Category Archives: IC

IC and Stone Disease: A Scientifically Valid Nutritional Approach

bladder pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, CPPS, fibromyalgia, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

The body is simultaneously an energy and matter field based on your perspective

The bladder pain that is seen in IC flares can be viewed as either a molecular problem(matter science) or an imbalance in energy patterns in the urinary tract   The predominant theory of the matter or molecular science is that the glycosoaminoglycan(GAG) layer becomes disrupted and allows urine irritants to infiltrate the bladder wall leading to the painful flares of IC

The energy science of Ayurveda completely concurs that there is disruption due to acidic loading but notes it as an  imbalance of too much of the hot quality(inflammation or high Pitta) rather than naming a molecule at fault   The  urinary frequency, urgency with or without incontinece due to the mobile quality of high Vata   Since the energy science is a qualitative one there is no evaluation of molecules as in the matter science discipline

The endoscopic photos above show variations of crystalline formations on the renal papillae as a prodrome of stone disease of any form or size

 GAG Layer Disruption and Stone Disease

I have long contended in my urological practice that the vast majority of patients with stone disease have a GAG layer disruption in the kidney that predisposes them to stone disease   And I have suggested to them that they use aloe vera gel and a Pitta pacifying nutritional format or one used at foodsheal.com after taking the questionnaire

In this month’s International Urogynecology Journal a group from Taipei reported on a study of a population of patients of painful bladder syndrome and controlling for other associated diseases such as IBS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pelvic pain(CPPS). depression, and chronic pelvic pain found that those with prior stone disease were at higher risk for developing PBS or IC

There has been one other study suggesting an association but this is the first population based study to show the association between the chance of forming stones and suffering from IC or PBS

From the above discussion the GAG layer is secreted by all cellular tubes that communicate with the outside   So the respiratory tree, the GI tract, and the urinary tract linings all produce GAG layers

So it would make complete sense that deficient GAG layer in the urinary tract would not have to be necessarily located just singularly involving the bladder but could involve the kidney GAG layer as well   If this occurs the faulty papillary GAG layer in the kidney would not be slimy/smooth enough to prevent papillary crystals to form to serve as a nidus for continued stone growth

If the hot quality of Pitta can break down the GAG layer in the bladder it can certainly do the same thing in the kidney leading to stone formation

The Treatment of Stone Disease and  IC Are the Same

So it comes as no surprise that nutritional format reducing the Pitta energy pattern foods used is a solution not only for IC but also for stone disease as well   This would reduce those foods that are inflammatory and bring the hot quality in those patients who are predisposed to either stone disease or IC

The use of aloe would begin to help restructure the deficient GAG layer and making it whole again would be the solution to preventing stones in the future

What you are witnessing here is the unique interplay between the energy science and matter science disciplines where both support each other in a holistic way

Of course it goes without saying that IC and a person with stone disease should be treated in the same way as the problem is from an energy science view  Pitta and Vata imbalances in the urinary tract

All the best                                        To Health as a Skill    Love DrBill

 

Procrastination and IC

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, , , , ,

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“Tomorrow I’ll begin that Pitta pacifying nutritional format for this bladder pain.”

But as the saying goes,”Tomorrow never comes.”

Procrastination is a form of fear and can be related to the Kapha energy pattern but any energy pattern can entertain inertia.

It’s worthwhile looking at this fear as it directly plays into our human quest for chronic dis-ease. And if we are human and walking on this planet we have imaginary fears.

Although imaginary fears have no basis, nonetheless they are locked away in our mindbody physiologies in the form of tight muscles, ligaments and joints or parked away in organs.

Vata fears express themselves as run away or anxiety, Pitta as fight or anger and Kapha as inertia. And combinations of these control dramas is the most common of all. Can you see yourself in these dramas dealing with IC(interstitial cystitis)?

To know this about ourselves is very liberating because we can stop and innocently observe ourselves in the game of procrastination as it revolves around this concept of change in lifestyle behaviors as played out in nutrition.

We then can ask ourselves very honestly, “What am I fearful about in making whatever change I am contemplating?”

So if you want to push your buttons go to icdiet.com and see what comes up for you when you see what changes are to made for the better.  It can also help with IBS, GERD, fibromyalgia, and chronic prostatitis but maybe that’s too much to ask for.

