Bladder Infection

Why it works: Antimicrobial precursor: Uva ursi leaves are rich in arbutin, which can be converted to hydroquinone—a urinary tract antiseptic—after absorption and excretion into urine. Activity...

Instructions: Leaf tea (traditional use):. 1.5–4 g comminuted leaf infused in 150 mL water, 2–4×/day (max daily leaf 6–12 g; often capped at 8 g in some monographs). Theodora. Standardised extra...

Warnings: Use only short-term: Extended or repeated use increases exposure to hydroquinone; authorities restri...

Studies: ATAFUTI factorial RCT (2019, n=382): Uva-ursi extract (given...

Why it works: Anti-adhesion mechanism. Cranberries contain A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) that reduce E. coli sticking to the bladder lining, lowering the chance that bacteria can establish an...

Instructions: There’s no universal “official” dose, but the most consistent signal of benefit comes from standardized PAC dosing or specific juice regimens used in trials:. • Standardized extrac...

Warnings: Not a treatment for an active infection. If you have current UTI symptoms (especially fever/flank pa...

Studies: Guidelines:AUA 2025 rUTI guideline: “Clinicians should offer...

Why it works: Many UTIs are caused by uropathogenic E. coli that grab onto the bladder lining via a “FimH” tip on their type-1 fimbriae. D-mannose in the urine can bind FimH and block that adhes...

Instructions: For an acute simple bladder infection (adjunct/alternative in selected cases). • Small pilot RCT-style study regimen: D-mannose 1.5 g twice daily for 3 days, then 1.5 g once daily...

Warnings: Do not use D-mannose as the sole therapy for severe symptoms or suspected kidney infection (fever, c...

Studies: MechanismReviews describing FimH-mannose binding as the targ...

Why it works: Urine acidification. Vitamin C can lower urine pH in some circumstances; a more acidic urine environment may inhibit growth of some uropathogens and also helps activate methenamine...

Instructions: Prevention during pregnancy (single RCT): 100 mg oral vitamin C daily (with routine iron/folate) during pregnancy reduced bacteriuria/UTI vs. control in one small, single-blind tri...

Warnings: Do not use vitamin C as a stand-alone treatment for an acute UTI. If you have typical symptoms (burn...

Studies: Pregnancy prevention RCT (2007): 100 mg/day vitamin C during...

Why it works: TCM rationale. Ba Zheng San “clears heat and drains dampness,” promoting urination and relieving burning/urgency—classic “hot lin” patterns that map closely to acute lower UTI symp...

Instructions: Classical preparation (powder/decoction).. Traditional directions call for grinding the herbs to powder and decocting ~6 g in water to yield ~100 mL, then taken warm after meals an...

Warnings: Absolutely avoid Aristolochia (aristolochic acid) contamination/substitution.. • The “Mu Tong” in Ba...

Studies: Randomized controlled trial (female recurrent UTIs).Liu et a...

Why it works: What it is. DBTL is an 8-herb hospital formula from Shanghai Seventh People’s Hospital that has been used clinically for UTI-type “lin syndrome” in TCM for decades. The herbs are:...

Instructions: Prescription-only formula. DBTL is a hospital preparation, not a standard over-the-counter patent medicine; dosing is individualized by a licensed TCM clinician. The 2019 study des...

Warnings: Because DBTL blends multiple herbs, aggregate safety depends on the most caution-worthy constituents...

Studies: Animal study (primary evidence):Li X-Q et al., 2019, Journal...

Why it works: What it is: Er Xian Tang (二仙湯, “Two Immortals Decoction”) is a 6-herb formula (Xian Mao/Curculigo, Yin Yang Huo/Epimedium, Ba Ji Tian/Morinda, Dang Gui/Angelica, Huang Bai/Phell...

Instructions: Because EXD targets a specific pattern, dosing and duration should be individualized by a licensed practitioner. Typical usage forms (examples—not personal medical advice):. • Clas...

Warnings: Because EXD combines several potent herbs, review these cautions with your clinician and pharmacist:...

Studies: Systematic review (Cochrane, 2015): 7 small RCTs (mostly pos...