Natural remedies & supplements for diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a painful, inflammatory digestive condition that can be related to certain lifestyle factors, genetics, and health issues. If you've recently been diagnosed with diverticulitis, you may be surprised and confused at how such a painful condition could have caused symptoms so quickly, and seemingly, without warning.

Here, we'll explore the cause of diverticulitis, the symptoms of the condition, and steps you can take to find relief.

What is diverticulitis?

Diverticula—small pouches in the lining of the digestive tract—commonly develop in people over the age of 50. Many people who have diverticula in their digestive system never experience negative symptoms. Unfortunately, some people develop a painful condition called diverticulitis. 

Normally, food and bacteria move through the digestive system and are removed in the stool. Diverticulitis occurs when food or bacteria get stuck in diverticula, causing infection and/or inflammation. For many, diverticulitis symptoms—like abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea—come and go. Thankfully, there are many options (including home remedies) that can treat diverticulitis flare-up symptoms. 

Who is at risk of developing diverticulitis?

This painful condition becomes more common with age, as most people who are affected by diverticulitis are over 50 years old. Risk factors for developing the condition include obesity, eating a diet high in red meat, and/or eating a low fiber diet. Men are more likely to develop the condition than women.

Diverticulitis symptoms

Diverticulitis symptoms can vary widely from one person to another. Since diverticula can form without causing negative health symptoms, many people don’t know they're at risk of developing diverticulitis.

Symptoms of diverticulitis may include:

• Sudden, severe abdominal pain
• Bloating or gas
• Fever
• Chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stool changes, including diarrhea or constipation
• Increased urinary frequency and urgency

You may find that your symptoms are steady, get worse over time, or that they come and go depending on diet and lifestyle factors. You may find it helpful to keep a journal of your symptoms so you and your healthcare provider can find patterns and triggers.

When to get help

If you're unsure about whether you may be experiencing diverticulitis, it's important to reach out to your doctor. Any time that you experience abdominal pain that does not go away, evaluation from a healthcare professional is necessary to rule out serious health issues. It's particularly essential that you seek care in the event that you have abdominal pain alongside stool changes and/or a fever.

Complications associated with diverticulitis

If you have diverticulitis, it's important to take steps to treat your symptoms and help your digestive organs heal.

Some people who experience diverticulitis experience complications, which can include:

• Intestinal abscess due to bacterial infection
• Blockage of the colon
• Fistula (an irregular passage between the bowel organs and another organ)
• Peritonitis (a disease caused by a tear in the colon wall)
• Diverticular hemorrhage (bleeding from ruptured blood vessels in the intestinal wall)

How to prevent diverticulitis

If you know that you're prone to developing diverticulitis, it's important to adopt lifestyle changes that can prevent the condition from developing. Your healthcare provider will talk with you about how you can change your diet and lifestyle habits to support your digestive health.

Some ways to prevent diverticulitis include:

• Exercise. Engaging in regular exercise can help to support healthy digestion, moving waste products through the digestive system and lessening the risk of developing inflammation or infection in the diverticula.
• Enjoy high-fiber foods. When you eat foods rich in fiber, it's easier for the colon to remove waste from the body. It's important to note that this tip may not be helpful in the event of an acute diverticulitis flare-up, as adding fiber during a period of active inflammation or infection may exacerbate your symptoms.
• Stay hydrated. When you drink plenty of water in addition to eating a high-fiber diet, the bulk of the waste in your colon increases, preventing constipation and promoting healthy waste removal.
• Limit alcohol use. Heavy drinking has been shown to increase the likelihood of diverticulitis. If you notice that alcohol tends to cause flare-ups, you may want to stop drinking altogether.
• If you smoke, quit. Smoking has also been shown to increase the likelihood of diverticulitis. If you're having trouble quitting, talk with your doctor about pharmaceutical options that can support you as you work to develop a healthier lifestyle.

Diverticulitis natural remedies

Sometimes, diverticulitis can be treated at home with lifestyle changes and dietary adjustments. Your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you employ these changes both to soothe acute diverticulitis symptoms and to prevent future attacks.

Some home remedies that you can use to ease diverticulitis symptoms include:

• A liquid diet: Your doctor may recommend that you stick to a liquid diet (including water, coffee, sports drinks, broth, and Jell-O) to give your digestive system time to heal.
• A low-fiber diet: As mentioned previously, a low-fiber diet can be appropriate for diverticulitis flare-ups, even though a high-fiber diet is a good choice for long-term symptom prevention. While you're following a low-fiber diet to address acute symptoms, your doctor may recommend eating a diet high in low-fiber items like cooked fruits without seeds or skins, cooked vegetables without seeds or skins, white rice, dairy products, and low fiber cereals.
• Spend time outdoors: While this may seem like an odd addition to this list, spending time in the sun can promote the production of vitamin D, which some healthcare professionals believe can help to ease acute diverticulitis symptoms.
• Acupuncture: Some people find that acupuncture is a valuable remedy for diverticulitis symptoms, as it may support gastrointestinal health.

An important note: if it's your first time experiencing diverticulitis symptoms, it's essential to talk with a healthcare professional about a treatment protocol. While at-home treatments may help you find relief, it's important to make sure you don't need medication or additional treatments to help your digestive system heal.

Supplements to support digestive health

Dietary supplements may help to prevent diverticulitis flare-ups. While eating a balanced diet can help you to get the nutrients you need from a variety of natural sources, supplementation may be necessary to ensure that you're getting everything you need to support a healthy digestive system.

Supplements that may be useful in preventing diverticulitis include:

• Vitamin D: As mentioned, spending time in the sun can help to increase your body's natural production of vitamin D. Taking dietary supplements can also be helpful during times of the year when it's hard to get time in the sun, or if you tend to eat a diet that’s low in foods that contain vitamin D.
• Psyllium husk: Found in over-the-counter fiber supplement products like Metamucil, psyllium husk can help to add bulk to your stool, making it less likely that you'll develop diverticulitis. Adding this fiber-rich supplement to your diet can be helpful when you aren't experiencing symptoms. You may want to remove fiber supplements from your diet in the event of a flare-up.
• Fish oil: The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may help to reduce inflammation in the body. If you don’t eat seafood often, it may be helpful for you to take a fish oil supplement. An important note: do not take fish oil or other omega-3 fatty acid supplements if you are on blood-thinning medication (unless directed to do so by your doctor).

Medications for diverticulitis

If your diverticulitis symptoms are severe, or your symptoms are not responding well to home treatment, your healthcare provider may recommend medication to help you heal.

If your diverticulitis is caused by an infection, your doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics to kill bacteria and help your body heal. It's important that you take the full course of antibiotics, even if you begin to feel better before you finish your medicine.

Tracking triggers and symptoms

Finding an effective food tracking strategy that works well for you can be helpful in figuring out which foods to avoid in order to prevent diverticulitis flare-ups. Using an app (like MyFitnessPal) or tracking your foods and symptoms in a notebook can help you find patterns, allowing you to eliminate foods that harm your digestive health.

Support your health journey with Evidation

At Evidation, our team is here to help you feel your best. We use the health data that you choose to share with us to offer you personalized, content-based insights that can provide you with the information you need to continue moving your health forward. Whether you're trying to heal diverticulitis, are working to become healthier overall, or have a specific health goal that you're trying to meet, we're here to help. Click here to learn more about Evidation and download our free app today.