Interstitial Cystitis
Natural Remedies

Top Natural Remedies for Interstitial Cystitis Relief

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Dietary Changes, Supplements
Posted by Deziner (Philadelphia Pa) on 07/05/2017
★★★★★

IC can be chronic streptococcus in bladder, in my opinion. Possibly triggered by dormant Epstein Barr Virus. A Herpes virus which can be at the root of strep infections. The burning pain can be Shingles without rash. Another Herpes virus that can inflame bladder and pelvic floor. Doctors only recognize Shingles with rash. They're clueless. Shingles can attack pelvic floor without any rash or itching.

Change your diet and you may watch symptoms get better. Trigger points in the pelvic floor, vagina, pubic bone, anus, or psoas muscle can also cause urgency, pain, frequency. I'd recommend seeing a pelvic floor therapist to rule out tight muscles and pudendal nerve entrapment. Pudendal nerve directly linked to bladder and pudendal neuralgia can be inflamed nerves caused by Epstein Barr.

An inflamed bladder is caused by something..it isn't a mystery and it's not incurable. Maybe to doctors it is, but to informed patients it's curable. Eggs feed viruses, as does dairy, corn and wheat. Viruses feed off of eggs and corn in laboratories. Dairy is just mucous causing food from cows fed antibiotics and hormones.

Wheat destroys the villi in intestines and nutrition cannot be absorbed. IC patients are told to avoid certain fruits and urged to eat eggs, milk and wheat. Ridiculous! When I changed my diet to exclude wheat, eggs, corn and dairy and started juicing green vegetables and many fruits my symptoms improved. It takes a while, maybe months, but you can get much better.

Juicing celery can really start to rid yourself of IC symptoms. Cucumbers, apples, asparagus, leafy greens, wild blueberries, other berries, bananas, melons, kale, coconut water, garlic, and anything grown in nature in whole forms are healing. Dairy, wheat and eggs are inflammatory foods. Even if they dont feel inflammatory.

Supplements like cats claw, L Lysine, Vitamn C, Zinc, colloidal silver, spirulina, and other anti viral, anti bacterials can lighten the viral load and strep in bladder starts to go away. If symptoms are coming from a tight pelvic floor then internal massage may help. The IC support groups refuse to accept that IC can and has been cured by diet, pelvic floor therapy, and/or supplements. They're stuck in the mindset that they need toxic drugs and told to eat a toxic diet. Rounds and rounds of antibiotics wreck havoc on the immune system and can actually cause IC. Benzodiazepines can cause IC to erupt. It's tragic that women and men are told there is no cure.

Many people have been cured by a high raw fruit and veggie diet and pelvic floor trigger point release. And antimicrobial supplements. There is hope but you won't find it with conventional doctors. They thrive on the chronically ill. God put Adam and Eve in a garden for a reason. Not a wheat field or dairy farm.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Lynn (New Zealand) on 06/11/2017
★★★★★

I had interstitial cystitis for years, probably still have it, but I believe I found that my problem lies in too much sugar in my system.....so no carbs, or very little and definitely no sugar and Im pretty ok. As an added help, I take a good antihistamine once or twice a week or as needed and that so far has stopped the symptoms. Hope this can help others.


Treat for Ureaplasma
Posted by Mimi (Green Bay, Wi) on 05/17/2017

I also believe IC is caused by bacteria and I am taking steps to be tested as well. I went to my local urologist after being tested negative for a UTI and yeast infection. They didn't test or examine me. They just told me to go home and follow the IC diet and drink a lot of water. I left feeling very helpless and very misinformed on what this even meant and how to proceed. I spent weeks reading everything I could on the boards. Until I get tested I'm taking bladder ease which is a godsent.

I'm so glad you were persistent and followed through. I feel the same way, I am not going to take no for an answer by a urologist.


Ozone
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn.) on 04/27/2017

The only problem that the FDA has approved Ozone for is Interstitial Cystitis. I am presently reading Dr Shallengeberger's latest book, The Ozone Miracle, and he describes where folks that require self bladder catheterization can easily treat this problem with ozone.

