How to manage diverticulitis pain?

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Which home remedies can help treat diverticulitis?

1. Try a liquid diet
A temporary liquid diet may help soothe the symptoms of diverticulitis.
A doctor may recommend a temporary liquid diet to someone experiencing a flare-up of symptoms. Some foods and drinks that people can prepare at home for a liquid diet include:

water, coffee, and tea without milk
strained fruit juices with no pulp, such as white grape or apple juice
soft drinks or sports drinks
chicken or beef broth
ice popsicles with no fruit pulp or pieces
Jell-O without fruit
People should only follow a liquid diet for as long as their doctor recommends. This is to ensure that they do not miss out on essential nutrients.

As the symptoms ease, a doctor will recommend gradually reintroducing solid foods to the diet.

2. Adopt a low fiber diet
Adopting a low fiber diet can also help ease diverticulitis symptoms.

Some low fiber foods include:

cooked or canned fruits without seeds or skins
well-cooked vegetables without seeds or skins
eggs
dairy products
white bread
white pasta
white rice
well-cooked or ground meat
low fiber cereals
Symptoms will usually improve within around 2–4 days, after which point a person can try gradually adding small amounts of fiber again.

After recovering from a bout of diverticulitis, most individuals are encouraged to increase fiber intake in an effort to soften stools and reduce the risk of future flares.

3. Get more vitamin D
Some research Trusted Source suggests that people with lower vitamin D levels may be more at risk of diverticulitis and its complications. However, researchers have not verified this in further studies.

The recommended allowance Trusted Source of vitamin D for adults is 15 micrograms per day. The following sections will discuss some ways a person can obtain vitamin D.

Food sources
Some food sources of vitamin D include:

fatty fish, such as tuna, salmon, and mackerel
beef liver
eggs
cheese
some mushrooms, including those grown under UV light
fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals, plant milks, and margarine
Sun exposure
Most people get some of their daily vitamin D allowance through sun exposure. UV light converts compounds in the skin into vitamin D.

The liver and fat cells also store vitamin D to use later on, when light levels are lower.

Although sunlight helps the body create vitamin D, people should still protect themselves from sun damage by using sunscreen and avoiding UV radiation from tanning beds.

Dietary supplements
A person can also take vitamin D as a supplement to top up their levels. This may help when light levels are low during the winter months. It may also help people who do not eat many vitamin D-rich foods.

Vitamin D supplements come in two forms: D-2 (ergocalciferol) and D-3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D-2 may be less potent than D-3 at higher doses, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)Trusted Source.

4. Apply a heat pad
Some people get relief from painful stomach cramps by applying heat. Different types of heat pad that people can try include:

electric heat pads
microwaveable heat pads
hot water bottles
To prevent burns, people should set electric devices to a low setting and cover hot water bottles with a towel.

5. Try probiotics
Probiotics contain beneficial species of gut bacteria. In some cases, they can also help with digestive conditions.

One 2016 review suggests that probiotics may reduce symptoms and recurrence in diverticular disease. However, there is not yet enough evidence to prove that probiotics are an effective treatment for diverticulitis.

People can try a probiotic supplement or fermented foods that contain probiotics. Some fermented foods include:

live yogurt
kefir
sauerkraut
miso
kimchi
When trying probiotics or probiotic foods for the first time, it is a good idea to test them out in small amounts. People tolerate different foods and probiotic strains differently.

Sometimes, probiotics can also cause side effects, such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

6. Get more exercise
Exercise releases endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain relievers. This might help alleviate pain due to diverticulitis.

Low-to-medium impact exercise has anti-inflammatory effects, according to one 2019 reviewTrusted Source. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week.

The American Heart Association (AHA)Trusted Source suggest these forms of moderate intensity exercise:

brisk walking (at least 2.5 miles per hour)
water aerobics
dancing
gardening
tennis
cycling (slower than 10 miles per hour)
Exercise can also help prevent constipation.

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7. Try herbal remedies
Herbs and spices that have anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial properties may benefit people with diverticulitis.

However, because there is a lack of research on how these work for people with diverticulitis, it is unclear how effective they are for this condition.

Herbal remedies can interact with medications, so it is important that people check with a medical professional before trying a new product.

People can consume herbs and spices as a food or as a supplement. For example:

Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) has anti-inflammatory properties Trusted Source. It is possible to consume frankincense resin as a supplement in tablet or tincture form.
Garlic has natural antimicrobial properties due to one of its active compounds, allicin.
Curcumin is the anti-inflammatory agent in the spice turmeric. It has a long history of use Trusted Source in Ayurvedic medicine, and a person can consume it in fresh root, dried spice, or tablet form.
Garlic can be helpful as an ingredient in meals, but it is high in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs). FODMAPs are carbohydrates that can cause digestive symptoms in some people. For these people, a pure allicin supplement may be easier to tolerate.

Source: Medical News Today

All the best, masso