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.
So here’s another antiinflammatory drink! This time a tea made from cumin coriander and fennel(CCF) seeds Due to the cold energy of these herbs they also can be benefiicial in dealing with excess hot in the UT Create a stash of seeds by placing equal amounts of cumin, coriander and fennel into a ziploc bag and shake it so it’s well mixed From your stash you can draw one teaspoon and steep in cup of hot water Or if making a thermos to carry with you during the day placing enough in the thermos for the amount of hot water that will be placed The tea may need diluting if it gets too strong at the end of the day
Your kitchen’s spice drawer is a medicine cabinet and using spices skillfully over time can produce positive medicinal and physiologic effects But the converse is also true If you are using spices randomly and for flavor alone there can be adverse consequences For example, most spices are heating so they can be provoking if you have IC Or another example is the use of salt – too much leads to water retention
In general the value of spices is that they buck up our digestive fire or enzyme system responsible for digestion, absorption, and elimination This is why for us in the northern hemisphere at this time of year the use of spices is important because our digestive strength gets diminished
Cumin coriander and fennel uniquely have an energetically cold effect to the physiology when using them and so are particularly useful in dis-eases with lots of inflammation with poor or impaired digestive strength Cumin(not to be confused with curcumin from tumeric) is a unique digestant in that it bucks up digestive strength but brings balance to the GI tract Coriander seeds come from the plant we get cilantro The use of the fennel bulbs in the fresh vegetable section can give you a double whammy if you cook with it as a vegetable
Another interesting aspect of CCF is that all 3 herbs resonate with the UT They are specific to the UT channel and therefore bring their cold quality to the UT mucosa
Of course not all spices are created equally For the easiest way to find which spices are safe to use go to icdiet.com There are grades or shades of hot within each herb so within the Favor list there are those asterisked These are spices that should be used in moderation
Notice the positioning of fresh basil and fresh ginger These are both beautiful spices to use on a consistent basis to bring about balance in the GI tract and improve digestion
Everyone agrees that the pain of IC is related to inflammation but it may be surprising to find that all diseases from cancer to diabetes have an element of this inflammation And this is where we are at in our current understanding of disease from a matter or molecular science point of view And we as the signpost points are left with no direction There are many painful molecules that have now been identified that produce inflammation in the mindbody We have identified many of these molecules But what causes them to begin to show up in...
read moreIC pain and the pain of IBS(irritable bowel syndrome) are interrelated on an energy level because gut problems begin the imbalance that leads to IC symptoms What happens in the gut in IC eventually leads to problems in the urinary tract To be aware of this is to begin the healing of painful IC flares Why? Because when you begin to understand the origins of your dis-ease then you can be empowered to take on the challenges to live the life you once had And we have seen that there are often psychological similarities between those with...
read moreAs you know the pelvic pain from IC can be so severe that it precludes having normal sexual activity In a survey done through the ICA organization 90% of IC patients report problems with intimacy And the majority of women(50-85%) have associated vulvodynia or pain specifically related to the vagina The fear of bringing on the pain and a flare can lead to avoidance and resulting isolation Some have reported breaking into a cold sweat due to anxiety just with foreplay And this can obviously put a severe strain on a marital relationship...
read moreThe sour taste provokes painful IC flares The problem is that acidity is hidden away in matter science dietary recommendations It’s also widely known that cultural diets that favor a more alkaline nature tend to promote within cultures greater longevity (eg Asian diets) Animal based protein diets which are high in acidity(fatty acids) demonstrate decreased longevity From an energy science perspective this is not about vegetarianism; it’s about what increasing amounts of acid loading does to person Not only does...
read moreThe symptoms from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) can get ramped up during the summer months due to the hot quality that gets even more expressed We’ve chosen eleven ingredients we like that cool Pitta dosha particularly during the hot summer months If we’ve missed one of your favorites, please let us know in the comment section below 11 Ways to Cool Off 1. Coconut There are so many ways to use coconut and so many coconut products to enjoy – coconut...
read moreThe chronic pain from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgiacuseeks a solution but you are told that the “dis-ease is treatable not curable” But what would it be like if there was a solution? Is it possible? We are led to believe a lie, when we give up hope And obviously there is no quick fix or IC wouldn’t be a problem But what would it be like to have your life back? Too hard to believe? Well read on The experience amongst IC patients is...