I have just redone all my ozone tubing after 5 years of deterioration and now back in business. Today, I drank a large glass of ozonated water and did my ozone ear insufflation. Later, I will breath it for 10 minutes while bubbling ozone through olive oil.

Finally back into my ozone. ==ORH===

Alkaline pH
Posted by Janet (In) on 04/27/2017

Treasa using Apple Cider Vinegar as a wipe would be beneficial. Maybe 50 50 spring water and Apple Cider Vinegar on t.p. a time or two. Keep a small bottle of the mix in bathroom for ease of use.

The debris at the opening will breakup and give you relief.

Using baking soda in your Apple Cider Vinegar drink would encourage the breaking of and effortless cleansing of the bladder and kidney.

2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar 1/2 tsp of baking soda let fizz add 1/2 glass of water and drink 2x a day 1/2 hour after meals. 5 days out of 7.

Janet


Alkaline pH
Posted by Treasa (Florida) on 04/26/2017

Interesting you mention potassium! The Dr mentioned I might have IC. I've been taking azo standard when it's really bad till we get it figured out.
I happened to have a banana two days in a row and last night even with azo standard I was in MAJOR discomfort. Drinking Apple cidar vinergar, Hot showers, heating pad, everything, I could hardly stand it. :( Maybe the culprit is Bananas? Aren't they high in potassium?


LDN
Posted by Rsw (Oh) on 04/10/2017
★★★★★

Low does naltrexone works very well for IC. It is an FDA approved drug at 50 mg/day, but was found in the 1980's to work at very low doses of 1.5-4.5mg/day, taken at night, to put into remission many autoimmune disease, MS, Crohn's and many more illnesses. It is non-toxic, no side effects (except possible sleep disturbances for a week or two, in which case it can be taken in the morning) out of patent so very inexpensive drug used by thousands. Here are reports from users for IC:

https://www.ldnresearchtrust.org/video-categories/interstitial-cystitis

Find the site at www.ldninfo.org and join the Yahoo Group at the top part of the page. It has over 13,000 members who take LDN, and they are very helpful in answering any questions you may have. Best wishes to feel better!


Sea Salt
Posted by Carmen (Eureka, Ca) on 04/04/2017
★★★★★

Several years ago I developed interstitial cystitis after a bladder infection. My daughter-in-law began research, and feeding me (and keeping me from) certain foods. I was given high alkaline foods, such as potatoes salted with himalayan salt, and raw cabbage (cabbage would take the pain away immediately), and I would not eat any foods that promoted an acid urine. I tested my urine often (because I had to urinate constantly), so I was able to see what helped. One day we were invited to dinner, and I only ate what I was allowed, in this case, potatoes and salt. WOW, what pain!!!! I was up all night, and was on the internet looking for yet another cure!!! One site declared that salt was the enemy. Well, I am a Christian, and the Scripture speaks positively about salt, so I was dubious...Yes, salt, the white, purified stuff we buy in the grocery store, IS the enemy. I switched to natural, UNPURIFIED sea salt, continued on my food regiment, and my bladder healed. It has been 5 years, and I have had no further problems. My entire family does not use purified salt anymore. Just another case of the modern method of taking a good thing (salt), taking it apart, selling us the part that is poisonous on its own, then putting the extracted elements into supplements that they sell back to us in the form of a cure...By-the-way, my other daughter-in-law has seen enormous improvement in her blood pressure after switching to natural salt.


Ozone Installations
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 03/23/2017

JULIE,,,,,,,, let me tell you a story. The only thing that Ozone has been FDA approved for is Interstitial Cystitis. That was many moons ago. It will cure a jullion things, but our med folks don't want that.You don't need Anne to tell you a doctor to go to. Just go on the internet and ask Google to tell you of an Ozone doctor in Houston. Talk to all and choose which one to go to. If it is expensive, then that is not the one. Ozone is dirt cheap and if the doctor is high, then they are typical doctors and will die by drowning when they see themselves in the water and fall in love with themselves and fall in and drown.

