Supplements and Home Remedies for IC (Interstitial Cystitis)

If you ever were to eat with me or come to my house, you would see that I take a lot of supplements.  I'm not one to go to the doctor unless I've injured myself, which does happen!  However, I don't believe in hiding my head in the sand and not trying to help myself get better when I have a condition that warrants it.

I've suffered with interstitial cystitis (IC) for many years now -- perhaps 15?  I wasn't diagnosed until just a few years ago.  At the time, the doctor, (a Naturopathic Physician), just mentioned it as a side issue.  She hoped that once I cleared up the internal candida, strep and staph infections I had, that it would clear up.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.  I don't know if I'll ever be completely symptom free from my IC, but I am doing a number of things that help keep my symptoms reduced.  My primary symptoms are pain, urgency and frequency.  When my bladder is flared up, I have to go as often as every 15 minutes at night.  Thankfully, I haven't had it be that bad in a long time!

Identifying and eliminating allergens in my diet has been a big factor for me, as well as, following the IC diet protocols listed in the 2012 ICN Food List, and going completely grain and dairy free.  However, that doesn't do it all.  Stress, I've found, is a huge factor in flare-ups for me.  Eating right for my bladder helps, but it doesn't help with the pain and urgency that are caused by stress.  



Supplements and Home Remedies for IC:

Aloe Gel -- I use Carlson Aloe Vera Gel.  It can be purchased at Pure Formulas.  If you use my link, we'll both get a referral credit :)  Here's a picture of the bottle


I found another site, with a much more expensive product that had dosage guidelines; so this is what I'm doing:

(Copied from http://www.desertharvest.com/IC_dosage.html)

Dosage Recommendations for IC Patients

Interstitial cystitis patients in the first double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial took 6 ("other product") aloe vera capsules per day for three months, 3 capsules in the morning and 3 in the evening (about 12 hours apart) with a full 8-ounce glass of liquid. It does not matter whether you take the aloe vera with food or without. It works the same either way. However, it is important to drink 8 ounces of liquid with each dose. Avoid taking the evening dose at bedtime, or the liquid you drink will cause more frequent trips to the bathroom in the night. Based on our anecdotal findings with more than 50,000 IC/PBS patients, we plan to conduct a dosing study to determine which dose works the best. In the meantime, here are our latest recommendations:

First Month: 6 capsules per day (3 in the morning and 3 in the evening). If you are symptom free after the first 30 days, continue taking 6 capsules a day for the next 2 months. However, if you still have some symptoms after the first 30 days, then:

Second Month: 9 capsules per day (3 in the morning, 3 in the afternoon, and 3 in the evening). If you are symptom free after 60 days, continue taking 9 capsules a day for the third month. However, if you still have some symptoms, then:

Third Month: 12 capsules per day (4 in the morning, 4 in the afternoon, and 4 in the evening). If the symptoms do not respond within 3 months while following the 6/9/12 dosage recommendations, we assume that you are one of the 12.5% of patients who will not respond to the aloe vera at all. In our database of more than 8,000 IC/PBS patients, 75% received at least some relief and 42% had total symptom control, although symptoms can return if the aloe vera is discontinued.

Maintenance Dose: If you are symptom free after three months, the daily dose can be decreased by one capsule per week until symptoms return (for instance, week one take 5 capsules per day, week two take 4 capsules per day, week three take 3 capsules per day). When you notice symptoms, increase the daily dose by one capsule and continue on this maintenance dose. On bad days, a burst of 3 to 6 extra capsules at any time of day may bring symptoms back under control for many IC/PBS patients. It is safe to take 21 capsules or more per day.

Flare-ups: If you have a sudden increase in symptoms, we recommend 6 capsules every 4 hours until you have your symptoms back under control. Most people only have to take the first 6 capsules to see relief.

My symptoms have stabilized at being able to sleep 1 1/2 to 2 hours at a time, instead of being up every 15 minutes all night long.  I occasionally sleep for 3 to 5 hours at a stretch, but never any more than that.  My pain level has gone way down since using this product.


Aloe Juice -- In addition to taking aloe gel, I drink aloe juice.  It may seem like over kill, but I was recently travelling and had a flare.  As can be seen above, one way to deal with a flare is by taking a large dose of aloe gel pills (6).  Well, I didn't have any extra, so we got some aloe juice at the store.  It helped so much, I've continued using it.

Marshmallow -- Marshmallow root can be purchased as a dried herb or a tincture.  I started out with the tincture and then learned how to make my own from the dried roots.  Marshmallow is very soothing to the digestive tract and is good for a variety of camplaints, ranging from coughs to Crohns.  I take the tincture twice daily, (in my aloe juice), and use the loose herb, (in a tea ball), when I need a little extra help.

It can be purchased at Pure Formulas.  If you use my link, we'll both get a referral credit :)  


Peppermint -- Peppermint has always been a "go to" for me.  It's soothing to the digestion, as well as, being highly anti-inflammatory.  I rub the essential oil on my areas of arthritis, and I take the tincture internally once a day.

It can be purchased at Pure Formulas.  If you use my link, we'll both get a referral credit :)  


Coriander Seed -- This is available in most spice sections of a grocery store, although, if possible, I would recommend getting it from a health food store, as it will be much fresher.  It is helpful when having a flare.  

Marshmallow, Peppermint and Coriander Tea

I have a very large mug, about 2 cups, that I brew tea in.  I put about a teaspoon of each herb into a fairly large tea ball, pour hot water over it and brew it for 15 minutes.  Throughout the day, I sip on this to help alleviate my symptoms if I'm having a flare.

Pro-biotics -- Unfortunately, I recently discovered that the probiotic formula I've been using for several years had rice in it.  (Why do manufacturers do that??)  So I don't have a brand to recommend.  

Probiotics provide the essential bacterias for proper gut-health.  Recently, studies have suggested that our entire immune systems are based in our guts.  All the more reason to be sure they are healthy!


Baking Soda -- The final thing I do for my IC is an old home remedy my momma used to give me when I had a tummy ache.  I put 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into about 4 ounces of water with a few drops of stevia to help with the taste.  I use this when I'm having pain or trouble making it to the bathroom without an accident.  I almost never need it during the day, but I will take up to two doses an hour apart if I'm struggling at night.  I always sleep better when I use this remedy.  Baking soda is an alkalizer which is a good thing, (alkaline vs. acid = acid is bad.)

I hope this helps someone.  Please let me know if any of this information was beneficial or if there's another remedy I've missed.

Blessings,
Sharron

cSharron Long and Adams Media, Inc., 2014