Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix that can be life-threatening if not treated properly. The appendix is a worm-shaped tube that protrudes from the colon. This tube can be several inches long and is usually located in the lower right side of the abdomen. The actual purpose of the appendix has not been exactly defined. However, Loren G. Martin, a professor of physiology at Oklahoma State University, claims that the appendix might actually be relevant to the immune system.
The professor cited that the appendix of an eleven-week fetus contains endocrine cells that produce hormones and compounds that help homeostatic mechanisms. The professor further states that lymphoid tissue begins to accumulate in the appendix immediately after birth, although it declines after the age of 60. The appendix is said to function as a lymphoid organ during the early years of development. It is said to contribute to the synthesis of molecules that help distribute lymphocytes to various areas of the body.
Furthermore, William Parker, Randy Bollinger, and colleagues at Duke University have proposed that the appendix is a haven or even a breeding ground for good bacteria essential to all organs of the body. They claim they have found masses of bacteria growing on the inner lining of the appendix.
However, since time immemorial, there have been numerous cases where appendages have been removed. However, the lack of an appendix had no adverse effect on any person. Therefore, verification of the exact function of the appendix has consistently eluded scientists. But despite that, the appendix is one thing not to be neglected. The appendix can become infected and fill with pus that could eventually cause death if left untreated.
The exact causes of appendicitis, as well as the specific function of an appendix, have not yet been determined. However, a common factor that often leads to appendicitis is blockage of the opening that runs the length of the appendix by fecal stones. Also, gastrointestinal infections or other types of inflammation can lead to appendicitis. Treatment of severe cases of the condition will require surgical removal of the appendix. Ignoring the symptoms of the condition can ultimately lead to perforation or rupture of the appendix and consequently to infection of the lining of the abdominal cavity, or peritonitis.
Symptoms of appendicitis include shifting pain between the navel and lower right abdomen, abdominal tenderness, fever, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and inability to pass gas. Therefore, whoever has the symptoms mentioned above should consider the following diagnostic procedures: white blood cell count, urinalysis, barium enema, abdominal x-ray, CT scan, ultrasound, and laparoscopy.
With the increasing popularity of colon hydrotherapy as a naturopathic treatment for various ailments, especially those related to the digestive system, it is likely that many people believe that such a treatment is a cure for all these ailments. This treatment, along with any other detoxification therapy, should be done after a full health diagnosis. More especially, these treatments must be carried out by or with the guidance of trained health professionals to avoid adverse effects.
Now, one might wonder if colon hydrotherapy can be performed on patients suffering from appendicitis in the hope of relieving symptoms. The answer is no. Advocates, including Mark Groven, a naturopathic physician and medical supervisor at Bastyr University, Seattle, stress that people with certain medical conditions, including appendicitis, hepatitis, ulcerative colitis, and several others, should not undergo such a procedure.
However, it should also be emphasized that those who are not under any serious medical treatment can undergo colonic irrigation or fasting to help improve their general health and well-being.