read moreA “flare” is a common phrase used in IC circles to describe the sudden occurrence of pain around voiding It can also describe the pelvic pain associated with the burning and frequency of urination that can be part of the recurrent symptom complex so characteristic of interstitial cystitis You may remember the graph on the home page near the bottom If not go check it out now because it will show you the ups and downs of ANY dis-ease in the physiology Even acute conditions such as renal colic from urinary stones or appendicitis...
read moreWe all have likes and dislikes in our nutritional diet, don’t we? In the energy science we call them cravings that are physiologic and nonphysiologic The former should be satisfied like being thirsty after sweating a lot But the latter are problematic for us and often stem from our past history, friends, teachers, but some are darn right desires that try as we might we can’t explain why we avoid or are attracted to them. So we like things such as coffee, tomatoes, carbonated drinks, hot spices everyday, animal foods such as...
read moreThe traditional healing systems such as Ayurveda from India and the Traditional Oriental Medical system both saw the body as an energy field and built elaborate healing sciences around the concept that the body is an energy field. Today we know from Einstein that this is indeed correct, that what is energy is matter and what is matter is energy, from the famous equation E=MC2. One of the greatest gifts that the energy science of Ayurveda gives us is the understanding of how all diseases begin in the body. Ayurveda began with this...
read moreThose with IC know that acidity has something to do with their bladder pain and other symptoms either intuitively or reading what others have to say about IC and its causative factors This leads to a large number of dietary recommendations to eliminate the acidity from the diet and to reduce symptoms of pelvic pain You can go a long way toward resolution of your symptoms if you do fundamental changes in your nutritional format just by eliminating known trigger foods from your food choices But as I have written before what foods to avoid...
read more
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
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
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
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 Eat a alkalinizing nutritional format(google misra and green composite recipe)
4 Use churans in your cooking to improve digestion(see foodsheal.com)
5 lf 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
Everyone agrees that the pain of IC is related to inflammation but it may be surprising to find that all diseases from cancer to diabetes have an element of this inflammation And this is where we are at in our current understanding of disease from a matter or molecular science point of view And we as the signpost points are left with no direction There are many painful molecules that have now been identified that produce inflammation in the mindbody We have identified many of these molecules But what causes them to begin to show up in...
read moreIC pain and the pain of IBS(irritable bowel syndrome) are interrelated on an energy level because gut problems begin the imbalance that leads to IC symptoms What happens in the gut in IC eventually leads to problems in the urinary tract To be aware of this is to begin the healing of painful IC flares Why? Because when you begin to understand the origins of your dis-ease then you can be empowered to take on the challenges to live the life you once had And we have seen that there are often psychological similarities between those with...
read moreAs you know the pelvic pain from IC can be so severe that it precludes having normal sexual activity In a survey done through the ICA organization 90% of IC patients report problems with intimacy And the majority of women(50-85%) have associated vulvodynia or pain specifically related to the vagina The fear of bringing on the pain and a flare can lead to avoidance and resulting isolation Some have reported breaking into a cold sweat due to anxiety just with foreplay And this can obviously put a severe strain on a marital relationship...
read moreThe sour taste provokes painful IC flares The problem is that acidity is hidden away in matter science dietary recommendations It’s also widely known that cultural diets that favor a more alkaline nature tend to promote within cultures greater longevity (eg Asian diets) Animal based protein diets which are high in acidity(fatty acids) demonstrate decreased longevity From an energy science perspective this is not about vegetarianism; it’s about what increasing amounts of acid loading does to person Not only does...
read moreThe symptoms from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) can get ramped up during the summer months due to the hot quality that gets even more expressed We’ve chosen eleven ingredients we like that cool Pitta dosha particularly during the hot summer months If we’ve missed one of your favorites, please let us know in the comment section below 11 Ways to Cool Off 1. Coconut There are so many ways to use coconut and so many coconut products to enjoy – coconut...
read moreThe chronic pain from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgiacuseeks a solution but you are told that the “dis-ease is treatable not curable” But what would it be like if there was a solution? Is it possible? We are led to believe a lie, when we give up hope And obviously there is no quick fix or IC wouldn’t be a problem But what would it be like to have your life back? Too hard to believe? Well read on The experience amongst IC patients is...