“Oh, I don’t have time to go to there right now. Maybe tomorrow.”

See you tomorrow?                                     To health as a skill       Love DrBill

PS  Interested in geting out the well worn rut of not dealing with IC?  Talk to me about a program that can do it for you by signing up for a free consultation

7 Herbs for Targeted Intravesical Use in Interstitial Cystitis

bladder, bladder pain, CPPS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s estimated that 50 to as high as 70% of people experiencing IC have spontaneous resolution of bladder pain symptoms or after a period of time go away entirely or move to a more manageable symptom complex.  This is typified in the accompanying bell curve graph which shows to the left of the line those that have resolved completely or have manageable symptoms and those to the right who have repeated flares for an extended period of time.

This latter debilitated group of patients(CPPS) suffer not only unrelenting flares but lose marriages, relationships, and jobs leaving them on disability, helpless and with little positive outlook.  I believe the urologist is equally frustrated with these tormented souls as the pharma tools that they have are often inadequate for the job.  This is primarily because the origin of disease by the matter science is not understood and hence the pharma used is not targeted therapy.

Matter and Energy Science Urology:  Use of Bladder Instillation Therapy

Anyone with chronic interstitial cystitis(IC) with numerous trips to the urologist has experienced cystoscopy and catheterizations necessary to instill medicinal agents such as DMSO or medications such as heparin and steroid.   Some patients who have severe frequency and urgency are taught to by some urologists to do self administered intermittent catheterization thinking that decreasing residuals might help these lower tract irritative symptoms.

The energy science of Ayurveda has used catheterization for 1000’s of years and it is called basti.   There are many different forms of basti dependent on what locale of the body’s anatomy the healer wishes to treat.  Basti is used for various disease states from eye disorders to low back pain to constipation.

Basti helps to target the specific imbalanced organ in this case the bladder but can also be used for vulvodynia or vaginal pain which I blogged about in the past using topically administered herbs placed by hand or tampon.

Energy Science Targeted Therapy

Recently in the past 12 years there has been growing interest in the cancer literature on “targeted therapy” which has been used to describe cancer treating molecules that specifically “target” specific cancer cell processes that arrest cancer growth.  This avoids the broad chemotherapy effects that can be hard on treated patients.

I have described in previous posts that the origin of disease is understood from an energy science perspective to be an imbalance in qualities.  When herbs are used they specifically “target” the imbalance in the organs that are symptomatic, in this case the bladder or vagina.

What herbs target the bladder lining and can be used safely for topical intravesical use?  Let’s list them.

Aloe vera gel   This time honored herb reduces the hot of  inflammation and so is excellent when the Pitta energy pattern is causing the burning in the pelvic cavity as well as on urination or vaginal burning.

Cumin Coriander Fennel   These three herbs are medicinal to the urinary tract since all are cooling to the bladder mucosa.  Taken orally as a tea or making a decoction to deliver other herbs to the bladder mucosa can be therapeutically effective.

Goksura(aka Caltrops)   This herb is an antiinflammatory and targets the urinary tract and can be effective in reducing stone formation hence suggesting that it is important in GAG layer function.  It is also a nervine and shows the broad effects that happen to be characteristic of herbs in general.  It is one of the roots in dashamula below.

Guduchi  This is a commonly used herb for high Pitta conditions because it’s a rejuvenative for Pitta but has the unique quality of heating hence useful in toxic conditions which is often the case when there is longstanding IC.

Dashamula   This is a combination of 1o roots all with specific properties hence the name which means 10 roots.  Whenever there is Pitta in the tissue the tissue there is Vata as well and this herb is helpful in clearing the Vata energy pattern from the bladder wall.

Shatavari   This herb is tissue building and great for high Pitta conditions.  As I have said earlier it should not be used if there is a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Neem   This is a commonly used antiinflammatory and great for high Vata conditions and debility.

Applications of Energy Science Targeted Therapies

If you know how to self cath then this type of therapy under guidance as to which herbs to use is fairly easy.

If you can’t cath then accessing your friendly urologist to help with the instillation of the tea can be done.  The instillation schedule varies according to the clearance of symptoms but usually would be daily for at least 8 days while doing other therapies.

