Chinese Herbs Herbal tea and pills have been used to treat IC patients who were referred for herbal therapy as offered as a treatment alternative. A pilot study utilized the herbs Cornus, gardenia, curculigo, rhubarb, Psoralea, and Rehmannia in a tea twice a day for 6 days a week for 3 months, then once a day. Of 25 patients, 61% had a significant decrease in pain at 4 weeks, and an additional 22% had a significant response at 3 months.19 Table 3 illustrates a current combination of Chinese herbs in a tea to treat IC.