Modem medical system in most cases prescribes surgery to remove the diverticula. But the surgical removal of old diverticula does not prevent the formation of new ones. The best way to treat the disease is through natural methods. The treatment should aim at improving digestion, decreasing gas formation, building stronger intestinal walls to resist the formation of diverticula and relieving stress to avoid tension building up in the body.
Diet plays an important role in this treatment. The emphasis should be on high roughage diet consisting of seeds, nuts and whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Seeds may be consumed in the sprouted form. Cooked cereals like millet, brown rice and oats are beneficial. Soured milks like yoghurt and buttermilk, potatoes and flax seeds should be taken daily in adequate quantities.
The patient should take small, frequent meals; rather than few large ones. He should avoid refined and processed foods, tea, coffee, condiments, pickles and animal foods.
If the disease is accompanied by constipation, all measures should be adopted for its eradication through natural methods. Purgatives should not be used. If constipation occurs despite the patient adhering to the diet of natural foods, warm water enema should be used to cleanse the bowels. If the patient is overweight, he should take a diet of natural foods aimed at reducing the weight.
The use of bran is considered highly beneficial in the treatment of diverticulosis or diverticulitis. Unprocessed wheat bran has five times the fibre of ordinary whole wheat. The quantity of bran to be used varies from one table spoon daily to three table spoons three times a day, depending on the severity of the disease. Most of the patients, however, need two spoons of bran three times a day, to render the stools soft and easy to pass. The quantity can be increased, if necessary, after two weeks until the patient can move his bowels once or twice a day without straining. As it is difficult to eat bran dry, it may be sprinkled, on cereals, or mixed with porridge, or added to soup or taken with milk or water.
Certain vegetable juices have been found beneficial in the treatment of diverticulosis. These include juice extracted from carrot, beet and green vegetables. The best fruit juices are those extracted from papaya, apple, pineapple and lemon.
The use of vitamins can also help in diverticulosis. Vitamin E is a well-known muscle strengthener and should be used liberally by the patient. Vitamins of B group are needed, not only to provide the folic acid but to prevent stress and strengethen nerves. Vitamin C can help greatly in removing toxic matter from the body. Minerals are also needed in diverticulosis, potassium, manganese, calcium and magnesium, all can help strengthen muscular and nervous systems.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis can be treated successfully though natural methods as outlined above. Surgery may be resorted to in rare cases, where there is severe obstruction, perforation or abscess formation or where there is severe involvement of the intestine. |
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