Nine Home Remedies for Inguinal Hernias That Really Help!

While I should note that an inguinal hernia requires a medical diagnosis and treatment by a competent professional, if one were to find oneself in a situation where that medical help weren't available, say in the middle of a global pandemic, when elective surgery is cancelled until further notice, what would you do?

Are there actually home remedies that help?

The answer is yes.

1. The Edgar Cayce "Castor Oil Treatment" is actually incredibly worthwhile--while again, this isn't going to replace a surgeon, it may buy you some time while providing significant relief. Apply food grade Castor Oil to a damp, heated cloth--be careful not to burn your skin! You can also put the Castor Oil directly on your skin, and then place the warm, wet cloth on top of the affected area. Next take a dry towel and place that on top on the wet compress and place a heating pad on top of the towel. Lie down with a pillow under your knees and stay warm and covered up with blankets for about half and hour; take a nap if possible; breathe deeply from your belly and relax--listen to nice meditation tapes or relaxing music. You'll find the hernia immediately retreats and the area becomes relaxed as the blood flow is increased. Two or three times a week and you'll notice a big difference regarding the pressure, tension, pain, and general feeling of weirdness or discomfort.

2. Eat a mostly plant based diet and do not over eat. Avoid constipation at all costs. Any food that causes an inflammatory reaction in your body will make a hernia MUCH worse, especially fried food or foods with vegetable oils or foods high in sugar or overly processed flours--you want to tone down inflammation, which is always a good idea anyway. Any food that causes gas should also be avoided, as gas pain added to a hernia will have you thinking you need to go to the emergency room! A natural remedy for gas is Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar, a tablespoon in a glass of warm water will do the trick. Wormwood tincture, 10-15 drops in a small glass of water will also expel gas. Losing some weight is also advisable.

3. Motherwort Tincture is beneficial because it relaxes your insides and would be preventative of a strangulation or other obstruction--I would have some good quality Motherwort tincture made from the fresh flowering tops on hand at all times, and take a good size dose 25-50 drops, if you are feeling tension or stress down there; repeat the dose in a half hour if you don't feel relief, but you will feel relief in a few minutes.

4. Gentle Pilates exercises performed mostly on a mat, on the floor, can be very helpful--just don't over do it, and if it feels wrong, move to another exercise--usually glute workout series are best--take it easy on the abs though--you work your abs when you do glute work anyway.

5. Pelvic floor exercises, again, I stress gentle exercises, preferably seated or on a mat on the floor, not standing, these exercises will prove useful.

6. Linden Flower herbal infusions are great as they help lower inflammation and make everything slippery in your gut.

7. Comfrey Leaf infusions are beneficial to build up the strength of the muscles, ligaments and tendons, etc.  You need to be careful where you get Comfrey leaf, as some strains are toxic. I only trust www.redmoonherbs.com for mine.

8. Deep breathing, meditation, relaxation--Reiki if you know it--or gentle healing touch, laying on of hands--gently place your hands over the area and think of glowing light radiating from your hands into the area, repairing the damaged cells. I like listening to healing meditation tapes and putting an eye pillow over my eyes--this can also be done during your Edgar Cayce time (see point #1). Simply lying down when you've been on your feet too long also helps! Take naps when you can. Be gentle with yourself. Avoid strenuous lifting or bending or ESPECIALLY pushing anything heavy. Envision healing angels standing around you healing you with their hands and with light beams. With a hernia, you need to get off your feet frequently during the day as the pressure during standing pushes everything from the inside out.

9. Burdock leaves soaked in apple cider vinegar and warmed up in the oven at a low temperature can also be applied to the area much like the Castor Oil treatment mentioned above. Burdock leaves are readily available in the summer months and are gentle and soothing when applied directly on the skin. Afterwards, discard the used leaves in a compost pile. Do not throw away any plant you wish to heal you!

Warning: Always seek prompt medical attention if you feel anything unusual or dangerous might be going on, like a strangulation or obstruction, which can be life-threatening conditions and require emergency medical attention.

Be well friends.