Scientific Background

Since Einstein formulated the mathematical equation E=mc², physicists have recognized that matter and energy are interchangeable. What is matter is energy and what is energy is matter. But the biological model that we use in the allopathic (Western medicine) tradition today utilizes only a matter field approach. The rich study of the biological matter field has opened large avenues of research and has led to a deeper probing into this matter field. By understanding the matter field we have evolved radiographic studies and enlarged upon the laboratory data that tell us about the matter field's physiological and biochemical processes.

But it is just as valid to see the biological model as an energy field as Einstein has shown us.

The reason for this website is to raise awareness as to the value of using energy field information.

But it is just as valid to see the biological model as an energy field as Einstein has shown us. Because allopathic scientists do not have a vocabulary for an energy field approach there is little understanding let alone the capability to talk about the body as an energy field.  Furthermore, since few have experienced their physical body as an energy field it leads a skeptic to doubt that anything exists except a physical matter field. To experience the energy field first hand eliminates any doubt of its existence.  But one has to undertake certain disciplines in order to feel energy in the mindbody.

Some would ask at this juncture, "Why bother?" There are two reasons that come to mind. The first reason and the point of this website is to increase awareness as to the value of using energy field information. In this case it is diet to remove foods that promote disharmony and thus imbalance in the mindbody's energy field. The imbalance promotes the manifestation of disease in the physiology thus leading to all the symptoms of the condition of interstitial cystitis (IC). The second reason is point out the benefit of blending the matter and energy field disciplines which can be very powerful in directing research in the matter field arena.

The energy model used is from the Ayurvedic discipline, which has its origin in the Yoga tradition. But one could use other energy disciplines such the traditional oriental medicine (TOM) approach or middle Eastern traditions. It does not really matter. We use the Ayurvedic model because we are familiar with it. But all the traditions saw the physical mindbody and the environment (including foods) as both matter and energy and developed sophisticated systems of healing around that concept. Hence one hears of the terms chi, qi, prana, ru, ruha, but these are just terms for the energy field that we are and are part of.

The diet helps bring awareness to those foods that are aggravating to the physiology at an energy level, but one may not be appreciative of their deleterious physiologic effects until the diet is used.

So from an Ayurvedic perspective not only is the mindbody an energy field but the environment as well. A piece of broccoli morphologically is described as such but from an energy perspective it is a mixture of energy patterns that may or may not harmonize with the mindbody's energy patterns. This is the value of the diet. It helps bring awareness to those foods that are aggravating to the physiology at an energy level, but one may not be appreciative of their effects until the diet is used.

Healing can take place when the disciplines are applied properly because there is significant depth and wisdom in these systems. The purpose of this website is to guide this proper application. So the energy patterns used in the accompanying diet are "flavors" of the primary energy field called Pitta in Ayurveda. The energy imbalance leading to the symptoms of IC (interstitial cystitis) is that of increased Pitta and Vata. The primary thrust of the initial work (please see Preliminary research subheading) was to treat the Pitta imbalance with a Pitta pacifying diet and aloe. As new trials are run combining the diets may be even more effective.

Pitta is the energy pattern in the physiology that has to do with transformation. Anything that is transformed or digested in the physiology is under the guise of this energy pattern Pitta. So the digestion of food thoughts or emotions are simple examples of how this works. When Pitta becomes excessive or increased in the physiology then an imbalance is created. Typically the easiest way to go out of balance is through food choices.

Food effects will be cumulative, becoming more noticeable over time.

Foods as Energy produce balance or imbalance, i.e., painful GERD or bladder irritation

If the imbalance is allowed to persist over time (months to as long as years or even decades) this energy pattern ramps up and begins to produce symptoms of manifestation (please see diagram). It may manifest at first as gastrointestinal distress in the form of "heartburn" or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and then as IC. But IC may be the presenting manifesting sign of disease in the physiology. Usually but not always if GERD is present using the diet takes longer to ease the IC complex of symptoms. Aloe vera is used in conjunction with the diet because it "cools" down the heat of the transformative energy of Pitta. Just as one would use aloe on the skin for a sunburn, one can use aloe internally for internal burns in the GI tract (heartburn) bladder (IC) or elsewhere.

Recurrent bladder infections are another example of interstitial cystitis. The ground state problem is interstitial cystitis but the abnormal bladder lining leads to the repetitive nature of the infections. Unless one deals with the Pitta imbalance, the patient is doomed to chronic antibiotic therapy which does not deal with the underlying problem.

The value of this dietary approach is based on how well the patient can follow it. Usually patients know which are the Pitta aggravating foods because they cause symptoms, but because there are foods that would seem non-provoking (e.g. bananas peaches) foods are sometimes missed that would be clearly aggravating from an energy perspective. Because this is an energy diet, there can be conflicting information as to the dietary recommendations by the Western trained dietitian. But the confusion can be resolved by simply doing the Pitta pacifying diet.

As the patient begins to feel better, avoided foods can be added back into the diet monitoring symptoms. It is important to let patients know that there is an additive or cumulative effect to aggravating foods over time. So using avoidance foods rarely will probably not cause problems especially if the diet is followed most of the time.

Because this is an energy pattern diet there can be conflicting information to the dietary recommendations by the Western trained dietitian who gives matter field dietary information. But the confusion can be resolved by simply doing the Pitta diet.