In Practical Homeopathy® we regard our symptoms as gifts. They show us quickly — and often very clearly — which areas of our body are affected by an illness and in what way. In other words: symptoms can help us choose the appropriate remedy or remedies.
But what if our symptoms are different from what we expect? What if our illness does not present with the most commonly documented symptoms? What then?
A reader recently asked: “Is there a remedy for a urinary tract infection when the classic symptoms such as burning and urinary urgency are absent?”
What we know about urinary tract infections
Before I get ahead of myself, I will first take a look at the well-established Banerji Protocol. This has proven very successful in the past for urinary tract infections that are accompanied by burning and urgency. You can find it in my blog post Recurrent urinary tract infections and antibiotics: break the vicious circle.
Even the Banerjis, despite their great experience and successes, understood that the treatment protocols were effective in about 80 per cent of cases. That is undoubtedly a high success rate. Nevertheless, 20 per cent of patients remain for whom a second or third protocol or a carefully selected alternative homeopathic remedy must be used. This is determined by the rubrics, i.e. the symptoms, in a homeopathic repertory.
There are various options for urinary tract infections
These different options are not mutually exclusive. Thanks to the clinical observations made by many masters of this field over the past two centuries, we actually have a whole wealth of options available.
What do I mean by “wealth”? As I leaf through my repertory I count 49 pages — each with two columns — devoted to symptoms related to bladder and urinary tract complaints and the homeopathic remedies that have proven effective in their treatment.
In Practical Homeopathy® and especially in short lessons like this blog post, I try to reduce those 49 pages to some of the most common symptoms and the associated homeopathic remedies. It is impossible to cover every conceivable case here.
What if the typical symptoms of a urinary tract infection are absent?
Occasionally those affected experience, when passing water, not the more common burning but merely a slight stinging. In that case we might consider, among others, Apis mellifica C200.
For unbearable pain — which is not necessarily among the typical symptoms — Sarsaparilla could move higher up in our shortlist of remedies to consider more closely.
Thuja might also be considered if other remedies are insufficient.
Some urinary tract infections occur completely without pain or discomfort. In fact, a urinary tract infection can be asymptomatic. In such cases we rely on a conventional medical diagnosis or must pay closer attention to subtle signs. I have observed this particularly often in older people.
Even if the older person themselves does not feel any symptoms, an attentive carer may notice an odour — for example a strong characteristic odour of the urine or a scent that lingers in the genital area.
In that case we would take a closer look at Sulphur C30.
If there is a very strong odour we would give one dose of Sulphur C30 every 15 minutes during the first hour. If the symptoms are less severe, the dosing could be reduced to every three to four hours. If the symptoms begin to ease after one or two days of using Sulphur, we reduce the frequency: first to three times, then to twice daily. Once the symptoms have subsided or markedly improved, we stop the treatment.
Find out more about dosing and potency levels here.
Homeopathy helps — spread the word!
Warmly,
Yours
Sources
- Calabrese J. UTI Condition Lacks Common Symptoms. https://joettecalabrese.com/blog/uti-condition-lacks-common-symptoms/
Illustration: Jo Panuwat D/shutterstock.com
24 September 2026
