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April 2, 2019

Natural Interstitial Cystitis Treatment (& My Story)

This is one topic I have avoided talking about, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I haven’t had a full resolution of symptoms. However, I have significantly improved my symptoms. I’ll share interstitial cystitis treatment options below.

Natural Interstitial Cystitis Treatment (& My Story) | The Family That Heals Together

My interstitial cystitis story

My battle with interstitial cystitis (IC) started nearly five years ago. I had a two month old baby, so I was severely sleep deprived, which will have an effect on the immune system.

It was my birthday weekend and I indulged in a little sugar. By Monday I had what felt like a UTI. By Wednesday, it had turned into a raging kidney infection, complete with fever, chills, and lots of pain.

After the kidney infection passed, I was left with the most severe UTI I’d ever experienced. The pain and urgency were so intense that I could not drive across town without having to stop and run in to a convenience store to relieve my bladder.

I used every natural remedy I was aware of: d mannose, uva ursi, monolaurin, colloidal silver, craberry juice… the list goes on.

Eventually, I relented and got antibiotics. By the end of the 10 day course, my symptoms were gone, but as soon as the course of antibiotics was over, they returned with a vengeance. I tried another antibiotic, but this time, the symptoms did not abate.

I spent the next several months trying one natural remedy after another and wondering what the heck was wrong with my body and why I couldn’t clear these symptoms.

When a UTI goes on for weeks, months… then years

As the months progressed, I continued to have symptoms of a UTI: pain and burning when urinating, frequency, and nocturia (frequent urination at night). My quality of life really began to suffer. When my symptoms became unbearable, I would relent and go to urgent care for antibiotics, but they never helped.

Eventually, I went to a urologist, who suggested a battery of tests. I was still breastfeeding, so I picked and chose based on what I was comfortable with. We did more urine testing and I requested an extended culture to see what/if any bacteria were at work. (By this time, I had spent many months researching and knew signs were pointing to IC.)

I nearly fell out of my chair when testing showed that there was no longer a bacterial infection. Why did I still have these symptoms???

If you have symptoms of a UTI, but testing shows no infection, it might be IC.

On one hand, I was devastated that this most likely meant I had a horrible autoimmune condition for which conventional medicine offered very little relief, but on the other hand, I was somewhat relieved to be getting closer to answers.

If you’re suffering from symptoms of IC, you’re not alone. There are literally millions of people suffering from this horrid condition, but not many people are talking about it.

How do you know if it’s IC? There are some tell-tale signs.

What signs and symptoms would you expect to see with interstitial cystitis and why?

  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • A persistent, urgent need to urinate
  • Frequent urination, often of small amounts, throughout the day and night
  • Pain or discomfort while the bladder fills, with relief after urinating.

Some women experience severe muscular pain in their pelvis, legs, back, and stomach that makes walking, sitting, and other activities like sex very painful. (Thankfully, this has not been a symptom I’ve experienced.)

There are several theories as to the reasons these symptoms occur. For one, the bladder lining may be damaged or defective due to lifestyle or genetics. In addition, IC may be an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks bladder tissues. Symptoms may also be due to a histamine response in the bladder.

What does IC bladder pain feel like?

According to UrologyHealth.org, IC pain “is a feeling of pain and pressure in the bladder area. Along with this pain are lower urinary tract symptoms which have lasted for more than 6 weeks, without having an infection or other clear causes. Symptoms range from mild to severe. IC is not an infection, but it may feel like a bladder infection.”

My interstitial cystitis treatment: a marathon, not a sprint

The urologist suggested long-term antibiotics, which I declined since I was breastfeeding. Plus, I was determined to deal with my IC symptoms without doing any more damage to my already fragile gut. Though I still have symptoms of IC, I have been able to greatly reduce symptoms and live a normal life. I do deal with worse flares from time to time.

Conventional interstitial cystitis treatment

Right off the bat, I knew there was very little relief to be had by taking the conventional medicine route. My urologist ran down the usual suggestions, none of which truly offered healing.

Medications suggested for IC:

  • antidepressants, which may help by relaxing muscles
  • Elmiron, an expensive prescription medication which may or may not help and must be taken pretty much forever
  • antihistamines
  • pain medications
  • analgesics (medications that numb the bladder)

I knew there had to be better options, ones that didn’t cause side effects that would further harm my body.