read moreA “flare” is a common phrase used in IC circles to describe the sudden occurrence of pain around voiding It can also describe the pelvic pain associated with the burning and frequency of urination that can be part of the recurrent symptom complex so characteristic of interstitial cystitis You may remember the graph on the home page near the bottom If not go check it out now because it will show you the ups and downs of ANY dis-ease in the physiology Even acute conditions such as renal colic from urinary stones or appendicitis...
read moreWe all have likes and dislikes in our nutritional diet, don’t we? In the energy science we call them cravings that are physiologic and nonphysiologic The former should be satisfied like being thirsty after sweating a lot But the latter are problematic for us and often stem from our past history, friends, teachers, but some are darn right desires that try as we might we can’t explain why we avoid or are attracted to them. So we like things such as coffee, tomatoes, carbonated drinks, hot spices everyday, animal foods such as...
read moreThe traditional healing systems such as Ayurveda from India and the Traditional Oriental Medical system both saw the body as an energy field and built elaborate healing sciences around the concept that the body is an energy field. Today we know from Einstein that this is indeed correct, that what is energy is matter and what is matter is energy, from the famous equation E=MC2. One of the greatest gifts that the energy science of Ayurveda gives us is the understanding of how all diseases begin in the body. Ayurveda began with this...
read moreThose with IC know that acidity has something to do with their bladder pain and other symptoms either intuitively or reading what others have to say about IC and its causative factors This leads to a large number of dietary recommendations to eliminate the acidity from the diet and to reduce symptoms of pelvic pain You can go a long way toward resolution of your symptoms if you do fundamental changes in your nutritional format just by eliminating known trigger foods from your food choices But as I have written before what foods to avoid...
read more
The chronic pain from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) seeks a solution but you are told that the “dis-ease is treatable not curable”
But what would it be like if there was a solution? Is it possible? We are led to believe a lie, when we give up hope And obviously there is no quick fix or IC wouldn’t be a problem But what would it be like to have your life back? Too hard to believe? Well read on
The experience amongst IC patients is that the diet promoted by ICA or ICN may work for some, not for others Sometimes works for awhile then seems to not work What gives? Anecdotal experience at best would be the first thing that comes to mind from such diet recommendations
The energy science views foods as qualities not molecules This is a complete divergence from mainstream medical thinking And it stems from how we view the human biology If we see the mindbody as a group of molecules as well as the food we consume then are limiting ourselves We know from E=mc2 that matter and energy are interchangeable at a constant So what is matter is energy and what is energy is matter We are simultaneously both a particle and a wave form The current medical model sees only the human biology as a matter field
And so the dietary recommendations that you follow are molecular based So the matter science states that it’s the molecule of acid in the urine brings about the symptoms of IC Eliminate acid provoking foods and the IC is cleared Ah, if it were that simple!
From an energy perspective the IC pain comes from too much of the hot quality and the frequency of urination comes from too much of the mobile quality When we eat foods that contain these qualities in abundance you get out of balance and dis-ease occurs
The first thing to do is to find out who you are from an energy science point of view Although not perfect this quiz will help you determine who you are from an energy science view This is very important because for some a particular food may be balancing for some and completely imbalancing for someone else A good example of this is the tomato For PV completely unacceptable and for PK ok in moderation
The second thing to do is to follow the nutritional format based on the results of the quiz There are clear instructions as to how to do that at the site foodsheal.com
The third is to begin CCF tea(cumin coriander and fennel seeds in equal proportions together in a plastic bag) by taking a bunch and steeping it in hot water and then sipping on this tea all day CCF is energetically medicinal to the urinary tract and you guessed it, they all are overall cooling to the urinary channel!
The fourth thing is an alkalinizing diet using green composite protein intake This clearly will alkalinize the GIT and reduce symptoms
Everyone agrees that the pain of IC is related to inflammation but it may be surprising to find that all diseases from cancer to diabetes have an element of this inflammation And this is where we are at in our current understanding of disease from a matter or molecular science point of view And we as the signpost points are left with no direction There are many painful molecules that have now been identified that produce inflammation in the mindbody We have identified many of these molecules But what causes them to begin to show up in...
read moreIC pain and the pain of IBS(irritable bowel syndrome) are interrelated on an energy level because gut problems begin the imbalance that leads to IC symptoms What happens in the gut in IC eventually leads to problems in the urinary tract To be aware of this is to begin the healing of painful IC flares Why? Because when you begin to understand the origins of your dis-ease then you can be empowered to take on the challenges to live the life you once had And we have seen that there are often psychological similarities between those with...
