A ROAD TO RECOVERY

The following section details Dr. Brizman's requirements to ensure your full commitment to treatment.

The Interstitial Cystitis Program (courtesy of Dr. Brizman, BOMA-Med)

We would like to welcome you to BOMA-Med’s Interstitial Cystitis Program and outline a few important points prior to our formal acceptance of you as a patient into our program and your acceptance of us as your caregiver. 

Dr. Matia Brizman, Ph.D., M.T.O.M., L.Ac. D.Ac & C.H. is a Doctor of Acupuncture, licensed acupuncturist, and is nationally and  State board certified in acupuncture and Chinese medical herbology. She specializes in the treatment of Interstitial Cystitis with the application of Chinese Medicine. As you already know, this is a very complex illness, which is difficult to treat.  For this reason we need to work together as a team to treat this problem. In order for this to work, we must share the understanding that without patient compliance to the program, there is little that can be accomplished in the way of treatment.

Treatment will begin with a comprehensive consultation to assess the history and present health status of each patient. After the initial consultation, a specific dietary regimen will be implemented and other prohibited factors will be outlined. As treatment commences, you may get cold or flu symptoms which are referred to as die-off. This is the result of the toxic matter being released by the yeast and or bacteria during the cleansing period of the program.

As the process continues, die-off can last for quite a while in some patients and an insignificant length of time in others. The severity and duration of symptoms fluctuates dramatically from patient to patient. Some patients experience alleviation of symptoms immediately, while others struggle through the beginning stages. As time continues with treatment, symptoms will continue to lessen in severity and duration, and will occur less and less frequently.  Although many of the items on the program restriction list seem benign to you, you must adhere to them. Many things, which may seem harmless are not, such as peroxide and ammonia in hair color products, cold and flu medications, allergy medications, topical antibiotic ointments, birth control pills, antibiotic therapy, anti-fungal medications, other herbal products, vitamins, certain sleeping aids, etc…; this also includes any physical modalities such as massage, chiropractic, physical therapy, etc… unless discussed and approved by Dr. Brizman.

Patience, diligence and commitment are key to speeding your progress. Please have respect for the program and do not compromise it by not adhering to it to the letter.  Anything else will be time and effort poorly spent. Generally speaking, at the end of one year, you will feel as if you have significantly improved.  After that point your symptoms will continue to dwindle.  At that point, certain foods will be added back into your diet until you are completely back to a “normal” diet. Having said that, however, it is our recommendation that certain restrictions are observed for the rest of one’s life. For example, over indulgence in alcohol and sugar will never make for good health. This is something that forming new dietary habits will hopefully encourage after you have completed treatment.

During treatment, you may feel sad and depressed and often your sugar cravings will increase. This is because the yeast and or bacteria inside your body is sending signals to your brain to continue feeding them so that they can survive. No matter how difficult it is, you must tell yourself, it is them or you. One of you will win. Remember, if it tastes sweet to you, it tastes sweet to them. You must win! Many patients literally sob at the onset of treatment because it is so difficult to kick the sugar habit. As incomprehensible as it seems, at the end of treatment, it will seem like a bad dream. You will have an entirely different perspective on health and your dietary habits.

The medical community in general would love there to be a magic “pill” to fix this problem. This is neither the philosophy upon which Chinese medicine nor Dr. Brizman’s work is based. Her approach to this illness, as well as any other complex disease, is to individualize each treatment. Her methods are deeply rooted in the fundamentals of Chinese medicine, but the application of those methods has been modernized to fit the model of IC. It is because of this that she is having such good results with her treatments.

Dr. Brizman has been developing her work since1995 when she started her internship. Having a very strong interest in research, her goals have been focused on keeping her work private until such time as she could commence a formal research project.

However, many attempts at formal research have proven unsuccessful , and consequently, she has continued with her own private research. Her plan is to publish her completed body of knowledge through teaching when the work is at a fully developed stage. She feels this is the best way to pass on this body of knowledge in the most responsible and prospectively helpful manner. 

Keeping her formulas and methodology private is her way of preserving her work and its integrity in the meantime. This will prevent incorrect applications of her formulas. By this it is meant that the process from start to finish must be delivered correctly month after month with constant formula changes being delivered at the appropriate times. Without the appropriate application, not only will the process not work; both Chinese medicine and its ability to treat this disease will get a “bad wrap”.

IC is not the same disease in each person. There are different patterns related to various causes and the history of the individual. Do not be alarmed if your regimen seems quite different from that of someone you know going through the program. Follow-ups will be weekly until your symptoms are stabilized, then the follow-ups will be spread to every two weeks, then every three and so on.

All dietary, supplement, and other outlined restrictions must be complied with 100% of the time in order to continue as a patient. These restrictions and guidelines have been established over the course of time and are based upon a compilation of experience. Not adhering to the program 100% will render the treatment ineffective, as any of the prohibited foods, supplements, or other modalities may interact with your regimen in a most negative way. Consequently, if you choose to partake in any of the prohibited items or modalities, we see no reason for you to continue the program as we can no longer be responsible for your care.

Disclaimer:  The purpose of this site is for information only.  We in no way intend to offer medical advice.  This is not the official site for BOMA-Med.  This site has been developed by patients of Dr. Brizman, because of their faith in her work, the belief in the effectiveness of her treatment, and willingness to inform others of an opportunity to recover from the ravages of Interstitial Cystitis.