Top Natural Remedies for Interstitial Cystitis Relief

I only found out about virgin coconut oil Dec 2009. I had bladder pain for 15 years - eventually diagnosed with interstitial cystitis but was always convinced it was a bladder infection since Bactrim (sulfa antibiotic) would always make me feel better with flare ups even though cultures were negative. I had a flare for months that would no longer go away with Bactrim. I started with coconut water and it helped my urethral pain. Now, I take coconut oil and coconut water. I no longer have urethral or bladder pain!!!!

I am beginning to believe that interstitial cystitis is a bogus diagnosis that thousands of MDs have earned a pretty penny off of - in fact - entire medical fields have opened due to this diagnosis. I think all women with this should try coconuts before they spend another dime! I know the frustrations - I have been to the best urogynes and urologists - Northwestern in Chicago since I was a teenager and in California. I have had my urethra widened twice, - I have been tortured like so many other women; missed life events, canceled trips, spent many days in the ER with flares - not too mention the $$$ spent! AND ALL THIS TIME -- COCONUTS WOULD HAVE SOLVED MY PAIN. I MUST TELL EVERY WOMAN!!!!

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.

I've had Interstitial cystitis for 30 years. I was finally diagnosed with it 9 years ago. My doctor told me not to drink caffeine. I never had drank coffee before I was 40. In the last 5 years I've had 4 or 5 flare-ups. Today I filled a capsule with 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and in 3 hours there was NO PAIN. There was no burning from the pepper either. The reason cayenne pepper works, is because it goes to the places in the body that need healing, stimulates the blood flow in that area, and the blood is what heals the wound. This also works for bleeding ulcers.

Wanted to share my story in the hopes it will help someone else...in the past I have been prone to uti or bladder or kidney infections...a trip to the doctor and Cipro would usually take care of it. This time I felt as if an infection was coming on, but it never did. Had my urine tested twice and no bacteria. I felt the urge to pee constantly, and though it was not painful, it was VERY uncomfortable. All day, everyday, feeling like I had to pee even after I had just gone. Slight twinge or ache in either kidney but nothing painful or particularly noticeable. Had CT scan to rule out kidney stones; had bladder scope to rule out anything else. With those and the urinalysis coming back ok, urologist, for lack of coming up with any other diagnosis, said it must be IC. Said to watch my diet and avoid coffee and alcohol and look it up on-line to see what foods were ok to have, etc. Came to this site and read everything that's been posted on IC. Made my lists and decided to try things one at a time. I could live with this feeling but didn't want to as it is a terrible thing to always have to feel like you need to pee.

Nothing helped until I tried Black Cohosh. Bought it at a health food store. It also has Isoflavones. I got it at work on my lunch hour and figured I had nothing to lose. So I took one after my lunch, about 1pm, to see how it would react. The urgency was gone within 30 minutes. Then again about 4pm I took another one. I had a night of relief from this terrible feeling for the first time in three weeks. In retrospect I would not take any after noon going forward as I do believe it kept me up taking one so late in the day. Today I will take one in the morning and one at lunch. I don't know if this is my answer, but I do know that I felt normal for the first time yesterday afternoon. Will keep you posted.

So this is for Interstitial Cystitis ( IC). I belive this is what helped my. I am way better now. But I also did Dr. Hulda Clarks Parasite Cleanse so it might have also been that or a mix of both. So try them one by one. Oh and I also took probiotics. All separete. First the probitics. Finished my 30 days wort , then I did the tea 30 days, then I did then the Parasite Cleanse like 50 days. I do not know which on helped me. I also did some emotional release I had been keeping feeling and secrets to my self and I told someone and I felt a big weight lift of my very soul. (I really do feel that negative feelings contibute to bad health). The tea is by Lagg's Kidney tea. It has 30 bags and I got it at Superior Grocers Market for like 3 dollars its good because all ingredients needed are there, but I suppose you can make your own. The herbs are: shave grass, corn silk, Uva ursi, Juliana adstringen, boldo, Hibiscus flower, (I have to warn of the hibiscus flower, as some one IC person said it cause flairs, orange blossom, like I said you can make ur own and take out the hibiscus flower. I took the tea, cool in the morning before eating anything. (no sugar). Tea has no caffeine says so on box. As caffeine is acidic. Probiotics took as directed. Parasite cleanse look it up its a bit more complex. Consists mainly of clove, green black walnut, wormwood. (your supposed to poo*p out the parasites, I did not. I was kind of disappointed I did not. But maybe the herbs just helped me another way. I had no negative side effects :). My Cc has gotten a lot better. I would say like I'm like 85% good now and can tolerate a lot more food :). Also I feel that IC has to do with the intestines (imbalance of floras/ balanced) floras also in vagina. I always had constipation problems and now I po*p a lot more. :)Good bc pressure of po*p hurts bladder.

