The organs of abdomen are normally contained in a cavity. When the organ protrudes abnormally through wall of cavity it is called hernia.
Hernia may be asymptomatic or cause slight to severe pain. The protruded organ puts pressure on the blood vessels that results in blockage of blood supply to the herniated organ. It becomes a medical emergency.
• Inguinal:
This is of two types, direct and indirect. Both appear as a bulge in the inguinal area but have different origins.
• Femoral:
A femoral hernia occurs just below the inguinal crease. It usually occurs in women and are reducible but at a greater risk of becoming irreducible and strangulated.
• Umbilical:
This occurs when the abdominal wall becomes weak at the umbilical spot. It may occur in children when the opening does not close completely that normally closes before birth.
• Incisional:
Incisional hernia occurs as a result of weakness in the area of surgery on the part of body. This type returns after surgical repair.
• Spigelian:
It is a rare type of hernia that occurs along the edge of the rectus abdominus muscle, at the side of the abdomen midline.
• Obturator:
It is rare type of hernia. This type protrudes from the pelvic cavity through an opening in the pelvic bone. It gives symptoms of bowel obstruction, nausea and vomiting.
• Epigastric:
It occurs in the epigastric region, between the navel and the lower part of the chest. It is painless and cannot be pushed back into the abdomen.
Disease turns fatal if not properly diagnosed and causes any complication.
It occurs in all ages and more common in women.
Abdominal hernias can be present at birth while others develop later in life. The causes for development of hernia are as follows:
• Due to poor nutrition, smoking, over exertion weakness in the abdominal wall occurs.
• Increased pressure in the abdominal cavity is one of the major factors of development of hernia. Certain conditions that increase the abdominal pressure are obesity, ascites, pregnancy, coughing, straining during bowel movement.
• A family history of hernias.
• Some people get prone to hernia after losing weight. It is because sudden loss of weight results in weakness.
• A bulge or swelling is apparent at the site of hernia. The swelling increases when more abdominal content tends to push through weak abdominal wall as a result of increased pressure that occurs during coughing, straining, lifting etc.
• Pain may be generalized, localized or referred.
If the blood supply of herniated organ becomes compromised it leads to death of the tissue resulting in generalized pain.
Localized pain occurs in case when bulge becomes more prominent, it reduces on pushing back the herniated part in place. It is dull ache with burning, stinging sensation.
When hernia damages the neighboring nerves then the pain is felt at the site where the nerves are traveling.
• Nausea and vomiting when intestine gets trapped in the hernia.
• Constipation as a result of blockage of intestine in hernia.
• Urinary symptoms such as urinary burning, infection, hesitancy, and bladder stone may occur when bladder gets trapped in the hernia.
• Painful intercourse in females.
• Impotency.
• Hydrocele.
• Testicular torsion.
• Epididymitis.
Diagnosis is made by the obvious symptoms of dull pain in part of body with lifting or straining. A lump can be palpated by increasing the abdominal pressure.
• Surgical belts or bindings help in holding the protruded parts.
• Surgical correction of hernia.
• Take treatment for coughing.
• Avoid lifting heavy weight.
• Quit Smoking.
• Include fiber in your diet.
• Obese person must reduce weight.
Diet:
• Eat small frequent meals.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Don’t lie immediately after eating.
• Avoid acid forming foods.
• Lots of fruits.
• Plenty of water.
Prognosis is good with early diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes incisional hernia may recur.
• Bowel perforation.
• Bowel strangulation.
• Nerve damage during surgery resulting in numbness in groin area.
Every branch of science has its own scope and limitations, so does Homeopathy. Although Homeopathy has a lot of very good remedies for curing & controlling autoimmune disorders, male & female disorders, children and elderly people.
In cases of any emergency situation such as poisoning, serious abdominal complaints (such as acute appendicitis and pancreatitis), fractures, injury, and accidents should be first taken to emergency. However a patient can consult his homeopathic physician after recovering from his initial phase. Please note Homeopathy plays no role in treating any nutritional disorders.
The scope of Homeopathy is limited; it is the sole responsibility of the physician to decide upon the cure – by looking into the complete nature of the disease, onset and stage of the disease and then act accordingly.
Nux vomica:
• Violent pain in hernial region.
• Nausea and vomiting of sour mucus.
• Sensation of weight and pain in stomach.
Sulphuric acid:
• Incarcerated hernia in old people.
• Sensation of fullness in abdomen.
• Nausea with constipation.
• Hernia on left side.
Lycopodium:
• Suited to lean person with lack of muscular power.
• Pressure in stomach after eating with much bloating.
• Right sided inguinal hernia.
Veratrum alb:
• Indicated in incarcerated hernia.
• Voracious appetite.
• Gastric irritability with vomiting of food.
