Diverticulitis is one of the three types of diverticular disease. It usually occurs when the pouches in your digestive system known as diverticula get inflamed or infected. By using home remedies for diverticulitis, you can reduce these symptoms.
You can change your diet by consuming food rich in fiber, or you may also opt for exercise. However, the question occurs: how to treat diverticulitis at home? There are numerous ways you can attend to your problem by trying out simpler methods. Some of them are listed below.
Each diverticulitis home remedy is useful in treating the problem. You should consult your doctor before trying them out if you’re already taking certain medications.
In a juice form, aloe vera is useful in aiding digestion. If you’re having trouble with constipation, aloe juice will help in normalizing your pH levels.
Take about 12-16 ounces of aloe vera juice per day. Anything more than that can cause further irritation in your system.
[Read: Health Benefits of Aloe Vera Juice]
The ingredients involved in this blend are ginger, fennel, peppermint, and chamomile. Ginger helps reduce inflammation and bloating of the stomach. Peppermint aids in indigestion. Chamomile helps reduce intestinal inflammation(1) due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Fennel reduces intestinal gas and pain.
Drink this once a day. However, avoid this if you have had allergic reactions to them in the past. It is best to consult your doctor before consuming this tea.
[Read: Probiotics for Diverticulitis]
The oils involved in this massage are peppermint oil, chamomile oil, rosemary oil, and clove oil. Peppermint oil has properties that help in relieving digestive spasms. Chamomile oil has anti-inflammatory properties, just like rosemary oil. Clove oil helps reduce intestinal spasms(2) and bloating.
You can try this twice a day until you get relief from your abdominal pain. Dilute the oils before using them to be safe from possible allergic reactions. Avoid using chamomile oil if you have had allergic reactions to ragweed and similar plants.
[Read: Herbs for the Treatment of Diverticulitis]
Licorice root helps in calming and lubricating the digestive tract. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing the inflammation in the colon. It also helps in lowering cholesterol levels.
You may take this twice daily. However, do not use licorice root for more than a week if you have high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney disease. It’s best to consult your doctor for the right licorice root to opt for this treatment if you’re taking medications for a different illness to prevent side effects.
Marshmallow tea helps in the coating, soothing large intestine, and eases inflammation internally. It is an effective diverticulitis home remedy.
You can drink this twice daily. Make sure to take marshmallow root tea after consulting with your doctor. It can interfere with medications. It can also have an adverse reaction to lithium.
[Read: Essential Oils for Diverticulitis]
Slippery elm has properties of being demulcent that will help soothe digestive problems. Slippery elm helps in easing inflammation and soothes(3) the large intestine. It also protects the mucous membranes of your colon and helps in relieving it.
You may drink this three to four times a day. If you’re allergic to elm pollen, do not take this tea.
Home remedies involving essential oils should be consumed only after consulting your doctor. As the essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts, they may cause allergies or other side effects. So make sure to talk to your physician or doctor before you consume.
These home remedies for diverticulitis pain are effective and are easy to perform by yourself. However, if you do not see results in a week or 10 days, or your abdominal pain continues to grow, you should seek experts help to get better treatment.
If you experience rectal bleeding, vomiting, and you have a high fever, it is best to seek a professional’s help immediately.
Lack of vigorous exercise, aging, and obesity are some of the most common risk factors of diverticulitis.
You should modify your diet and lifestyle and start eating food rich in fiber and drink at least eight ounces of water every day.