This might seem as somewhat as a random post; and I suppose it is (especially because I have never had a bladder infection or a UTI.) However, I have become fascinated lately with natural remedies. As I research them I jot things down (quite sloppily I might add) with the intention of “storing” my notes somewhere more permanent. Then it dawned on me that this website might be the perfect place for me to “store” all the new information that I learn. So here you have it; a little info I learned this week.
Most people are quickly offered antibiotics at the first sign of a bladder infections (and most other infections for that matter). So one might ask, “What’s wrong with that?”
First of all, antibiotics often act without regard for the type of bacteria they are designed to attack. In other words, they do not know the difference between the good and the bad. This can often lead to killing of the natural flora (good bacteria) in a person’s body the result of which can lead to everything from diarrhea to yeast infections.
Next, there is the risk of creating antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. When antibiotics are given and not taken completely, this can lead to stronger strains of the bacteria. Also, when doctors prescribe antibiotics for viral infections, such as the common cold and the flu, they are also adding to this danger. When considering that only 2 new classes of antibiotics have been introduced since the 1960’s this can be a scary thing for someone who has become resistant to many antibiotics.
(Let me pause for a moment and say that I DO appreciate the situations in which antibiotics are necessary. However, it seems that there are many times that a quick natural remedy would work just as effectively.)
Most bladder infections are cause by a little bacterium call E. coli (not to be confused with the very dangerous mutant by the same name) that happens to be in every living creature with a colon. These bacteria are an important part of our digestion, but they can cause infection when they get into the wrong place; namely the bladder. E. coli sticks to the molecules of a simple sugar called D-mannose that is found in the cells that line the bladder. E. coli spreads from one D-mannose to the next, then the next and the next. They continue to expand and reproduce causing an infection. The whole time, the E. coli cling like crazy to the D-mannose inside the bladder so they won’t get washed out or rinsed out with every urination.
But we can actually put E. coli‘s love for D-mannose to good use! When a patient is given 3 to 5 gram of sweet powdery D-mannose (a safe, simple sugar found in most health food stores), only a small amount is metabolized. Most is “kicked out” through the kidneys into the ureters, then into the bladder, where the bacteria say “Party time! Look at all that delicious D-mannose!” They detach themselves from that little bit of D-mannose that is naturally in the walls of the bladder and they grab on the these great swilrs of D-mannose coming in. They float around enjoying all that D-mannose, and the next time the woman empties her bladder, the infection is literally rinsed away!
But remember 2 things: First, she needs to take D-mannose every 3-4 hours while awake until the symptoms are totally gone, which can take a few hours or one or two days. Second, D-mannose eliminates bladder infections 9 out of 10 times not 10 out of 10 times.” **
** Quoted from Jonathan Wright in Suzanne Somers book, “BREAKTHROUGH”
Source: WFM Blog 16