I think it's obvious on the things that u have to change forever more for this condition and overall health. I drink mostly water and natural coconut juice. Sometimes! 100% juice. Nothing else. Too many fake stuff and bad toxins. I try to eat very well not so easy but at least try to make the best choices! I do not really eat red meat. And fast food. I try nt to get stressed (killer/ acid forming). Exercise (walk, stretch, yoga) (I know for some of u u have to wait to get better to work out)

Why I am writing this. Well IC is horrible to the point were I felt subhuman and did not want to live anymore. I hope this helps another person. If it does help you I want you to pass this forward. Also, to promise to be a better /more compassinate person. Having been thru ic if you are not a better person you have learned nothing!!! Western Medicine gave me no hope and just told me to live with it. I decided to start by trying the cheapest, safest, most natural means one by one. I have tried other things and they did not help( marshmallow root pills, alovera pills, activated charcoal, etc. But I could not give up, I research and researched , and research, and research and reseached! And try! Try! Try! Tyr!!!!! I only cared about finding something!! I also want you to not give up what works for one might not work for another, but do not give up and share you findings. Love to you AND LET'S START THIS FOOD REVOLUTION, !!! Email you companies and tell them hey do not add fake color , artificial ingridients, persevatives, perservative, corn suryp. you have ic , other people have other illnesses that are horrible too! ( cron's disease, cancer, asma, )and guess what they all stem from the stuff they put in our food we have common ground here ppl! we need to join and say hey enough is enough! stop posoning our food/things!!!!!!!!! . and if you do not change we will not buy your things!!!!!!! ( purchasing power) support those that do!! health food stores etc. let's change our world by changing with in our choices ( ex. food we serve at a party). nature! nature! nature our only and true source.

thank you you ec for this site that i always utilice and try to contribute too.

ted you are inspirational and one day i would love to meet you, (i kind of want to be like you) help you. keep up your beautiful purpose <3

I have to say that I haven't seen anyone mention digestive issues as being a root cause for IC, but in my research of IC I have found that it may well be caused by digestive tract problems, not urinary tract problems. Some of you may want to consider dumping your urologist and finding a good gastroenterologist or other digestive specialist. Many of you may just be on the wrong tract if the root cause is indeed in the digestive tract. Search for IBD and IC together and see what you find.

In the past couple months I have had dramatic success with IC symptoms using plain, unflavored gelatin. After reading a medical report that suggested evidence Chondroitin may bond to compromised areas of bladder lining tissue, and knowing that Chondroitin is processed from cartilaginous matter, I decided to try adding a regimen of unflavored gelatin to my usual IC mindful diet and supplements (see posts). Obviously, vegetarians would not be able to try this, and those with religiously restricted diets would need to locate an appropriate type of gelatin. I started dissolving single packets of unflavored gelatin in hot teas and soups: consuming 3 packets a day. Within a week, not only had I noticed an absence of any painful flareups - but my bladder really did feel somehow stronger - something like less "bloated" or "distended" when "full". I have continued this for two months and I feel it may be the most restorative (as opposed to just soothing) IC specific remedy I use. I think it may be "building-up" bladder lining. If anyone else is game to try this for a few months, please post your results - I am eager to hear if others experince any similar changes.

Angelica Archangelica Tea for rebuilding bladder wall

I have had IC for over 6 years. I finally found a cure, thanks be to God. I began using Angelica Archangelica. It has rebuilt my bladder lining wall. Every day the window of pain is getting smaller and smaller. I've been on it 9 weeks and I'm 90% healed! There are several people on the IC board on Facebook that are healing up too. Give it a shot and thank God, if you have bladder wall issues..this is the cure.

Been using it for years, I swear by it. People with IC are sensitive to acids and the baking soda is alkaline and calms things down.

