Fasting For Diverticulitis

Don't let the doctors take your colon!

Diverticulitis is an extremely painful, serious condition where little pockets form in the colon/digestive tract and become inflamed and infected by food. The condition begins as diverticulosis and this is just a fancy way to say that the pockets have formed in the diverticulum. Diverticulitis is when it becomes inflamed and/or infected. Remember, a diagnosis doesn't mean you're frozen in a state forever - it just means that's where you are at the moment.

There are dozens of ways to heal this that do NOT include surgeries. Most doctors will prescribe a liquid diet of milkshakes, protein powders, and a solid diet that is typically processed flours, meats, and cheeses. Why is such a horrible diet prescribed for something that came about from horrible dieting? The answer is low fiber. If peristalsis can be halted, the pain and discomfort will go away and then the inflammation will eventually cease. The problem with this is that it's not a long-term solution and it's certainly not healing. It's just a temporary bandage.

Fasting is really the most important, safest, way to heal diverticulitis and most other stomach issues. I know this because I did it myself. Before I lived a holistic lifestyle I was on an intense acne medication for 1 year called Accutane. It's an endocrine-disrupting high dose vitamin A that stops oil production and dries up the body to such an intensity that it's nearly impossible to make pimples - or hormones, enzymes, saliva, etc. I would wake up in the middle of the night choking because I had no lubrication. This medication is why I became a holistic nutritionist as it completely destroyed my liver and digestive system - all of which I've healed. My body is actually healthier now than it's ever been - before or after Accutane.

One major side effect is diverticulosis/diverticulitis. I remember my first "attack". I was eating a huge bag of organic popcorn with cayenne pepper on our way to a romantic getaway in Vermont. I also ate a ton of gluten and soy (two prominent intolerances of mine) thinking I could handle it after years of abstinence. I was rudely awakened by an 8 hour cycle of extreme cramps, implosive gas, severe nausea, and an overall sensation of death! I ate nothing but grapes and oatmeal for days until it got better. For a good year after that I would have these attacks in the middle of the night. I would have tremors, involuntary shaking, sever nausea, intense stomach pain, and the most painful, otherworldly sensations while using the bathroom. I would become hot, sweaty, dizzy, and feel like I was going to pass out. Once I emptied my bowels I felt great. I knew this meant that my diverticulosis had become -itis and I had major inflammation and rawness in my colon. Anything moving by felt like a sharp knife through my system. I knew this meant it was time to fast.

So I embarked on a 3 day juice fast. It was late January. I never recommend long fasts in the Winter, but this was an emergency. I lived off of carrot juice and green juices that I made myself. The first night I woke up and experience the most painful bowel movement of my life. I was disappointed because it was the start of my fast, but I knew my body had work to do and things to clear out. The second day was already better. I had half the pain and was able to sleep through the night. I felt even better on the third so I decided to keep fasting. On day 4 I had a breakthrough. The day started out awful. I had severe lower left rib pain and general discomfort that would wind up through my whole body, wrap around my jaw, and just made my whole self feel tense, inflamed, and sick. My vision would have pulsating specs in it when I walked up stairs. When I went to the bathroom the smell was intense and there was a pain and nausea that hadn't been there before. I felt scared, discouraged, but kept on. Finally, after several tiny bowel movements, my body passed what looked like 20-40 little stone-like, foamy orbs along with a huge sweat, sulfurous odor, and (30 minutes later) absolute relief.

The diverticulitis pouches had cleared themselves! I celebrated with 32 oz of green juice will aloe. I felt alive again. My body felt like it was coming back to me. So I kept fasting. I figured if the diverticulitis was cleared then I should still not eat so that everything could repair itself after the trauma of releasing the infected pockets. On day five I awoke and passed a small stool from the minuscule fiber I had ingested from all the juices and there was no pain. So I kept fasting. On the sixth day I fasted on water only so as not to add any fiber to my body. Then on day 7 I broke my fast with boiled spinach for lunch and steamed carrots for dinner. On the 8th day I had fruit porridge for breakfast, a small serving of amaranth for lunch, and steamed sweet potato for dinner.

My digestion has never been so good since. My diverticulitis has totally healed and has yet to come back. With the right diet and some supplements I know I'm able to keep it away. Intense stress and certain foods could definitely bring it back. but at least I know a simple fast will cure it. What I do now to rebuild and keep healthy is this:

- Fruit or fruit porridge for breakfast.
- Have 1-2 tsp. slippery elm for the first several weeks.
- Easily digestible gluten-free grains like millet, amaranth, quinoa, white rice.
- 2 tsp. of spirulina powder daily
- 1 tbsp. of flax oil daily
- 100 billion count probiotic in the morning
- royal jelly in raw honey for the first 30-90 days only (This is a deeply nourishing medicine that is made strong for the Queen Bee. It would be disrespectful to take and take if the situation is not chronic. Only take for up to 3 months so as not over harvest and try to get it locally and organically from someone who loves their bees)

In addition to these things I eat a whole food vegetarian diet and fast on water once a week to maintain digestive rest and balance. I've truly never felt better in my life and, of course, credit the diverticulitis as an angel that introduced fasting and body awareness to me in a very intense way.

If you're dealing with this, or something like it, and want to work with someone who has been through it and is now on the other side do not hesitate to write me. 

Be well!