Diverticulitis causes men and women to have severe stomach pains and bleeding in rare cases. This immense discomfort can lead to severe pains, bloating and swelling or simply cause a sufferer to not want to leave the house. While not all people that suffer from diverticulitis know that they have the disease, those that do will want to seek any form of relief that they can find.
Remedies
Home remedies for diverticulitis are easy to adhere to and will reduce the symptoms that you are suffering from.
Heat Compression
Heat can reduce cramps and pain. The problem is that you will need to move away from the regular heat compression done with a hot compress and use a heating pad instead. Using this pad, hold it firmly against your stomach where the pain persists.
This can be done whenever pain is felt and will provide near immediate relief from cramping.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water will ensure that your bodily waste is able to be voided with ease. When your body lacks proper water levels, you will become constipated or have a much harder time processing waste. Ideally, you will want to drink water during and after every meal to find relief.
Exercise Regularly
The pressure within your colon can be relieved by exercising regularly. This will allow your bowel function to be enhanced and reduces the overall pressure that is causing your colon pain. While you may not like exercising, this only needs to be done for 30 minutes per day to find relief.
This is not an immediate solution to your problem, but exercise will help your color start to feel better in just a few days.
Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe Vera juice is a great healer and can be found in most grocery stores. You will want to find a juice that does not contain any additives as this will make matters worse. Now, simply drink ½ cup of Aloe Vera juice 3 times per day.
Aloe Vera fights against inflammation and will put a stop to the pains that you are feeling.
Psyllium
Recommended by doctors across the world, Psyllium can be found in supplement form and is highly recommended for anyone suffering from this disease. Psyllium is a source of fiber that is known to help the walls of your color contract.
This supplement can be purchased online and should be taken as directed to see the best results.
Pain Medication
Over-the-counter medications can help you find relief from Diverticulitis. A typical aspirin or mild pain reliever will reduce swelling and inflammation leading to a major relief in pain. You should take these medications as directed.
If you are currently taking other medications, you may want to consult with your doctor to ensure that these pain relievers are safe for you to take.
Scheduled Bowel Movements
While it may sound silly, you want to schedule or have regular, daily bowel movements each and every day. By holding it in or simply not making yourself go, the stool will harden in the colon and make your symptoms much worse.
When going to the bathroom, you do not want to force the stool out as this can further complicate matters. If you are having a hard time maintaining regularity, you will want to refer to the diet section of this article.
Change Your Diet
Unfortunately, some of the items you eat will not be able to be eaten again, or you may have to change your diet completely. A diet that is high in fiber is recommended as this will allow the food to quickly and easily pass through your colon without any side effects.
You will want to eat high-fiber foods that include:
Beans: Packed with 6 – 10 grams of fiber in one serving.
Pears, Apples, Bananas: Packed with 3 – 5 grams of fiber.
Berries: 2 – 4 grams of fiber in ½ a cup.
Oatmeal, Oat Bran: Between 4 and 5 grams of fiber.
Artichoke, Green peas, Broccoli: Contain 5 – 10 grams of fiber.
The more fiber you can fit into your diet, the better. You will want to increase your fiber intake slowly so that your body can adjust to the increase fiber and ultimately not cause yourself more discomfort in the process.
Your diet is the cause of your problems when it comes to Diverticulitis and you will want to keep a close eye on all of the foods that you eat. If a certain food is not agreeing with you, such as nuts, you will want to cut them out of your diet. The foods that aggravate your symptoms may be very different than what other people with Diverticulitis experience.
An increase in fiber will require you to drink more water. If you do not have adequate water intake, increased fiber may cause your symptoms to worsen.