Hi Wendy!

Thanks for letting me clarify.

I don't think I am having pain from UTIs.

After give birth to 9 kids in 17 years, I had some serious pelvic prolapse problems. I tried a lot of things, including physical therapy but ultimately had surgery to get everything back in place. Well the trade off for fixing the prolapse was chronic burning bladder pain. :( At first I did think I was having constant UTI's but I think surgery left me with interstitial cystitis. The herbs helped a lot if I was really diligent. I still try to drink red raspberry leaf tea daily. But the baking soda taken a few times a day helps the most.

I do see that it is a popular remedy for UTI's here at Earth Clinic, so it probably has multiple benefits! I am prone to UTI's anyway...it will be interesting to see if regular baking soda use reduces the frequency of them!

~Mama to Many~

I realised quite recently that I have suffered from interstitial cystitis for a long time. It has been aggravated at times when I was on the pill and again now that I am on HRT. In the past I thought it was straight cystitis - but often the urine samples came back as negative for infection.

After it became bad again recently, and I was getting up in the night a lot - even though I was only doing a tiny bit of wee each time, I decided to research further. I found a research paper online. It was a very small study. The key learning was that women who DON'T suffer from interstitial cystitis have more menthol in their urine than women who do have IC. Menthol is a by product of kidney function I believe. Peppermint is the plant that contains menthol.

Immediately I started to drink peppermint tea which helped somewhat. Then I bought some peppermint oil capsules. Mine are the High Strength 100mg soft gel capsules and I take one in the morning and one before bed. I'm in the UK so I get the brand Nature's Best. Complete gamechanger! I am getting up only once in the night now. Going much less often during the day. Also just less aware of bladder pain. They are not very expensive so perhaps worth a try?

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!!!!

Dear Jen,

Just today I was researching Mullein Root Tincture for a friend and noticed that it said it is sometimes used for Interstitial Cystitis. Mullein root is difficult to find. I have bought it from beneficial botanicals and made my own from mullein root in my yard. I have used it for my joints with success.

A dose for Mullein Root Tincture are 5-15 drops.

I also wonder if frankincense essential oil, a quality one (Hopewell oils are my favorite) would help. A drop or two applied to the abdomen has helped me before with a UTI and also with ovarian cysts.

Just a couple of things I would try myself if I were dealing with IC.

~Mama to Many~

ok guys. I know how debilitating this can be so Im putting my post on here.

About 3 months ago, I got a UTI. What else is new, I get them all the time, but this was an especially bad one. I normally take probiotics everyday and it prevents them for me, so I hadnt got one in like 6 months, it was all gravy. But I missed about 3 days of my probiotics and BAM!! I got like, the worst UTI of my life, I was on the toilet weeping. Anywho, went to the doc, got a script for cipro, took it, didnt go away, got another script, took it, STILL didnt go away.

Now, antibiotics normally NEVER work for me. This is why Im very into alternative medicine, but I was desperate this time. and ofcourse, didnt work.

All the usual things I do for a UTI, didnt work at all, I tried every herb known to man, baking soda, 40 pills of vitain c in one day with gallons of water, apple cider vinegar, olive leaf extract, uva ursi, echinacia, even d mannose, (3 jars) didnt get rid of it. I was in EXTREME PAIN, and I was terrified.

Id been reading alot on the net, about overactive bladder, and a condition called interstitial cystitus on the net HOPING TO GOD, I didnt have it. Alot of women said it started with a bad UTI and ended with YEARS of chronic daily debilatating pain. I guess the theory is, the bladder lining somehow gets damaged, or ulcerated, or mayne you have a bacteria or virus that is hiding, or embedded somehow deep in the bladder walls, where antibiotics or anything else cant get to it. We are talking YEARS of this pain, even, to the point where these women cannot work, cant sleep, cant have sex, cant even function, cant ride rollercoasters, run or exercise. I already have so many problems with my female region as it is, I have struggled so long with other health problems, screw that! They even compare interstitial cystitus on the pain level scales to CANCER. Thats how awful it is. And there is no cure. And I was getting all the symptoms, and it didnt feel like these antibiotics or anything else I was doing was helping this pain. They prescibe Methadone to these folks.

I did some serious, serious research, and I came up with a game plan that is beating this interstitial cystitis.

