Interstitial Cystitis

Sometimes dealing with traditional therapies can be expensive and painful. Often times traditional therapies will wear off, or not work at all. Many people turn to alternative and natural treatments for relief. Here are a few of them.

Acupuncture

Many people have reported symptom relief by utilizing acupuncture. Acupuncture is the traditional Chinese therapy that uses very small, hair like needles to relieve pressure. The needles may be placed in different areas to alleviate different symptoms. People have been using acupuncture for many different problems for thousands of years.

Acupuncture rarely hurts, although you may experience unpleasant sensation while the needles are worked depending on where they are placed. The idea is that needles release pressure and stress that has built up causing disease and pain. You can easily find an acupuncturist in your area. Just be sure you are checking their credentials before selecting one.

Sugar Free Diets

Since the cause of IC is unknown, it’s hard to determine what types of treatments will work. Many patients have reported symptom relief by just following a sugar free diet. If you’re used to a high sugar intake every day, this may be hard to follow at first. But after a few weeks it gets much easier. Your body will stop craving the sugar so much and you may see a relief in the painful symptoms if IC.

Calcium Citrate

It’s unknown why some patients experience relief with this method. Generally avoiding anything acidic is recommended for managing IC, however, some people have reported drastic relief in their symptoms by using this as a supplement to their diet. Before you choose to do this make certain you consult with your doctor to ensure it’s safe to interact with any medications you’re currently on.

Prerelief

This is an herbal supplement that is made of calcium glycerophosphate. This is natural and reported to have little to no side effects. It works by reducing the amount of acid produced by foods that typically cause acid issues. Since one of the leading theories of the cause of IC is an overproduction of acid, it stands to reason that this may help reduce your symptoms. Again, check with a qualified medical professional before starting this.

Gotu Kola

Gota kola has been shown to increase the strength of connective tissues. It stimulates production of glycosaminoglycans, which are an important part of the mucous layer of the bladder. Increasing this substance can offer symptom relief in some people. It’s relatively inexpensive and can be found at any store that carries herbal remedies.

Homeopathy

Seeing a trained homeopathy expert can also offer you much relief. Homeopathy is the practice of using herbal remedies along with other non traditional things to provide relief. You may need to change your diet in addition to the herbs. They can help you alleviate the symptoms of pain and burning.

Avoid Cranberry Juice

Many people will advise using natural remedies such as cranberry juice to flush your systems. While this is an effective treatment for many other bladder, kidney, and urinary issues, it is ill advised for those suffering with IC. Cranberry juice contains a high level of acid, and can actually increase the painful symptoms.