>Scientists have Finally Discovered the Appendix has a Purpose For 100 years, we've grown up believing the appendix had no purpose. Its odd wormy shape, earning it the name 'vermiform appendix' has long perplexed scientists. Removal of the appendix, called appendectomy, was a common surgery. The lack of symptoms after appendectomy suggested to them that the appendix was a vestigial structure with no apparent use.

Fossil evidence, however, shows that the appendix evolved independently in at least 32 species, and was lost by no more than 6 species. This finding provided a strong argument of the appendix's importance, however mysterious to modern man. Given the high concentration of immune tissue surrounding the appendix, researchers originally postulated that the appendix offered a protective immune function.

The human appendix attaches to the cecum at the beginning of the colon. The appendix averages 4 inches in length and has the width of earthworm. It is located beneath McBurney's point, 1/3 from the top of the right hip bone to the belly button.

By studying koalas, researchers at Duke University in 2007 believe they have finally found the function of the appendix. Koalas, like many leaf eating mammals, have an unusually large appendix. Leaves contain large amounts of indigestible cellulose fibers. Bacteria break down these cellulose fibers and significantly improve absorption of koala's leafy eucalyptus menu. A bout of diarrhea or infection could purge the gut of these beneficial cellulose eating beneficial bacteria.

Enter the appendix. Apparently, the appendix acts as a reservoir of beneficial gut bacteria. As nature's pro-biotic, the appendix helps to reboot the koala digestive tract by repopulating its gut with this good bacteria. As humans learned to cook and eat more easily digestible foods, and eat fewer leaves, the importance of the appendix may have waned slightly. Nevertheless, balanced gut flora remains important to human health as well.

Appendicitis

When infected the appendix can turn deadly. A low fiber diet, together with rich, gooey foods like pizza and cheeseburgers, form a cocktail of food stagnation that festers in the cecum. Typically, before the appendix becomes inflamed, a person will feel gas & bloating as food stagnates in the cecum. The cecum is a hot spot of food stagnation and fermentation. As the appendix becomes inflamed, pain radiating to the center will start as a dull, visceral ache. As the pain becomes more acute, it localizes to the lower right quadrant. Pain is felt upon release of pressure (rebound tenderness) not upon application.

A diet of light, easy to digest soups with cooked leaves can help scrape the cecum clean. Enema therapy was traditionally recommended to cleanse to the cecum area as a preventative measure. Do not give an enema to someone with an inflamed appendix, as the increase in pressure could cause rupture. Appendicitis is a serious condition that requires immediate emergency treatment at the hospital.

Cases of appendicitis increase in the spring, starting early February, as gooey element naturally increases in the blood.

Disclaimer: 'Appendicitis' could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor.

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Augment your diet with these specially chosen ingredients below which may be useful for 'Appendicitis'. Individual results vary depending the cause of your imbalance and by constitution. Please research the ingredients below to find which are most helpful for you, and check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine. Please check with your medical doctor before making any changes to your health & wellness routine, and for the proper use of these products.

These supplements are contraindicated / may aggravate 'Appendicitis'.

MORE DIGESTION TIPS

DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.

Everything you eat has an effect on your body, which Ayurveda categorizes in a simple and easy way, using biocharacteristics (gunas). Biocharacteristics are qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'Appendicitis', you should select foods with the following biocharacteristics. Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.

Bowel Health:

General Laxative

GENERAL-LAXATIVE

Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives.

SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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High Fiber Laxative

HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE

A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The large size of the stool stimulates peristalsis so the stool can pass more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydr

SEE ALL 'HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

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Antimicrobial

ANTIMICROBIAL

An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.

SEE ALL 'ANTIMICROBIAL' FOODS / HERBS

Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

HOW TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE #4

APPENDICITIS IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE #4 - TISSUE DISEASE

If you have symptoms in this category it means your imbalances have overwhelmed your body's resistance causing a full-fledged disease. Once imbalance reaches this stage it is more likely to cause acute or chronic conditions. You might be tempted to focus your attention on fighting symptoms in this category, but dismiss earlier warning signs of imbalance - i.e. symptoms in the stage 1 category. It is ideal to find and address the root causes weakening your system and remove them first. This ensures you are not adding fuel to the fire of disease. Once the root causes are removed, you can work on addressing the disease head on along with strengthening your body. This typically yields a quicker recovery and prevents recurrence. Ayurveda's preventative approach suggests you pay careful attention to every stage of disease development. (See all disease stages on JB)

GET MY FREE AYURVEDA BODY MAP According to Ayurveda, one or more of the following doshas and biocharacteristics may aggravate 'Appendicitis'. If you have an excess of one of these doshas or biocharacteristics below, Ayurveda recommends reducing foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate them. Click on the biocharacteristic to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced.

Are you prone to a problem with 'Appendicitis'? Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Digestion by taking the free digestion quiz:

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The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Appendicitis'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them. On average the biocharacteristics of people reporting Appendicitis were less aggravated than 65% of other symptoms. From the 1,169 people who reported Appendicitis average deviation in biocharacteristic levels were the following:

Risk Factors of Appendicitis

Complications of Those Reporting Appendicitis

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