Be proactive about UTIs

10 years ago | UTI

Hibiscus

By pH health care professionals

Your urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. These organs remove waste and excess water from your body, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria enters the urinary tract. UTIs occurring in the bladder (bladder infection) usually are not serious if treated right away. However, if you are not proactive about taking care of them, bladder infections can spread to your kidneys. A kidney infection is serious and may be life threatening.

Symptoms of UTIs usually depend on which part of the urinary tract is infected. So, for example, when the infection is in the urethra, you may notice some burning with urination. However, if the infection is in the bladder, you might experience pelvic pain or frequency of urination with small amounts of urine being passed. If the kidneys are infected, you might experience upper back and side pain with a fever. A doctor can diagnose a bladder infection by performing a urinalysis (evaluating a sample of your urine).

What does hibiscus have to do with UTIs?

Hibiscus has long been used in Africa and Asia for treating UTIs. It is described as being mucilaginous, which suggests that it may help to coat and soothe the urinary tract and prevent bacteria from clinging to it. There are a couple reported clinical trials that suggest that the use of hibiscus extract decreased the likelihood of UTIs.

Why is the hibiscus so effective?

The compounds in hibiscus responsible for some of these benefits are called calyces. The calyx contains significant amounts of polyphenols, flavonoids, sambubioanthocyanidins, proanthocyanidins and chlorogenic acids, which were reported by several studies to possess excellent antimicrobial activity against bacteria like E. coli, Staphylococcus, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

So what should you do?

If you are otherwise healthy, you might try a hibiscus tea. It’s tasty and full of healthful benefits. But remember, trying hibiscus to promote urinary health is not a replacement for seeking out medical counsel or treatment for a urinary tract infection. Hibiscus may also have some side effects. For example, it may cause your blood pressure to drop, so use caution if you have low blood pressure. It may also interfere with the effectiveness of some drugs.

Be proactive and enjoy your healthy life!

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.

Comments (4)

Guest

So men can get UTIs as well?

Guest

Yes - men get UTIs too and when they do it may often be misdiagnosed. It is rare in men under 50 but occurrence increases in men over 50.

Guest

thanks for this information! awesome!

Guest

UTI's are clinically more severe in females at younger ages 20-40 year, while a lot of UTI's are less symptomatic in younger males. Nevertheless both genders can get UTI's. E-coli infections are very prevalent in females, while less common in younger males. STD's like chlamydia occurs in both genders but may vary in obvious severity of symptoms. Nevertheless it should be checked and treated to avoid complications.