Natural Remedies to Relieve Interstitial Cystitis
Unfortunately, the possible causes of interstitial cystitis are currently unknown and there is no treatment guaranteed effective. The treatment of this condition typically involves lifestyle changes, as well as getting stress under control. Stress and anxiety can often trigger interstitial cystitis.
For this reason, keep reading to learn about some natural remedies that could help alleviate your symptoms.
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What is interstitial cystitis?
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic disease that causes discomfort and pain in the bladder and causes the person to have to urinate frequently. Symptoms may vary a bit depending on the person, but in general, it mostly affects women.
This condition greatly affects the quality of life of the women who suffer from it. It can also cause them pain during sexual intercourse as well as sleep disorders. All that’s in addition to the main symptoms, which trouble the bladder. Finally, it usually affects your mood and may come hand-in-hand with anxiety, stress, or depression.
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Natural remedies to relieve interstitial cystitis
The natural treatments to relieve interstitial cystitis are mainly based on proposing some changes in diet and stress management. In addition, physiotherapy can also be effective, but always under medical supervision.
On the other hand, patients should also seek out psychological help if they are also suffering from cases of anxiety and/or depression. One option is cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as therapies that help support relaxation.
1. Cranberries
Cranberries have certain properties that help fight cystitis. In addition, they also help to strengthen the immune system.
First, to help relieve interstitial cystitis, you can drink cranberry juice or take cranberry tablets. This is especially useful for those who suffer from this condition regularly.
The benefits of this red fruit in the fight against cystitis are thanks to the considerable anthocyanidin content. These substances help prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall.
2. Grapefruit seed extract
Grapefruit seed extract is an increasingly popular and natural ingredient that helps to fight infections. In particular, it can help you relieve interstitial cystitis without the side effects of conventional antibiotics.
The seeds of this citrus, in addition to being antioxidants, have antimicrobial properties that reduce the development of bacteria and fungi. Therefore, it can be an important supplement for strengthening your immune system.
3. Bearberry, or Ursi Grape
The third natural remedy to relieve interstitial cystitis is the bearberry or ursi grape. This unusual fruit is an effective natural remedy to prevent and relieve interstitial cystitis, as well as urinary infections in general. However, it’s recommended to take it in the early stages of the infection and always under medical supervision.
Ideally, you’ll want to mix bearberry leaves with other natural remedies. Also, you can take it in tea form or in capsules or tablets, in which case you should always take the dose indicated by the manufacturer.
To drink or not to drink?
Contrary to what many people think, water consumption is beneficial for treating cystitis.Finally, those with interstitial cystitis suffer from having to urinate frequently. Therefore, some choose to reduce fluid intake, which may help reduce some discomfort.
However, drinking enough water throughout the day also helps dilute the toxins in the urine, which will be more irritating at a higher concentration. Also, keeping hydrated favors good intestinal transit; unfortunately, constipation can also make symptoms worse.
Some final tips to relieve interstitial cystitis
Finally, don’t forget these last two tips that are very common recommendations for those looking to relieve interstitial cystitis. First, wear underwear made of natural materials such as cotton.
Secondly, always use proper hygiene in your intimate area when you go to the bathroom. That is, always wipe from front to back (towards your anus).
In this article, you’ve learned about some useful natural remedies and advice that will help you relieve interstitial cystitis – or, at least, improve your quality of life. These natural supplements are worth a try since they also do not pose any health risks. If you have any questions, make sure to ask your trusted doctor.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Bosch, P. C., & Bosch, D. C. (2014). Treating interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome as a chronic disease. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4080853/
- Abascal, K., & Yarnell, E. (2008). Botanical Medicine for Cystitis. Alternative and Complementary Therapies. https://doi.org/10.1089/act.2008.14203
- Trill, J., Simpson, C., Webley, F., Radford, M., Stanton, L., Maishman, T., … Moore, M. (2017). Uva-ursi extract and ibuprofen as alternative treatments of adult female urinary tract infection (ATAFUTI): Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-017-2145-7