"Natural" treatments for diverticulitis involve a multi-pronged approach that includes immediate dietary changes during a flare-up and long-term lifestyle changes for prevention. It is essential to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, as severe diverticulitis may require antibiotics or even surgery.
Mild, uncomplicated diverticulitis typically resolves on its own at home. "Going from a solid, heavy diet to a softer, more liquid diet for a few days usually helps ease symptoms as the body naturally clears a mild infection," Dr Warner says. More intense pain may warrant antibiotics.
Diverticulitis flare-ups happen when small pouches (diverticula) in the colon get inflamed or infected, often due to trapped stool, bacteria, or food particles, triggered by a diet low in fiber, high in red meat/fat, and lack of exercise, plus risks like obesity, smoking, certain meds (NSAIDs), and stress. A high-fiber diet helps prevent them, while foods like nuts/seeds are now considered beneficial, not harmful, for most.
Diverticulosis: What to Eat
Is diverticulosis reversible? Once you have diverticula, there's no known way to make them go away. They won't cause problems for most people, but if they cause problems for you, you'll have to adjust your lifestyle to account for them.
The worst things for diverticulitis during a flare-up are high-fiber foods, red/processed meats, sugar, fat, alcohol, and NSAIDs like ibuprofen, as they can worsen inflammation and symptoms; instead, focus on a temporary low-fiber diet (liquids/soft foods) and gradually reintroduce fiber after healing to prevent future attacks, consulting your doctor for personalized advice.
For patients with severe and complicated diverticulitis, ampicillin, gentamicin, metronidazole, piperacillin and tazobactam are the antibiotics successfully used in clinical practice, whereas ciprofloxacin, metronidazole and more recently, rifaximin, have been successfully used in the treatment of uncomplicated ...
Drinking alcohol can irritate the digestive system and trigger diverticulitis flare-ups. It's unclear if alcohol directly causes diverticular disease, but drinking more increases risk.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Diverticulitis Recovery Timeline
Recovering from a flare-up of diverticulitis could take as long as two weeks. 1 The first few days of recovering from uncomplicated diverticulitis at home will include following a liquid diet, resting, and using recommended medications for pain relief.
Straining to pass stools increases the pressure in the colon or intestines, which may lead to the formation of these pouches. In some cases, one of the pouches can become inflamed and a small tear develops in the lining of the intestine. This can lead to an infection at the site.
Treatment may consist of measures including: Taking painkillers to reduce discomfort. These may be over-the-counter pain medicines such as paracetamol or stronger medicines that require a prescription. Taking Buscopan may help with cramping abdominal pain.
Common alternative conditions that can clinically mimic diverticulitis include small bowel obstruction, primary epiploic appendagitis, acute cholecystitis, appendicitis, ileitis, ovarian cystic disease, and ureteral stone disease.
Diverticulitis can usually be treated effectively. In straightforward (uncomplicated) cases, antibiotics often aren't needed. Surgery is only necessary if the inflammation is so severe that it could lead to complications.
Always see your healthcare provider to be sure. You should seek emergency medical attention for diverticulitis if you experience one or more of the following: Blood in stool. Excessive vomiting or severe nausea.
Certain herbs and herbal teas may have anti-inflammatory or soothing properties that can help relieve diverticulitis symptoms. Chamomile tea, ginger tea, peppermint tea, and marshmallow root tea are popular choices known for their calming and digestive benefits.
Including herbal teas like peppermint, ginger, chamomile, fennel, and cumin in your diet can provide natural treatment for gastrointestinal problems. These teas not only calm the digestive tract, but they also improve overall gut health by lowering inflammation and supporting improved digestion.
Symptoms
In particular, experts recommend avoiding these inflammatory foods:
What causes diverticulosis and diverticulitis?
This article looks at seven potential home remedies for diverticulitis, as well as some complications of the condition and when to see a doctor.
While no specific foods are proven to trigger diverticulitis attacks, a diet rich in high-fiber foods can help maintain digestive health and reduce the risk of complications. High-fiber foods soften waste, decreasing pressure in the digestive tract. Examples include: Fruits.
Probiotics combined with mesalazine have also emerged as an alternative potential therapeutic strategy in preventing recurrent attacks of diverticulitis. One series reported that treatment with mesalazine and/or lactobacillus casei induced remission in 88% of their patients at a median follow-up of 2 years.
If you don't get treatment for diverticulitis, the inflammation will only worsen. Once infection sets in, the symptoms will get more painful and severe. In addition, you could experience other serious side effects such as a tear in or a stricture (narrowing) of the colon, an abscess, a fistula, or peritonitis.
Below is a detailed list: