Garlic for a UTI

Did You Know…that garlic can help treat antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections?

One in 5 women will suffer from a urinary tract infection (UTI) in a given year.  UTIs are the second most common infectious disease and can lead to infertility and permanent damage to the urinary tract system.  That’s why typical treatment for a UTI is a round of antibiotics to wipe out the bad bacteria and prevent damage.

Unfortunately, antimicrobial resistance is taking its toll, and certain strains of bacteria associated with UTIs aren’t responding.  For this reason, scientists are exploring herbal and botanical alternatives, such as garlic.  A new study shows that garlic is indeed a viable UTI remedy.

Banish Bad Bacteria with Garlic 

Garlic owes is antimicrobial and antibacterial properties to its high concentration of sulphur compounds such as allicin.  These compounds are effective against a wide array of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses.

     Scientists at the Biria Institute of Technology and Sciences in India tested 166 bacteria strains found in the urine of people with UTIs.  Fifty-six percent of the strains proved to be resistant to antibiotics…but 82% of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria responded well to a crude aqueous extract of garlic. 


Researchers stated, “Even crude extracts of [garlic] showed good activity against multidrug resistant strains where antibiotic therapy had limited or no effect.  This provides hope for developing alternative drugs which may be of help in fighting the menace of growing antibacterial resistance.”

Natural Health Experts Describe How To Use Garlic for a UTI

Health experts describe several ways you can use the antimicrobial properties of garlic to your benefit if you have a UTI or other type of bacterial infection.

 Garlic Tea:  Peel and crush 2-3 cloves of raw garlic and mix with 1 cup of hot water.  Let the brew steep for 5 minutes and then drink 3-4 cups a day until the UTI is eradicated.
 Garlic Shot:  Mash 2-3 cloves of raw garlic and mix with water.  Drink on a full stomach.  Eating raw garlic releases active compounds into the bloodstream, where they are then filtered by the kidneys and set to work helping to control bad bacteria.
 Garlic Pessary:  Some naturopathic practitioners swear by a garlic pessary.  To make one, peel 3 raw cloves of garlic and wrap in medicated gauze.  Keep one end of the gauze long (like a tampon string) so you can easily remove it from the vagina.  Insert the pessary into the vagina and leave it there for 2-3 hours.  Remove and wash the vagina with water.  Be sure to completely dry the area, and then repeat the treatment 2 more times during the day.  Insert 4-5 cloves at bedtime.  Repeat daily for 4-5 days until the UTI is gone.