Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is a painful condition that occurs when small sacs form in the colon and become inflamed. Although diverticulitis is most common and most serious in the elderly, it can afflict anyone. Susceptibility is greater for people who take prednisone or other drugs with side effects that affect the immune system and increase the chances of developing an infection. The first indication of diverticulitis is usually pain in the lower left area of the abdomen. You may also develop a fever from the infection, but do not rely on these symptoms to diagnose the condition yourself. You must see a physician to rule out the possibility of several other disorders that have similar symptoms and, if you do have diverticulitis, to judge how serious it is, since bad cases can land you in the hospital.
Doctors believe that the primary cause of diverticulitis is a diet containing little fiber and lots of processed foods. The obvious way to prevent or treat diverticulitis is to improve your diet, although shifting too quickly to a high-roughage menu can irritate your colon even more. Once the problem has cleared up, you must slowly make dietary changes to prevent its return.
If your diverticulitis is not too bad, chances are good that your doctor will send you home to rest and recuperate on a liquid diet and antibiotics to stop the infection. (If you see a holistic or naturopathic doctor, he or she will probably recommend herbal antibiotics.) Once you resume eating semisolid food, usually after a few days, it is likely that even a medical doctor will recommend an herbal treatment—psyllium seed—to keep your bowels loose. See "Constipation" in chapter 30 for more information on psyllium.
I and other herbalists have found that wild yam can help decrease the pain and inflammation of diverticulitis and promote relaxation in your colon. Chamomile, cramp bark and peppermint are other good additions to your formula. Eating garlic or taking it as pills will directly attack the infection. If you are nervous or stressed, also take herbs that increase relaxation. See "Stress" in chapter 20 for more tips.
Warning: Do not confuse diverticulitis with appendicitis. An inflamed appendix can produce symptoms that are similar to diverticulitis, with pain in the lower right abdomen instead of the lower left. If you have think you might have appendicitis, you must see a doctor. Once you are on the mend, however, you can follow the same treatments recommended for diverticulitis.
Diverticulitis Tea
2 teaspoons wild yam root
1 teaspoon cramp bark
1 quart water
1 teaspoon each chamomile flower and peppermint leaf
Put wild yam and cramp bark in water and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Turn off heat, add chamomile and peppermint, cover and steep for at least 15 minutes. Strain. Drink 2 or 3 cups a day. You can use the same proportions of these herbs to make a tincture.
