Image depicting UTI: Source: Healthline
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Claim: A Facebook user, Ogo Talk Show (archived here), claims that a mixture of native lemon, pink onions, and garlic can cure urinary tract infection.
Verdict: False. The claim that a mixture of lemon, onion, and garlic can cure urinary tract infections (UTIs) is false because it contradicts established medical evidence on how UTIs occur and available treatment options.
Full Text
A Facebook page, Ogo Talk Show, posted a video with the caption, “If you are seriously battling with urinary tract infections DO THIS IMMEDIATELY.”
In the video, the poster instructs viewers to prepare a mixture using three native lemons, two pink onions, and some garlic. According to the video, these ingredients should be blended, sieved, and the liquid consumed, half a glass in the morning before eating, and another half at night after meals.
Part of the voiceover reads, “Get three pieces of native lemon if you have been told you have a urinary tract infection, get two pieces of pink onions, and add some garlic. Put them together and blend. After blending, sieve out the liquid… take half a glass early in the morning before eating, and half at night after meals. Many doctors will not tell you this.”
The post generated engagement, with several users asking follow-up questions in the comment section. Victorine Aimée Lobe Charles asked, “Can I keep it in the fridge?” while Clement Daffin Obaga questioned, “Are we blending with the peel of the lemon?”
Other users sought guidance on usage: Lubi wrote, “How long will you drink it?” and Esabe Charles also asked, “To be taken for how long?”
Abdulganiyy Adigun wondered, “If it’s a long-term infection, will it cure or not?” Hopex Wechie raised a safety concern, asking, “Can a teenager of 16 years who has staphylococcus and candida take this?” Osareme Ojemeke asked, “Is there any solution for vagina dryness?” Meanwhile, Flora Makhubela expressed willingness to try the remedy, commenting, “I will try it… watching from South Africa, thank you for sharing, God bless.”
As of Feb. 21, 2026, the post had attracted over 5,200 comments and about 1,200 shares.
DUBAWA decided to fact-check the claim because of its virality and the health risks associated with misleading medical advice online.
Causes of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Bacteria are the most common cause of urinary tract infections, which can involve any part of the urinary system, including the bladder, urethra, ureters, or kidneys. Symptoms often include a burning sensation during urination, pelvic pain, and frequent urges to urinate.
Although UTI symptoms may sometimes feel similar to vaginal infections, UTIs do not directly affect vaginal tissues. Vaginal itching, swelling, or thick discharge usually points to yeast infections or vaginitis instead.
Women are more prone to UTIs due to their shorter urethras and hormonal changes that can alter vaginal bacteria.
How are UTIs treated?
UTIs are primarily treated with antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare professional to eliminate the bacteria causing the infection.
According to Healthline, drinking sufficient water and taking unsweetened cranberry products may help reduce the risk, although there is mixed evidence on cranberries’ effectiveness in treating UTIs.
What Experts Say
A gynaecologist, Qudus Lawal, noted that while antioxidants or acidic substances might help reduce the infection load, they are not effective as standalone treatments, adding that the mixtures promoted online are not recognised medical therapies for UTIs.
“Urinary tract infection is caused by infections along the urinary tract, usually bacterial. When you have a bacterial infection, you need antibiotics appropriate for that infection. Antioxidants and acidic substances may reduce the burden of infection, but they are not self-treatment methods. Those preparations mentioned are not recognised medical treatment for UTI.”
He warned that untreated UTIs can lead to complications and stressed the importance of professional care.
“When people resort to these kinds of prescriptions, they allow the infection to multiply and increase the risk of complications. So again, those prescriptions are not what to use. Rather, they should seek medical opinion.”
A general practitioner, Owoeye Ajibola, also dismissed the claim, “There is no scientific evidence to prove that a mixture of onion, garlic, and lemon can cure urinary tract infection. While these ingredients may support immunity, there is no direct evidence that they treat UTI.”
He added that reliance on unproven home remedies can delay proper treatment and worsen infections.
Conclusion
No scientific evidence supports the claim that blending lemon, onion, and garlic can cure urinary tract infections. UTIs are bacterial infections that require proper diagnosis and treatment, usually with antibiotics prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional.
