There are many herbs that can be adjunctive in healing IC but they should be used in the context of who is the person using them. By now you now know that each of us are unique expressions of VPK and this can change the use of a herb suggested. And even though IC is the common disease label being treated, the person has unique imbalances that may dictate the use of one herb over another.
Having said that there is a uniqueness to the prescribing of herbs that are commonly used herbs in IC. I have heard people talk about allergy to certain herbs and while I don’t discount those experiences, I would say that allergies are very uncommon. Often times the “allergy” is a result of other products being taken and not the herb in question but this must be sorted out an individual basis.
Aloe vera(Kumari, Aloe barbadensis) This herb is an excellent choice for inflammatory conditions of all kinds and can be used by all mixes of VPK. As mentioned earlier certain herbs can be rejuvenative and aloe is one of them. This enhances its tonifying quality to tissues. It specifically balances the hot quality due to its cold quality.
Aloe can be used with pomegranate juice which augments its anti-inflammatory characteristic. Diarrhea can occur if too much is dosed and reducing the dose after the diarrhea has subsided will be usually sufficient. Dosing is 1 T three times per day.
Aloe vera is best used as a gel due to its slow release in the GI tract such that it lavages the gut mucosa in the upper intestinal tract, ie the stomach and small intestine. The natural thickener carrageenan is used to make juice thicker hence making it a gel. At times there has been consumer concern that carrageenan could be carcinogenic or that it would irritate IC. Although it is a seafood plant which energetically would be salty and hence aggravate IC, in the amounts that it is used it is likely safe.
Ginger(Ardrakam, Zingiber officinale) Called the universal medicine ginger as a herb can be used dry or fresh. When used dry it has a hot quality and therefore would not be beneficial in IC. Since it promotes digestive fire it is a digestant in cooking in its fresh form is medicinal to GI tract function.
Ginger can be used as an appetite(indicator of digestive fire) stimulant by using a 0.25 inch disc of sliced ginger soaked in lime juice with a pinch of rock or sea salt. Again given the clinical situations there are many different combinations with other herbs in which ginger can be used.
Turmeric(Curcuma longa Haridra) This rhizome that is similar to ginger in physical appearance imparts the yellow color to the food when using it. It is an incredible spice for inflammation particularly for skin conditions. The spice is very safe to use and you can use literally grams of it at one time without deleterious side effects.
As a herb as noted above it promotes digestive fire without overheating the system which is a particularly valuable property in IC patients. Turmeric helps in the digestion of protein and strengthens and balance all metabolic functions. It helps stretch the ligaments and is therefore helpful in the practice of yoga.
Triphala is a mixture of 3 different herbs, haritaki, amalaki, and biblitaki each respectively pacifying the energy patterns of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each herb can bring balance to function of the energy patterns in the colon, small bowel, and stomach respectively. Each is a rejuvenative until itself which makes this mixture or formula highly effective and prescribed commonly.
There are many different ways to use these herbs separately or in combination based on the clinical situation. Dosing is 0.5t steeped in hot water 30 minutes before bed.
Cumin Coriander Fennel The use of these three herbs in the management of IC underscores how cooking spices are herbs which the medicinal extension of foods themselves. All three of these herbs are medicinal to the urinary tract and because they are cooling digestants they provide the cold quality to the hot urinary tract of IC patients.
Each seed is placed in equal amounts in a Ziploc bag and from that 1T of the mixture is used for one cup of water to make a tea. A larger volume can be made and placing in a thermos to sip on all day is a nice way to lavage the urinary tract mucosa throughout the day.
Castor oil(Ricinus communis) This herb is interesting in that its application externally is cooling and when used internally it is hot. The energy science takes advantage of this by using external packs in the pelvic region for relief of symptoms. Of course the internal effect of castor is increasing bowel motility due to the hot quality leading to diarrhea, making it an effective laxative.
Chamomile(Anthemis nobilis) Like the CCF mixture above, chamomile as a tea is a Pitta pacifying beverage and has been used successfully for staving off IC symptoms. It is balancing to the emotions making particularly effective for PV patients who are having trouble coping with the waves of flare. It has an effect of sedating nerve pain.
A little fresh ginger prepared with it makes chamomile a completely balanced beverage and counters any emetic effect it might have. Externally it can be used as a poultice for nerve pains. For most medicinal purposes its action is mild and serves as a harmonizing adjunct.
Have a great week To Health as a Skill DB
From an energy science view painful IC flares and bladder pain are a result of inflammation in the urinary channel(UT) since too much of hot produces inflammation. Interesting isn’t it that the words burning and flare are used to describe what is physically going on? I wrote a while ago about the use of the antiinflammatory cocktail using pomegranite juice and aloe vera gel and several of you have contacted me to tell me how helpful this has been.