Diverticular Disease

​Have you been diagnosed with diverticular disease? Or had flare ups of diverticulitis? Reflexology may be able to help regulate your bowel function.
Diverticular disease is an umbrella term covering diverticulosis (formation of pouches in the colon) and diverticulitis (when the pouches become swollen).
Whilst the exact cause is not known, it has a higher incidence in those who do not have enough fibre in their diet. This leads to constipation, straining whilst having a bowel movement and increased chance of bacteria entering the pouches.
Older people are more at risk of diverticular disease, with approximately 50% of 60-80 year olds having it.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis have different symptoms. Diverticulosis generally have no symptoms although some people will report some bleeding or bloating. Diverticulitis symptoms include abdominal pain which can be severe, temperature, vomiting, and altered bowel movement.
Reflexology involves applying pressure to specific areas on the feet or hands which correspond to specific areas in the body. These stimulate nerve endings which send messages to the brain and organs to help them rebalance themselves.
Reflexology can help with diverticular disease by helping to regulate the muscles in the walls of the intestine, regulate fluid absorption, and elimination of toxins. It also improves blood circulation to keep the bowel healthy, as well as boosting immunity to help the body fight infection.
As a nurse for over 25 years, as well as having had family members experience the discomfort of diverticulitis, I know how debilitating living with diverticular disease can be.