Cornsilk Tea
★★★★★
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.
Cornsilk Tea
★★★★★
SO...drink about 4-8 cups of cornsilk tea each day as well as plenty of water each day. Do NOT drink juices, sodas, coffee, or milk except very rarely and in very small doses. Let your liquids simply be cornsilk tea and water.
Eat lots of vegetables. Avoid sugars and any processed foods. Eat organically. Get lots of exercise and sleep.
Cornsilk Tea
★★★★★
The corn silk that I purchased in the herb shop, I just further grind it in the vita mix. It lasts longer that way. I have also used the tea.
Couch Grass
★★★★★
EC: More info about Couch Grass, aka Elytrigia repens here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elytrigia_repens
(Pittsburg, Ks)
01/31/2012
(Fl - Florida Margate)
10/17/2017
D-Mannose
★★★★☆
I ran across a website that explained what I had was IC. A friend recommended D-Mannose, which is a supplement that comes in powder and capsule form. The recommended dosage is 1 level teaspoon 1 to 2 times daily. Add to a glass of water or unsweetened cranberry juice. (I only add it to water). This supplement has been a tremendous help in fighting the symptoms of IC. It is expensive, but worth it!
I carry the capsule form when traveling and when I know I will be unable to mix the powder with water. Sometimes, I take both in the same day - powder in water in a.m., then two capsules in p.m.
D-Mannose
★★★★★
Guys, D MANNOSE!!! I have tried D mannose TWICE before in the past and it seemed to do nothing for me. It was like drinking sugar water, it seemed to be the most rediculous cure ever!!!!! However, after tireless internet google research, all these women were swearing by it, (even saying things like, 9 out of 10 women are cured by D mannose, and I have interstitial incurable bladder disease and this cured me) so I decided to give it another go.
I tried a really cheap brand of D mannose before, and some women claimed that it DOES make a difference to go with a high quality more expensive brand, and that not all d mannose are created equal, I guess, so I spent about $25. 00 for a little jar.
It says on the jar to take a teaspoon every 4 hours, (like 4 times a day) and double for a raging case, (like mine) I took a teaspoon and a half every 2 hours like SEVERAL times a day, and by the third day, I really almost feel normal again, I feel great. I ordered another jar, I really think its working!! Its pricey but worth it.
I suppose the d mannose receptors attract e coli to them and then they attach off the wall and get flushed out of the bladder. Ive also read the d mannose can do this to sperm! So be careful ladies, if your trying to conceive, I read d mannose might interfere with pregnancy. They are even trying to patten a contraceptive using d mannose, lol! I was thinking of using d mannose as a preventative, as many women have had success doing that, but since I want to have a baby... I'll have to try something else when I dont have an infection. Im gonna try a brand of herbal cranberry supplement sold on amazon. One women claims after intercourse she takes 2 pills and a full glass of water and she hasnt had an infection in 10 years.
Im going to continue the d mannose for another week after my symptoms have fully gone. A teaspoon three times a day. Good luck ladies, and I will report back with my progress!!
D-Mannose, Dietary Changes
Pray you are well. I am 35 years old and since I was 14, I have suffered form chronic cystitis (i have never been diagnosed properly). I have had 9 cystoscopies and all doctors confirm that I have severe inflammation in my bladder wall. One doctor said my bladder lining has ‘holes' in it which makes the urine seep in to the surrounding tissue which causes me a lot of irritation and leaves me with the sensation of wanting to urinate all the time.
For the last 21 years, I have suffered immensely in all facets of my life and am extremely despondent. I have never felt any sense of relief!!! I have been taking D-mannose for the last 5 weeks but with minimal relief. I would sincerely appreciate all your guidance and help as I have lost all hope in conventional medicine.
My Symptoms:
1. Severe frequency and urgency – constant sensation to urinate. - While I don't have to ‘run' to the toilet, I constantly have an urge to urinate.
2. When I do urinate, the flow is poor and I have to ‘push' to get the urine out.
3. A visit to the toilet, takes me three voids before I feel some relief. Basically I could always go! . I never just urinate once and feel relief.
4. After urinating I feel a horrible sensation, like I have an infection
5. On average I urinate 20 times a day.
6. I have no pain but I experience discomfort and a sense of tightness in my pelvic area and lower back.
7. There are certain times in the day where the sense of urgency is exacerbated – in the afternoon between 3-5pm. I can urinate at least 10 times in an hour between those times.
8. When I experience a little bit of stress, (taking a flight, work deadlines) my bladder goes haywire and the symptoms are the same as symptom 6. This makes it very difficult for me to concentrate on anything and I quit my job last year as I cannot cope. This issue of stress makes me feel like I have no control. Please help me with this.
