Hernias are a common medical condition that affects people of various ages. They are not usually serious and do not usually require surgery. However, if you have a hernia that is causing pain, it’s important to know your options.
Sometimes, your body’s healing response is enough without surgical intervention. For example, there are some ideas on how to heal a herniated disc naturally.
10 natural approaches to treating hernias
1. Exercise
Exercises to strengthen the muscles in your core area. However, don’t overdo it. It’s best to avoid common core exercises that could worsen your hernia. This includes squats, lunges, planks, and crunches.
However, you can also try yoga (1), tai chi, and qi gong instead. These exercises help tone the muscles in your abdomen, which can prevent and reduce the occurrence of hernias in the long term.
2. Cut Out Spicy Foods
If you want to heal your hernia naturally, you’ll need to make major changes to your diet. That means cutting out spicy and acidic foods. Both are known to cause inflammation in the stomach lining, aggravating your hernia and making it harder to heal.
What can you eat instead? Read on to find out how proteins can help recover from a hernia.
3. Add Proteins to Your Diet
Foods rich in protein can help repair and strengthen your muscles. Proteins have long been used for healing hernias. Scientists have researched this (2) for years, and the results are conclusive—proteins are very effective in treating hernias.
Over time, your body produces fewer proteins, which may lead to a host of health issues, including hernia. The best solution is to introduce protein into your diet through different sources.
Some of the best sources of protein to eat daily include eggs, fish, red meat, poultry, and dairy products.
4. Vitamin C
You can also improve your diet by eating foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, and red peppers. Vitamin C can help improve your immune system.
Vitamin C is widely used to treat hernia for its anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps repair damaged tissues.
Rich sources of vitamin C include bell peppers, kiwi, oranges, papaya, and broccoli. You can also try juicing for a natural dose of vitamin C. Vitamin C doses vary, but most experts recommend at least 500 milligrams per day.
5. Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice that has an anti-inflammatory effect and is rich in antioxidants. It also helps activate certain proteins needed in the healing of hernias.
6. Ginger
Ginger, on the other hand, is a root that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These two spices are great sources of natural remedies that can help soothe and reduce the pain of hernias. These spices can also be taken in capsule form. Make sure to purchase them from a trusted source to be sure they are pure and without additives.
7. Eat More Fiber
Beans are a great source of soluble fiber that can help heal hernias. You can add black beans, pinto beans, and red kidney beans to your daily diet to boost your fiber intake.
You can also eat a variety of whole grains, oatmeal, and fruits, which are also good sources of fiber. Fiber helps your body naturally heal and have less strain, which can be helpful for those with hernias (3).
Ensure you drink plenty of water, too, as this can help push the fiber through your system quicker.
8. Vegetable Juice
Vegetables are full of anti-inflammatory nutrients that help fight off pain from a hernia. Some of the best vegetables to put in your juicer are carrots, spinach, and kale.
9. Avoid Strenuous Activity
As mentioned, exercises can help a hernia, but the wrong exercises can worsen the situation. But it’s not just strenuous exercise that should be avoided.
You may need to go on a reduced work schedule if your job involves a lot of heavy lifting.
10. Lose Weight
Your weight can put you at a higher risk of developing a hernia. Losing weight can help reduce the risk. Many of the dietary suggestions to heal a hernia naturally can also cause natural weight loss.
When you experience the pain of a hernia, it can be a debilitating condition. A hernia can become more frequent or cause complications if left untreated. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural ways to address hernias without needing to undergo the knife.
Whatever treatment option you choose, make sure to follow all instructions and talk to your doctor before undergoing any treatment.
References:
(1) Effect of yoga therapy in reversible inguinal hernia: A quasi experimental study
(2) Dietary Protein Supplementation Helps in Muscle Thickness Regain after Abdominal Wall Reconstruction for Incisional Hernia
(3) John Hopkins Inguinal Hernia
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