Before the advent of antibiotics, what did people do to treat bladder infections?

Cranberry is a proven aid in decreasing the severity and incidence of bladder infections. Here is one of the studies from PubMed.

People died.

“if I lived back then, I figure I’d probably have died by now.”
Probably.
But, diet and activity was different then too. People were stronger. Survival of the fittest.
Besides I believe we had stronger immune systems back then then we do now.

Probably many did die I am guessing. It would go to the kidney.

Cranberry has been shown to protect people from getting UTI’s, But once you have one, I don’t think it is enough to get rid of it.

Do you get them after sex? Peeing immediately after sex can help avoid getting one. Also, if you frequently get them after sex I would consider treating your SO also. The medical establishment does not buy into it, but I think it is worth a try, and there are some doc’s who specialize in infection of the female reproductive organs who would agree it is worth trying. The thing is men are different and might need more meds longer, so that would mean some guessing. If it is completely unrelated to sex then ignore what I said. :).

@ChazMaz True, and we wouldn’t be wearing thongs (promote anal bacteria to enter the vagina, thus the bladder) and we wouldn’t have had a reason to hold our pee.

@JLeslie – It does seem to be sex-related; I’ve learned to take precautions and fortunately, that seems to work. :)

@Marina – That’s interesting about the cranberry.. I was skeptical because I once tried the pills during an infection, but reading that, it seems to be much more effective as a preventative.

I don’t know how long you have been with your SO, did it start when you started having sex with him specifically? Previously, could you have sex and no problems?

From a paper about the treatment of UTIs prior to antibiotics:

“The early 19th century provided vivid and detailed descriptions of UTIs without the knowledge that they were caused by microorganisms. Management included hospitalization, bed rest, attention to diet, plasters, narcotics, herbal enemas and douches, judicious bleeding (direct bleeding, cupping and leeches), and surgery for stones, abscess and retention.

The discovery of microorganisms as the etiological agents of infectious diseases in general and inflammation associated with urinary diseases in particular provided an impetus for physicians critically to examine management approaches and develop evidence based strategies for UTI treatment. Various antibacterial agents, such as hexamine, mercurochrome and others (hexylresorcinol, methylene blue, pyridium, acriflavin and mandelic acid), showed promise in laboratory studies but their efficacy in clinical investigations was disappointing.”

@JLeslie – I’m actually single at the moment, but this is a problem spanning years and multiple partners. It’s all good, though, I’ve figured out how to avoid them. :)

Oh. Got it.

Acidic concoctions.

You’d have to eat cranberries everyday, or drink 100% cranberry juice prior to sleep on an “empty” bladder.

Prior to and post sex, you should empty your bladder. You should also switch to a “wider” thong if you wear the string kind.

Bladder infections are also common among children and others who do not completely empty their bladders or who “hold” too often. There are all kinds of choices including apple cider vinegar which was more available than cranberry juice also limit the amount of processed sugar because it increases the growth of bacteria.

Recovery from infections—all sorts—can occur without antibiotics! This has always been true.

@rufuswashere Death from untreated infections can occur too.

Coconut water is still the preferred drink for many GI tract infections. During my pregnancy, I had coconut water by the pint for a vaginal infection, rather than antibiotics – the doctors tended to be conservative about giving pregnant patients drugs.

@bea2345 I have seen coconut milk, and a coconut water drink that his been sweetened, but I don’t believe that I have ever seen coconut water except from a fresh coconut. Do you mind sharing how you got it?

@pdworkin We used to sell coconut water at a place I worked. Here’s the brand http://www.zico.com/

When I was a property manager I actually had a doctor say , people in your profession never stop to pee!

@Judi I was a PM, too…there is no time to eat, either ;)

Cranberries work! You can buy the solid, concentrated form in capsules if you don’t like the taste. (I dislike cranberry flavor.)

Thanks, @casheroo !

If you take capsules be sure to drink lots of water. The more flushing of the bladder the better.

@pdworkin – before it is fully ripe, the coconut produces a clear sweet liquid called coconut water. In the West Indies, we cut open the tops and drain the water into a jug. When done at home, it has a very short shelf life, about a day or so.. It is now available by the bottle: invariably there is a sign on the label, “refrigerate and consume within 3 days.” During my pregnancy, it was only available in the raw, as it were and my husband brought nuts home several times a week. It is not usual to sweeten coconut water – the sweetness depends upon the variety of the plant.

Thanks. We have few coconut palms in upstate New York, but I am still glad to have the answer.