International: Garlic fights urinary tract infections

Garlic, a common folk remedy for urinary tract infections, not only might work, but also appears to be effective against antibiotic-resistant strains, according to a new study.

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are infections that occur anywhere in the urinary system, but usually occur in the bladder and urethra with women are more likely than men to suffer from them. Infections are painful and uncomfortable and can have serious consequences if they move to the kidneys.

UTIs are usually treated with antibiotics, but some strains become resistant to drugs. A research team from India decided to study whether garlic, a common home remedy for UTI was effective.

They found that 56 percent of 166 strains of bacteria isolated from the urine of people with a UTI showed a high degree of resistance to antibiotics. However, they also found that around 82 percent of these strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria were treatable with garlic extract.

This is the first study to find that the extract of garlic, which is readily available in drugstores and other places, can effectively treat resistant to antibiotics ITU.