IC Diet Validation

The reason that our website icdiet.com is listed number one and two in the Google search engine is that the information works   People use what works for them not what’s written  And I can confidently say based on the energy science of Ayurveda that it works when you work it for bladder pain

There is no guess work(why did it work for Mary but not for me), no diet diaries, no elimination trials   Just straightforward Yes and No   The IC community(Interstitial Cystitis Association and Interstitial Cystitis Network) and the AUA(American Urological Association) have come to the conclusion that diet is fundamental to the management of IC and chronic prostatitis   The energy science model has understood that for 1000’s of years   From this model’s perspective the GI tract is the source of all diseases

Although being around for just six years and building its traffic by word of mouth, the site is a testimony to the effectiveness of this energy science nutritional format

Here’s what a reader had to say about the format

“I have been looking for answers for IC for quite some time now.  I totally have followed your advice on the Pitta diet and the aloe vera and now I know I have control over my IC.  It does not control me anymore.  I am 100 percent better.  I have talked to some people on the IC Network and I feel I have been brushed off because nothing so simple could work, but it did for me. Maybe there are other therapies but for me this really did work.  I only have myself to blame for bad habits.  I gave my urologist a copy of the Pitta pacifying diet and information to read.  He told me he would give the diet to his other patients.”

This is recent comment that was posted and not a random and rare   It is one of many that I have heard over the years of urological practice when giving people this simple tool of nutrition   But there is so much more that you can do along with the nutritional format to help resolve your IC condition

Incompatible Food Combinations

One aspect of nutrition that is missed by the Western dietician approach is the concept that certain foods don’t belong with each other   Due to the rates of digestion certain foods interfere with not only the digestion but also the absorption and assimilation of foods

The reason that this is so important is that your digestive fire(agni) get affected and doused like when a wet log is placed on a roaring campfire   Digestive fire is a precious gift and if strong burns through your digestive mistakes(at a friend’s house for a dinner that has a lot of No column foods)

But There’s More

Diet is a molecular assessment of foods to be ingested   If you’re short on Vitamin D then a supplement is taken   If you want an antiinflammatory supplement use fish oil etc  And there is definite value in having this molecular information   But could it be we’re operating with an incomplete model of nutrition?  I mean where do you readily find nutritional information in the matter science nutritional literature about antidegenerative and anticongestive nutrition   Presently there are forays by matter science nutritionists about antiinflammatory diets but their recommendations are incomplete

But when you look at the energy science approach you are really practicing nutrition because the practice of nutrition takes into account regularity of bowel activity, feelings about food before and after eating(agni), the appearance of the tongue and what that means day to day   And this also means that the same approach can be effective for fibromyalgia, IBS, GERD, chronic fatigue syndrome, and vulvodynia

New Paradigm

Not only are you now becoming aware of the body as simultaneously both matter and energy fields but now seeing the value of what happens when you take on that understanding   Here the molecular information is supported and augmented by energy field model

As a direct result of seeing your body as an energy field you are gifted nutrition not just information  This nutritional approach gives you so much more than molecular information by stepping into the 21st century

It’s applied theory that can change your life and IC!

Until next week                              To Health as a Skill      Love DrBill

IC and Stone Disease: A Scientifically Valid Nutritional Approach

The body is simultaneously an energy and matter field based on your perspective

The bladder pain that is seen in IC flares can be viewed as either a molecular problem(matter science) or an imbalance in energy patterns in the urinary tract   The predominant theory of the matter or molecular science is that the glycosoaminoglycan(GAG) layer becomes disrupted and allows urine irritants to infiltrate the bladder wall leading to the painful flares of IC

The energy science of Ayurveda completely concurs that there is disruption due to acidic loading but notes it as an  imbalance of too much of the hot quality(inflammation or high Pitta) rather than naming a molecule at fault   The  urinary frequency, urgency with or without incontinece due to the mobile quality of high Vata   Since the energy science is a qualitative one there is no evaluation of molecules as in the matter science discipline

