Definition:

Interstitial cystitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the bladder that occurs primarily in women.

• Symptoms may include urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria, and pelvic pain.
• The cause is unknown and it is a diagnosis of exclusion.
• spontaneous remission occurs in about 50% of patients.

Treatment:

• Identification and avoidance of allergenic foods and inhalants may be helpful in some patients.

Environment/Lifestyle/Diet

• Avoid Acidic foods including all alcoholic beverages, apple juice, red and green apples, apricots, cantaloupe, carbonated drinks, chili/spicy foods, citrus fruits, coffee, cranberries, grapes, guava, lemon juice, nectarines, peaches, pineapple, plums, strawberries, tea, tomatoes, and vinegar.
• Avoid foods high in arylalkylamine ( include avocado, aspartame, banana, beer, brewer’s yeast, canned figs, champagne, cheeses, chicken liver, chocolate, corned beef, cranberries, fava beans, lima beans, marmite, mayonnaise, nuts, onions, pickled herring, pineapple, prunes, raisins, rye bread, saccharin, sour cream, soy sauce, vitamins buffered with aspartate, wines, and yogurt).

Mind-Body

• Biofeedback and hypnosis may be beneficial in some patients.
• Other useful treatments may include bladder training programs and acupuncture.

Certain supplements and medications can also be useful in the treatment of interstitial cystitis