read moreAs you know the pelvic pain from IC can be so severe that it precludes having normal sexual activity In a survey done through the ICA organization 90% of IC patients report problems with intimacy And the majority of women(50-85%) have associated vulvodynia or pain specifically related to the vagina The fear of bringing on the pain and a flare can lead to avoidance and resulting isolation Some have reported breaking into a cold sweat due to anxiety just with foreplay And this can obviously put a severe strain on a marital relationship...
read moreThe sour taste provokes painful IC flares The problem is that acidity is hidden away in matter science dietary recommendations It’s also widely known that cultural diets that favor a more alkaline nature tend to promote within cultures greater longevity (eg Asian diets) Animal based protein diets which are high in acidity(fatty acids) demonstrate decreased longevity From an energy science perspective this is not about vegetarianism; it’s about what increasing amounts of acid loading does to person Not only does...
read moreThe symptoms from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) can get ramped up during the summer months due to the hot quality that gets even more expressed We’ve chosen eleven ingredients we like that cool Pitta dosha particularly during the hot summer months If we’ve missed one of your favorites, please let us know in the comment section below 11 Ways to Cool Off 1. Coconut There are so many ways to use coconut and so many coconut products to enjoy – coconut...
read moreThe chronic pain from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgiacuseeks a solution but you are told that the “dis-ease is treatable not curable” But what would it be like if there was a solution? Is it possible? We are led to believe a lie, when we give up hope And obviously there is no quick fix or IC wouldn’t be a problem But what would it be like to have your life back? Too hard to believe? Well read on The experience amongst IC patients is...
read moreA “flare” is a common phrase used in IC circles to describe the sudden occurrence of pain around voiding It can also describe the pelvic pain associated with the burning and frequency of urination that can be part of the recurrent symptom complex so characteristic of interstitial cystitis You may remember the graph on the home page near the bottom If not go check it out now because it will show you the ups and downs of ANY dis-ease in the physiology Even acute conditions such as renal colic from urinary stones or appendicitis...
read moreWe all have likes and dislikes in our nutritional diet, don’t we? In the energy science we call them cravings that are physiologic and nonphysiologic The former should be satisfied like being thirsty after sweating a lot But the latter are problematic for us and often stem from our past history, friends, teachers, but some are darn right desires that try as we might we can’t explain why we avoid or are attracted to them. So we like things such as coffee, tomatoes, carbonated drinks, hot spices everyday, animal foods such as...
read moreThe traditional healing systems such as Ayurveda from India and the Traditional Oriental Medical system both saw the body as an energy field and built elaborate healing sciences around the concept that the body is an energy field. Today we know from Einstein that this is indeed correct, that what is energy is matter and what is matter is energy, from the famous equation E=MC2. One of the greatest gifts that the energy science of Ayurveda gives us is the understanding of how all diseases begin in the body. Ayurveda began with this...
read moreThose with IC know that acidity has something to do with their bladder pain and other symptoms either intuitively or reading what others have to say about IC and its causative factors This leads to a large number of dietary recommendations to eliminate the acidity from the diet and to reduce symptoms of pelvic pain You can go a long way toward resolution of your symptoms if you do fundamental changes in your nutritional format just by eliminating known trigger foods from your food choices But as I have written before what foods to avoid...
read more
As I’ve talked about in the past the pelvic bladder pain of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) is related to the hot and mobile qualities being stuck in the pelvis But why do some 60% of IC patients not go on to severe chronic symptoms? The answer in short form is toxic load in the urinary system that prevents the qualities from naturally being releasedEveryone agrees that the pain of IC is related to inflammation but it may be surprising to find that all diseases from cancer to diabetes have an element of this inflammation And this is where we are at in our current understanding of disease from a matter or molecular science point of view And we as the signpost points are left with no direction There are many painful molecules that have now been identified that produce inflammation in the mindbody We have identified many of these molecules But what causes them to begin to show up in...
read moreIC pain and the pain of IBS(irritable bowel syndrome) are interrelated on an energy level because gut problems begin the imbalance that leads to IC symptoms What happens in the gut in IC eventually leads to problems in the urinary tract To be aware of this is to begin the healing of painful IC flares Why? Because when you begin to understand the origins of your dis-ease then you can be empowered to take on the challenges to live the life you once had And we have seen that there are often psychological similarities between those with...
