Posters
A Narrative Review of the Use of Ayurvedic Treatments for Urinary Tract Infections
Presenting Author Academic/Professional Position
Mark Manickath
Academic Level (Author 1)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 2)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 3)
Staff
Academic Level (Author 4)
Staff
Academic Level (Author 5)
Faculty
Discipline Track
Patient Care
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Introduction: Urinary Tract Infections are among the most common infections worldwide, and the rise of antibiotic resistance has created an urgent need for effective alternative therapies. Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional system of India, offers herbal and non-pharmacological interventions that may serve as potential treatments for UTIs. This narrative review evaluates existing literature on Ayurvedic treatments for UTIs, with a focus on assessing the clinical effectiveness of commonly used herbs and formulations.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in June 2025 across six databases: Medline (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), Allied and Complementary Medicine (Ovid), Index Medicus for the South-East Asia Region (IMSEAR), the WHO’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and the Ayush Research Portal. No restrictions were placed on publication date or language. Eligible studies focused on Ayurvedic interventions for the treatment or prevention of UTIs. Studies were included if they involved men, women, or individuals of other genders presenting with recurrent or acute UTIs and exhibiting UTI-related symptoms. Eligible studies focused on Ayurvedic interventions administered either before or after symptom onset. Exclusion criteria included studies focused on non-UTI genitourinary pathologies, those using non-Ayurvedic treatments, and all in-vitro or animal studies. Clinical trial contacts were reached for unpublished results, and additional studies were included based on citations within relevant literature reviews.
Results: Screening and selection were performed using Covidence. A total of 1646 studies were imported, and after removing 95 duplicates, 1551 studies were screened. Of these, 63 full-text studies were assessed for eligibility, and 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 15 were clinical trials and 3 were case reports, with the remaining studies falling under observational or review-type formats.
The included studies collectively evaluated various Ayurvedic formulations. Findings showed statistically significant improvements in UTI symptoms, including reductions in urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria, and associated systemic symptoms. Many of the studies also show antibacterial effects through negative urine cultures. While the methodologies and outcomes varied across studies, the data consistently suggested that specific Ayurvedic herbs possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties which are beneficial in UTI treatment.
Improvements in dysuria were reported in nearly every study. The rates of improvement ranged from 31.25% to 100%. Several studies also reported post-treatment urine culture conversion rates ranging from 100%-40% (Anjana 2021, Udmale 2022, Swati 2023, Lohan 2021, Sahu 2022 & Rajana 2022). Six studies used a control group that included comparisons with antibiotics (Maurya 2014, Guptai 2010, Pathak 1994) or standard treatments like Norflox (Sharma 2010 & Swati 2023). In these trials, the Ayurvedic interventions showed comparable symptom relief. There were three case reports (Anju 2021, Malagi 2021, Rana 2023) which reported complete or significant improvement in UTI symptoms as well as bacterial clearance.
Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first narrative review to assess the efficacy of Ayurvedic formulations in the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections. Ayurvedic interventions may serve as promising alternative options for managing UTIs, especially in the context of rising antibiotic resistance. While preliminary findings are encouraging, there remains a need for further clinical trials to validate efficacy, establish standardized dosing, and assess safety.
Some limitations of this review include the fact that some of the studies are older and may not reflect current research standards. Ayurvedic formulations varied and were not standardized across trials, limiting comparability. Additionally, not all studies performed urine cultures, making it unclear whether symptoms were due to confirmed UTIs or other genitourinary conditions. Access to Ayurvedic practitioners and specific formulations is limited in the U.S., which may affect the use of these interventions in Western clinical settings. Additionally, most of the studies neglected to consider any side effects, or did not have any side effects at all. Even with these limitations, we hope to highlight this alternative treatment option for recurrent UTIs, which can have a big impact on quality of life.
Presentation Type
Poster
Recommended Citation
Manickath, Mark; Saverimuttu, Augusta; Goldberg, Johanna; Desai, Krupali; and Ajay, Divya, "A Narrative Review of the Use of Ayurvedic Treatments for Urinary Tract Infections" (2025). Research Colloquium. 64.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/colloquium/2025/posters/64
A Narrative Review of the Use of Ayurvedic Treatments for Urinary Tract Infections
Introduction: Urinary Tract Infections are among the most common infections worldwide, and the rise of antibiotic resistance has created an urgent need for effective alternative therapies. Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional system of India, offers herbal and non-pharmacological interventions that may serve as potential treatments for UTIs. This narrative review evaluates existing literature on Ayurvedic treatments for UTIs, with a focus on assessing the clinical effectiveness of commonly used herbs and formulations.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in June 2025 across six databases: Medline (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), Allied and Complementary Medicine (Ovid), Index Medicus for the South-East Asia Region (IMSEAR), the WHO’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and the Ayush Research Portal. No restrictions were placed on publication date or language. Eligible studies focused on Ayurvedic interventions for the treatment or prevention of UTIs. Studies were included if they involved men, women, or individuals of other genders presenting with recurrent or acute UTIs and exhibiting UTI-related symptoms. Eligible studies focused on Ayurvedic interventions administered either before or after symptom onset. Exclusion criteria included studies focused on non-UTI genitourinary pathologies, those using non-Ayurvedic treatments, and all in-vitro or animal studies. Clinical trial contacts were reached for unpublished results, and additional studies were included based on citations within relevant literature reviews.
Results: Screening and selection were performed using Covidence. A total of 1646 studies were imported, and after removing 95 duplicates, 1551 studies were screened. Of these, 63 full-text studies were assessed for eligibility, and 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 15 were clinical trials and 3 were case reports, with the remaining studies falling under observational or review-type formats.
The included studies collectively evaluated various Ayurvedic formulations. Findings showed statistically significant improvements in UTI symptoms, including reductions in urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria, and associated systemic symptoms. Many of the studies also show antibacterial effects through negative urine cultures. While the methodologies and outcomes varied across studies, the data consistently suggested that specific Ayurvedic herbs possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties which are beneficial in UTI treatment.
Improvements in dysuria were reported in nearly every study. The rates of improvement ranged from 31.25% to 100%. Several studies also reported post-treatment urine culture conversion rates ranging from 100%-40% (Anjana 2021, Udmale 2022, Swati 2023, Lohan 2021, Sahu 2022 & Rajana 2022). Six studies used a control group that included comparisons with antibiotics (Maurya 2014, Guptai 2010, Pathak 1994) or standard treatments like Norflox (Sharma 2010 & Swati 2023). In these trials, the Ayurvedic interventions showed comparable symptom relief. There were three case reports (Anju 2021, Malagi 2021, Rana 2023) which reported complete or significant improvement in UTI symptoms as well as bacterial clearance.
Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first narrative review to assess the efficacy of Ayurvedic formulations in the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections. Ayurvedic interventions may serve as promising alternative options for managing UTIs, especially in the context of rising antibiotic resistance. While preliminary findings are encouraging, there remains a need for further clinical trials to validate efficacy, establish standardized dosing, and assess safety.
Some limitations of this review include the fact that some of the studies are older and may not reflect current research standards. Ayurvedic formulations varied and were not standardized across trials, limiting comparability. Additionally, not all studies performed urine cultures, making it unclear whether symptoms were due to confirmed UTIs or other genitourinary conditions. Access to Ayurvedic practitioners and specific formulations is limited in the U.S., which may affect the use of these interventions in Western clinical settings. Additionally, most of the studies neglected to consider any side effects, or did not have any side effects at all. Even with these limitations, we hope to highlight this alternative treatment option for recurrent UTIs, which can have a big impact on quality of life.
