The urge to urinate that becomes frequent and painful are symptoms of urinary tract infection. It can be treated using a variety of methods that range from antibiotics or simply barley and cranberry.
A urinary tract infection is basically an infection of the urinary tract. The urinary system is comprised of the kidneys, bladder, ureters and urethra. Remember that any part of this system can be infected but usually develops in the bladder and the urethra. It is caused by a bacterium that lives in the bowel particularly E. coli. Some urinary tract infections are not severe, but kidney infections can cause permanent damage such as kidney scars, high blood pressure and poor functioning of the kidneys.
A urinary tract infection can be a painful and frustrating condition and can result in discomfort, difficulty in urinating, pain in the sides and cause damage to the kidney if left untreated. Many home remedies have developed for so many years to relieve symptoms and cure the infection and one is by drinking barley tea which is a simple tea that can be prepared by boiling barley grain in water.
Barley is a cereal grain and a member of the grass family. It has been used as animal food, used in the fermenting of beer and as an ingredient in some health foods. Barley is rich in fiber and proteins and when it is cooked, it has a texture that is similar to brown rice. Hulled barley is the most nutritious and only the hard outer hulls are polished off. Pearl barley is more polished and the outer bran layer is scrubbed off but it is less nutritious.
Treatment of urinary tract infections using barley and cranberry
- Make barley tea by boiling one cup of barley grains in a pot with water enough to cover by two inches and wait for the mixture to turn cloudy. With a strainer, remove the barley and leave the liquid in the pot. Drink the barley tea regularly either hot or cold. Barley tea is a good diuretic which helps in the production of urine.
- Eat cranberries which contain a bacterial anti-adhesion property helps in preventing the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract. Another way is to drink several glasses of cranberry juice since it will help flush out the bacteria found in the urinary tract or simply take cranberry supplements.
- Take pain medications such as ibuprofen in order to relieve abdominal discomfort, pelvic or back pains caused by the urinary tract infection.
- Use a heating pad in order to minimize pain and take a hot bath or apply a heating pad to the pelvis, abdomen and back for at least 10 minutes. A heating pad is helpful in minimizing pelvic pressure and lessens discomfort.
With the help of barley and cranberry, the infection can be properly managed along with other measures to relieve the discomfort that you can learn in any first aid course.