Prevention Magazine
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 Among women who already had infections, those drinking cranberry juice were nearly 75 percent more likely to have their infections clear up.
One long-held belief was that if you could make urine more acidic, bac-
In the kjtchen
Buying and preparing cranberries is the ultimate no-brainer. If it were any easier, they'd be called fast food.
Whole cranberries usually come in 1-pound bags. The berries are long keepers; they'll last a month or more when kept in the refrigerator and over a year when stored in the freezer. |
Paul Pitchford
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 Also restrict foods high in oxalic acid, such as rhubarb, cranberry, plum, chard, beet greens, and spinach.
Nightshade family vegetables—especially tomato, but also eggplant, bell pepper and potato—frequently cause problems. To determine whether they are primary allergens, one can avoid them for six weeks, then add each one to the diet for a few days, one at a time. If symptoms of pain and swelling increase, then the offending nightshade(s) should be avoided. |
Dr. Gary Null
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 Anti-escherichia Adhesin Activity of cranberry and Blueberry Juices," New England Journal of Medicine 324 (1991).
Five female subjects were treated twice a week with intravaginal and perineal implantation of Lactobacillus casei GR-1 and experienced relief from recurrent urinary tract infections. The treatment resulted in infection-free periods ranging from 4 weeks to 6 months, and all of the patients preferred it to antibiotics.
A. W. Bruce and G. Reid, "Intravaginal Instillation of Lactobacilli for Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections," Canadian Journal of Microbiology 34, no. |
| Other research indicates that cranberry juice combined with vitamin C acidifies the urine further. The effect is therefore much greater when both are taken together.
OTHER DRINKS. Other drinks useful for temporarily acidifying the urine include lemon juice and water, buttermilk, or simply mixing two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water. Drink any of these substances three or four times a day.
ACIDIC DIET. During an acute attack of cystitis, the diet can be temporarily changed to further acidify the urine. Dr. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 Therefore, use cranberry extract in tablet form, 250 to 500 milligrams three times daily.
LJ A simple blood test can detect gum disease up to eight months before symptoms appear. A dentist can draw a drop of blood from a finger and have it analyzed for the bacteria that cause gum disease.
LI Healthy gums are important for healthy hearts. Gum infections force the body to manufacture fibrinogen, which provides a protective coating for gums but also forms a framework on which blood clots may develop. Gum infections also stimulate the immune system into activating cells known as macrophages. |
Lita Lee, Lisa Turner and Burton Goldberg
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 Thera-zyme T12-L2 UrT (Urinary Tract) or Enzyme & Herbal Formula #24
Contains the enzymes protease, amylase, lipase, and disaccharidases, plus alfalfa juice concentrate, horsetail rush, buchu leaf, cranberry, hydrangea, meadowsweet, and uva ursi. Source of vitamins A and D.
Symptoms and signs: urinary tract problems, including frequent bladder infections, burning urination or cystitis; frequent urination, urgency or loss of bladder control, voiding small amounts; pain or discomfort during urination; hematuria (blood in the urine); kidney stones. |
Barrie R Cassileth, Ph.D.
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 See a doctor if the infection already exists; cranberry juice works only as a preventive measure.
Dandelion Tea brewed from dandelion root is cited often to treat digestion as well as liver, kidney, and bladder ailments. However, experts suspect that these remedies were founded in the Doctrine of Signatures (the yellow flower would be thought to treat yellow jaundice), and say there is no evidence of dandelion's medicinal usefulness for these problems. Some believe that applying dandelion juice to warts can remove them. |
Rudolph M. Ballentine, M.D.
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 Increase fluids, whey; Dolomite; NS (or NS/KM combination); moxibus-tion, acupuncture; Acute: Hmp: Cantharis, Cann ind or sat, or Sepia, all 30C; Hrbl: Buchu, luniper berry, Marshmallow, and/or Uva ursi (try combn tea); FRx: cranberry, grapefruit, and/or cherry juices. Chronic, prevention (females): cotton pants, frequent urination.
Boil/Abscess: Anger popping out. Acute: Sil 6x (TS) until it "gathers" (comes to a head), then Sil 1M ("homeopathic scalpel") once, to open it and initiate drainage. CS 6x (TS) until drainage finishes. |
Paul Pitchford
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| Other generally beneficial fruits are cranberry, pomegranate, persimmon, cherry, fig (dried), grape, and mango.
Fruit and fruit juice should ideally be meals by themselves. They often interfere with the digestion of other foods. Those who use fruit and vegetable juice therapy throughout the day should take the fruit juices in the morning and vegetable juices during the afternoon and evening. If a carbohydrate meal is eaten, juices ought to be drunk at least one hour before, or three to four hours afterwards. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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 The most useful herb in most cases of bladder infection is uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva ursi: bearberry or upland cranberry). Most research has focused on uva ursi's urinary antiseptic component, arbutin, which typically comprises seven to nine percent of the leaves. Arbutin is converted to hydro-quinone (a related compound with urinary tract antiseptic properties) and glucose in the body (hydroquinone is most effective in an alkaline urine). However, crude plant extracts are more effective medicinally than isolated arbutin.22 Uva ursi is reported to be especially active against E. |
Barrie R Cassileth, Ph.D.
