Appendicitis

Appendicitis is the most common of all the serious intestinal diseases, since it causes an inflammation of the vermiform appendix. The function of the appendix, which is performed by this lymphoid tissue, is to neutralize the irritating waste material generated in the body or the organic poisons introduced through the skin or membranes. It affects both the sexes in acute as well as chronic forms. This disease now accounts for about half the acute abdominal emergencies occurring between the ages of 10 to 30, however this disease is quite frequent in developed countries than the underdeveloped ones.

Appendicitis usually begins with a sudden pain in the centre of the abdomen, gradually shifting to the lower right side. The pain increases on the right side on pressing the left side of the abdomen. With the pain, there can be other discomforts like indigestion, diarrhoea, in the abdomen, indigestion, diarrhoea or constipation along with severe coughing and sneezing. The patient usually also has a mild fever varying from 100 to 102F along with nausea or vomits. Even the muscles of the right side of the abdomen become tense and rigid. The patient draws some comfort by drawing up the right leg. However, if the inflammation continues to increase, the appendix may rupture and discharge its pus into the abdominal cavity. This may result in a serious state known as peritonitis, wherein the body temperature rises making the patient pale and cold. In the chronic state of appendicitis, the patient may suffer from recurrent pain in the right lower abdomen with constipation, loss of appetite and mild nausea. However, if the patients face the greater level of difficulty, it is better to act immediately and show them to a medical practitioner.

Appendicitis is caused by a toxic bowel condition. Whenever excessive amount of poisonous waste materials get accumulated in the caecum, the appendix being irritated and over-worked gets inflamed. This condition is brought about by wrong feeding habits and enervation of the system. Inflammation of the bowel lining, due to the habitual use of apparent drugs, is a potent predisposing factor in the development of appendicitis. Further inflammation and infection comes from certain germs, which are usually present in the intestinal tract.

Natural Remedy for Appendicitis in Indian Naturopathy is rest and fasting. Rest is of utmost importance in the treatment of this disease.

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, which can be acute or chronic. The appendix is a small protrusion of the colon, located in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. Appendicitis mostly affects people between the ages of 10 and 30. Moreover, it is more common in men than women.

Water Therapy for Appendicitis : The patient should resort to fasting which is the only real therapy for appendicitis. Absolutely no food should be given. Nothing except water should enter the body.
• Low enemas, containing about 1/2 litre of warm water should be administered everyday for the first 3 days to cleanse the lower bowel.
• Hot compresses may be placed over the painful area a number of times daily.
• Abdominal packs, made of a strip of wet sheet covered by a dry flannel cloth bound tightly around the abdomen, should be applied constantly until all acute symptoms settles.
• After the acute symptoms subside by about the third day, the patient should be given a full enema containing about 1 and half litre of warm water and this should be repeated daily until the inflammation and pain have subsided.
• Much relief can be obtained by the application of hot fomentation and abdominal packs every morning and night. An abdominal massage is also advantageous.

Diet Therapy for Appendicitis : The patient can be given fruit juices from the third day onwards. This simple treatment wisely applied will overcome an appendicitis attack. After spending 3 days on fruit juices, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for further 4 to 5 days. During this period, he should have 3 meals a day each meal of fresh juicy fruits. Thereafter, he should adopt a well-balanced diet based on 3 food groups namely
(i) Seed, Nuts and Grains
(ii) Vegetables
(iii) Fruits

In case of chronic appendicitis, a short fast should be followed by a full milk diet for 2 to 3 weeks. In this routine

• A glass of milk should be taken every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the first day
• A glass every hour and a half the next day
• A glass every hour on the third day
• Then the quantity of milk should be gradually increased so as to take a glass every half an hour, if such a quantity can be tolerated comfortably.
• After the full milk diet, the patient should gradually embark upon a well- balanced diet, with emphasis on fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables.

Home Remedies for Appendicitis : 
• Certain vegetable juices, especially carrot juice, in combination with the juices of beets and cucumbers, have been found helpful in the treatment of appendicitis.
• Regular use of tea made from fenugreek seeds has also proved helpful in preventing the appendix from becoming a dumping ground for excess mucous and intestinal waste.
• Prepare a cup of ginseng tea and have it twice daily, as it helps in curing the pain and inflammation of the appendix.
• Green gram is an effective remedy for treating appendicitis. Take 1 tablespoon of green gram soaked in water thrice daily.
• Consume equal quantity of honey and lemon juice to prevent indigestion during appendicitis.
• Mint also helps to relieve the pain caused by appendicitis. Add 2 to 3 drops of mint essence in water and drink once in every 3 to 4 hours daily.
• Buttermilk is very effective in preventing the bacterial growth in the appendix. Consume a litre of buttermilk daily.
• A decoction of basil leaves (Tulsi) can be given if the appendicitis patient suffers from fever.

The patient of appendicitis should adopt all measures to eliminate constipation, if it is habitual. Once the waste matter in the calcium has moved into the colon and thence eliminated, the irritation and inflammation in the appendix will subside and surgical removal of the appendix will not be required. The surgical operation should be resorted to only in rare cases, when the appendix has become abscessed.

Frequently it can be seen that homoeopathy succeeds in averting surgery to remove a swollen appendix.

Belladonna 30: Sudden, acute appendicitis with agonizing abdominal pain, high fever, flushed face and throbbing carotids are usually the symptoms that confirms the use of the medicine named Belladona. The fever, at times, may rise to the extent of causing violent delirium.

Bryonia 30: Gradually developing appendicitis with severe pain in the abdomen forcing the victim to lie absolutely still since slightest motion aggravates the pain. The victim feels better by lying on the abdomen or the right side and by cold applications to the abdomen. There is extreme thirst for large quantities of cold water. For the above-mentioned symptom Bryonia is the ideal medicine.

Iris tenax 30: This is considered a near-specific medicine for appendicitis. There is severe pain in the right groin, frightening the victim almost to death. The pain lessens with warm applications. Dryness of the mouth and the eyes is another feature pointing to this remedy

Arsenicum : When the condition points to sepsis Arsenicum may be the remedy. There are chills, hectic symptoms, diarrhea and restlessness and sudden sinking of strength. It relieves vomiting in these conditions more quickly than any other remedy.

Rhus toxicodendron: This remedy, with its great correspondence to septic troubles may be required. It may be indicated by its peculiar symptoms; locally, took it has extensive swelling over the ileo-caecal region and great pain, causing an incessant restlessness.

Lachesis: This is also a valuable remedy; its great characteristics of sensitiveness all over the abdomen and stitching from the seat of the inflammation backward and downward to the thighs, will indicate it in this disease.