Appendicitis
Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix that is most usually due to an obstruction or an infection. The appendix is a small finer-shaped part of the large intestine that is located on the lower right side of the abdomen. The condition is the cause of most emergency abdominal surgeries. It most often affects people between 10 and 30 years of age.
Symptoms
Appendicitis is usually accompanied by noticeable symptoms that include a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, pain that begins around the navel then moves down and to the right side of the abdomen. The pain may get worse when you move, take deep breaths, cough, sneeze or when you are touched in that area. There may also be a change in bowel movements, including diarrhea, passing gas or an inability to have a bowel movement. There may also be frequent urination or difficult or painful urination. A low fever begins after the other symptoms.
In some cases there may be no symptoms until the very late stages of the condition. The first you may know about it is an excruciating pain in the abdomen, which may indicate peritonitis, a very serious condition. In this case the emergency services should be called immediately.
Causes
The problem usually occurs after a digestive tract infection or when a tube that connected the large intestine and the appendix is blocked by food or feces.
Cautions
If untreated, appendicitis can cause the appendix to rupture, which can lead to infection of the peritoneal cavity and even death. Because of the nature of the ailment, herbal remedies will mostly be used to help you recover from an appendectomy rather than treating the appendicitis itself.
Herbal Treatments
Internal Applications
- Gotu kola – this herb helps the connective tissue repair itself faster and is useful for healing wounds. It is also helpful in preventing scars from keloiding, or growing larger. Taking 60 drops of tincture 3 to 4 times per day is the usual dose.
- Dandelion – this herb is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It helps you heal from the infection and surgery. Do not take dandelion of you are diabetic, take blood thinners or are allergic to this herb.
- Agrimony – take a tea of agrimony every 2 to 3 hours. This herb has historically been used to treat appendicitis. Do not take agrimony if you have diabetes or high blood pressure or take blood thinning medication.
- Echinacea – this herb will help eliminate the toxins from surgical anesthesia. Take 2 to 3 doses per day to prevent infection of the surgical wound and to stimulate the immune system. This can be combined with goldenseal for an additional punch.
- Astragalus – taking astragalus three times per day helps to stimulate the immune system. Do not take astragalus if fever is present.
- Ginseng – this herb will help fight infection and strengthen the body. Do not use ginseng in the presence of fever.
- Stinging nettle – taking nettle tea three times per day will help heal the surgical wound and act as a general tonic to support the body.
- Holy basil – this herb can help if fever occurs or persists. Take a decoction daily.
- Borage – this herb is also useful to treat fever when it occurs with appendicitis. The usual dosage is 1 tablespoon of borage juice per day.
- Slippery Elm – take the tablets or powder three times per day for up to 12 weeks to treat ulceration, irritation, soreness and swelling of the appendix.