That story is not original with me, but still a true story.

I wish you well. ====ORH========


Ozone Installations
Posted by Julie F. (Houston ) on 03/22/2017

Anne, I live in Houston an am in need of a doctor to help me with IC. Can you please tell me who you saw for the ozone treatments? Thank you!


Bone Broth
Posted by Lea (Ca) on 03/20/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Years ago I started having symptoms of IC, the same symptoms as a bladder infection, without the infection. (Google it) Symptoms would come and go through out the years. The inflammation would cause me to feel weak and tired. Then I remembered that my bladder problems always seemed to act up after I took antibiotics. So, this got me to thinking...."Candida fungus was probably at the root of my bladder problem."

So, I went on a Candida diet, for 3 weeks and I not only lost weight and started feeling better, but my IC symptoms seemed to let up...but not entirely.

Then, after my latest flare, I did some research and discovered Bone Broth. I mixed a cup, half and half with vegetable broth, heated it, drank it and within 4 hours the pain had let up.

My understanding is that the Candida fungus causes little holes to form in the protective lining of the bladder, causing pain when the wrong food is consumed, and the broth helps heal that lining. Much like it is suppose to help heal leaky gut.

I thought, "It can't be this simple." So, I tested it, ate some citrus (a big no-no for IC suffers), symptoms flared, I drank the broth and the pain let up. I now drink at least one hot cup of broth a day and, knock on wood, I think it's my answer.

I believe that the Candida fungus was the root cause of the IC. Going off bad carbs was really hard at first, but now I seldom feel hungry. I eat very little but what I do eat is very nutritious. I have so much more energy and feel much younger. I told my hubby..."Unless I'm dying, DON'T let me take any more antibiotics! "

Hope my story helps at least one IC sufferer.

Marshmallow Root
Posted by Shelly (Nc) on 03/10/2017
★★★★★

Marshmellow root, a true miracle.

I have been so lost, confused, depressed and in a whole lotta pain until I read about this miracle drug and tried it. I am 47 and have been through two operations for endo. I developed severe pain in my lower stomach and pelvis area and went to urinate constantly. Although drs always told me I had ic and endo, I never was told what to take for relief. Couldn't sleep for a complete night without having to pee. Back pain got worse and I ended up going to my obgyn again. He looked at me and said that when I have had enough pain I'll agree to have a hysterectomy that he recommends. Sent me home with birth control pills. Why don't drs tell u about these possible drugs that can actually help? Seems like there just out for themselves. I came home and started searching on the internet for help. And there I saw marshmellow root and the reviews. I decided I was gonna try it and after two days, my pain has drop tremendously and the swelling has went down a lot. I also have ibs and it seems to help with that too. I gave up my diet soda which I'm sure that has a lot to do with the irratation. But I am willing to try just about anything to feel like me again. So far I'm so impressed with the marshmellow root capsule. I hope this gets out there to someone who is at the end of there rope like I was. Give this a try, u have nothing to lose. I only paid ten dollars for 100 capsules and so far, it has been worth every penny. God bless.


Turmeric
Posted by Rsw (Oh) on 02/27/2017

Hi Heather,

If you Google LDN for Interstitial Cystitis, you will find a number of people who say low dose Naltrexone has either cured them or has taken the pain level so low that they now don't even notice they have it. There is hope out there! www.ldninfo.org. And join the Yahoo LDN Group mentioned at top of that site. It has over 13,000 members who will give you their experiences and suggestions. Best wishes.


Turmeric
Posted by Heather W (Grand Rapids, Michigan) on 02/26/2017
★★★★☆

I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis several years ago. I'm on my 3rd prescription bladder medication which I am now immune to. I've also tried OTC AZO Bladder but I couldn't tell any difference. I've done a lot of research on IC and I'll admit that knowing there's no cure causes instant anxiety for me. I don't wish this on anyone. I just finished some Turmeric Tea. I boiled 8 oz water then added 1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon ground Turmeric, one pinch of ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1 tablespoon of raw honey. I leave the spoon in my cup to stir constantly while drinking as the ingredients will settle. Every time I drink Turmeric Tea, I sleep like a baby!!! I encourage everyone to try this as it's not just for IC!!!!