Natural Interstitial Cystitis Treatment (& My Story) | The Family That Heals Together

My natural interstitial cystitis treatment (experiment)

I really have to preface this by saying this has been more of an experiment than a treatment, and it has definitely been more of a marathon than a sprint. Nonetheless, I’ve had some success with easing symptoms, so I’ll share the main things I’ve done to help my IC symptoms.

What foods soothe the bladder?

For the first six months, I had severe frequency and had to get up several times a night to use the bathroom. When I focused on cutting out foods that irritate the bladder, and focused on foods that soothe the bladder, these symptoms abated, and I no longer woke up through the night to use the bathroom.

I learned that sugars were one of my worst IC pain triggers. Funny enough, the month that I did the Whole30 was when I experienced some of the worst IC pain, probably due to the overabundance of dried fruit that I ate to quiet my sugar cravings. Sugar is sugar in the body, and dried fruit has a lot of it.

Other foods to avoid:

  • citrus
  • tomatoes
  • coffee
  • spicy foods
  • sodas
  • alcohol
  • artificial sweeteners
  • dairy & gluten
  • foods high in histamines
  • any processed food or drinks

Foods that may soothe the bladder include nourishing, bland foods like soups and broths, vegetables, meats, and eggs.

It is theorized that IC is actually a leaky bladder, and an extension of leaky gut. With leaky gut, undigested food particles leak through the gut and wreak havoc elsewhere in the body. When the bladder also becomes leaky, the lining of the bladder may allow irritating food components to travel through the urinary system, causing symptoms of pain and burning.

This is why healing the gut may be the key to healing interstitial cystitis, and why I suggest nourishing, healing foods like those found in the GAPS diet for IC sufferers. (At times, my symptoms have gone away when I’m on the GAPS intro diet.)

Natural Interstitial Cystitis Treatment (& My Story) | The Family That Heals Together

What can I drink to soothe my bladder?

Pure water should be the main drink, and to have a happy bladder, you want to drink just enough. Your weight in ounces is a good rule of thumb.

In addition, I find that making bladder-soothing herbal infusions really keeps my IC symptoms at bay.

To make an herbal infusion: brew about 1/4 cup of dried herbs in a quart jar with boiling water. Cover and let sit overnight, then drink the next day. My favorite herbs for bladder and kidney health are nettle, horsetail, and marshmallow root. This combination is very soothing for my bladder and often eliminates my symptoms.

Herbal remedies for IC

In addition to changing my diet, I have found that certain herbs have had a positive impact on my IC symptoms. I’ve used them in a variety of ways, from teas to tinctures to capsules.

The best herbs for interstitial cystitis treatment are:

  • cornsilk
  • uva ursi
  • horsetail
  • marshmallow root (helps to coat and heal the bladder lining)
  • aloe vera (many sufferers swear by high dosages of this supplement, which is formulated specially for IC.)

You can find lots of herbal remedies that are pre-made for bladder health and symptoms of IC, such as this Bladder Calm formula, and this Urinary System Support formula.

IC is not an infection… or is it?

While conventional testing methods fail to detect infection in the case of IC, there is some evidence that infections may actually be at the root of IC symptoms. In fact, treating myself for infection has resulted in lesser IC symptoms.

There are also theories that infections may be masked by biofilm, a mucus-y plaque that pathogens hide in, allowing them to reproduce and form colonies. Breaking down biofilm within the body may help to uncover infections that could be contributing to IC symptoms.

Interstitial cystitis treatment as an infection

I’ve found that treating my IC symptoms as an infection has provided relief. When combined with a biofilm buster, supplements seem to be more effective.

Infection-fighting supplements I’ve had good luck with:

Biofilm buster– super strength enzymes that break down biofilm in the body. This is the one I use.

Extra Strength Advanced Cellular Silver– a super powerful and effective colloidal silver that kills stuff quickly! This is the one I use.

Monolaurin– I like one that contains olive leaf, which is also good for combating infection, as well as humic acid, a mineral-rich ingredient that helps to increase the efficacy of other components. This is the one I use.

Pelvic floor therapy for IC

Another route I took when addressing my IC symptoms was pelvic floor therapy. My therapist helped me understand that both loose and tight pelvic floor muscles can contribute to IC symptoms.

When there is significant relaxing of pelvic floor muscles, leading to prolapse, the bladder may not fully empty, which can lead to chronic infections and bladder dysfunction.

When pelvic floor muscles are too tight, they can cause spasms in the bladder and urethra, which may account for some IC symptoms.

