Chances are you have, at least once in your life, had to deal with a UTI or an eczema flair up. These two are so common that multiple OTC remedies are readily available-while they may help resolve the symptoms, they do not address the underlying cause and the continue to incorporate toxic medicinal techniques. Below you will find a list of common functional causes along with natural therapies for the annoying occurrences.

UTI – Urinary Tract Infection: UTIs are a very common bacterial infection, particularly in women, and account for 25% of all infections recorded in the US. Antibiotics are the most common treatment but most bacteria that cause UTIs have become antibiotic resistant leading to reoccurrence and difficulty resolving the infection. Here are some things to consider:

• The Strength Of Your Underlying Immune System: Simply put an infection can only occur in the body when your natural immune system is underperforming or overworked. If you suffer from frequent UTIs, instead of always taking an antibiotic-consider focusing on your immune system via chiropractic adjustments, microbiome and leaky gut repair programs, and nutritional/dietary supplementation. 80% of your immune system is housed within the bacteria of your intestine and it only takes 1 round of antibiotics to disrupt the gut-immune-barrier. This can make you more susceptible to reoccurring infections, not just UTIs, and the focus should be on repairing your microbiome.
• D-Mannose/Cranberry: D-Mannose is a specific sugar that can prevent certain bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. A 2014 study published in the World Journal of Urology tested whether D-mannose powder is effective for recurrent urinary tract infection prevention. In the study, 308 women with a history of recurrent UTIs were divided into three groups: one that received D-mannose power in water for six months, the second received nitrofurantoin (an antibiotic) daily and the third did not receive treatment. Overall, 98 patients had recurrent UTIs: 15 in the D-mannose group, 21 in the nitrofurantoin group and 62in the group that received no treatment. D-mannose powder significantly reduced the risk of recurrent UTIs, and patients in the D-mannose group had a significantly lower risk of side effects compared to patients in the nitrofurantoin group.
• Clove, Myrrh & Oregano Oil: Research published in Phytotherapy Research indicates that clove oil has antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral activity. Clove can be taken internally for two weeks at a time, but I recommend that you do it under the care of a health care provider or nutritionist. Several human and animal studies show that myrrh has antibacterial, antifungal and ant parasitic properties. Historically, it’s been used to treat wounds and prevent infections. It can be applied topically with a warm or cool compress, or rubbed into the skin. Researchers believe that oregano essential oil can be used as an alternative antibacterial remedy for enhancing the healing process in bacterial infections and it’s an effective means for the prevention of antibiotic-resistant strain development. In fact, oregano oil may be superior to prescription antibiotics because oregano doesn’t cause antibiotic resistance and it has no harmful side effects.
• Eczema: Conventional medicine will tell you eczema is a type of allergy that results in rashes the skin or that it isthe result of physical contact with chemicals, fabrics, and dyes to which you may be allergic. While this is all true, eczema is highly connected to your gut/liver health-partly because your skin is the largest detox organ you have and when your gut/liver is congested the toxins are eliminated through your skin, which can cause you to have eczema.

If you suffer from eczema try the following:

• Light Therapy/Phototherapy: According to the National Eczema Association, phototherapy helps to calm inflammation, reduces itching, increases vitamin D production and helps fight bacteria on the skin. Adding 10–15 minutes a day of sun exposure, particularly during an eczema flare, can provide relief and potentially speed healing.
• Licorice Extract: Licorice root extract, when used topically, shows promise for reducing itching in limited eczema trials. Add a few drops of licorice essential oil to coconut oil or homemade itch creams for best results. Also consider adding Lavender oil to the mixture as its has been shown to reduce eczema irritations.
• Probiotics: Remember everything, including eczema, starts in the gut-or in the bacteria in your gut. Probiotics have been shown scientifically to reduce the severity, duration and reoccurrence of eczema simply because they assist your bowels in eliminating toxins which decreases the burden on your skin. Probiotics also assist in strengthening the immune system through activating your GALT-gut assisted lymphoid tissues-aka your self healing repair system.

Avoid These “Eczema Foods”: Dairy (all forms), wheat (grains), corn (including corn syrups), Margarine, Sugar and Sugar alternatives, additives (often found in processed or packaged foods). These are the most common irritators of the intestines and you will often find that once you remove 100% of them your eczema will naturally clear up!