Interstitial Cystitis & Herbal Supplements

Interstitial cystitis, or painful bladder syndrome, is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the bladder wall. Swelling and irritation can impair the bladder's ability to expand, which means that the organ cannot hold much urine at one time. In addition to pressure and tenderness in the pelvic region, there is an increased urge to urinate around the clock, even though only small amounts of urine may pass. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, approximately 3 million women and 1 million men have interstitial cystitis in the United States. If you're one of them, talk to your doctor about adding herbal supplements to your treatment plan.

Treatment Approach

Contrary to popular belief, interstitial cystitis is not caused by a bacterial or viral infection. However, that's about the only thing scientists are certain of when it comes to this disease, aside from the fact that there is no cure for it. Furthermore, the University of Maryland Medical Center states that that there is no standard therapy for this condition, adding that treatment is largely a "hit or miss" undertaking until you start to feel better. This means that you can expect to undergo a variety of therapies, including diet modification, physical therapy to strengthen and re-train the bladder, and bladder instillation of prescription medications to reduce pain and inflammation. In terms of botanical therapy, the primary goal is to address pain and inflammation with herbal supplements that possess anti-inflammatory properties.

Gotu Kola

According to Healthcommunities.com, extract triterpenes from gotu kola, or Centella asiatica, increase the production of glycosaminoglycans. Also known as GAGs, these agents play a major role in the maintenance of connective tissue and mucous membranes. The Physicians' Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines further explains that two sugar residues of triterpene acids called asiaticoside and madecassoside reduce inflammation by stimulating the production of a specific GAG known as hyaluronic acid. This substance is termed a "goo" molecule because it surrounds virtually every cell found in cartilage. It also resides in the skin, where it is involved in tissue repair.

Cleavers

Cleavers, or Galium aparine, is a traditional remedy for cystitis also used as a urinary tract tonic in Chinese medicine. The Herbal PDR notes that the efficacy of this herb in the treatment of either condition is unproven. However, Steven Foster and James A. Duke, authors of "A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America," say that cleavers contains asperuloside, a monoterpene compound with demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties.

Safety Considerations

The Physicians' Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines cautions that saponins present in gotu kola have caused infertility in rat and human sperm. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that you should not take gotu kola if you have a history of skin cancer because asiaticoside has been linked to tumor growth in mice. In addition, gotu kola may interact with other medications, including statin drugs, sedatives, diuretics and diabetes drugs. There are no known safety issues or side effects associated with cleavers.