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| Drink bearberry leaf-soaked cold water, cranberry juice. varicose veins Horse chestnut seed ointment, yoga, elevate feet. warts Hypnosis, apply dandelion juice. glossary acupoints Points or places along the body's meridians where needles or pressure are applied. acupressure Hand or finger pressure applied to an acupuncture point on the body. acupuncture Therapy using very thin needles inserted at designated points (acupoints) along meridians on the body to balance the hypothesized flow of energy and to restore health. acute Having a short, sometimes severe course. Not chronic. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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| Cranberry juice has been shown to be quite effective in several clinical studies.
• Uva ursi is effective in the treatment of acute bladder infections and is also a preventive measure. |
| Cranberry juice has been shown to reduce the amount of ionized calcium in the urine by over fifty percent in patients with recurrent kidney stones.
• It is important to avoid high-purine foods and salt.
• Drink at least 48 ounces of water daily. kidney stones, and it may do so in humans as well.20 Supplementation with glutamic acid may, however, be unnecessary if adequate vitamin B6 levels are attained.
Calcium
Most doctors tell their patients to avoid calcium supplements, as calcium restriction actually enhances oxalate absorption. |
| In fact, uva ursi appears to be more effective than cranberry.25
Care must be taken to avoid excessive dosages of uva ursi; as little as 15 grams (V2 ounce) of the dried leaves has been shown to produce side effects (usually nausea) in susceptible individuals. Signs of extreme toxicity include: ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, sense of suffocation, and shortness of breath.22
Goldenseal
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is another useful herb in the treatment of bladder infections, due to its antimicrobial properties. |
| Many popular methods of attempting to acidify the urine, such as ascorbic acid supplementation and the drinking of cranberry juice, have very little effect on pH at commonly prescribed doses.
The best argument for alkalinizing the urine is that it appears to be more effective, especially in women without pathogenic bacteria in their urine. The best method for alkalinizing the urine appears to be the use of potassium citrate or sodium citrate. These salts are rapidly absorbed and metabolized without affecting gastric pH or producing a laxative effect. |
Jean Carper
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 Thus, contrary to popular medical opinion, cranberries do not seem to make the urine acidic enough to kill bacteria, to cause irritation of the bladder or to act as the primary mechanism by which cranberry juice thwarts bladder infections.
Thumbs Up: THE FLUID CURE
Drink lots of fluids, including water, to prevent and cure bladder infections. Fluids dilute concentrations of bacteria in the urine, and promote frequent urination that gets rid of bacteria. Since E. |
Paul Pitchford
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| Recommended fruit: lemon (diluted juice), cranberry (juice or tablets), and huckleberries. Beneficial herbal teas: uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva urse), dandelion leaf (Taraxacum officinalis), plantain leaf (Plantago major), pip-sissewa (Chimaphila umbellata), flax seed, and watermelon seed.
Notes: The most effective of the herbal remedies are uva ursi and pipsissewa, although prolonged use of uva ursi can be irritating to the urinary tract; pipsissewa is better for chronic bladder and kidney infections and long-term use. |
Zorba Paster, M.D. and Susan Meltsner
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 Whether you choose orange, apple, grape, guava, carrot, cranberry, tomato, or others, juice is great for getting fruit and vegetables into your system. We need at least five servings from that food group daily. In addition, certain juices offer specific health benefits, from combating constipation to reducing the risk of urinary tract infections. And most are excellent sources of antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, which have been shown to slow the aging process.
2. Add Physical Activity at Every Opportunity
Take the stairs instead of the elevator. |
Jean Carper
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| Thus, cranberry juice does a super double-duty job of flushing and crippling the bacteria at the same time.
Thumbs Down: BEWARE CAFFEINE AND CHOCOLATE
Typically, tissues in the urinary tract are inflamed during a bladder infection; thus, certain foods may be irritating and make symptoms worse. A big culprit is caffeine, according to Dr. Guerriero. He advises avoiding caffeine and chocolate (another potentially irritating food to some) if you have a bladder infection. |
Prevention Magazine
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| Orange juice, which has 61 milligrams of vitamin C in a 6-ounce serving, is probably your best choice, although cranberry and grapefruit juices also contain a lot of vitamin C.
Bulbs of Health
Garlic has been used throughout history for treating virtually every type of infection. Now there's increasing evidence that it can help protect against colds and flu as well.
