Urinary tract challenges? How to soothe the pain.

The irritation from urinary tract challenges cause burning, pressure, and pain around your pubic area. Applying a heating pad can help soothe the area. Keep the heat setting low, and limit it to 15 minutes at a time to avoid burns.

▪Ban the burn with baking soda. If painful, burning urination is a problem for you during a urinary tract challenge, it may help to drink half of a teaspoon baking soda mixed with a glass of water.

▪Cut out irritants. Things like caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, nicotine, carbonated drinks, and artificial sweeteners can irritate your bladder further and make it hard for your body to heal. Focus on healthy foods, such as high-fiber carbohydrates and healthy fats like olive oil, which are good for your digestive health.

▪Go ahead and empty your bladder again. Every time you empty your bladder — even if it’s just a small amount — you rid it of some of the microbes that’s causing the challenge. So keep making those bathroom runs.

▪Use herbal remedies. Cranberry (fruit) is used for preventing bladder issues (urinary tract challenges) for those with recurrent challenges. It reduces the adhesion of intruders to the urinary tract walls. It is used for acidifying the urine and toning the urinary system.

You may find relief from taking the herb Urva Ursi that helps maintain urinary tract health. Uva-ursi (leaf) is one of the best natural urinary antiseptics and has been extensively used in herbal medicine.

To quickly restore balance, use Horsetail and Stinging Nettle. These two herbs tone, strengthen and calm linings.

Meadowsweet and Yarrow quiet discomfort by decreasing irritating compounds.

Licorice is an amazingly soothing herb, and it also helps all other herbs work even better.

Whether it’s with cranberries or herbs, using home remedies to fight urinary tract challenges can help put you back on the road to recovery.