While ultimately, pelvic floor therapy did not resolve my symptoms, I did find at times that it seemed to help, and it’s definitely a route worth exploring if you’re suffering from symptoms of IC.

Other experimental interstitial cystitis treatment options

While I have been able to reduce my symptoms, I continue to explore avenues to get complete relief.

Other experimental treatments I’m trying or researching include:

  • V steaming. I tried this recently and noticed it had a significant relaxing effect on my pelvic muscles. Read about my awkward and hilarious experience here.
  • PRP therapy. AKA the “O shot.” This treatment uses your own blood, separating platelet rich plasma cells, and injecting them back into areas where you need healing. Pro athletes have used this therapy for years to speed healing, and now doctors are using it for facials (aka “vampire facials”), as well as women’s health issues like incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Women have reported resolution of IC symptoms with this treatment as well.
  • IV vitamin therapies. High dose vitamin C has been shown to combat everything from cancer to chronic fatigue, so it may be worth consider for treating IC.
  • Consider a kidney cleanse to help with urinary system health. Read how here.

Natural Interstitial Cystitis Treatment (& My Story) | The Family That Heals Together

Can IC be healed?

Many women find that they are able to get complete resolution of their IC symptoms. The fact that I’ve been able to minimize my symptoms gives me hope that IC can, indeed be healed! 

Do you suffer from IC? What interstitial cystitis treatments have you found to be most effective?

By: Jaclyn · Filed Under: Beautiful, Blog · Tagged: bladder, bladder infection, IC, infection, interstitial cystitis, UTI

January 14, 2019

How To Cure A UTI At Home Naturally

Wondering how to cure a UTI at home or if it’s even possible? While an occasional kidney detox is a good idea if you tend to get recurring UTI infections, Danielle shares straightforward UTI remedies that you can use right now to ease pain and feel better.

How To Cure A UTI At Home Naturally | The Family That Heals Together

What is a UTI?

A UTI, or urinary tract infections, forms when bacteria is introduced into the urinary tract via the urethra, up to the bladder.

Your kidneys filter urine, sending it through your ureter to your bladder, and your urethra carries it out of the body.

UTIs mostly affect women, children, and the elderly. In women, the two most common ways to introduce unwanted bacteria to the urethra:

  1. Not wiping from front to back
  2. Sex

Many women experience a UTI after having sex and not urinating for hours, which gets the bacteria-laden urine out of the bladder. It’s a good idea to wipe from the front to the back of your pubic area everytime you urinate, as well as urinating and cleaning yourself after sex.

Men can also have UTIs. Sometimes the bacteria that cause a UTI attach to a physical structure, like a catheter or kidney stone. Other causes may be a suppressed immune system or antibiotic use.

If you’re a woman who has experienced a UTI, you don’t need to me to tell you that it’s extremely uncomfortable and painful. When you have a UTI, you typically know.

Look for these symptoms that signal a UTI is present:

  • Frequent urination with a strong urge
  • Painful, burning feeling when you urinate
  • Pain in the lower back
  • Cloudy, dark, or smelly urine
  • A fever or ache, signaling an infection

Can a UTI go away on its own?

Sure, it could. But, it’s not likely and let’s face it – this isn’t something you want to wait out.

A urinary tract infection is very painful and disrupts daily life. Plus, a long term infection of the area could spread to your kidneys. That’s not something you want.

The bacteria aren’t playing around, and neither should you.

How to cure a UTI naturally at home

Normal treatment at the doctor includes a urine sample and antibiotics.

However, medical research shows that at least one in five women will not be cured of their UTI with antibiotics.

This is normally explained as the bacteria causing the infection does not respond to the antibiotic prescribed (so why don’t they match it?) or that the bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics, which is not a situation you want in your bladder. Many of these cases turn into long term infections.

No thanks!

The medical response to that is prescribing a long term, low dose antibiotic, or a single-dose antibiotic after sex (what!? every time?), and having a home test kit.

I do think the home test kit is a good idea, especially when you can get a test like this one.

While antibiotics are great for specific cases and in some situations lifesaving, you don’t want to be on them all the time. You certainly want to avoid them when not necessary or they could create a long term problem.

With antibiotic resistance and recurring UTIs, doctors know this too.

We also know that antibiotics damage the gut, which leads to long-term health problems.

