Self-Healing Insight

"The path of self-healing is not an easy one.  In fact, it is the most difficult path because it is a path into the self.  It is a path of self-discovery on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.  This path encompasses one's whole being and is the basis of holistic healing.  This is a path that each person must walk for themselves; no one can walk it for them.  Other people can serve as guides along the way.  However, choose your guides carefully.  A helpful guide is one who is willing to teach you, but then is willing to let you walk your own path and does not demand you walk theirs."

-The Path of Self-Healing, Introduction into Ayurveda

It is up to us to be our own best friends, caretakers, and advocates. Happy healing!

Get Your Greens!

I have read/heard countless stories of people suffering from Interstitial Cystitis who ease their pain by incorporating whole, natural foods, specifically leafy greens and other vegetables, into their diets.  Why does this work? 

today's lunch :) 

When you are giving your body the nutrients it needs and deserves, your body in turn has a greater ability to nurture itself and heal. Basically, we have the capability of fostering a healing environment in our bodies.  So why are salads so fantastic? Vegetables, particularly dark, leafy greens, are incredibly anti-inflammatory.  Though it may not seem like it, each salad you eat is sending soothing nutrients to the most sensitive and irritated parts of our bodies. Most vegetables are also alkalizing, which means that they help to decrease the acidity in your body and your urine.  What does this mean? Less pain, less inflammation, and a happier you! Research continually shows that a properly alkalized body helps to restore and maintain our optimal health. 

I encourage you to add salads to your meal plans, or at least more veggies. Some people claim that eating salad is boring, but there are ENDLESS possibilities and ways to make your salads both nutritious and delicious.  Just make sure to not include any of your personal triggers and beware of salad dressings, as most are highly acidic (try making your own- I like to use avocados, olive oil, or homemade hummus to add some additional texture and flavor).  

Happy healing!

The Importance of Hydration

Let's talk about water.  Water is absolutely amazing. Humans need water to regulate their body temperatures, expel wastes and toxins, absorb nutrients for use in the body, and to perform many other crucial tasks. In fact, around 75% of a human's body weight is actually water.  So, why is proper hydration even more important for IC patients?

Often times, IC patients skip out on drinking a lot of fluids because they feel that the greater their intake, the greater their frequency and discomfort level.  This is not true.  While I'm not telling you to chug water all day, dehydration can cause terrible IC flare-ups in many patients.  Without adequate water intake, our urine pH level drops, causing it to be more acidic.What does this lead to? Horrible, painful burning- like squeezing a lemon into an open wound. Not good! The darker and more cloudy your urine is, the more pain it will cause. It's important to aim for a neutral urine pH (often a more diluted, pale yellow color).  This will be much less irritating.

 It is important for IC patients to get at least the standard 6-8 glasses of water in every day to make sure that they are properly hydrated. Instead of drinking a glass at a time, try to take small sips over the course of the day.  This will decrease the volume of urine in your bladder at any given time, causing less distention and less discomfort. Also, if you find that you are often awake at night with increased discomfort, try to cut back your fluid intake towards the evening time. This will prevent you from being up all night!

Happy healing!

What's IC About?

"It’s about having a deep, burning pain that pain medications barely touch. It’s about sharp, shooting pains and dull aching pain 24 hours a day for many of us. And it’s about the constant discomfort on top of that pain.  It’s about feeling as if your body is falling apart and that there is just one thing wrong after another. It’s about not knowing how you’re going to feel from one minute to the next and no longer being able to make like a normal person. It’s about not feeling like yourself anymore and not being able to do the things you used to do. It’s about being left out of things because you’re ‘not well enough to attend.’ IC is about having an invisible disease. It’s about having pain that no one can see and symptoms that no one understands. It’s about having family and friends look at you like you’re a hypochondriac or a wimp. It’s about being told you’re crazy when you’re totally and completely sane..."

-Excerpt from Catherine M. Simone's "Along the Healing Path." This is exactly how I felt when I was first diagnosed with IC... but it does get better! I highly recommend reading this book.