Effect of change of diet:
1. Have become vegetarian and a vegan in the last 2 weeks
2. The discomfort around the pelvic area and back has subsided, but not disappeared
3. Feel much more relaxed
4. The severe symptoms that I experiences in the afternoon are now less (2-3 times a week, as opposed to 6 times a week).
5. While a typical visit to the washroom needs 3 voids with lots of ‘pushing' I don't push as much.
(Tennessee, Usa)
03/10/2014
Dear Ally,
I am so sorry you have suffered with this condition for so long. It seems encouraging that you have noticed some improvement with a new diet. Perhaps over time that will continue to be helpful.
Here are some things I would try...
If you drink coffee, I would avoid it for a time to see if that helps. It is pretty acidic and hard on the system.
There are a number of bladder/kidney herbal formulas available. They usually have cornsilk, uva ursi, and marshmallow root in them. All of these things should be helpful. Dr. Shultz and Dr. Christopher both make one that people seem to find helpful for bladder issues.
I would also try a tea of equal parts of comfrey leaf and plantain leaf. You can add some peppermint leaf for flavor if you like. Plantain is good for inflammation and for bladder issues (and lots of other things.) Comfrey is soothing and helps cells regenerate. I would mix the dry leaves and put 3 Tablespoons in a quart jar or pot. Add boiling water (to make 3.5-4 cups) Let sit for 15 minutes. Strain out the leaves. Sweeten if you like, with honey or stevia. Try to drink a quart a day for a couple of weeks.
I do hope you find complete relief soon. Please keep us posted on your progress!
~Mama to Many~
Please keep us posted on your progress!
(Fountain Inn, Sc)
03/11/2014
Hello Ally,
Go to Number 4 in your symptoms: Feels like you have an infection or words to that effect. I'm always suspecting viral issues as causation. You suspect it yourself.
If me, I'd at least try Colloidal Silver for a few weeks. Two tablespoons twice a day for two weeks.
(Fl, Usa)
03/10/2014
Try Aloe Muciliginous Polysaccharide tablets as a treatment.
(Denver)
03/10/2014
Ally: I too suffered for many years from a variety of diseases because I did not eat right. I would like to assist you with the food portion. I have done a lot of studying and experimenting with various food programs. I am 95% raw vegan. Organic or sustainable grown traditionally has important nutrients not in conventional. Raw has enzymes. Most of the nutrients are in the peel. The nutrients in vegetables are locked up in cellulose. This is why they are cooked or juiced. The best veggie is baby leaves. You can make green smoothies from them with a blender. Next is mature leaves. The best fruit is berries. For more calories you can add some organic whole cane sugar. A less expensive way is to make live ferments from organic whole flours. Many rural people are familiar with this. I make a gallon a day from 300g organic whole flours. Flour has more protein than fruits and veggies. Keep fat below 5%/g. Take 1/2 saturated and 1/2 unsaturated. Get some omega 3s from plants. The 80/10/10ers soak nuts and seeds before eating them for oil and protein. Home made sprouts have 6 times the enzymes as soaked.
(Usa)
03/11/2014
(Denver)
03/11/2014
Cindy: Dormant kefir grains cost $10 shipped at Amazon. Put them in 1 pint drinking water, 35g organic whole flour or 30g organic whole sugar, and let brew at room temp away from direct sunlight for approximately 4 days. 80 degrees is ideal. Sites say that kefir is delicate. The opposite is true. They are very hardy. They have been alive for longer than marine phyto plankton. I have fermented them from 50 to 100 degrees. The farther away from 80 the slower the brew. Periodically taste the water. The taste goes from water, to slightly sour, to sour, to vinegary. When sour they are fully awake. They do not like metal like spoons or strainers. Most people make theirs from sugar. Sugar costs more and does not have any protein or fiber. Some of the microbes end up in the water so they repopulate the digestive tract. The dosage is 60g sugar or 75g flour per quart drinking water. The flour is more because it has protein and fiber. Over many decades of experimentation by many people the right dose for carbs is 6%. 1 quart has 1000g water so 6% would be 60g carbs. I consider kefir to be the best remedy. The microbes change food that has more protons than electrons to fertilizer that has more electrons than protons. There is a lot more energy from 1 quart of kefir than in 75g of flour. The microbes change matter into energy. After making the 1 pint you can increase the dosage for the following batches.
(Ca)
07/01/2015
Ally--have you looked into Pelvic Floor Disorder (PFD)? Having to push out your urine and having urine retention are symptoms of PFD as well as pelvic tightness and back pain. Also, when nervous or anxious, symptoms get worse because you subconsciously tighten the pelvic floor.
Diatomaceous Earth
★★★★★
This was a game changer for me! When I first started taking DE, I was in the middle of a bad flare up. It took a week to fully subside the inflammation but I could tell it was working. I take DE every morning. If I start to slack off, I begin to feel tingles in my bladder.