The endoscopic photos above show variations of crystalline formations on the renal papillae as a prodrome of stone disease of any form or size

 GAG Layer Disruption and Stone Disease

I have long contended in my urological practice that the vast majority of patients with stone disease have a GAG layer disruption in the kidney that predisposes them to stone disease   And I have suggested to them that they use aloe vera gel and a Pitta pacifying nutritional format or one used at foodsheal.com after taking the questionnaire

In this month’s International Urogynecology Journal a group from Taipei reported on a study of a population of patients of painful bladder syndrome and controlling for other associated diseases such as IBS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pelvic pain(CPPS). depression, and chronic pelvic pain found that those with prior stone disease were at higher risk for developing PBS or IC

There has been one other study suggesting an association but this is the first population based study to show the association between the chance of forming stones and suffering from IC or PBS

From the above discussion the GAG layer is secreted by all cellular tubes that communicate with the outside   So the respiratory tree, the GI tract, and the urinary tract linings all produce GAG layers

So it would make complete sense that deficient GAG layer in the urinary tract would not have to be necessarily located just singularly involving the bladder but could involve the kidney GAG layer as well   If this occurs the faulty papillary GAG layer in the kidney would not be slimy/smooth enough to prevent papillary crystals to form to serve as a nidus for continued stone growth

If the hot quality of Pitta can break down the GAG layer in the bladder it can certainly do the same thing in the kidney leading to stone formation

The Treatment of Stone Disease and  IC Are the Same

So it comes as no surprise that nutritional format reducing the Pitta energy pattern foods used is a solution not only for IC but also for stone disease as well   This would reduce those foods that are inflammatory and bring the hot quality in those patients who are predisposed to either stone disease or IC

The use of aloe would begin to help restructure the deficient GAG layer and making it whole again would be the solution to preventing stones in the future

What you are witnessing here is the unique interplay between the energy science and matter science disciplines where both support each other in a holistic way

Of course it goes without saying that IC and a person with stone disease should be treated in the same way as the problem is from an energy science view  Pitta and Vata imbalances in the urinary tract

All the best                                        To Health as a Skill    Love DrBill

Procrastination and IC

“Tomorrow I’ll begin that Pitta pacifying nutritional format for this bladder pain.”

But as the saying goes,”Tomorrow never comes.”

Procrastination is a form of fear and can be related to the Kapha energy pattern but any energy pattern can entertain inertia.

It’s worthwhile looking at this fear as it directly plays into our human quest for chronic dis-ease. And if we are human and walking on this planet we have imaginary fears.

Although imaginary fears have no basis, nonetheless they are locked away in our mindbody physiologies in the form of tight muscles, ligaments and joints or parked away in organs.

Vata fears express themselves as run away or anxiety, Pitta as fight or anger and Kapha as inertia. And combinations of these control dramas is the most common of all. Can you see yourself in these dramas dealing with IC(interstitial cystitis)?

To know this about ourselves is very liberating because we can stop and innocently observe ourselves in the game of procrastination as it revolves around this concept of change in lifestyle behaviors as played out in nutrition.

We then can ask ourselves very honestly, “What am I fearful about in making whatever change I am contemplating?”

So if you want to push your buttons go to icdiet.com and see what comes up for you when you see what changes are to made for the better.  It can also help with IBS, GERD, fibromyalgia, and chronic prostatitis but maybe that’s too much to ask for.

“Oh, I don’t have time to go to there right now. Maybe tomorrow.”

See you tomorrow?                                     To health as a skill       Love DrBill

PS  Interested in geting out the well worn rut of not dealing with IC?  Talk to me about a program that can do it for you by signing up for a free consultation

7 Herbs for Targeted Intravesical Use in Interstitial Cystitis

It’s estimated that 50 to as high as 70% of people experiencing IC have spontaneous resolution of bladder pain symptoms or after a period of time go away entirely or move to a more manageable symptom complex.  This is typified in the accompanying bell curve graph which shows to the left of the line those that have resolved completely or have manageable symptoms and those to the right who have repeated flares for an extended period of time.