read moreAs you know the pelvic pain from IC can be so severe that it precludes having normal sexual activity In a survey done through the ICA organization 90% of IC patients report problems with intimacy And the majority of women(50-85%) have associated vulvodynia or pain specifically related to the vagina The fear of bringing on the pain and a flare can lead to avoidance and resulting isolation Some have reported breaking into a cold sweat due to anxiety just with foreplay And this can obviously put a severe strain on a marital relationship...
read moreThe sour taste provokes painful IC flares The problem is that acidity is hidden away in matter science dietary recommendations It’s also widely known that cultural diets that favor a more alkaline nature tend to promote within cultures greater longevity (eg Asian diets) Animal based protein diets which are high in acidity(fatty acids) demonstrate decreased longevity From an energy science perspective this is not about vegetarianism; it’s about what increasing amounts of acid loading does to person Not only does...
read moreThe symptoms from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) can get ramped up during the summer months due to the hot quality that gets even more expressed We’ve chosen eleven ingredients we like that cool Pitta dosha particularly during the hot summer months If we’ve missed one of your favorites, please let us know in the comment section below 11 Ways to Cool Off 1. Coconut There are so many ways to use coconut and so many coconut products to enjoy – coconut...
read moreThe chronic pain from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgiacuseeks a solution but you are told that the “dis-ease is treatable not curable” But what would it be like if there was a solution? Is it possible? We are led to believe a lie, when we give up hope And obviously there is no quick fix or IC wouldn’t be a problem But what would it be like to have your life back? Too hard to believe? Well read on The experience amongst IC patients is...
read moreA “flare” is a common phrase used in IC circles to describe the sudden occurrence of pain around voiding It can also describe the pelvic pain associated with the burning and frequency of urination that can be part of the recurrent symptom complex so characteristic of interstitial cystitis You may remember the graph on the home page near the bottom If not go check it out now because it will show you the ups and downs of ANY dis-ease in the physiology Even acute conditions such as renal colic from urinary stones or appendicitis...
read moreWe all have likes and dislikes in our nutritional diet, don’t we? In the energy science we call them cravings that are physiologic and nonphysiologic The former should be satisfied like being thirsty after sweating a lot But the latter are problematic for us and often stem from our past history, friends, teachers, but some are darn right desires that try as we might we can’t explain why we avoid or are attracted to them. So we like things such as coffee, tomatoes, carbonated drinks, hot spices everyday, animal foods such as...
read moreThe traditional healing systems such as Ayurveda from India and the Traditional Oriental Medical system both saw the body as an energy field and built elaborate healing sciences around the concept that the body is an energy field. Today we know from Einstein that this is indeed correct, that what is energy is matter and what is matter is energy, from the famous equation E=MC2. One of the greatest gifts that the energy science of Ayurveda gives us is the understanding of how all diseases begin in the body. Ayurveda began with this...
read moreThose with IC know that acidity has something to do with their bladder pain and other symptoms either intuitively or reading what others have to say about IC and its causative factors This leads to a large number of dietary recommendations to eliminate the acidity from the diet and to reduce symptoms of pelvic pain You can go a long way toward resolution of your symptoms if you do fundamental changes in your nutritional format just by eliminating known trigger foods from your food choices But as I have written before what foods to avoid...
read more
I think it’s pretty much consensus that pharmaceuticals are not the panacea for IC and bladder pain. At least that was my experience with the IC patients who I worked with. Herbs offer an alternative to pharmaceuticals and we have discussed a number of them for use such as CCF tea, the use of turmeric in cooking, as well as aloe vera gel.
Herbs fall into 3 categories when looking at their functional effects. Unlike pharmaceucals one herb category enhances digestive strength in all its various aspects of function, for example turmeric. A second category is composed of therapeutic herbs that solve very specific problems, such as aloe vera gel. Taken alone they are not as effective, but done with nutritional work they can be highly effiective. Aloe vera when combined with a Pitta-reducing nutritional format can have an almost immediate (one to two weeks) impact on flares.
The third category is a special group of herbs that are rejuvenative. These herbs restore youthful vigor and vitality and are the topic of this post.
Herbs can offer immediate relief in some situations and support the nutrition and metabolic lifestyle behaviors in the long term. But herbs, unlike pharmaceuticals, are not primary but secondary in management. This is a clear departure from current thinking about disease management, but is tantamount to success in dealing with chronic disease. Having said that herbs can help jumpstart a system that is under stress as in cases of patients who have long standing IC and are debilitated.
