Herbs for a UTI, like hibiscus, dandelion, and parsley, can be used to prepare teas to help manage symptoms and speed-up recovery.

However, these teas should not replace your doctor’s recommendations, especially when antibiotics are prescribed. Instead, they are recommended for use as a complement to your medical treatment.

Herbs for a UTI used to make teas will typically have an antimicrobial effect to eliminate harmful pathogens that may be causing the infection. Diuretic teas are also beneficial, as they stimulate urine production, allowing for increased urinary flow and cleansing of the tract.

This content is solely for informative purposes and should not replace a medical consultation. Do not interrupt your current treatment without seeking medical guidance.

List of teas

Teas using herbs to treat a UTI include:

1. Hibiscus tea

Hibiscus tea, made from the medicinal plant Hibiscus sabdariffa, is rich in flavonoids and anthocyanins, such as hibiscin. It contains antimicrobial properties, which help prevent the E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract wall and the bladder.

This tea also has diuretic properties that help eliminate these bacteria through urine, preventing the emergence of recurring infections.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon of dried hibiscus flowers
400 mL of boiling water

How to prepare

Bring the water to a boil, remove from heat, add the hibiscus flowers and let it infuse for about 5 minutes. Then strain and drink while warm at least 3 times a day.

Hibiscus tea should not be consumed by children under 12 years of age, pregnant or lactating women or anyone with kidney or liver disease. Furthermore, people with high blood pressure or diabetes who use medications to treat these conditions should avoid drinking this tea

2. Dandelion

Dandelion is a plant that has an excellent diuretic effect. It helps to increase urine quantity, allowing the bacteria that are causing the infection to be flushed out more quickly.

Ingredients

15 g leaves and roots of dandelion
250 ml boiling water

How to prepare

Add the dandelion to the boiling water and let this mixture sit for five to ten minutes. Strain and drink two to three times a day. Read more about why dandelion tea is good for you and how it can benefit your health.

3. Parsley tea

Parsley is a potent and natural diuretic that also contributes to kidney health. It promotes the quicker elimination of urine, which can help to cleanse the urinary tract to get rid of bacteria.

Ingredients

1 bunch or 15 grams of fresh parsley with stems
250 mL of water

How to prepare

Cut the parsley into small pieces and add it to the cup of boiling water. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain, let cool and drink up to 3 times a day.

Parsley tea should not be used by pregnant women or people with kidney or heart failure.

4. Nettle tea

Nettle extract has been shown to contain steroid compounds, which have anti-inflammatory effects that inhibit the leukocyte elastase enzyme. By inhibiting this enzyme, nettle extract may help to reduce further damage in the urinary tract, leading to faster healing.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon of dried nettle leaves
1 cup of hot water

How to prepare

Add the dried nettle leaves to the hot water and allow to soak for 10 minutes. Once it has cooled, strain the tea and drink up to 2 cups per day.

5. Star anise tea

Star anise naturally contains anethole, which can prevent the growth and spread of bacteria. Lab studies have shown that this medicinal plant is effective for the elimination of bacteria like Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These bacteria are responsible for various types of infections, such as UTIs, gastroenteritis and skin infections.

In addition to anethole, studies indicate that other substances present in star anise, like anisic aldehyde, anisic ketone or anisic alcohol, can also contribute to its antibacterial action.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon of dried star anise seeds
1 cup of water

How to prepare:

Smash or chop the star anise seeds. Boil the water and remove from heat. Pour the water into a cup and add the anise seeds. Cover and soak the seeds for 10 minutes. Then strain and drink. You can drink up to 3 cups of this tea per day for up to 2 weeks.

6. Bearberry

The leaves of this plant have been used for many centuries to relieve and treat symptoms related to UTIs. According to some studies, the effect of this plant on UTIs is linked to a substance known as arbutin, which has a strong antimicrobial effect. Hence, bearberry leaves can eliminate bacteria, viruses and fungi that are responsible for most cases of urinary tract infections.

Additionally, bearberry is a diuretic, so it promote urinary flow, keeping the urinary tract clean and free from microorganisms.

Ingredients

3 g dry bearberry leaves
200 ml (about 6.5 oz) cold water

How to prepare

Place the leaves in the water and let the mixture infuse in a closed container and sheltered from light for 12 to 14 hours. Then strain the mixture and drink up to 4 cups per day. The ingredient list above is for one teacup, so if you wish to make more just increase the quantities to make enough for one day.

Attention: bearberry can cause poisoning if overdosage occurs. We recommend that you only have bearberry tea when you have actively have symptoms and for a maximum of seven days. If you experience symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, you should stop taking bearberry.

7. Goldenseal

Goldenseal is another plant that is scientifically proven to treat UTIs. It is rich in substances like hydrastine and berberine, which have an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. Additionally, there are some studies that show that berberine can prevent some bacteria, especially E. Coli, from binding to urinary tract walls, which allows them to be more easily eliminated.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon of Goldenseal root powder
250 mL (about 8.5 oz) boiling water

How to prepare

Place all the ingredients in a cup for 10 to 15 minutes and mix. Then strain the tea and let it cool down. You can drink two to three times a day.

It may be hard to find Goldenseal powder but an alternative is liquid Goldenseal root extract. Follow packet instructions regarding dosage or simply take ¼ teaspoon a day. Another alternative is capsules, in which cases the dosage is 450 mg 2 to 3 times a day.

8. Corn silk

Corn silk tea is another popular home remedy used to treat urinary tract problems, including infections. Some studies have shown that corn silk tea has a good concentration of tannins, terpenoids, and alkaloids, making it rich in antimicrobial properties.

Additionally, corn silk is also a diuretic, which helps with eliminating bacteria through the urine

Ingredients

1 handful of dry corn silk
1 cup of boiling water

How to prepare

Place the corn silk in a cup with boiling water and let it rest for five to ten minutes. After this, strain the mixture and let it cool down. Drink this tea two to three times a day.

9. Boxwood

Boxwood leaves are diuretic and antimicrobial and seem to help fight microorganisms that cause urinary tract infections. It also stimulates urine production.

Some studies have shown that these plant properties are linked to the essential oil, which is mainly produced in the leaves. That is because the oil is capable of being absorbed in the stomach and then released into the kidneys, where it mixes with urine and helps to clean the urinary tract.

Ingredients

1 to 2 teaspoons of dry boxwood leaves
1 cup of boiling water

How to prepare

Add the leaves to the boiling water and let this mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Then strain the mixture, let it cool down and drink two to three times a day.

10. Horsetail

Horsetail is one of the most popular natural diuretics in the world and for that reason, it can be a great treatment for a urinary tract infection. It helps in the elimination of microorganisms responsible for the infection. According to research, the effect of horsetail is linked to the presence of an important diuretic substance, saponin.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon horsetail
1 cup boiling water

How to prepare

Place all the ingredients into a cup and let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes. After this, strain, cool down and drink up to 3 cups a day.

As it is a strong diuretic, which eliminates various types of important minerals, horsetail should not be used for more than 7 days. Learn more about the health benefits that horsetail tea can offer.

Precautions when taking the teas

If you take any type of tea or natural product to treat health problems, you should do so under the supervision of doctor or a health professional who is familiar with medicinal plants. This is because doses have to be adjusted due to factors such as age, weight and health background. These teas should not replace prescribed UTI medication.

Additionally, pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under the age of three should avoid taking any type of tea without their pediatrician or obstetrician’s supervision. Read

As most teas mentioned have a diuretic effect, it is very important to not use these teas for extended periods of time (more than 7 days) as prolonged use can lead to imbalances of important minerals.