Do you experience frequent trips to the bathroom and ongoing urinary bladder pain or constant sensation of pressure in the bladder? Of course the first thought might be that these symptoms are due to a urinary bladder infection.  In many cases however, urinary testing reveals no infection is present – yet these uncomfortable symptoms persist!

In this case, the likely cause of the ongoing discomfort is Interstitial Cystits.

Interstitial cystitis is irritation and inflammation of the bladder without an infection present. Often there are inflammatory changes present in the bladder in the form of small ulcers, sometimes however these cannot be seen. Naturopathic medicine has many options for treatment of interstitial cystitis and often a combination of dietary elimination and supplementation helps to improve and resolve the majority of cases.

Here are 3 approaches that work in my practice:

Determine which Foods and Drinks are Your Triggers

This is sometimes easier said than done, however, there are a few dietary offenders that should be eliminated to determine if they trigger your symptoms. These foods and drinks tend to be irritating due to their acidity, diuretic properties or inflammatory action on the bladder. Avoid the following foods and drinks for a period of three weeks to determine if there is improvement: alcohol, coffee, caffeinated tea, spicy foods, citrus fruit, cranberry juice, tomato products, artificial sweeteners, cured meats, MSG and carbonated drinks. This is not an all-inclusive list but a good start if you consume these regularly. Often when I have a look at a patients common dietary choices, I eliminate more foods or test for IgG mediated food sensitivities to look for other foods that may contribute to bladder inflammation.

Determine if Your Supplements are Your Triggers

Health supplements you are taking to keep you healthy may actually be irritating your bladder! This can be especially true for health products that contain B vitamins, Vitamin C, certain herbal preparations including cranberry pills or health products with many fillers or artificial colours. I typically ask my patients to stop most supplements for a period of 3 weeks. Once bladder symptoms resolve, we re-introduce one at a time every few days.

Take quality health products to heal the bladder

We stop some health products but introduce others.   My recommendations include increased intake of mucilaginous herbs such as slippery elm or marshmallow root. These herbs help to produce a healthy mucus layer in the bladder that allows for healing of ulcers. I usually also recommend a good quality probiotic, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D and quercetin depending on the patient. The list is choosen based on their anti-inflammatory properties. Always consult with your ND or MD if you are taking medication to see if the above supplements are right for you.

The above steps have helped many of my patients recover from symptoms of bladder irritation and interstitial cystitis. Usually symptoms will improve after 3 weeks, but the treatment period may last longer depending on patient response.