I have found basti as targeted therapy to be immensely rewarding for chronic IC over the years.  Try it, you’ll like it!

To Health as a Skill         DB

7 Guidelines to Reduce Inflammatory Lifestyle Behavior Patterns

bladder, bladder pain, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

From an energy science view the symptoms of interstitial cystitis(IC) are related to the hot quality among others   The burning on urination that feels like razor blades, the suprapubic or vaginal pain, the perineal pain of prostatitis are all related to this energetic quality that is in excess

At this blog I have discussed extensively how the nutritional format is fundamental in clearing symptoms   From my research 91% of patients doing aloe and a nutritional format that reduces this hot quality get 50% relief of symptoms in 6 weeks

But what else can you do from an energy science view to reduce symptoms?  This is one of many unique contributions of Ayurveda in helping us not only understand disease but also how to ameliorate symptoms

The Lifestyle of Over the Top and Inflammation

Let’s feel ourselves next to the stove and feeling the hot quality from the stove top   The hot quality is intense and you can’t stand it for very long without having to pull away  What would it look like if you live an intense lifestyle, that is, the energy pattern of Pitta is in excess and has localized somewhere in your body, let’s say the bladder?   You would be focused, driven and have a tendency for overworking, overeating, overexercising, and overachieving   And have a painful bladder that flares every so often or the bladder is always painful

There is no rest for the weary when Pitta is in excess   And this also becomes stressful for the body maintaining the symptoms of IC

Now for some this driven lifestyle doesn’t fit    Your Pitta excess as seen in the hot quality may have come in other legitimate ways such as types of foods eaten but one thing I can say is that if you have IC with burning on urination then the you have found some way to accumulate this quality

It is now known that DNA is very malleable and changes with our choice making   Inflammation is a phenomenon of DNA and so you can change inflammation and hence your IC by changing your behavior patterns that produce inflammation

Some Observations About Over

A friend once said to me, “The work will always be there tomorrow”   So avoiding burning the midnight oils for deadlines is an important step in helping control overwork   But this business of overworking is at times difficult in the corporate world   Setting times for bed is helpful:  Vata needs the most rest so in bed by 10p and up 630-7a; Pitta 1030p and up 6a; Kapha in bed by 11p and up 5 to 530a   If you don’t know your energy pattern you can do a questionnaire here

There is a  tendency for Pitta to overeat due to hot quality and what it does to the appetite   If you don’t eat your biggest meal of the day at noon you risk having an appetite that can get out of control due to the hot quality

Exercising in the hot midday sun is very provoking to Pitta   Not only are you not taking advantage of the metabolic fire ready to digest your foods but you’re overheating the body in the hottest part of the day

Finally you’re familiar with the hot mental patterns of behavior such as anger, hostility, judgement, criticism, and impatience   Interestingly if you do the nutritional work and pay attention to the behavioral guidelines these mental patterns will subside   That is, if you find yourself being critical and judgmental it will lessen with time

7 Guidelines To Curb the OVER and Resultant Inflammation

1  Get proper rest as noted above according to the time schedules  It’s common for the Pitta energy pattern to demand too much of the Vata pattern which is delicate like a flower and needs rest

2 Eat the biggest meal between 11a and 2p and make this a important part of the day for yourself

3  Exercise in the early cool morning hours

4 Wear sunglasses on sunny days as this reduces the hot quality to the Pitta sensitive eyes

5  If you find yourself overheating in your environment, stop and figure out how to cool off

6  A  harried lifestyle of Vata with the above makes the hot quality worse since the movement fans the intensity and heat of Pitta so slowing down by doing contemplative practices such as yoga for exercise or meditation can be helpful

7   Use the evening to wind down but try reducing the alcohol because this provokes the hot quality

In summary it’s not just one thing that you do that will bring your IC symptoms under control but it’s building on top of things  It’s a cumulative effect that pays dividends in reducing symptoms over time   The key is to be aware of the things that can provoke the hot quality to lifestyle behavior choices

Until next time               To Health as a Skill       Love DB

5 Guidelines About Yogurt and IC

bladder, bladder pain, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, , , , , , , ,

