Interstitial Cystitis

Before we see Help for Interstitial Cystitis, let’s quickly take a look at what is Interstitial Cystitis.

What is Interstitial Cystitis?

Interstitial Cystitis is a chronic disease, commonly occurring in women. Almost 90% of the patients in the United States are women. The disease can cause pain in the pelvic area and the bladder. The degree of pain experienced may vary from person to person and also in the same person at different times.

Help for Interstitial Cystitis

If you have a sensation of an upcoming attack Interstitial Cystitis, then you can try the following home remedies. It is better to start with the home remedies at the onset of the flare. The pain may take longer to cure, if not taken care of at the earliest.

• Drink a glass of soda. You can make home made soda by mixing half a tea spoon of baking soda in a glass of water. This will help in easing away the flares. If you are a blood pressure patient, then do not try this remedy.
• If you cannot take soda, drink a glass of water. This will dilute your urine and ease away the burning sensation. This will be particularly helpful, in case the burning sensation is caused due to diet.
• Fill the bath tub with a little warm water, such that the area below the naval is soaked in water. You can add Epsom salt to the water.
• Instead of soaking yourself in water, you can also try keeping a hot or cold water bottle on your perineum. Holt water bottle may be effective in some, whereas others may benefit by keeping a cold bottle.
• Sit on your knees, keeping the knees behind and feet touching the ground.  Sit for 5 minutes or for as long as you are comfortable. Do this exercise, every day after lunch and dinner. This exercise is excellent for digestion and will prevent diet related flares.
• Do not forget your medicines. Take them before the onset of the flare so as to reduce the discomfort.
• Consult your doctor, in case you have a mild temperature along with pain in the bladder or the pelvic region. This could be due to an infection of the urinary tract.

Yoga and Meditation

You can also try yoga or meditation. Given below are few simple yoga and meditation steps:

Sit on the floor on a mat. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Inhale and exhale slowly. Do this for 5 minutes.

Sit in a comfortable position on the floor on a mat. Exhale applying very little pressure, do it as though you are sneezing. The stomach will go in a little when you exhale. Exhale once in one second. Keep a finger under your nose, to make sure that you are exhaling. Do it continuously for 5 minutes. Start with one minute and then slowly increase the exercise. When we exhale, carbon dioxide is thrown out of the body. The internal organs of the body get toned up and show improvement in their function.