Appendicitis is a common, but potentially life threatening, condition. Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and fills quickly with pus. The appendix projects from the right side of the colon and remains a vestigial trait with no current identifiable purpose. The pain from appendicitis occurs suddenly, and the pain commonly shifts from the area around the navel to the area comprising the lower right abdomen. The pain associated with appendicitis increases rapidly over a period of approximately 12 to 18 hours. While appendicitis can affect anyone at any time, the condition is generally seen in individuals aged 10 to 30. Left untreated, the appendix can rupture or develop into a serious bacterial infection. Immediate medical attention should be sought if the pain becomes so severe that the individual cannot find a comfortable resting position.

While the increasing, shifting abdominal pain is typically the telltale sign of appendicitis, there are a range of other symptoms that can be associated with the condition. These symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Abdominal swelling
• Constipation and/or the inability to pass gas

Appendicitis can happen due to an obstruction, an infection, and sometimes for reasons that aren’t ultimately clear. While the direct causes of the condition may vary, the eventual result of every case of appendicitis is an overgrowth of bacteria that causes the organ to become swollen, inflamed, and filled with pus. As mentioned earlier, cases of appendicitis that remain untreated can result in a fatal rupture or abscess.

Self Help

There is no real way to prevent one from contracting appendicitis, but there are a few methods that you can take to help alleviate your symptoms once you are diagnosed. These simple lifestyle changes include:

• Avoiding strenuous activity based on the type of surgery you had to remove the appendix. If you had an open incision made during your appendectomy, you will want to let your body rest for up to two weeks after surgery. If your surgery was performed laproscopically, you can begin readjusting to your regular routine after approximately 5 days. It is important to remember not to push yourself during this time—the body needs plenty of time to recover after surgery.
• Be sure to get as much sleep as you need. This will give your body more time to recuperate effectively. When the body heals, individuals oftentimes feel more tired than usual.
• Be careful when you cough. Be sure to support your abdomen when you cough in order to avoid tearing any stitches that you may have. Bracing yourself before coughing may cause less general pain.

Other alternative approaches relating to appendicitis deal primarily with pain management. While yoga may be ruled out as an option by your doctor, other forms of therapy may still help. These therapies can include anything from guided meditation to art therapy—whatever works best for the individual.

Western Treatments

Those who are diagnosed with appendicitis almost always become candidates for surgical removal of the appendix (also called appendectomy). The surgery is relatively minor in scope, and those who did not experience a rupture or infection due to their appendicitis are often expected to make a full and swift recovery. If there is an infection, your medial professional may have to drain the abscess before performing the appendectomy. Medications for pain will likely be prescribed by your doctor as a post treatment option.

If you think that you may be exhibiting symptoms of appendicitis, you must inform your local hospital. There are a variety of tests that can be performed to assess whether or not one has come down with the condition. Some of these tests include blood tests, urine tests, and imaging tests.

A Treatment in TCM Diagnosis

A 28-year-old woman working as an administrator of a non-profit began experiencing acute pain in the lower quadrant of the abdomen. While the patient knew that the pain she was feeling was due to appendicitis, she was hesitant to commit to surgery as a default treatment plan. While being monitored in a hospital, the patient was given two herbal formulas, each to be taken 4 to 6 times a day until she reported feeling gradually better and until all symptoms disappeared.

The first herbal mixture contained isatis extract leaf & root, codonopsis root, oyster shell, bupleurum root, smilax rhizome, gardenia fruit, moutan root bark, tang kuei root, akebia trifoliate caulis, red peony root, alisma rhizome, and cyperus rhizome.

The second herbal mixture contained coptis rhizome, lophatherum herb, bupleurum root, raw rehmannia root, tang kuei root, white peony root, akebia trifoliate caulis, anemarrhena root, phellodendron cortex, gentian root, alisma rhizome, plantago seed, scute root, sophora root, forsythia fruit, gardenia fruit, and licorice root.