Herbs that are rejuvenative in nature are useful because they have the capability of strengthening the fatigued low energy body that has been under the stress of chronic disease such as IC, while at the same time dealing with the imbalance that is going on.
The interesting thing about rejuvenative herbs is that they have an impact on mind. This can be very helpful for those who are depressed and feeling helpless. It is this particular aspect of rejuvenative therapy that can be quite helpful in creating more space for lifestyle changes.
So the special place that rejuvenatives have is that they impact or shift our DNA which in turn affect our choices in selection of various alternatives presented to us so that you make better choices with respect to the management of IC. They also help to modify our lifestyle behavioral choices so that old habits that are not supportive of healing IC are easier to get out of.
Aloe vera I have mentioned this herb numerous times in the past because not only does it offer cooling to the hot urinary tract system but on top of this it is a rejuvenative. That is, it has the capability of helping you morph lifestyle changes in choice of all kinds. So for example when making choices about foods that may be not such good choices and choice about foods that are better choices, eg coffee habits. Also choice around lifestyle behaviors that are not conducive to healing and those that are.
Gokshura Also known as Caltrops this herb targets the water or urinary tract channel and is effective in reducing inflammation but is also good at reducing the incidence of stone formation. It is this latter effect that suggests that gokshura is an important herb in facilitating glycosoaminoglycan (GAG) layer formation. Its best use is in formula, but it could be used in basti (below) due to the GAG-formation enhancement.
Purnarnava Translated as “that which renews us” this herb also like gokshura has affinity to the urinary channel. It strengthens the kidneys and in doing so aids in our overall health and vitality. Its action is more tonifying to the kidney than to the urinary bladder and therefore would be a second line herb in dealing with straightforward IC.
Guduchi An important rejuvenative for Pitta and nutritive herb to take during recovery periods. It is a potent detoxifier, buring ama without aggravating Pitta. It is a great tonic for the immune system . Taken with ghee it reduces Vata, with sugar reduces Pitta, and with honey it reduces Kapha.
Shatavari This is one of the more important herbs in reducing Pitta and used for women’s Pitta imbalances around menstruation but in the IC condition is unique in its application, particularly around tea decoctions for bladder therapy below. It is a rejuvenative as well. It is useful in treating dry and inflamed mucous membranes. In addition to its Pitta pacifying use, it also soothes calms Vata.
The basis of selection of which herb to use is based on the individual not on the disease. So the evaluation of the individual to use targeted therapy is based on who needs it.
Sir William Osler, said to be the father of Modern Medicine wrote, “A good physician treats the disease, the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”
PS The forum is UP!!! Go to ic-solutions.tv and be the first to enter a post or begin a new thread The effort is to help get your questions answered and share your energy science experiences
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Everyone agrees that the pain of IC is related to inflammation but it may be surprising to find that all diseases from cancer to diabetes have an element of this inflammation And this is where we are at in our current understanding of disease from a matter or molecular science point of view And we as the signpost points are left with no direction There are many painful molecules that have now been identified that produce inflammation in the mindbody We have identified many of these molecules But what causes them to begin to show up in...
read moreIC pain and the pain of IBS(irritable bowel syndrome) are interrelated on an energy level because gut problems begin the imbalance that leads to IC symptoms What happens in the gut in IC eventually leads to problems in the urinary tract To be aware of this is to begin the healing of painful IC flares Why? Because when you begin to understand the origins of your dis-ease then you can be empowered to take on the challenges to live the life you once had And we have seen that there are often psychological similarities between those with...
read moreAs you know the pelvic pain from IC can be so severe that it precludes having normal sexual activity In a survey done through the ICA organization 90% of IC patients report problems with intimacy And the majority of women(50-85%) have associated vulvodynia or pain specifically related to the vagina The fear of bringing on the pain and a flare can lead to avoidance and resulting isolation Some have reported breaking into a cold sweat due to anxiety just with foreplay And this can obviously put a severe strain on a marital relationship...
read moreThe sour taste provokes painful IC flares The problem is that acidity is hidden away in matter science dietary recommendations It’s also widely known that cultural diets that favor a more alkaline nature tend to promote within cultures greater longevity (eg Asian diets) Animal based protein diets which are high in acidity(fatty acids) demonstrate decreased longevity From an energy science perspective this is not about vegetarianism; it’s about what increasing amounts of acid loading does to person Not only does...
