HEALTHY CHOICES -
D-MANNOSE

Someone called our office the other day and asked about D-Mannose.  We didn’t have any at the time, but we stock it now!  Let me explain why.  I recalled that there were some reports about how this product helped cure urinary tract infections (UTIs).  I did some research over the past month and I conclude that D-Mannose should be in everyone’s medicine cabinet at home – particularly if you're a woman.

D-Mannose is a simple sugar that reportedly offers an incredible benefit for anyone who suffers from recurring urinary tract infections.  Since those infections seem to plague women – up to 50% of all women – a natural and safe treatment is good news indeed.

We're all familiar with the usual course of urinary tract infections (UTIs).  You wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning with painful urination and then wait until the doctor’s office is open.  You call and hopefully get a prescription called in to your pharmacy for an antibiotic.  It may be even longer if the symptoms begin on a weekend!

Although once the antibiotics are begun, the pain usually subsides, one must remember to continue taking the drugs for several days to be sure that the infection is really all gone. 

Then, one of the several possible problems occur that are caused by antibiotics.  One set of well-known side effects are problems with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.  Some people experience either diarrhea or constipation and sometimes nausea.

D-Mannose Powder, 65 Gm/ jar, approximately 90 doses Order Now

D-Mannose Powder, In EASY-TO-USE Capsule, 90 per bottle Order Now

Why?  Well, the antibiotics kill broad ranges of bacteria - the ones we want removed as well as of friendly bacteria that we need in our GI tract.  There is no way to "tell" the drug which bacteria to kill and which to leave alone.  We can replace the friendly bacteria with a supplement, called probiotics.  We carry a super potent one called Florajen 3 that is very helpful when antibiotics are the only possible answer to an infection.

Another possible outcome of the killing of those friendly bacteria in our GI tract is that once enough of them are dead, other not-so-friendly organisms can multiply and take their place.  Those friendly bacteria produce folic acid and vitamin K.  Without those important vitamins we can develop serious deficiencies.  That means we end up taking more supplements to try to rebuild our vitamin levels - but sometimes that fails because the problems in our gut prevent proper absorption of nutrients.  You can see, if not handled properly, a relatively simple UTI can escalate into a major problem.

Those unfriendly organisms that move in when the friendly bacteria are killed include yeast (Candida albicans) that may result in a vaginal yeast infection.  Not only is this uncomfortable, it usually requires yet another call to the doctor or a trip to the pharmacy for an antifungal medication to kill the yeast.

Antibiotics can also cause serious problems for those people who are allergic to them.  They can also cause bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotics.  Once that happens stronger and stronger drugs are needed to kill them.  We should all be concerned about what happens when bacteria become resistant to everything we have to treat them with!

With that picture of the challenges we might face when we experience a UTI, it is great news that a simple, natural product can cure the infection.  And it can do it without any of the problems that we might encounter by using antibiotics.  The reason D-Mannose avoids all those problems, is that it doesn’t kill the bacteria.  Instead it beats the bad bacteria at their own game.

E. coli is the most common cause of UTIs.  It sticks to the walls of the bladder by attaching itself to the mannose molecules that are naturally produced by the urinary tract liner cells.  When free D-mannose is present inside the bladder, the E. coli appear to detach from the surface mannose, get fooled into attaching to the free d-mannose molecules, and promptly get flushed out in the urine.

Fortunately D-mannose is a sugar that is excreted into the urine unchanged and so we can consume it and it is concentrated in the urine.  Consuming D-mannose protects the entire urinary tract.  So whether we have the starting symptoms of a urinary tract infection or a long-standing, chronic infection, D-mannose may provide relief.

D-mannose is found in many fruits such as peaches, apples, oranges and certain berries, like cranberries and blueberries.  When it is extracted and looks like table sugar. You can be easily dissolve it in a liquid and drink it.  It tastes sweet but produces no side effects.  It is safe for children, pregnant women and even diabetics.   Doctors at the Tahoma Clinic in Washington state report universal success with D-mannose when used for E.coli UTIs.

 How Do You Use It?  At the first sign of infection start D-mannose.  Children usually use ½ teaspoonful at a time while adults use 1 teaspoonful.  Mix the dose in water or juice and drink every 2 to 3 hours.  This should be continued for one to three days to halt a beginning infection, longer when dealing with a chronic infection.  Since D-mannose works very quickly on E. coli caused UTIs, if the problem is not quickly resolved, another organism likely caused it.  Thus if the infection doesn’t go away or drastically improve within the first day, antibiotics are probably needed – so, call your doctor.

Some women who encounter UTIs after intercourse could use D-mannose before and after intercourse to avoid the UTI.

We've found an excellent source of D-Mannose.  Its called "UTI Edge." 
 

D-Mannose Powder, 65 Gm/ jar, approximately 90 doses Order Now

D-Mannose Powder, In EASY-TO-USE Capsule, 90 per bottle Order Now

Patricia A. Frieders, R.Ph.

The Compounder

Summary of booklet D-Mannose & Bladder Infection; The Natural Alternative to Antibiotics, by Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. and Lane Lenard, Ph.D.; Publisher Dragon Art, 2001.