The following UK practitioners offer support for a range of health issues. Please note that there is no evidence as to any treatments offered being effective in the treatment of acute, recurrent and/or chronic urinary tract infections.
Amanda Banks
Treatment method Acupuncture and Naturopathy
Clinic location Billericay, Essex
Email: info@amanda-acupuncture.co.uk
Website: amanda-acupuncture.co.uk
Amanda is a qualified acupuncturist and naturopath and her areas of special interest are urogenital, fertility and digestive issues with the aim being to deliver effective acupuncture and naturopathy in a relaxing manner.
Due to her own experiences of suffering from Interstitial Cystitis and her experience of managing her condition, she also runs workshop days for small groups of patients suffering from Painful Bladder Syndromes. She has additionally contributed to Bladder Health UK’s quarterly magazine and participated in workshops offered by them.
Shelley Berlinksy
Treatment method Acupuncture & traditional herbs
Clinic location North London
Email: shelley@north-london-acupuncture.co.uk
Website: north-london-acupuncture.co.uk
Shelley is an acupuncturist and traditional herbalist who is also a qualified medical doctor. She worked as a psychiatrist before moving into complimentary medicine and has practiced acupuncture since 1995. She is a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC).
Her main fields of interest are women’s health and drug-free pain relief. She has recently become interested in symptomatic treatment of UTI and vulval symptoms.
Jessica Childs Women’s Health.
Treatment method Nutritionist with training in Women’s Intimate Health
Clinic location Surrey, Online
Email hello@jessicachilds.co.uk
Website: www.jessicachilds.co.uk
Jess supports women suffering from chronic bladder and vaginal issues – including chronic or recurrent UTIs, interstitial cystitis and vaginal infections and conditions. She uses private testing in her clinic to understand more about the microbial elements of these conditions, alongside other drivers. Jess considers the whole person when supporting a client, and creates dietary, lifestyle, and supplement protocols to help clients manage their symptoms better, and ultimately feel better.
Jess studied at the College for Naturopathic Medicine, London, graduating in 2018, and has since completed extra training in women’s intimate health. She has struggled herself with UTIs so has first hand experience of the misery it can bring, and hence is so passionate about helping others, finding ways to better understand and support these conditions.
Andrew Flower
Treatment method Traditional Chinese Medicine
Clinic locations Ringmer near Lewes, West Sussex and Hove, East Sussex plus virtual consultations for those not able to travel to his clinics
Email: andrewflower24@gmail.com
Website: andrewflower.info
Andrew has been practising acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) since 1992. In 2009 Andrew completed his PhD at The University of Southampton exploring the role of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of endometriosis. He has published a number of peer-reviewed papers relating to Chinese medicine research, including two Cochrane systematic reviews. He co-ordinated an EU project that prepared guidelines to improve the quality of clinical trials into Chinese medicine.
In 2011 he was awarded a five year NIHR Post doctoral Fellowship to investigate Chinese herbs for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) that has resulted in the RUTI trial that started in 2016. This detailed study undertaken by the University of Southampton recruited a total of 80 women lasting 16 weeks to evaluate the efficacy of TCM for recurrent UTI. The results of this study have recently been published and can be read here.
Andrew has additionally contributed to Bladder Health UK’s quarterly magazine.
Kate Waters Fine Food and Nutrition
Treatment method Nutritionist and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Clinic location Wiltshire, Skype or telephone
Email kate@katewatersfinefoodandnutrition.co.uk
Website: www.katewaters.co.uk
Kate specialises in women’s health including irregular periods, hormone balancing support and fertility, pregnancy and postpartum health. She also specialise in gut health.
She is a BANT registered nutritional therapist who graduated from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London. She has additionally contributed to Bladder Health UK’s quarterly magazine and participated in workshops offered by them.
What you need to know when choosing a complementary health route for chronic UTI
Critically, ask whether the complementary route you are considering has the same clinical controls, research evidence, governance and safeguards around it that are applicable to conventional medicine.
Don’t believe all anecdotal stories you read or view online about how a natural remedy or home treatment has resolved someone’s UTI issues. Importantly their health physiology will be unique to them alongside their personal circumstances and contributors may be paid for their promotion of a product.
Complementary therapies are not available free of charge at the point of use unlike some healthcare systems for allopathic/conventional medicine. Costs may add up and a degree of trial and error may be involved.
They can interfere with the action of conventional drugs and natural remedies may cause side effects and should not be taken with certain foods. A complementary practitioner should be aware of all prescribed allopathic medications that you are taking before prescribing any alternative treatment remedies. Equally you should discuss with your GP the combination of natural and allopathic medications in case of interactions. You should not stop prescription medication until you have discussed it with your prescribing doctor. It can be dangerous to suddenly stop taking prescribed conventional medicines.
A complementary practitioner should be liaising with your GP with regards to the treatment approach they are undertaking with you particularly if diagnostic tests reveal issues that need further clinical investigation and management.