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Cystitis home remedies

Approved by our Clinical team | Mar 30, 2020

Cystitis is a common type of urinary tract infection that causes inflammation in the bladder, leading to mild but unpleasant symptoms like pain when urinating and needing to urinate more often.

The inflammation is normally caused by bacteria from poo entering the urinary tract, but it can also happen if you have a problem with your bladder that prevents it from emptying fully.

Learn more by reading this article: Understanding cystitis.

How do you treat cystitis?

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Commonly, cystitis clears up on its own within a few days.

During this time there are cystitis treatments you can buy over the counter to help relieve any pain you are experiencing. These include cystitis sachets which contain potassium or sodium citrate. You simply dissolve the powder in water and then drink the solution – this also helps to keep you hydrated.

If you have symptoms of cystitis that don’t improve within three days, you should visit your GP.

Things to avoid when you have cystitis

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When you have cystitis there are a few things that you should avoid eating and drinking:

  • Alcohol
  • Coffee
  • Citrus juice

These can all irritate the bladder making your symptoms worse. While sugary drinks can help feed the bacteria causing the infection, allowing them to live longer and spread.

Are there any natural remedies for cystitis?

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If you want to help alleviate your cystitis at home there are some remedies you can try.

Bicarbonate of soda

Altering the acidity levels in your urine can help to ease the pain, and bicarbonate of soda is a common cystitis treatment. Mixing bicarbonate soda with water to make a drink allows the alkaline solution to reach your bladder, which can make your urine less acidic and stop the bacteria from spreading.

Cranberry juice

Many women drink cranberry juice when they have cystitis, although there is little evidence to suggest that this treats cystitis. If drinking cranberry juice works for you then carry on drinking it, however drinking water will also help to flush any toxins out of your system. The vitamin C in cranberry juice will give your immune system a much needed boost, which in turn may help it to fight off the infection causing cystitis quicker.

Other cystitis treatments

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While you’re waiting for cystitis to clear up you can take over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen to help ease any pain and discomfort.

If your symptoms do no improve within three days, or if you develop severe symptoms such as blood in your urine or a pain in your side, you should visit your GP. They may prescribe a short course of antibiotics to combat the infection.

You can learn more about antibiotics for cystitis at our Online Doctor site – Cystitis symptoms and treatment – and by reading this article: Nitrofurantoin cystitis treatment.

How long does cystitis last?

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Typically a mild case of cystitis will clear by itself in a few days. However if your symptoms persist you should visit your GP to find out about treatment options or you can use our Online Doctor service for a free and confidential online assessment.

Is cystitis curable?

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Yes cystitis and UTIs are curable. However many women experience recurring cystitis where they keep developing an infection. This could be because the last case of cystitis was not properly treated and had not disappeared, or bacteria continually getting into the bladder via their urethra. If you have persistent cystitis talk to your doctor as they will be able to help clear the infection.

Can you get rid of cystitis in one day?

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Typically cystitis will clear up by itself over a few days however drinking lots of water can help to decrease the time it takes. Seeking treatment from your GP early on will help to clear the infection quicker.

Can cystitis cause blood in my urine?

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If your cystitis symptoms are severe you may notice blood in your urine. If you do you should visit your GP as soon as possible so they can get you started on a course of treatment.

How do you stop getting cystitis?

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There are ways that you prevent cystitis from developing and preventive caution you can take, these include:

  • Not using performed soaps on your genitals
  • Emptying your bladder fully when you urinate
  • Wearing cotton underwear
  • Wiping from front to back
  • Showering rather than bathing
  • Urinating after sex

Cystitis treatments

References

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