From our last post you learned that from an energy science point of view interstitial cystitis is a Pitta provoked disease, that is, too much hot quality in the urinary tract – an imbalance created by the foods consumed   So the obvious first step is to reduce those foods that are Pitta provoking 

One particular thread that I have seen come up is the question about IC and yogurt   How should it be used and whether it is safe in IC, that is, whether it is Pitta provoking and causing bladder pain

Yogurt is an amazing food and many ethinic cultures on the planet use fresh yogurt and kefir as health promoting foods in their nutrition   And there are very good reasons for doing so but due to the Pitta aggravating nature of yogurt, freshly made is the only way to go

The “Good” Guys

The value of yogurt is that it serves when freshly made a rich source of probiotic which is a population of “good bacteria” that reside in the bowel  “Bad” bacteria at times overgrow the gut flora leading to poor digestion, absorption, and assimilation so it’s important that the good flora flourishes and the bad are kept in check   As I’ve alluded to in the past, bacterial growth is a major part of our digestive strength that needs to be nourished

This is particularly important if you have GERD, IBS, and fibromyalgia associated with IC since the digestive fire is significantly compromised in these dual conditions

Regular use of freshly made yogurt insures that the “good” bacteria are consistently replenished

You may have heard of yeast overgrowth and this is yet another factor that can lead to poor digestive fire(eliminating yeast laden bread products is a good idea in that it gives us more  than we need so flatbreads are best or at least toasting yeasted products)

Bowel flora is important in the concept of digestive fire and aids in bowel digestive function as well as providing important nutrients for our nutrition

Pasteurized yogurts should be avoided as pasteurization kills off the beneficial probiotic component of yogurt

Making Digestion Easy By Predigestion-Optimizing Digestive Strength

The value of yogurt comes in the predigestion of lactose and casein which we talked about a couple of days ago  Hence the bacteria during the incubation phase of creating yogurt use the sugar lactose and break down the protein casein  The lactose then doesn’t bother the lactose intolerant and the casomorphin derivative from casein digestion can be less, hence affecting us less

Why freshly made?  From an energy science view the build up of acidity occurs with aging yogurt even if refrigerated becomes inflammatory and thus Pitta provoking   You also get the maximal amount of probiotic in the yogurt(some bacteria die off after 4-5 days)

Even though fresh yogurt is not very acidic(sour taste) it still can be Pitta provoking if used daily   Hence home made yogurt has its consumption limitations

So Some Guidelines

1 Based on the foodsheal.com food combining list, don’t use fruit with yogurt

2 To really inhibit the negative sour effects of even freshly made yogurt, the use of Sucanat or Turbinado(crystallized cane sugars) can be important because the sweet taste helps balance the aggravating sour taste

3 Always use yogurt in moderation, that is, 2-3x per week

4 Store processed yogurt is too acidic and will provoke IC

5 Diluting the yogurt with water reduces its acidity

How to get started

Buy a yogurt maker(Donvier is a French brand and is in the Amazon store at the ic-solutions.tv website)   Using fresh starter each time ensures that the bacterial count of the yogurt will be rich

And yes, this does take some time to make your own yogurt but after doing it, in a short time you can do a batch in about 15 minutes(total time; heating the milk and cooling it can be done while doing other things)

If the yogurt is curdly and clearly not smooth in texture it means that there’s probably too much cooking going on and that the incubation times are too long  So try 10 hours instead of 12 hours with the Donvier

YouTube has several videos on how to make your own yogurt

It’s best not to use dry milk powder as the milk product as it is provoking to Vata Pitta

Here’s a link for directions on making your own for trouble shooting

The greatest value is making your own yogurt is that you participate in your own health and this is a small but significant step in assuming responsibility for our health

Until next week                                               To health as a Skill   Love DrBill

 

Thinking Outside the Box: The Ayurvedic Perspective of IC

IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

I had the opportunity over the weekend to interview Dr Vasant Lad who is a recognized authority of Ayurveda   This is probably the first time that interstitial cystitis has been discussed from the classical Ayurvedic approach   Applying the principles of Ayurveda in treating IC  is obvious but what the classic texts that go back 5000 years have to say about the disease is very different as you will see    Don’t be thrown off by the Sanskrit terms!