Follow these tips on how to cure a UTI

Can you get rid of UTI without antibiotics?

Luckily, women have been dealing with UTIs for ages and there’s a whole host of natural cures in the natural healing toolbag. Ones that don’t include antibiotic resistance and reoccurring infections.

So, that’s a big yes!

Here’s how to cure a UTI without antibiotic use:

  1. D-mannose. One of the best treatments for treating UTIs naturally is d-mannose. It is a type of sugar found in a number of fruits and has been well-researched for curing UTIs even better (yes, better) than antibiotics. Better yet, you can grab this beauty for $15 at your local health food store. Take 500 mg every 2-3 hours, until 2-3 days after symptoms have subsided. You can try an inexpensive D-mannose like this, or look into a corn-free one made in the USA like this if you have food allergies or other concerns.
  2. Baking soda has also been used to treat UTIs. Many use baking soda to neutralize the acid from the infection in the bladder and stop the infection from spreading to the kidneys.
  3. Uva ursi. Known to treat UTIs in a flash, uva ursi stops inflammation and also kills bacteria. It’s been used to help with overall kidney issues, as well. The herb is available as a capsule (found here) or tincture, but is stronger as a tincture (found here).
  4. Homeopathy is also a good idea. Be sure to match the symptom to the remedy: Cantharis for burning urine (find it here), Apis mellifica for stinging pain (find it here), Equisetum for severe but dull pain (find it here), and Staphysigaria for suppressed anger or a recent invasive procedure.
  5. Vitamin C is always a good idea to add, especially naturally sourced types such as camu camu powder or rose hips.
  6. Vitamin D. In animal studies, vitamin D deficiency can lead to more invasive UTIs. This makes sense since vitamin D does so much to support the immune health.

Serious UTIs may benefit from a stronger combination of herbs and other natural remedies. U.T. Vibrance contains high doses of d-mannose, as well as herbs targeted for urinary health and to fight infection. Find it here.

How about UTI and cranberry juice, does it really work?

Cranberry has been touted as a UTI cure forever, and for good reason.

It holds a tannin that is said to stop E. coli and other bacteria from attaching to the bladder wall where it can grow and lead to an infection.

It also has d-mannose.

However, some report it does not help them. One would suspect that has to do with how soon it is taken from the first signs of an infection, or which bacteria you have.

It is estimated that 90% of UTIs are from E. coli. However, if you fall in the 10% that is not from E. coli, Lauricidin can stave off other bacteria.

I have personally used cranberry juice to ward off a beginning UTI with great success. I’ve also had a UTI that I would categorize as “too far gone for cranberry juice alone by the time I got out of bed” and I chose to add additional herbs to heal from that one. Both times I was able to heal naturally.

If you choose to try cranberry juice, look for pure, organic cranberry juice with no additional ingredients.

How long does it take to get over a urinary tract infection?

Most UTIs will resolve within 5 days with natural treatments.

However, if yours does not resolve within 5 days, it’s time to see your doctor.

If you experience fever, chills, or lower back pain, you likely have a kidney infection and should see your doctor. At that point, antibiotics are a route to consider seriously.

If you are pregnant and have UTI or kidney infection symptoms, you should contact your health professional immediately.

How To Cure A UTI At Home Naturally | The Family That Heals Together

Why do I keep getting UTIs?

Reoccurring UTIs could be from lifestyle or eating choices.

Be sure to cut back on sugar, drink plenty of water, and limit stress. Clean yourself before and after sex, and always wipe after urinating or a bowel movement from the front to back. Urinate when you need to; do not hold it!

If you are using oral contraceptives, diaphragms, or spermicides, discontinue use. These may be causing your UTIs.

If you have recurring UTIs, consider taking a kidney/urinary supplement or tincture with horsetail, uva ursi, and marshmallow root.  Loading up on teas of these herbs will help.

Take a probiotic that is specifically formulated for bladder or female health, and work on healing any bacteria disturbances in your body by limiting gluten and dairy, or even following a GAPs diet.

A natural UTI cure makes sense.

Antibiotics aren’t the most effective therapy and antibiotic resistance is a big public health concern. Beyond that, you’ll find that in most cases, natural UTI cures work quickly.

Have you tried a natural UTI cure? Share in the comments!

By: Danielle · Filed Under: Blog, healing, health, Remedies · Tagged: acute, bladder, bladder infection, chronic, herbal remedies, kidney, remedies, urinary track infection, UTI

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