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Struggle with Interstitial Cystitis or suspect you may have it based on the symptoms? Check out these remedies and enter for a chance to win a gift basket full of healing remedies for IC.

It if sounds like you have Interstitial Cystitis (IC), a chronic inflammatory disorder of the bladder, I am here to help you!  IC has similar symptoms to a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) but in IC, no bacteria can be detected in the bladder or urine.  IC symptoms are urinary frequency/urgency, bladder/urethral pain and spasms, and nocturia (nighttime frequency).  There are many different allopathic ways to ease IC symptoms, like prescriptions or bladder installations, but most people find they are not very effective.  Diet, supplements, and stress reduction are your best chance at relief.

There is no known cause of IC though a defective bladder lining is the most popular theory for the cause of symptoms and coating your bladder lining by drinking Marshmallow Root Tea is the most effective remedy to relieve the symptoms. Another product to help naturally coat your bladder and urinary tract is Desert Harvest Organic Whole Leaf Aloe.  It takes some time to build up the lining and these supplements help make sure the foods and drinks you consume are less irritating to your bladder though it does take time to build up a lining.

Hopefully your practitioner will have told you about the IC diet, and you can learn more on the official IC Network website.  The diet mainly consists of non-irritating food and drinks and those that will make the body less acidic. Caffeine, carbonation, alcohol or acid (including citrus) should be avoided. Many natural health practitioners say that IC can be described as bladder “tissue acidosis.”  If the concept of being too acidic is new to you, you may want to read Acid & Alkaline by Herman Aihara. Products that help lower body acid are:

• Buffer pH: a mix of homeopathic remedies in a base of baking soda to alkalize your urine, blood, and tissues.
• pH Booster Drops: a mineral supplement to add to liquids.
• Enzymedica pH Strips: allow you to monitor the pH of your urine.

Aside from acidic foods irritating your bladder, if you’re eating foods you are allergic or sensitive to, mast cells can form in your bladder and release histamines, creating inflammation.  Eliminating foods that are high in histamines (aged cheese, canned fish, vinegar, alcoholic beverages and eggplant) will help but you may want to consider a food sensitivity test (like LEAP). Once you’re aware of any sensitivities, you’ll be better able to avoid the foods that may be causing pain.  Natural anti-histamine remedies like Quercitin and Nettles, work well together to combat allergic reactions.

If you experience urges of frequency due to muscle spasms, Planetary Herbals Pumpkin Caps and Magnesium Oxide can help.   Muscle spasms often feel like burning pain and are usually caused by stress, or even past trauma your body is holding on to.  Hanna’s Fear vibropathic can help soothe trauma and the Bladder vibropathic can also assist in improving the health of the bladder.

Another reason you might have inflammation, muscle spasms or overly sensitive nerves in the pelvic area is from Candida Albicans.  If you feel this is an issue for you, you could do a self assessment, and then try the Candida diet and the “Candida Albicans” vibropathic, or any other natural remedy you can find that doesn’t irritate your bladder.

This list of products that could provide relief and healing are suggestions and shouldn’t be done all at once.  I recommend going slowly when trying new products; begin with half a dose of only one product at a time as IC bodies are very sensitive. Once you have an idea as to which products are helping or irritating your body, you can make a decision on continuing with that product or trying another. The most important thing to remember is that you can get better, and not to lose hope!  Searching for a support group in your area or online is helpful and reassuring.

Informing yourself with the books mentioned above as well as Along the Healing Path by Catherine M. Simone or Better Bladder Book by Wendy L. Cohan will help keep you informed about bladder health, because often times you will need to be your own health practitioner.

My number one pointer to help heal IC is to relax! Breathe deep, meditate, do yoga, take baths, whatever you have to do to calm yourself down will be the biggest help overall.

Want to try some of the remedies listed here? Enter for a chance to win a basket of natural products that can help address the symptoms of IC including Marshmallow Root and Nettle from Oregon’s Wild Harvest, Aloe Vera Caps from Desert Harvest, and 2 vibropathics from Hanna!

How to Enter:

Comment on this blog post or any post on our blog but please include “IC” in your comment so we will be able to count it as an entry.

Tweet about this post and include the url as well as @hannasherbshop in your tweet.

Like us on facebook and leave a comment or message about this giveaway.

Share this post with your friends on Facebook and be sure to tag Hanna’s Herb Shop in the post.

Giveaway ends October 15th. No limit to entries and no purchase necessary to win.  Good luck!