Dr Lad has published numerous articles and books on the subject including a 3 volume text on the subject expressly for the Western student audience   He also gives some treatment options that we haven’t talked about in the past   I know you’ll find his insights on IC informative if not enlightening because you’ll be thinking outside the box   So Enjoy!

InterStim and Its Use with IC

bladder, bladder pain, CPPS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

When confronted with a chronic disease two questions usually come up   1  Why is this happening to me?  2  How can I get relief from these miserable symptoms that are plaguing me day in and day out?   The first question will be difficult to answer based on the current model of healing and is based on theory

And the second question is more to the point of “allow me to get comfortable so I can at least function”   This question also has loads of responses doing online searches because you are empathetic to the other’s suffering and want to alleviate it if you can  What would life be like without this chronic pain?  What would I be able to do that I can’t do now?

The Surgical Option and the Overactive Bladder(OAB)

The FDA approval for the surgical use of Medtronic’s InterStim is for the OAB syndrome not IC   And the urinary frequency/ urgency and urge incontinence is improved by the device in about 50-70% of cases as reported in 2009 but  usually doesn’t eliminate completely the voiding difficulty so as to give normal bladder function   The use of the device has carried over into the IC patient group because of the desperate needs of the IC patient to at least control the voiding problem aside from the associated pain

This is to say, the IC pain complex will not be taken care of by the device   As always there are anecdotal reports of pain cessation but this is not what the device is designed for

There will always be a surgical or mechanical alternative to chronic pain or for that matter any problem   Weight loss surgery, pancreatic islet cell transplant for diabetes, and for the OAB  InterStim has become a surgical option in the management of IC   If you pass a 2 week trial period then a permanent stimulating neuromodulator can be placed in a subcutaneous pocket overlying the right gluteal region

The bladder is innervated  by the sacral nerve roots S2-3  By placing needles that emit a low grade electrical current to the nerves going to the bladder, the nerves sending signals from the bladder that urination needs to occur(resulting in frequency, nocturia, and urgency) get overridden by the nerve stimulator   The result is a reduction in the bothersome voiding pattern of OAB but not the pain complex

Complications range from 10-25% and related to the mechanical aspects of the procedure such as infection and dislodgement of the wires due to falling or jarring can occur particularly if the needles are not well seated    At times such stimulation can bring on chronic pain from the placement compounding the problem rather than making it better

The Energy Science Perspective

Surgery is a part of the energy science of Ayurveda discipline   It clearly recognizes that surgery can be the best option in certain patients   But it also brings to the table a rich understanding of the origin of disease and therefore uses the surgical option in a more refined way   When adding the matter science technological approach to disease this can lead to a very effective holistic medical system

With this being said the use of a mechanical device should not be offered unless there has been an adequate trial of nutrition using energy science guidelines  Over the last 10 years I have personally witnessed OAB symptoms resolve using this kind of nutritional approach

As discussed in my upcoming book, IC Bladder Pain Syndrome, the OAB separates itself from the disease label of IC due to the pain component   You see the OAB problem is a Vata disturbance of bladder function whereas the IC disease label is a Vata AND Pitta disturbance of the bladder leading to not only the OAB symptoms(Vata)  but the Pitta energy pattern presence leading to the sharp shearing pain of IC that can be episodic and recognized as the flare

Patience is the KEY  Don’t Jump Too Fast

Using a surgical approach is an option  Using a nutritional approach is an option  But if the latter has not been given an adequate trial then that leaves the former as the only viable option

So my suggestion is to not act too hastily and give the energy science approach a really good trial before you open yourself up to the potential problems associated with surgery    And if you elect to have the implant know that the pain may not be affected

All the best                               To Health as a Skill     Love DB

 

 

4 Ways to Deal With the “Horrible Flare”

bladder, bladder pain, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , ,

I have found it interesting that quite often the physical problems that we have often seek their verbal expressions in the physically manifested universe    This indirectly supports that we know we are intuitively part of Nature   That we are not apart from Her but an aspect of Her   We are Her in a real sense

To divorce ourselves from Nature through technology and the study of molecules misses our ability to resourcefully look within for the answers

As the saying goes, you haven’t lived until you’ve had a good bladder pain flare   And while that’s over the top for anyone who has experienced one nonetheless let’s lighten up and realize that no one has ever died from one   Here are 4 ways to deal with the tormenting flare