Don't miss a dose.
(MT)
01/31/2022
Diatomaceous Earth
★★★★☆
I have read so many helpful things to try on here so I would like to give something back. I only found out I had IC by trial and error and a lot of research. The pain was so bad a couple of years ago that I went to the emergency room. You know how they have you in those curtained partitions, right? So this older Dr. Comes in with a learning the ropes young intern and they are just not taking me seriously about how bad the pain is and saying I didn't have kidney stones and didn't have this or that and I got enough of that and yelled, " Look! My VAGINA is killing me! " You should've seen their faces, lol. I had no infection of course and they were clueless. My regular Dr. told me I would need to see 3 different specialists to rule out different things and after we pay over $600 a month for insurance there's no money for 1 office visit, let alone 3 specialist ones.
Anyway I am still on a journey to find what will work best but I do have some experience with cleaning out parasites and/or Candida and since 80 to 90% of your health starts in your gut and has to do with your immune system I thought you all might benefit from this. Diatomaceous Earth food grade is totally organic and natural. There is even a test you can do in the morning first thing to see if you have Candida and I promise you most of us do. It is a powder with no taste and are actually very tiny little fossilized skeletons? that have edges that will clean out and kill parasites and also clean out the sludge that has been building in your colon for years. (Poor John Wayne's autopsy showed he had over 25 lbs. of well poo in his intestines). It does not give you diarrhea at all I promise but you must start off small and build very slowly to 2 full Tablespoons. You will not believe the stuff that will come out of you.
Try to stay away from anything with sugar as that just feeds the little sh1ts. Do Kefir to restore your good gut bacteria but not dairy kefir. Very simple to do your own from coconut milk or even water. It is good for your pets too as unless you feed them raw they have Candida too. As a bonus you can sprinkle some on them to keep fleas off natural if you let them out in the yard. Remember ONLY food grade and I got mine on Amazon really cheap. Best to you all and I was so heartened to see so many of you spurning main stream medicine and their treating of symptoms rather than fixing the problem. In today's world, we have to take our health and our loved ones into our own hands. Stay away from Cymbalta; thought I would die from the withdrawal. No liver tests for 6 years, very bad.
(Ca)
09/30/2015
(Memphis, Tn)
12/17/2015
★★★★★
I used Diatomaceous Earth for 3 months. I just started off with 2 tablespoons. It did kill parasites. After a week, I followed with Senna tea to flush out my intestines.
I thought the same as you. The Earth is wet so it can't be effective, but it is!!!! It even removed swelling from around my knees, which I didn't even know existed.
(Yucca Valley)
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.
(PA)
09/26/2023
(Santa Maria, Ca)
08/06/2017
★★★★★
So glad to see your post here about taking diatomaceous earth and using the senna tea also for the constipation. I've been trying to teach people about this very same regimen to take for IC and using Dieter's tea made with senna, especially in the beginning, since constipation is the number one side effect when starting the DE. It's worked so well for me that I've not had any IC flare since my last one in the middle of December 2016. I used to have flares at least 4-5 times a year, and I would take prescribed Pyridium to relieve the pain. I would have to take 2 tablets twice a day for 5 days before the pain was completely gone. My last flare was when after starting DE, I began my first break. On the second day of the break from DE, I had a flare of my IC. I decided instead of taking my prescribed med that I would just restart the DE; and I kid you not, my pain was gone within hours! That's when I decided that I would only take a break from the DE when I felt it was necessary. I've only taken one other 7-day break and luckily no flare of the IC during that break. So I am totally convinced that not only did the DE clear up my IBS and/or leaky gut but it also helped my IC among other physical problems... that I could write a list about. I will not be without DE probably for the rest of my life. My doctors have been absolutely amazed at what it's done for me, and I'm almost 63 years old!
Diet, Turmeric, Exercise
Diet, Turmeric, Exercise
★★★★☆
However, diet and tumeric are crucial to this matter. I'm surprised, however, a lot of you are disabled, yes, but, we all are well aware that exercise couldn't be more important. In order to strengthen the linings, we must strengthen the muscles... So, do your best! I find leg lifts reduce my pains, as well as running, more than any other exercise... Simply because running is generally beneficial cardio and leg lifts target the pelvic muscles.
I also did some research based on my past experiences and cranberry juice can very well make IC matters worsen, as well as D-Mannose. D-Mannose and cranberry juice are for milder urinary tract issues, but for severe matters, they can cause severe damage. If the case is severe, D-Mannose is known to stick to the bacterias, yes, but it can stick to the walls of our organs, obstructing practically every option of ridding/treating IC. Regardless, stay away from acidic and fatty foods, equally.