This latter debilitated group of patients(CPPS) suffer not only unrelenting flares but lose marriages, relationships, and jobs leaving them on disability, helpless and with little positive outlook.  I believe the urologist is equally frustrated with these tormented souls as the pharma tools that they have are often inadequate for the job.  This is primarily because the origin of disease by the matter science is not understood and hence the pharma used is not targeted therapy.

Matter and Energy Science Urology:  Use of Bladder Instillation Therapy

Anyone with chronic interstitial cystitis(IC) with numerous trips to the urologist has experienced cystoscopy and catheterizations necessary to instill medicinal agents such as DMSO or medications such as heparin and steroid.   Some patients who have severe frequency and urgency are taught to by some urologists to do self administered intermittent catheterization thinking that decreasing residuals might help these lower tract irritative symptoms.

The energy science of Ayurveda has used catheterization for 1000’s of years and it is called basti.   There are many different forms of basti dependent on what locale of the body’s anatomy the healer wishes to treat.  Basti is used for various disease states from eye disorders to low back pain to constipation.

Basti helps to target the specific imbalanced organ in this case the bladder but can also be used for vulvodynia or vaginal pain which I blogged about in the past using topically administered herbs placed by hand or tampon.

Energy Science Targeted Therapy

Recently in the past 12 years there has been growing interest in the cancer literature on “targeted therapy” which has been used to describe cancer treating molecules that specifically “target” specific cancer cell processes that arrest cancer growth.  This avoids the broad chemotherapy effects that can be hard on treated patients.

I have described in previous posts that the origin of disease is understood from an energy science perspective to be an imbalance in qualities.  When herbs are used they specifically “target” the imbalance in the organs that are symptomatic, in this case the bladder or vagina.

What herbs target the bladder lining and can be used safely for topical intravesical use?  Let’s list them.

Aloe vera gel   This time honored herb reduces the hot of  inflammation and so is excellent when the Pitta energy pattern is causing the burning in the pelvic cavity as well as on urination or vaginal burning.

Cumin Coriander Fennel   These three herbs are medicinal to the urinary tract since all are cooling to the bladder mucosa.  Taken orally as a tea or making a decoction to deliver other herbs to the bladder mucosa can be therapeutically effective.

Goksura(aka Caltrops)   This herb is an antiinflammatory and targets the urinary tract and can be effective in reducing stone formation hence suggesting that it is important in GAG layer function.  It is also a nervine and shows the broad effects that happen to be characteristic of herbs in general.  It is one of the roots in dashamula below.

Guduchi  This is a commonly used herb for high Pitta conditions because it’s a rejuvenative for Pitta but has the unique quality of heating hence useful in toxic conditions which is often the case when there is longstanding IC.

Dashamula   This is a combination of 1o roots all with specific properties hence the name which means 10 roots.  Whenever there is Pitta in the tissue the tissue there is Vata as well and this herb is helpful in clearing the Vata energy pattern from the bladder wall.

Shatavari   This herb is tissue building and great for high Pitta conditions.  As I have said earlier it should not be used if there is a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Neem   This is a commonly used antiinflammatory and great for high Vata conditions and debility.

Applications of Energy Science Targeted Therapies

If you know how to self cath then this type of therapy under guidance as to which herbs to use is fairly easy.

If you can’t cath then accessing your friendly urologist to help with the instillation of the tea can be done.  The instillation schedule varies according to the clearance of symptoms but usually would be daily for at least 8 days while doing other therapies.

I have found basti as targeted therapy to be immensely rewarding for chronic IC over the years.  Try it, you’ll like it!

To Health as a Skill         DB