Short Course of Steroids

The inflammatory response that occurs with a flare from an energy science view is the Pitta energy pattern which carries the hot and spreading qualities   These qualities are enhanced by the mobile and light qualities of Vata   These two energy patterns tied together can make the flare unbearable

The energy patterns are most concentrated in the bladder wall muscle and a quick way to manage the muscular spasm caused by Pitta is by the potent steroids available by prescription   You can ask your urologist or family physician about the use of a short 7 day tapering pack of Medrol which has the dosings all laid out in the packaging   This is highly effective in the management of uncontrollable muscle spasm

By removing Pitta from the tissue using the cold quality of the steroid there will be an unblocking of Vata from the tissues which releases the light and mobile qualities from the bladder muscle

Cool Off

A flare is hardly the time to use hot spices like garlic, heavy fatty or oily foods(fatty acids =hot quality), or sit under the sun  since all these situations carry the hot quality   Better to start looking for a cool area of the house that’s dimly lit(intense light aggravates the hot quality) and take in nourishing cool sounds that are not jarring   Using cooling aromas such as rose, khus, mint, or jasmine are excellent particularly with your castor oil pack

This is a good time to go by the rule, “Feed a fever, starve a cold”   A flare is a fever whether the body’s temperature is elevated or not   So nutritionally(and it’s very natural) it’s best to do simple foods like juice  fasting based on your energy makeup(predominant Vata should leave this suggestion alone)  But the nutrition during a flare should be very simple   Maybe just dal(split mungl)rice, and veggies

 Castor Oil Pack

I’ve talked about the cooling external effects of castor and applying it over  the bladder acupuncture site(aka marma point) is an ideal way to relax the area involved    In addition the use of the above aromas with heat can be highly therapeutic   The use of heat with the pack can be helpful to reduce abdominal wall muscle spasm

So treating the horrible flare with acceptance and cooling off are energy science ways of thinking through the flare scientifically not hit and miss  And yes there are many other things you can do energetically that make sense eg chamomile or CCF tea    And the value of the flare is that it can bring on renewed commitment to stay on the energy science approach

Lay Low and Nourish Yourself 

This one may be surprising but it goes without saying that this is a time to nourish the body and not be disappointed in what’s happening   Who would say to a frightened child,  “Buck up kid!  You’re overreacting   How you’re acting is complete nonsense” ?

So too with the body, be compassionate, don’t force it to do what it doesn’t want to do   Allow it to be the way it wants to be   Be gentle, be kind   For people with IC the imbalance is the hot and mobile qualities and the pain makes you irritable, upset, not in control, and impatient(“Is it over yet?  Why isn’t it over?”)

The hot quality brings a strong sense of need for control of situations, circumstances, and things   There is also intensity, focus, competitiveness with this quality but impatience, and yes, anger, sometimes rage at not being well   A sense of disgust becomes overwhelming that the body is not cooperating

At that point say, “I know you’re not feeling well, dear body   But don’t worry   I’ll take care of you and we’ll get through this together   And I promise that when we’re through this that I’ll make better choices for you because I know I’m hurting you but I don’t know how or why”

Total acceptance of the difficult situation of flare can in itself reduce the pain and begin the restoration of balance   Fighting(hot quality) with it, wishing it was different, hoping that the body is going to “get over it”,is completely counterproductive to healing this acute situation

And if this post pissed you off you know you still have the hot quality lingering in excess

Until next time                    To Health as a Skill  Love DB

 

2 Herbal Methods to Reduce Vaginal Pain and IC

IC, Interstiial cystitis, vulvodynia, ,

As a belated Valentine’s Day thought I would pass on this information for painful intercourse in IC   Vulvodynia can occur as an isolated clinical problem but more often than not the condition is more than likely associated with the IC bladder pain syndrome in some form   Obviously it’s a debilitating condition for relationships and the loss of womanhood becomes an inevitable psychological effect 

In my soon to be released book IC Bladder Pain Syndrome I discuss the herbal therapy of this sister disease of IC   Survey respondents who received the book didn’t get this information so don’t look   Here it is  