MSM
Posted by Mommy (Daytona Beach ) on 02/12/2017
★★★★★

I starting taking msm supplements for joint pain and noticed my IC has cleared up nicely. I don't know the science behind it but it worked well for both things joint pain and IC. I hope this helps someone else.


Ozone Installations
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 02/02/2017

ANNE,,,,,,,,, since I's SJS, I failed to read your last sentence that this procedure can be expensive. No way JOSE, this procedure costs pennies and can be done at home. The problem is the protocol, and I can tell you that is not a deal because it can be done by trial and error. You just error to the safe side.

You have done all a service by telling us about this procedure, but it is not rocket science stuff. The medical folks just want to keep the details a secret so they can milk the patients for all they can. Business as usual. Not fussing at you.

=======ORH=======


Ozone Installations
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 02/02/2017

HI U ANNE,,,,,,,,, spent lots of time in Houston in the '70s on engineering projects. Being a hick, the interstate loop put me in the top of a tall pine tree. The women would pass me doing 90 mph and looking into the rear view mirror putting on their lipstick. I was white knuckled holding on to the steering wheel.

My dad had bladder cancer and I'm sure he would have been cured with the protocol you describe. I just got an e mail from Dr Shellenberger asking for spider vein volunteers to undergo an ozone treatment to address that problem. He has successfully cured 4 of his patients. Ozone is wonderful, but only about 16 states allow it's use. I just did an ozone ear insulflation this morning after my IFR sauna. Years ago we bought a medical Ozone generator from Longevity. It cost about $3,400 but keeps us perking. We have the equipment to do anal and vagina insulflation and suspect that you could do the protocol you did at home. You would just have to have the smarts.

Folks may think they cannot afford an Ozone Generator but my truck is 17 years old and instead of driving a new truck every 3 years I spend that money on health toys. All should too.

Thank you for your enlightening post.

======ORH=======


Ozone Installations
Posted by Anne Hutson (Houston, Texas Usa) on 02/01/2017
★★★★★

I have intersticial cystitis and was cured in just a few weeks with a very new treatment called ozone installations. Most traditional doctors know nothing about this. I had it done by my integrative medicine doctor and she's only been using ozone to treat this for about a year. It's very new. Anyway, it involves being catheterized and having ozone (a gas) put into the bladder for 20 min. That's it. No pain at all, other than a little discomfort when the catheter is put in place, but that is only for a few seconds. To get full relief, a number of installations will need to be done, depending on how bad it is. Initially, I went about 4 times a week. Then 3, then 2. You taper off. While having these done, I also followed a careful diet given to me by my doctor and drank water with baking soda in it to keep my urine alkaline (1/2 teaspoon 5-6 times a day). Decrease as you begin to feel better. Use Ph strips that you can buy at the drug store to test your urine and try to keep it 7.0-7.5 for best results. Not many doctors do this treatment yet since it's so new. You can read about it on the web and hopefully find an alternative medicine doctor (or integrative medicine) that does it, or knows someone who does. It can be expensiveBest wishes!

Pelvic Floor Therapy
Posted by Amy (Nevada) on 12/21/2016
★★★★★

I went to Stanford in 2001 and received pelvic floor therapy for my IC. It seemed crazy at the time, but it literally saved my life. I still do the exercises when I have flare ups.


Flax Seed Oil
Posted by Sandyd (Vancouver ) on 11/28/2016
★★★★★

For a recent painful IC bout that I feel was brought on by stress, a naturopath recommended Flax oil capsules. Flax is an anti-inflammatory and capsules are the strongest, 1000mg, look for organic. The suggestion was for 5 per day ( taken all at once ) for 5 days and then 2 per day for a month after.

I also add energy medicine support with meridian tapping ( EFT ) for the pain, as well as acupressure bladder points. You can search on-line for these. Hope this might help!


Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Lisa (Yucca Valley) on 11/18/2016

Hello my friend,

You have Vulvodynia, a chronic pain syndrome that affects the vulvar tissue. I suffered with this for 3 yrs in the late 1990s. It is oxalate crystals in your urine that cause the stabbing pain to the vulva tissue. You must eat a low oxalate diet eliminating all foods high in oxalate. You must drink lots of liquids like cherry juice or water or apple cider. There are others look to the low oxalate diet alternatives. Buy Calcium Citrate with no additives. Figure out the times of the day when your pain is highest and take 500 or 750 mg of calcium citrate on an empty stomach with 8 or 10 oz of water. The calcium citrate will return the urine to a normal ph over time. Get a vegetable laxative you will get severe constipation from the calcium citrate so you must take laxatives. You can take a warm bath with some apple cider vinegar to relieve the pain. No soaps or harsh chemicals to the area. Get on an anti depressant now to be able to better manage or cope with this horrible pain. I have Vulvadynia again probably it came back as I had a first time ever yeast infection or it's heredity and stress plays a role in chronic pain conditions. You will get better. Look to the Vulvar pain foundation for support. There are about 2 million women who suffer from Vulvadynia you are not alone. You can also try biofeedback to the pelvic muscle. Stay away from too many Doctors as they don't know what's wrong and may give you topical treatments to the vagina which will make it worse and or antibiotics which will not help. They'll think because of a white odor colorless discharge that doesn't test positive for yeast it's still a yeast infection and treat as such. This will set back your recovery and you don't need that stress. Let me know how you're feeling, I pray you get well soon and you will but you must follow the regimen I have explained it's the only cure.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Dana (Allentown, Nj) on 09/27/2016

Donna, if the bacteria was found embedded in lining, what did dr do to treat it?


Apple Cider Vinegar, Curcumin, Aloe
Posted by Lch1974 (New York, Ny ) on 09/01/2016
★★★★☆

I've been dealing with health issues for a long time. I have struggled with chronic Lyme and ulcerative Colitis. I've just gotten to a very good place with the Lyme and the ulcerative Colitis is very quiet. Back in September of last year I had a UTI infection that did resolve with antibiotics. Eight months later it returned and felt better after a few days of antibiotics except for an allergic reaction to the antibiotic- it was switched and then I felt better. Just to mention that I haven't taken antibiotics in many many years and just felt so desperate with the bladder infection that I felt I wanted it to be resolved quickly. But a month later, the symptoms returned, constantly feeling like I needed to urinate and my bladder feeling like it was so swollen. Doctor appointments led me to possible early signs of interstitial cystitis which I'd heard of because a relative suffers from this.

I quickly began reading about remedies here and around the Internet. It's been three months and the only thing that has helped is a douche with apple cider vinegar, curcumin capsule opened, aloe juice and distilled water. If I do this three times a day the pain stops completely. The issue I am having now is that I'm nervous that I'm putting things constantly in my vaginal area and changing the natural state of things, which I guess was obviously not very good anyway considering my bladder is having all these issues, but my vagina seems to be OK and now I'm concerned that I may be harming things further. I did a little bit of a internal exam and the skin inside my vagina seems very different raw - and I'm concerned as to whether the Apple cider vinegar maybe too acidic. I was fIlling half of a summers eve disposable douche bottle with apple cider vinegar which is obviously way way way too much so now I reduced it but I don't want to stop doing what I'm doing which will cause the pain to return full fledged and I also want the skin to heal - so this is half of a suggestion for a temporary relief but I also wanted to know if anyone has had any similar experiences or recommendations.

I am finishing my lYmir treatment and didn't want to do anything to interact with that so I plan to do prolozone Therapy at the end of the month when I complete my Lyme treatment. Also I'm taking aloe capsules and nutritional bladder support, a probiotic, colloidal silver and a few other things.