read moreThe symptoms from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) can get ramped up during the summer months due to the hot quality that gets even more expressed We’ve chosen eleven ingredients we like that cool Pitta dosha particularly during the hot summer months If we’ve missed one of your favorites, please let us know in the comment section below 11 Ways to Cool Off 1. Coconut There are so many ways to use coconut and so many coconut products to enjoy – coconut...
read moreThe chronic pain from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgiacuseeks a solution but you are told that the “dis-ease is treatable not curable” But what would it be like if there was a solution? Is it possible? We are led to believe a lie, when we give up hope And obviously there is no quick fix or IC wouldn’t be a problem But what would it be like to have your life back? Too hard to believe? Well read on The experience amongst IC patients is...
read moreA “flare” is a common phrase used in IC circles to describe the sudden occurrence of pain around voiding It can also describe the pelvic pain associated with the burning and frequency of urination that can be part of the recurrent symptom complex so characteristic of interstitial cystitis You may remember the graph on the home page near the bottom If not go check it out now because it will show you the ups and downs of ANY dis-ease in the physiology Even acute conditions such as renal colic from urinary stones or appendicitis...
read moreWe all have likes and dislikes in our nutritional diet, don’t we? In the energy science we call them cravings that are physiologic and nonphysiologic The former should be satisfied like being thirsty after sweating a lot But the latter are problematic for us and often stem from our past history, friends, teachers, but some are darn right desires that try as we might we can’t explain why we avoid or are attracted to them. So we like things such as coffee, tomatoes, carbonated drinks, hot spices everyday, animal foods such as...
read moreThe traditional healing systems such as Ayurveda from India and the Traditional Oriental Medical system both saw the body as an energy field and built elaborate healing sciences around the concept that the body is an energy field. Today we know from Einstein that this is indeed correct, that what is energy is matter and what is matter is energy, from the famous equation E=MC2. One of the greatest gifts that the energy science of Ayurveda gives us is the understanding of how all diseases begin in the body. Ayurveda began with this...
read moreThose with IC know that acidity has something to do with their bladder pain and other symptoms either intuitively or reading what others have to say about IC and its causative factors This leads to a large number of dietary recommendations to eliminate the acidity from the diet and to reduce symptoms of pelvic pain You can go a long way toward resolution of your symptoms if you do fundamental changes in your nutritional format just by eliminating known trigger foods from your food choices But as I have written before what foods to avoid...
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How long does it take to heal IC using an energy science approach? Obviously this is a common question posed by those doing energy science work for clearance of their IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD and fibromyalgia)
As a child you may have asked, “Are we there yet?” and “Now are we there yet?” So when will this IC be over? The short answer is, “It’s over when it’s over.” But to be more specific, in general it takes 2 months of release for every year of imbalance So if you have had symptoms of IC for 10 years it will take 20 months of work to clear the energy qualities that have accumulated
This would make sense wouldn’t it? The longer the imbalance the more work is required to get resolution This doesn’t mean that there will not be improvement of symptoms The flare intensity get less as the months go by and then the frequency lessens But real healing takes time!
The body is simultaneously a matter field and an energy field. The former expresses itself as molecules or particles and the latter as waves of energy So this is how the energy field expresses dis-ease In waves
Sound familiar? The waves are flares that occur in the body. And they continue to express themselves until you do something about it. Until you decide to intervene Otherwise the expression of the excess qualities will continue to occur
Because the matter field is a gross expression of the more subtle energy field, you now can see why dis-ease begins with qualities that then eventually become manifest as particles or molecules in the matter field This is why I can say with certainty that the matter science will never be able to heal IC with its molecular approach to dis-ease
Once the urinary tract is involved with the energy patterns of Vata and Pitta, the symptoms of Vata presence begin episodic expression of light, cold, rough, dry, and mobile which lead to urgency, frequency and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder Pitta’s presence of inflammation lead to burning on urination, burning pain in the pelvis, vagina, and even rectum due to the sharp, hot, liquid and spreading qualities
These qualities lodge in the urinary tract and express as energy or wave So the intermittent flares that occur in the body are waves of energetic expression
But what happens when you decide to do things to differently? You begin paying attention to your day and how you live it Energy science nutrition becomes important and you start seeing food as medicine You choose certain herbs that can help with IC and use them regularly
When you no longer support the overexpression of these qualities in the body by the foods that you eat, the body naturally begins letting go of these excess qualities of light, cold, rough, dry, mobile, sharp, hot, liquid and spreading This takes time but by and by there is lessening of the symptoms that the qualities brought and healing begins to occur
What you see is gradual regression of the symptoms They do not stop all at once There is a receding of the complex of symptoms much like the outgoing tide on the beach
Everyone agrees that the pain of IC is related to inflammation but it may be surprising to find that all diseases from cancer to diabetes have an element of this inflammation And this is where we are at in our current understanding of disease from a matter or molecular science point of view And we as the signpost points are left with no direction There are many painful molecules that have now been identified that produce inflammation in the mindbody We have identified many of these molecules But what causes them to begin to show up in...
