A urinary tract infection or a UTI is a common infection, especially in women. While in most cases, it is manageable, if left untreated, it can be life-threatening. A UTI can affect the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys. A urinary infection typically happens when bacteria travels from the rectum to the urethra. There are several ways in which you can get a UTI but, contrary to popular belief, you can’t get a UTI from a toilet seat as your parts don’t make direct contact with the seat. So, if you have a UTI right now, you can stop swearing that you’ll never sit on a toilet seat again. What you can do is brew yourself one of these drinks that can help you deal with a UTI in its early stages.

Related: UTI Symptoms, Causes, And More: Everything You Need To Know About Dealing With Urinary Tract Infections

1. Coriander Tea

Ingredients:

3 tbsp coriander seeds

3 cups water

Method:

Crush the coriander seeds and set aside. Boil 3 cups of water and then add the crushed coriander seeds.

Cover the coriander water and let it boil on low flame for about 2 hours. After a couple of hours, strain the mix and drink the tea.

You can also add lemongrass and fennel seeds for added flavour.

2. Coriander Cooler

Ingredients:

1 cup coriander leaves

7-8 coriander seeds

500 ml water

Method:

Boil 500 ml water and add chopped coriander leaves and 7-8 coriander seeds to it. Let it all boil on low flame for 15 minutes.

Switch off the flame and let it cool slightly. Then strain the water, let it cool down to room temperature, and drink it throughout the day.

You can also add half a lemon juice and one teaspoon of grated ginger for added flavour.

3. Amla Green Tea

Ingredients:

2 tsp amla powder

1 green tea bag or 1½ tsp green tea leaves

Method:

Take a glass of water, add amla powder and boil it. When it starts boiling, add the green tea leaves. If you are using a tea bag, add it once the water has boiled and let it soak in water for a few minutes.

Strain the tea and drink between meals to get relief from UTI symptoms.

4. Cranberry and Blueberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice

½ cup blueberries

½ cup probiotic yoghurt

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Method:

Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend into a smooth and consistent mix.

You can refrigerate the smoothie or serve it immediately.

5. Barley Water

Ingredients:

¼ cup pearl barley

3 cup water

Method:

Rinse and clean the barley well and soak it overnight.

In a pressure cooker, add three cups of water and add the barley to it. Cook it on medium heat for five to six whistles.

Let the barley and water cool down.

Once it cools down, strain the water into a jar and serve immediately.

While these drinks can help soothe the effects of a UTI, do not ignore it. You still need antibiotics to kill the infection. UTIs may sound like a regular affair, especially for women, but the infection can cause urosepsis and eventually lead to septic shock.