In the morning I take:

a gel cap filled with one drop each clove oil, rosemary essential oil, lavender, sandlewood, and peppermint oils. Followed by 2 full glasses of water and 1-2 pills cayenne AFRICAN RED PEPPER(xtra hot) has a bright orange red color. 1 pill MSM, and 3-4 gelcaps of Turmeric powder, and 1-2 Dong Quai. I cap these herbs myself. Then I take:: 2 milk thistle, 2 echinacea. I bought those ones at the store.

2-3 hours later. I fill another del cap 2 drops each peppermint oil, and rosemary oil. 2-3 hurs after that, 1 pill filled with; one drop each, lavender, rosemary, peppermint, and sandlewood, followed by 1 MSM, 1 cayenne, 2-3 turmeric, 1 dong quai. 2-3 hours later, 1 gelcap, 1 drop each peppermint, rosemary, or lavender )optional) I do this according to my pain levels. If the pain is especially bad, I will add more cayenne, or turmeric, as it is not dangerous to OD on those herbs. You cannot OD on cayenne or turmeric, unless you have a bad, sensitive stomach. Im only 30 years old, and I seem to have a cast Iron stomach, lol! LOTS and LOTS of water. Then before bed, 1 cayenne, 2-3 turmeric, 1 dong quai, 2 echinacia, 1 MSM. you can reduce herbs in the days following as you get better.

The essential oils: I used to be afraid to take essential oils, as I thought they might be extremely toxic. They are in large amounts, you just have to be careful. I never exceed 2 drops usually of anything. Clove, and lavender oil, can be pretty dangerous, especially clove, as only 6 drops can be toxic. Remember to get pure essential oils, not perfumes.

I went hardcore, and I didn't care if I got kidney failure, or liver damage from the herbs I was taking. This painful bladder condition has ruined lives, and I wasn't about to let that happen to me, after everything else Ive been thru. Of course, I'm fine. and I did not poison myself, and I am 95% pain free today, and It gets better every single day..so..

It's scary when you feel helpless and hopeless, and no doctors can help you.

I did alot of research on cayenne pepper actually healing bladder tissue.

Some people have cured themselves in less that a week using cayenne. They say you should build up to 3 in the morning, 3 in the eveneing, but I am already seeing at 2 a day, results so. Turmeric also heals mucas membrabe tissue, and MSM, is a sulpher based herb, and is excellent for pain. Alot of people are also talking about colostrum. and Ive already ordered that, its coming in the mail.

You know, DMSO is approved by FDA for treatment of hemorragic cystitis. I about died when I confirmed this, as DMSO has be characterized as quackery by the medical powers that be. I don't understand why lesser forms of cystitis are not being catagorized as treatable with DMSO. My suspicion is that the hemoragic cystitis is so crippling and so evil that somebody with a heart at the FDA couldn't igonore the clinical research suggesting efficacy for this horrific illness. Cystitis has been called "autoimmune," naturally! By now many people reading this can predict that I will associate it with a virus or elusive infection.

How does DMSO work? Many, many theories but very few pertaining to viruses. It would be too simple and easy to say that DMSO best known as oxygen donor, attacks anaerobic viruses by depriving them of their anaerobic environment. This would be too easy! Too cheap!

Baking soda, I was skeptical at first about this broad range therapy. But, after reading so many,many testimonials from people not promoting themselves or selling anything, hell, I am about to write something about this cheap, simple remedy on my own research website. I will of course try it myself as I too am battling a chronic illness, a confirmed infection of the prostate.

Ted, in this regard has been benificial by taking the time a providing the chemistry to me which explains Baking soda's relationship to CO2.
Baking soda, higher urine ph, is in fact anti viral as viruses just love slightly acidic environments. Alkaline ph actually prevents viral transcription of RNA for replication. Base pair matching cannot happen at certain ph levels. Even in cancer. Whatever we believe causes cystitis one thing is for certain, once again, higher oxygen and higher ph are god sent remedies.

Cornsilk tea for IC

This tea, along with marshmallow tea, really helped! Several cups per day (at least 3). I would try and let it steep for as long as possible so that it is nice and potent. I forget as I have been IC free (and so have not used this tea) for about 3 years, but I believe my naturopath said to put very warm but NOT boiling water over the tea so that it does not over heat the tea and destroy the healing nutrients.

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