery, possess calcium channel-blocking activity in vitro, which helps explain their spasmolytic activit...
Copyright 2009 BowTie Inc.
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