What is Diverticulitis?: Home Remedies for Colonic Diverticular Disorder

Diverticulitis is a lifestyle disease that develops due to insufficient exercise and consuming a diet that is lacking in fiber. The prevelence of the condition is estimated at 5% in younger age groups and increases with advancing age. Early diagnosis and treatment of diverticulitis is very essential to ward off complications. There are a host of natural remedies and dietary suggestions that help manage the symptoms of this colonic disorder successfully, and prevent flare ups.

Diverticulitis Appearance

What is Colonic Diverticular Disorder?

The inner lining of the colon pushes through the muscle layer that limits it; and forms a pouch. This out-pouching is called diverticulosis. Food gets caught in the pouch and this leads to inflammation and infection. This serious inflammatory condition is called diverticulitis.

By and large, the key cause for the occurrence of diverticulitis is a low fiber diet. When your diet lacks fiber, your colon works harder than usual to expel feces; and straining aggravates the condition. Wastes and feces move slowly through the bowel, thereby, allowing more time for the food to get caught within the pouch, resulting in inflammation and infection.

No exercise makes your alimentary canal still more sluggish and contributes to the development of diverticulitis.

Other caustive factors include indiscriminate use of NSAIDs, ciggarette smoking, caffeine intake, alcohol abuse, etc.

Symptoms of Diverticulitis

In most cases the condition is usually asymptomatic, however some of the common symptoms associated with it include,  

• Pain is usually felt in the lower left side of the abdomen.
• Fever is a presenting symptom
• Constipation is an important symptom; and may alternate with diarrhea
• Nausea may be present in some cases
• Stool may contain blood and mucus

Natural Treatment for Colonic Diverticular Disorder

Here are some natural treatment options that can help in the treatment of this colonic disorder,

• Avoid NSAIDs. Opt for natural products like tumeric and garlic to deal with inflammatory conditions and pain.
• Exercise regularly, at least 3 times a week. Exercise boosts the working of the bowel and checks slow bowel movement and thereby eases constipation.
• Drink 2 to 2 and ½ liters of water every day. Water drives out toxins from the colon and sluices the GI tract clean and detoxifies that body.

Home Remedies for Diverticulitis Treatment

Diet acts as a natural cure for the management of diverticulitis. Here are some simple home remedies and dietary suggestions that can help in the management of the condition.

Peppermint Tea Treats Diverticulitis

1. Psyllium seeds: are packed with dietary fiber. Soak a spoon of psyllium seeds in a bowl of warm water for 20 to 30 minutes; consume. Psyllium seeds add bulk to the stool and scrape the colon clean. Psyllium seeds can help get rid of old, encrusted waste matter successfully.
2. Dates: combat the most obstinate case of constipation almost instantaneously. Dates are chock full of beta D glucan, a dietary fiber that adds bulk to feces and facilitates rapid expulsion from the colon, thus lowering its transit time within the colon. Consume 5 to 10 dates every night
3. Peppermint tea: peppermint is known to sooth the lining of the gastro-intestinal system. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory and allays spasms and pains in the abdomen. Have 200 ml of peppermint tea daily.
4. Chamomile tea is recommended by most nutritionists and experts. Steep a spoon of fresh or dried chamomile in a bowl of hot water for about half an hour; have this decoction twice daily. Chamomile is a potent anti-inflammatory which soothes the mucus membrane of the GI canal. It treats inflammations and gastric upsets effectively.