Several herbal teas may help manage symptoms of diverticulosis and prevent flare-ups due to their anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
For managing mild diverticulitis pain or symptoms at home, your healthcare professional may recommend eating only clear foods and clear liquids for a few days. Examples of clear liquids that you can have include: Chicken, beef or vegetable broth. Fruit juices without pulp, such as apple, cranberry and grape juices.
Drinking herbal teas may help soothe symptoms of ulcerative colitis and improve your overall well-being. Teas like turmeric, green, fennel and ginger, and slippery elm contain properties that may reduce inflammation and digestive distress.
However, there are many other teas that may calm Diverticulitis symptoms as well. Anti-inflammatory teas such as slippery elm, marshmallow, and chamomile may help lessen intestinal inflammation.
Diverticulosis flares (diverticulitis) are triggered by inflammation or infection in the diverticula (pouches in the colon), often caused by trapped stool or bacteria, leading to a blockage, tears, and immune response, fueled by a low-fiber, high-fat diet, red meat, obesity, smoking, certain meds (NSAIDs, steroids), lack of exercise, and even stress. While nuts, seeds, and popcorn were once blamed, current research suggests they're fine and high-fiber foods actually help prevent flares.
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.
What causes diverticulosis and diverticulitis?
If you are allergic to plants like ragweed, you may not be able to use chamomile. Chamomile may interfere with medicines like cyclosporin or warfarin (a blood thinner). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements in the same way it regulates medicine.
You can also have coffee, tea, and soda as part of a clear liquid diet. But these liquids can make diverticulitis symptoms worse for some people. So it's important to listen to your body and avoid liquids that make your pain worse.
Chamomile has been valued as a digestive relaxant and has been used to treat various gastrointestinal disturbances including flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea, anorexia, motion sickness, nausea, and vomiting (34, 35). Chamomile has also been used to treat colic, croup, and fevers in children (36).
8 herbal teas for constipation
These compounds possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help modulate inflammatory pathways and protect against cellular damage. Some popular types of tea known for their anti-inflammatory effects include green tea, white tea, turmeric tea, and ginger tea.
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.
Below are items recommended on a Full Liquid diet:
Water. Fruit juices and nectars. Milk (All types) Plain ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet.
Here are 7 foods to avoid during a diverticulitis flare.
Lifestyle and home remedies
This article looks at seven potential home remedies for diverticulitis, as well as some complications of the condition and when to see a doctor.
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.
Transitional Diet for Flare-Up Recovery
Ginger, turmeric, and garlic have anti-inflammatory properties, and ginger is a popular remedy for soothing stomach upsets. 4 You may find it helpful to include these foods in your transitional diet.
Drug Interactions with Chamomile
Chamomile could interfere with the effects of tamoxifen, hormone replacement therapy, and estrogen-containing oral contraceptives. Chamomile may increase the effects of medications that prevent blood clots (anticoagulants) and sedatives (including alcohol).
This tea's flavonoids — powerful antioxidants — could be beneficial for reducing inflammation and blood pressure. While it's not a substitute for heart meds, sipping chamomile tea daily may support overall wellness and help keep your blood vessels happy. Add it to your routine for both comfort and cardiovascular care.
True tea vs. herbal tea. True tea is made from the leaves of the plant camellia sinensis, most commonly known as the tea plant, while herbal teas are made using a combination of spices, flowers, bark and leaves belonging to edible, non-tea plants, according to the Republic of Tea.
Dealing with diverticulosis
Once the sacs develop, they don't heal on their own, and they don't go away. We can cure diverticulosis by performing surgery to remove the sacs. But if you don't have symptoms and an infection doesn't develop, there's no reason to treat the condition at all, much less undergo surgery.
Colonoscopy is advised after an episode of complicated diverticulitis and after a first episode of uncomplicated diverticulitis, but can be deferred if a recent (within 1 year) high-quality colonoscopy was performed.
You may be able to lower your chance of getting diverticulitis. You can do this by taking steps to prevent constipation. Eat fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains every day. These foods are high in fibre.