Top Natural Remedies for Interstitial Cystitis Relief

I've used baking soda successfully as well, though with a larger dose of about 1/3 tsp. in a lot of water. I don't use a lot of salt, so this wasn't excessive sodium for me. It took me a long time to discover baking soda though, and I seldom use it. Before that, two things made a big difference, in addition to having an acid-avoidance diet. The first was an herbal formula, Marshmallow and Fenugreek by name, only available through Nature's Sunshine; it also contains Fennel. Buying the herbs separately didn't work for some reason. The second thing, which actually made the biggest difference and permanently reduced the tendency to IC, was Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil from Activation Products. I read something about this oil specifically helping IC, and after I started taking it - about 1 tablespoon/day - after three weeks the tendency towards IC went away by over 90%. If I'm careless with diet it may come back, but I went from having to avoid most foods to being able to eat very normally. I'd experienced IC for about three years before finding Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil, so I'd tried quite a few things by then. It's pricey, but worth every penny in my case.

Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil for Interstitial Cystitis

For several years I suffered from interstitial cystitis brought on by a year's use of an anxiety supplement with low levels of an acid in it. The suffering was often intense, and initially I could only control it through diet, avoiding anything that was acid-forming in foods or beverages. I had a very narrow range of foods I could tolerate. The first thing that started to control it was an herbal formula with Marshmallow & Fenugreek as the main ingredients, with a little bit of fennel as well. But dietary lapses still brought the burning pain with a vengeance. To be clear, it was not a bladder infection as nothing for bladder infections made any difference at all, and I'm not prone to them.

I read an article mentioning Styrian Pumpkin Seed oil as a remedy for this. Desperate, I tried it and within about three weeks the cystitis was basically gone. I used one or two tablespoons/day of a high quality oil sold in a black glass bottle. I don't have to continue with the oil to keep symptoms away at all at this point, though if I eat very badly I can still have a rare reoccurrence of it. I've since discovered that about 1/2 tsp. of baking soda in water will eliminate a temporary flare up within about 10 minutes. My case wasn't as severe as some I've read about, but it was a daily concern, often awful, and I lived in fear of eating the wrong thing. Now, that is all history.

One thing that absolutely helps with the ic pressure/pain/ urgency is... Pumpkin seed oil. The best is cold pressed! I get it in softgels. I take like 4 or more softgels, depending how I feel, I can think of the mfs now. But just get as high mgs as you can find. I believe it works because pumpkin seeds are super high in magnesium. One of the highest foods with it, (another is spinach). And as you know, magnesium is a muscle relaxer. And so it helps your bladder to relax. However, the oil has many other properties like it being antimicrobial. You have to try it, its a life saver!!! Sunny <8

Hi All, Ive been reading over these postings because I was curious about Cayenne pepper as a Tx for I. C. I really empathize with you all and desire to share my Tx remedy. I suffered with mild I. C. for years while having my children (5, total). After my fifth, the I. C. really flared up and I just couldn't get more that 45 min. of sleep at a time. In addition, activities involving impact of any kind (ie. Running, household chores, intimacy) were out of the question.

My husband did some research and started me on a two week regimen of Cornsilk extract (20 drops in 1/4 cup water 2-3 times per day) followed by 2x daily dosing of Pumpkin Seed oil everyday. I have maintained the oil at 1 tablespoon in am and 1 tablespoon in pm, preferrably with food or drink, for about 2 years now. It has made all the difference in the world. If I maintain this dosage I have no symptoms except for mild ones during ovulation and the first two days of my period. I up my dose by another tablespoon sometime in the middle of the day during these times. If I run out of oil, pumpkin seeds (in any form, roasted, raw etc. ) will suffice until I can restock but they add a lot fiber to my diet since I need to eat almost 3/4 cup of them per day to achieve the desired effect. I also stay away from Tannic Acid whenever possible and have greatly reduced the gluten in my diet. I am otherwise a healthy 38 year old mother of five. I don't get back here very often at all so I may not be available to answer any questions but I truly hope that this helps as many people here as possible!