Foot Soak for Urinary Tract Infection

Unbelievably soothing if you have cystitis with your urinary tract infection, the following 'foot soak' is as effective, in most cases, as if you did a sitz bath or took a regular bath. 

The essential oils are very small molecules and are able to send their healing properties right through the bottom of the foot and into through the blood stream and even cross the blood-brain barrier.

You can use different essential oils (example: lemon, basil, eucalyptus, fennel) but I have chosen Clary Sage for this particular 'recipe' since it is a uterine tonic said to strengthen the kidney.  You might want to add a few drops (2-5) of Lemon Essential Oil (or a lemon itself, cut in half, skin and all) to assist in the cleansing and soothing.

Find a large-enough, comfortable basin to accommodate both feet.  I use a large turkey roasting pan (I am vegetarian and will never use it again to roast a turkey).

Add the following to the basin:

*1 T. Honey
*1 T. green, eco-friendly Dishwash Liquid (your choice of brand)
*1/4 C. Sea Salt or Epsom Salts
*2 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or other accessible cooking oil)
*5-15 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil (less is often better)
*Whole fresh Lemon, cut in two*(optional)


Add very warm water (do not scald your feet though) to the basin.  Soak for 10-15 minutes.  Rinse your feet off with clear water to get rid of any toxins that are brought to the surface of the skin.  

This soak is a detox and has a relaxing, moisturizing, disinfecting effect. 

 Substitute other essential oils for different conditions.

Image free courtesy of dreamtime.com


References in this blog are meant for information only and if you have a condition of concern, please consult with your trusted health care provider.

Castor Oil for Urinary Tract and Bladder Infections

In ancient times, the castor bean plant was referred to as the "Palma Christe" because the shape of the leaves was thought to resemble the pierced palms of Christ.  The oil from the bean has long been held with great esteem as an effective healing agent for a multitude of illnesses and disabilities.

My personal experiences with castor oil were unpleasantly memorable and not something that I ever hoped to smell or taste again.  I was therefore a little shocked when a very good friend of mine (blogging here) started to tell me about all the magical qualities of castor oil for healing, soothing and getting rid of wrinkles.

And wouldn't you know it-- castor oil is also useful in healing cystitis, urinary tract infections and/or bladder infections!  Simply rub generously into the skin on the lower abdomen, lie down, cover abdomen with a 'flannel', and put your heating pad (best) or hot water bottle (okay) on top of the flannel for 30-60 minutes.  The castor oil I bought at Safeway was near the laxatives (of course- since that is the usual reason people in North America use it) and cost less than $3 for a small bottle.  I would rather have bought the "cold press" variety they suggest in different places online, but I couldn't find it in the stores I went to.  When I am done with this bottle, I will go back to Walmart and ask the pharmacist (who was gone last night by the time I got there).  Please let me know if this works for you, or if you have tried it for other things.  If you watch the video below (by my favourite Aussie naturopath) you will learn more about poultices in general.

All the best!

References in this blog are meant for information only and if you have a condition of concern, please consult with your trusted health care provider.http://www.electroherbalism.com/Naturopathy/Therapies/Diet/FatsandOils/CastorOil.htm

Ideas to Prevent UTIs from Women's Day Magazine

Photo: © Comstock

Preventing a common condition

By Woman's Day Staff Posted July 08, 2008 from Woman's Day

What does it feel like?
Most people with a urinary tract infection (UTI, a.k.a. cystitis) will feel an urgent need to "go" (even if only a few drops of urine come out), pain or burning when urinating, and back pain or a dull pelvic ache.
What causes it?
A UTI occurs when bacteria gets into the urinary tract and then the bladder. UTIs affect more women than men. Being pregnant or using a diaphragm that doesn’t fit well may increase your risk. Dehydration is also a culprit: "Urinating regularly flushes out bacteria, and if you’re not drinking enough, you won’t go to the bathroom enough," says Jennifer Ashton, M.D., an ob-gyn at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood, New Jersey.
How do I treat it?
If you have symptoms for more than 24 hours, call your ob-gyn or primary care physician. She’ll test a urine sample, and if you do in fact have a UTI, she’ll prescribe an oral antibiotic. You may feel better after a few days, but make sure you finish the round of pills or the UTI could return and be more difficult to treat. Don’t worry if your urine turns some wacky hue like purple or bright orange; it’s a common side effect of the meds. To ease discomfort while you’re waiting for the antibiotics to kick in, your doc may also recommend an OTC pain reliever like AZO, Uristat or Cystex.
How can I prevent it?

Don’t hold it in! Waiting too long to go can stretch the bladder and damage its lining, making it more vulnerable to bacteria, says Larrian Gillespie, M.D., author of You Don’t Have to Live with Cystitis.
Drink cranberry juice. A recent Rutgers University study found that drinking 16 ounces daily prevented 80 percent of all bacteria from sticking to urinary tract walls.
Urinate after sex. Intercourse can push bacteria into the urinary tract; emptying your bladder before and after sex helps flush it out.
Get more vitamin C. Eating foods that are rich in vitamin C (such as oranges and strawberries) may acidify the urine, which helps prevent the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract.
For more information Visit the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org or the American Urological Association at urologyhealth.org

Did you know?
UTIs account for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year and are considered the second most common infection.

Eating blueberries can help prevent UTIs by stopping bacteria from attaching to urinary tract tissues.
above article found at http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Health/Conditions-Diseases/Checkup-UTI.html


References in this blog are meant for information only and if you have a condition of concern, please consult with your trusted health care provider.