Turmeric
Posted by Amanda (Madison Heights, Mi) on 06/20/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I started taking turmeric the day I first suspected interstitial cystitis. I had been struggling with what I thought was an extremely stubborn UTI for about 2 weeks, off and on. Every night my sleep was interrupted about 7 to 8 times with the desperate urge to pee. On this particular afternoon the pain and urgency became so beyond ridiculous that I couldn't function. I was exhausted, peeing every 5 minutes, hurting every second of the day, so much that I could not focus on anything. None of the usual treatments had worked (D-Mannose, baking soda, cranberry, cherry). I had recently been to the doctor for another UTI but the bacterial culture came back negative.

Having done some reading about IC and noted that it is an inflammatory condition, I drank one glass of about 8oz water with about 1/2 tsp turmeric and a small pinch of black pepper. Then I lay down in the only position that offered a shred of relief, on my back with my knees out. I felt somewhat better within a half hour and was able to fall asleep shortly after. I woke up 2 times to pee, and did again when my alarm went off for work. Each time the burning and urgency were further lessened. The following day I felt almost normal again. I continued to take turmeric and it has not lost its effectiveness for me.

I have tried buying turmeric capsules with black pepper extract since then, and they work pretty well. I have also tried aloe, which seemed to have more effect when it was juice rather than dried in a capsule. These are all helpful, but I am still learning which foods bother me, and when I eat something that triggers an incident, the powdered turmeric spice with a little black pepper stirred into water is what helps me recover the most quickly and fully. Not sure why. I may try making my own capsules because the taste is not delicious. Totally worth it, though.

Pumpkin Seed Oil
Posted by Sunny (Ca) on 05/07/2016

I wanted to share that Puritan's pride is an excellent brand at an affordable price. Disregard that it's directed toward men, it's for women too. But you can buy any brand as long as it is cold pressed. Try it!!


DMSO
Posted by Dmsogirl (Minneapolis) on 05/06/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

IC for 10 years!

To do DMSO in the doctors office with major medical only insurance would have cost me $4,500.00. I didn't have that kind of money. I tried EVERYTHING on this site and the diet, also no gluten, sugar, alcohol, baking soda, and tired many drugs. Doing the Physical Therapy, Heprin/Bicarb, Ladicane, many other drugs also for IC, but in the WORST flair for last 12 months was going to give up, and remove my bladder when I realized I have Amazon's DMSO 99.99% Pharma Grade 99.99% on my medicine shelf. I use it for bruises, back aches, etc.

So hey, I researched for 2 months, and then with my Dr's (barely) approval, I put some in my catheter w/my meds. (5 drops (diluted to 50% w/Reverse Osmosis water from Target) No pain, so I held it for 1.5 hrs. The flair stayed the same. But the next week I did it again. WOW. Instead of waking every hr to pee all night, I only got up 2x. Was more comfortable all day! I need to do 6 total. (one per wk).

You should also put 50% DMSO on belly and back (7 drops or so per day) as DMSO is also absorbed in the skin. (See Dr Jacob's site on DMSO. He says MSM is even better for this.) I will continue with the 6 weeks. God knows, this is a miracle drug! My Dr (an ANGEL) wants me to report to her my results. I will update to you all as I go.

RESEARCH THIS before doing or you can have HORRIFIC results, with permanent damage.

*** Never use it straight, nor with only a tiny amount of liquid, nor too often. ***

DMSO per 6.5 drops diluted w/6.5 drops of water would have cost me $592.00 at the pharmacy per week w/out the dr's appointment. It cost me about 4 cents. What a money grab!

God Bless. If?s, (Please respond here. )


DMSO
Posted by Ben (Bremerton) on 03/13/2016
★★★★★

Best way to take dmso for IC is drink it in a large glass of water. However, you can apply dmso anywhere to your body and it would go to where its needed. Now remember to take lots of vitamin c and goldenseal herb won't hurt you either. It has a powerful antibacterial / antiviral / antifungal effect good for urinary tract infections.



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