read moreIC pain and the pain of IBS(irritable bowel syndrome) are interrelated on an energy level because gut problems begin the imbalance that leads to IC symptoms What happens in the gut in IC eventually leads to problems in the urinary tract To be aware of this is to begin the healing of painful IC flares Why? Because when you begin to understand the origins of your dis-ease then you can be empowered to take on the challenges to live the life you once had And we have seen that there are often psychological similarities between those with...
read moreAs you know the pelvic pain from IC can be so severe that it precludes having normal sexual activity In a survey done through the ICA organization 90% of IC patients report problems with intimacy And the majority of women(50-85%) have associated vulvodynia or pain specifically related to the vagina The fear of bringing on the pain and a flare can lead to avoidance and resulting isolation Some have reported breaking into a cold sweat due to anxiety just with foreplay And this can obviously put a severe strain on a marital relationship...
read moreThe sour taste provokes painful IC flares The problem is that acidity is hidden away in matter science dietary recommendations It’s also widely known that cultural diets that favor a more alkaline nature tend to promote within cultures greater longevity (eg Asian diets) Animal based protein diets which are high in acidity(fatty acids) demonstrate decreased longevity From an energy science perspective this is not about vegetarianism; it’s about what increasing amounts of acid loading does to person Not only does...
read moreThe symptoms from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) can get ramped up during the summer months due to the hot quality that gets even more expressed We’ve chosen eleven ingredients we like that cool Pitta dosha particularly during the hot summer months If we’ve missed one of your favorites, please let us know in the comment section below 11 Ways to Cool Off 1. Coconut There are so many ways to use coconut and so many coconut products to enjoy – coconut...
read moreThe chronic pain from the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgiacuseeks a solution but you are told that the “dis-ease is treatable not curable” But what would it be like if there was a solution? Is it possible? We are led to believe a lie, when we give up hope And obviously there is no quick fix or IC wouldn’t be a problem But what would it be like to have your life back? Too hard to believe? Well read on The experience amongst IC patients is...
read moreA “flare” is a common phrase used in IC circles to describe the sudden occurrence of pain around voiding It can also describe the pelvic pain associated with the burning and frequency of urination that can be part of the recurrent symptom complex so characteristic of interstitial cystitis You may remember the graph on the home page near the bottom If not go check it out now because it will show you the ups and downs of ANY dis-ease in the physiology Even acute conditions such as renal colic from urinary stones or appendicitis...
read moreWe all have likes and dislikes in our nutritional diet, don’t we? In the energy science we call them cravings that are physiologic and nonphysiologic The former should be satisfied like being thirsty after sweating a lot But the latter are problematic for us and often stem from our past history, friends, teachers, but some are darn right desires that try as we might we can’t explain why we avoid or are attracted to them. So we like things such as coffee, tomatoes, carbonated drinks, hot spices everyday, animal foods such as...
read moreThe traditional healing systems such as Ayurveda from India and the Traditional Oriental Medical system both saw the body as an energy field and built elaborate healing sciences around the concept that the body is an energy field. Today we know from Einstein that this is indeed correct, that what is energy is matter and what is matter is energy, from the famous equation E=MC2. One of the greatest gifts that the energy science of Ayurveda gives us is the understanding of how all diseases begin in the body. Ayurveda began with this...
read moreThose with IC know that acidity has something to do with their bladder pain and other symptoms either intuitively or reading what others have to say about IC and its causative factors This leads to a large number of dietary recommendations to eliminate the acidity from the diet and to reduce symptoms of pelvic pain You can go a long way toward resolution of your symptoms if you do fundamental changes in your nutritional format just by eliminating known trigger foods from your food choices But as I have written before what foods to avoid...
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