To Rasika Soni (name changed on request) who is in her 50s, her daughter was her best friend and confidante. The feeling was mutual. The Jaipur duo confided everything big or small in each other, and enjoyed shopping, visiting places and doing things together.
Matters changed when the daughter got married and moved out of her parents’ home. Soni tried her best not to let emotions affect her but they did take over her.
She started missing her daughter so much that she wanted her back with her. Just as she was grappling with her feelings, she developed physical problems. She was now experiencing symptoms such as a burning pain while urinating, the urge to urinate often, and later, fever and chills.
She approached Dr Vismita Kapila, at Dr Vismita’s Homeopathy Clinic near her home. When Dr Kapila took a detailed history of Soni, details of her close relationship with her daughter came out.
Dr Kapila says, “It is important to understand what could have led to the condition, be it physical, mental or social factors.”
She says Soni’s strong feelings of seperation, frustration and anger affected her physical health as well.
A study published in the Journal of Immunology also suggests that when stress or anger persist, our immune response is notably diminished or imbalanced.
Dr Kapila diagnosed Soni with UTI or urinary tract infection. She prescribed medicines specific to Soni’s situation along with counselling her on the changes happening in her life and tips on handling her issue.
Soni recollects now, “Within four days, my condition started to improve significantly.”
“The pus cell count which had increased in the urine test report [and which indicates infection] also came back to normal,” she said
As her condition continued to improve, Soni also realised that she must rather feel happy for her daughter’s new phase of life and not disturb it.
What is urinary tract infection
UTI or urinary tract infection is a common infection seen in females of any age, often caused due to bacteria called Escherichia coli or E. coli. UTI can occur in any part of the urinary system, which consists of the kidney, ureter, urinary bladder, and urethra.
Dr Ajay Yadav, consultant at Dr Ajay’s Homeopathy, says urinary tract infection is one of the most common causes of burning sensation during urination. It can also cause cloudy urine, blood in the urine (due to irritation of the linings of the urinary tract) and pain in the lower abdomen.
In severe cases, when the infection spreads upwards and affects kidneys and ureters, urinary tract infection can also cause fever and chills, nausea and vomiting, Dr Yadav adds.
Read more about UTI here
Tests revealing urinary tract infection
In cases of urinary tract infection, it is common to seek a urinalysis which looks for the bacteria, red blood cells (confirmed by blood in urine), and white blood cells (which indicate infection). Another test called the urine culture test involves collecting urine samples and growing bacteria in a lab. It helps in identifying the specific type of bacteria which in turn helps in choosing suitable antibiotics.
The homeopathic approach
Dr Kapila says that in homeopathic practice, identifying the root cause, be it mental or physical, is very important. “In many people, it is the affected mind that leads to physical symptoms. Hence, taking care of our mental health is of utmost priority to maintain overall health,” she adds.
Dr Yadav says there are a variety of homeopathic medicines which are prescribed based on the emotional state of the person, physical symptoms, parts affected, and severity of the condition.
Tips from experts
- It is important to keep yourself hydrated both to prevent and manage the condition. Drink at least 2-3 litres of water a day to flush bacteria out of the system.
- Do not hold your bladder when you feel the need to urinate.
- If you use toilet paper, wipe it from front to back. This is to prevent the spread from the anus to the urethra.
- Maintain hygiene: wash private parts with water and keep the area clean and dry. Do not use harsh products which can disturb the environment of good bacteria.
- If you have pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen you can use heating pads for relief.
- Urinating after sexual activity is important as it will prevent bacteria from entering the urinary tract.