Garlic contains dozens of chemically active compounds. Two of them, allicin and allin, have been shown to kill germs directly. |
| Other fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C include cantaloupe, broccoli, strawberries, peppers, and cranberry juice.
It's not only what you eat that can affect osteoarthritis but also how much you weigh.
"There's good evidence that people who are overweight are at increased risk for developing osteoarthritis in weight-bearing joints like the knee," says Dr. Pisetsky. Research also suggests that overweight people are at higher risk for developing osteoarthritis in non-weight-bearing joints, such as those in the hands. "Losing weight leads to less pain and improved mobility," he says. |
| The darker cranberry varieties, like Stevens, Early Black, and Ben Lear, contain a third compound called kaempferol. Each of these compounds has been shown in studies to help prevent genetic changes that can lead to cancer.
Here's a bonus. Flavonoids, in general, and quercetin, in particular, are thought to play a role in preventing artery disease, perhaps because their antioxidant ability helps prevent damage to the linings of blood vessels. |
Michael Janson, M.D.
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 Sometimes a maintenance dose of cranberry supplements can prevent recurrence of infections.
Chapter 10
Practical Guidelines: Buying and Taking Supplements
When I recommend supplements, I often hear questions about where to get them and what brands to buy. How do you avoid being misled by unscrupulous manufacturers or overzealous sales pitches? Antagonists to dietary supplements sometimes leave you with the false impression that all manufacturers are disreputable. Nothing could be further from the truth. |
Prevention Magazine
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| In fact, 4 ounces of pineapple juice contain more vitamin C than the same amount of apple, cranberry, or tomato juice.
Alitiond CRjAm Toppjng
Cut the pineapple crosswise into 8 slices. Use a knife or small cookie cutter to remove the center core from each slice. Place 4 of the slices on dessert plates. Cut the remaining slices into small chunks.
In a blender or food processor, combine the cottage cheese, sugar, vanilla, and almond extract. Process until smooth and creamy.
Place a dollop of the cream topping in the center of each pineapple slice. |
Ralph Golan, M.D.
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 Warning: Do not use cranberry juice or acidify the urine while on uva ursi.
• Combination herbal capsules, tinctures, or teas specifically formulated for bladder infections are available in most health food stores. A traditional one includes uva ursi, buchu, juniper berries, parsley, marshmallow root, lobelia, ginger, and goldenseal. Dosage: Take one to three capsules or twenty-five to thirty drops of tincture five to seven times a day when acute. Or drink 4 to 8 cups of the tea every day. |
Dr. Cass Ingram
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 Foods that help
• Brazil nuts (as a source of selenium)
• cloves, whole
• raw almonds and filberts (rich source of vitamin E)
• dehydrated tomatoes and tomato paste (rich source of the anticancer anti-radiation substance, lycopene)
• cranberry juice concentrate (for flushing radioactive chemicals through the kidneys)
• crude sea salt (or iodized salt if the former is unavailable)
• canned salmon, sardines, and tuna (as a source of natural iodine)
• canned shrimp or squid (a top source of iodine)
Note: the rule with radiation poisoning is to be aggressive. |
Ralph Golan, M.D.
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| Because the unsweetened juice is not very palatable, consider cranberry concentrate capsules (see "Herbal Remedies" below).
DETOXIFICATION PROGRAM
• If you suffer from bowel problems, take acidophilus/ bifidus supplements (at least one capsule twice a day).
• An intestinal cleansing program may stop recurrent bladder infections.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
• Vitamin C (1,000 milligrams per hour) can halt a bladder infection. Reduce dose or stop if loose bowel movements occur. If necessary, implement other measures. |
Lesley Tierra
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 She first treated herself by drinking cranberry juice copiously and taking goldenseal until the infection was gone. This worked for several days, yet in another few weeks the infection returned. After she continued her treatment, the infection again cleared, yet re-manifested in another month. She then tried antibiotic drugs which didn't work either. This woman also felt continuously cold and ate a lot of salads and fruit in her vegetarian diet. |
| This chronic recurrence of her bladder infection continued because her overall condition was one of coldness and she was giving it further cold treatment with cranberry juice, goldenseal (a cold herb) and antibiotics. Because an infection itself is hot, the condition would be temporarily cured. Yet, overall, such treatment only contributed more coldness to her already cold body and metabolism. Thus, her body continued to manifest the bladder infection.
When I saw her for treatment I first gave her a warmer diet to eat. |
Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox, and Makoto Suzuki
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 Check out the flavonoids per serving of cranberry juice, applesauce, and celery sticks. Note that we include all known flavonoids and closely related compounds. The lignans and boron are not flavonoids but are closely related in terms of structure and function, and we have included them in our analysis for this reason. The recipes in this book will show you how to incorporate these foods easily into your daily routine, so that you can get at least a daily dose of your favorite nutraceutical! |
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