A hernia occurs when any internal organ pushes through a weak area of muscle or other tissue into the body cavity, common ones are inguinal hernia, hiatal hernia, stomach hernia and groin hernia. By far the most common of these involve the abdomen, which is scarcely surprising, since the total length of the alimentary canal can be up to 30 feet in adults, and packing such a large structure into a limited space provides Nature with a considerable challenge. There can be a number of reasons for the development of a hernia, but the most common seem to be undue pressure exerted on the gut by heavy lifting or excessive exercise, either of which can displace the structures from their normal position, or simply a loss of tone which is a normal part of the aging process. There are many different types of hernia symptoms, all of which are named according to where they occur, but by far the most common is the inguinal hernia, accounting for about 75%, in which part of the bowel is displaced into the groin area (groin hernia). Others include the hiatal hernia, in which part of the stomach hernia periodically pushes upwards into the thorax (chest) area. About 27% of males are estimated to suffer symptoms of hernia at some stage in their lives, generally above the age of 50. The incidence in women is as low as 3%, though when they do occur they can be serious.

When hernia symptoms developed to the point where it is causing pain or danger of strangulation of the blood supply to any organ the only possible option is surgery but in cases where it is not causing an immediate problem medical advice can be to ‘watch and wait’. This would be an ideal opportunity to undertake Ayurvedic hernia treatment.

There are two aspects to the Ayurvedic approach for hernia treatment. In Ayurveda it is characteristic of a Vata imbalance: excess wind accumulates and bears down on the gut structures, forcing them out of their normal position. The hernia treatment therefore sets out to restore Vata balance through diet. The second priority is to strengthen the gut through a gut rejuvenation program.

If you are experiencing early hernia symptoms and have not yet been advised to undergo surgery a course of Ayurvedic hernia treatment may be beneficial.

For further information on hernia treatment please call YATAN Holistic Ayurvedic Centre on 1300 552 260.