Urinary tract infections. They’re not fun.

Normally, the doctor will pump you full of antibiotics. This works, but has negative effects on your gut bacteria. What kills bad bacteria will also kill good bacteria.

Luckily, there are herbs you can take to combat UTI’s, as they are known in care homes and hospitals. Just go to the doctor if you are not feeling better within a few days.

Here’s some easily found UK herbs that will help the situation.

YARROW (Achillea milifolium)

Yarrow is antibacterial and vulnerary (wound healing). It is a styptic, so it stops bleeding too. Both internally and externally.

Pick the white flowers on a dry sunny day. You can dry them for use as an infusion (tea), or add them to vodka to make a tincture.

Yarrow is in the Daisy family. It has a strong scent due to the aromatic oils. I like the scent, but it does smell like disinfectant! It has a bitter taste. But it is good for you!

Look for Yarrow at the edges of lawns, waysides and paths.

To use, simply brew up a strong tea. Simmer the dried or fresh yarrow flowers and leaves until the water changes colour. Leave to cool, add honey if desired. Adding sugar may make the infection worse, so it is up to you.

Or you can swallow a few tablespoons (not a pint) of Yarrow Vodka.

Swallow that bitter pill…

HORSETAIL (Equisetum arvense)

Horsetail is a throwback from dinosaur times. Yes, really! It is a dry, tough plant with fine thin leaves in whorls around the stem. It’s called the ‘Lego plant’ as you can pull off the stem into separate sections, then stick it back together!

Horsetail is full of silica. not only does this help hair and nail health, it encourages urination. It gently helps the kidneys evacuate toxins.

You can also use it as a pan scourer if camping in the wilderness. What’s not to like!?

That weird penis-like projection is the spores of the horsetail plant!

Collect on a dry day. Horsetail dries easily. Hang it up in a bunch new the ceiling, or spread it out on brown paper or a grill tray. You can also make horsetail syrup.

To use, add a handful to water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes until the water changes colour. Drink.

(Horsetail does contain thiaminase, which is poisonous to livestock when raw, but it is made safe by boiling or cooking).

COUCHGRASS (Agropyron repens)

Couchgrass, that scourge of gardeners! Help your gardening friends by ripping theirs out and using the rhizomes for your herbal remedies. What you are looking for is the white rhizomes that run under the soil surface.

Couchgrass roots are soothing, antimicrobial, and diuretic. They can be used in cases of cystitis, urethritis, and prostatitis. It is used in Germany to treat bronchitis and laryngitis.

Cut rhizomes into sections, dry, and add to boiling water to use as a tea. Use 2 heaped teaspoons of dried rhizome per mug of tea.

GARLIC

Friends of mine may groan at the mention of garlic again, but it’s a go-to for any kind of infection. The active constituent, allicin, is a powerful antibacterial and anti fungal. It also improves blood flow.

It is only effective f you take it raw. this is not so horrific as you might think. Slice up one clove three times a day after meals. wrap in buttered bread or in plain yoghurt (Let’s face it, fruit yoghurt would be a bit too weird, even for me).

You WILL, however, smell like the legion of damned.

CYSTITIS BLEND TEA

Add together:

• one third dried couchgrass rhizomes
• one third dried yarrow flowers
• one third horsetail leaves and stem

Present to your suffering friend (or yourself) in a brown paper bag you last used to eat a kebab out of.

Boil up for at least 5 minutes. Enjoy.

xx Hedgewitch Kat xx