Medical Disclaimer   Also even though I’m posting this it is as information only   Herbs should be prescribed just like pharmaceuticals in some respects and their side effects in particular clinical situations would not make them good choices   This gets beyond using aloe vera gel or CCF tea

Shatavari Ghee

This is a formulated ghee with a herb called shatavari which is a rasayana or rejuvenative for females that reaches all tissue layers

In chapter 5 I talked about ghee the oily essence of milk and in the appendix is the simple method as to how to prepare ghee   This universal medicine is used in many different ways in Ayurveda but it can be also used as a carrier to take herbs to parts of the body quickly   Think of it as a taxi cab with the herb as the passenger

Shatavari is a PV pacifying herb and also a rejuvenative as mentioned above   It is excellent in high Pitta conditions   As a rejuvenative it has the capability of altering behavior patterns   So coupling shatavari with ghee is a powerful way to treat vaginal pain in IC using it as a salve   Soaking a tampon in the ghee and inserting it vaginally can be highly effective over time   There are definite contraindications and as with any medication side effects so this is not something I can recommend as OTC

Vaginal Douche

Basti is a general term for application of herbs and/or oils to various parts of the body to introduce herbs and their therapeutic value   Most any herb can make a tea so that administration can be done   The reason that the herb is used is to change the movement of energy and remove its stagnation in the pelvic tissues

This is the case in vaginal pain in vulvodynia and IC   The hot and sharp stabbing pain involved with intimacy can be helped by using an appropriate herbal tea administered with an enema bag into the vaginal canal similar to what would be done in douching   Cooling herbs such as shatavari, bhringaraj, and brahmi can be used in combination or separately but should be done under the guidance of a trained Ayurvedic physician

If interested in this kind of therapy you can contact me through the usual website channels  And I’m excited to tell you that the IC Bladder Pain Syndrome book is in formal editing

 

 

Until next week                                   To Health as a Skill   Love DrBill

Forum and Your IC Community: More On Castor Packs

IC, Uncategorized

Thanks so much for all your participation in the survey that I announced to members last week   It was a great success and had 3x the amount of responses than I expected   I wanted to share with you the results of what the community thought about the various questions   If you haven’t participated and still want to you can go to this link and get your feelings counted

An Energy Science IC Forum

One of the threads that came out in the questions in various forms throughout your survey was the need for a place where you can post questions that I or the community can answer regarding the application of energy science principles in IC   The ICA and ICN both support members through threads and so it’s our thought that we would emulate them

Questions like the use of castor oil packs and frequency of application   BTW using heat with the castor oil pack seems to work better   Get the cooling effect of the castor energetically and the heat helps reduce muscle spasm   Since you’re applying the pack over the bladder area you’re also doing marma(acupuncture) therapy as well   Applying a sandalwood(kinda spendy) or Khus essential oil attars to the pack provides not only marma therapy but aromatherapy as well    If interested I’ll have it in the  Supporting Products section of ic-solutions.tv website in the next couple of weeks

This site is all about an energy science approach to the chronic disease of IC   Since this approach is different than what you’re used to seeing the site is not only about the  application of the principles but also education about what the energy science of Ayurveda is all about   The IC Bladder Pain Syndrome book was a gift for participating in the survey and is all about getting some of those basics questions answered

So I think a thread is a great idea and I’ll be posting a page called Forum in order for threads to be managed in the next couple of weeks   In the meantime you can post your questions in the Contact heading and I’ll make sure the question is posted

Survey Results

The most frequent question was how to control pain(in emergency situations as well ie vacations) but also about the bothersomeness of the voiding pattern problems of frequency and urgency   Another commonly asked question was how long will it take to get better, how to mentally cope and intimacy issues

Other interesting questions were about disease interconnectivity and what to do to maintain healing  Insomnia and the fear of long range damage came up

You were split about a course being offered but 70% felt that an energy science approach to the problem was valuable and you were nearly unanimous about having a guide help you with specific details about healing IC with this discipline

Lastly 46% felt that a course to help with intimacy issues would be of value   For your information the energy science uses medicated tea vaginal douches to lavage the vaginal lining that can be effective in dealing with stagnant pelvic energy responsible for intercourse pain

Until next week                      To Health as a Skill     Love DrBill