As for the flares, I have it right now as I'm typing, but walking truly does help, as working out reproduces healthy cells and bacteria. ALSO... VERY IMPORTANT. If you have a lot of stress, be sure to see the doctor. Anxiety is a major cause of my increased symptom pains, and if you are unaware of your psychology stability, it could very well be the underlying reason for your IC and many other illnesses. If you meditate with faith that your body is healing, then it will do just that, and the pain will reduce immediately. I have severe anxiety, so it'll work on anyone if you try and do it right. Just breathe and do your best to keep the symptoms down... Never stop researching... never stop believing and always remember it could be much, much worse! Much love and best regards to you all.
Dietary Change, Probiotics
★★★★★
For years I suffered with over-active bladder and later Interstitial Cystitis. Major OUCH! I couldn't eat many foods, such as tomatoes or citrus, without it irritating my bladder. I would be up all night, needing to urinate every half hour. The symptoms were much like a bad UTI, of which I had many.
The doctors were of no help, often prescribing antibiotics, ever though the UTI causing bacteria was no longer found in my urine. The symptoms would come and go. Some weeks I would be fine, then the pain would mysteriously start up again. As the years went on, I soon discovered a pattern. Eating too much sugar, or taking antibiotics would bring on a serious flare. Yeah, I'm a slow learner.
After a UTI and being on antibiotics, I would be fine for about a week, and then the painful IC symptoms would return with a vengeance.
Then, while on this very site, Earth Clinic, I ran across a post describing exactly what was happening to me.
The antibiotics I had been taking had killed off the good bacteria in my bladder and had also given me a horrid sinus problem. I had read somewhere that the two issues usually go hand in hand, but I had never connected the dots.
I discovered I had Candida, an over abundance of bad yeast. The sugar I ate had been feeding the bad bacteria. So, this made sense. The yeast had created little holes in my bladder lining, causing certain foods to irritate it. This also made sense.
The cure, for me, was cutting way back on sugar, staying on a good diet, drinking lots of water and taking GOOD Probiotics. Lots of GOOD Probiotics! That was the real answer, but it wasn't cheap. I didn't care at this point and just bought them.
The good bacteria in the Probiotics soon over took the bad bacteria and healed the little holes in my bladder.
For 2 weeks, I would take one pill with every meal. Soon my sore bladder issues were gone and so far have not come back. It's been two months now. Fingers crossed.
I can now eat anything without a problem. No more getting up all night, going to the bathroom. I still have a slight sinus problem, but it's getting better. I am no longer getting UTI's, so am able to avoid antibiotics. I still take daily maintenance Probiotics and can now tolerate Cranberry pills, which keeps the UTI's away.
Why oh why could any doctor not have told me this years ago? All they would say is "Stay away from the foods that hurt your bladder." They could not direct me to the root of the problem.
I have read that there are thousands of women who have over active bladders and now believe that in many cases Candida is the problem.
I hope me taking the time to write this helps at least one sufferer.
I can now enjoy life again. Hugs to you all.
(Ajax ontario)
05/16/2021
(OHIO)
09/27/2021
Thank you for sharing this! I suffer the same way. I take probiotics every day, but will add another one🤗
Dietary Changes
★★★★★
Dietary Changes
★★★★☆
I have had interstitial cystitis for 35 years, what a blessing....not! I read an article that they think it is caused when you have sex cause you are not born with it so it is a bug. They said there are 3 medicines that help it, not cure it but calm it down is doxycycline 100 mg 2 tablets a day, one in am, one in pm (which is the best of the 3, the other two are augmentin, ) so I use it and it will make you feel so good at first then it levels out and at least gets rid of the pelvic pain.
I found that yeast cream the cheapy stuff works when I have a flare/infection on top of an infection. I have tried the apple cider deal and I thought I was going to die with pain.
Everyone is right, quit the sugar (do honey if you must), no flour of any kind, no sodas of any kind, no preservatives, and the acidic fruit. I also read it gets WORSE as you age and I can attest to that! Watch what kind of soap you use as well. It is a prison sentence but some things definitely help. I am trying the cabbage and colloidal silver next!
Good luck to all of you, if men got it in greater numbers, there would be a cure by now!! It's like ulcers were years ago, they blamed it on stress and it took them 50 years to figure out it was a bug! Sure hope we do not have to suffer another 50 years!
Ulcers are not alwways H Pylori. There are ongoing studies using rats, mice pigs, and horses understress showing that fasting and stress ( like moving them in a trailer for pigs and horses, shocking their feet or making them swim in cold water for rats and mice), continue to shed light on adrenal cortisol stress related ulcers. I have always been negative for H Pylori and yet the ulcers persist. I know it's stress, but found recently on NCBI that butyric acid (in butter) heals damaged villi, and more recently gelatin and collogen type II, which is what I am researching here.
Dietary Changes
★★★★★
