If you are male and experiencing heaviness, discomfort or a dull pain in your scrotum, you should get checked for varicocele.
Varicocele may cause one of the testicles to swell up and feel heavier than the other one. You may wonder what causes this condition.
How Varicocele occurs?
Varicocele is supposed to occur due to defective valves that are present in the veins inside the scrotum.
These valves control the blood flow to and from the testicles. When the valves do not function properly, it causes the veins to enlarge and cause varicocele condition.
Varicocele causes a dull pain in the scrotum after standing for a long time or after exercising.
The low blood circulation causes the temperature of the testes to increase. This leads to damage to the sperm that is formed. It can even hamper further sperm production causing lowered fertility in men.
Varicocele treatment
If the symptoms are severe doctors may resort to surgery to treat the varicocele condition. Varicocele treatment without surgery can also happen if you opt for Ayurveda.
Besides traditional treatment methods in Ayurveda, you may treat varicocele with yoga and diet.
How to cure Varicocele with yoga and diet
According to Ayurveda, you can heal your body in a natural way with proper dietary changes and yoga. You may club them with doctor’s recommended Ayurvedic medications and therapies for best results.
Diet for Varicocele treatment:
Adopt a healthy diet to treat varicocele condition. Your body will feel fresh and light when you eat healthy.
Here is a list of food items that will help you counter varicocele effectively-
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Fresh vegetables:
Make sure you load your platter with fresh veggies. Eat them raw or cook them lightly.
Make sure you use less oil and spices. It will help retain the nutrients of the vegetables.
Constipation causes varicocele. Plenty of fiber in veggies will help improve your digestion and prevent constipation.
Beans, cauliflower, broccoli, leafy greens, kale, peas, cucumber are loaded with fiber and antioxidants. They help you clear bowels that help in varicocele treatment without surgery.
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Fresh fruits:
Fresh fruits are also a good source of fiber, nutrients and antioxidants. Have lots of freshly available seasonal fruits on a daily basis as a part of varicocele treatment. It will help clear your bowels easily.
When you are consuming fresh fruits, you will be avoiding the chemicals in packaged food items like juices etc. Chemicals and preservatives are harmful for the veins.
Bananas, apples, watermelons, oranges, grapes, pomegranates, kiwi etc. are some of the fruits that you may choose to eat regularly amongst other choices.
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Wholegrains:
Wholegrains are a good choice as they have lots of fibrous content. They are a good source of other nutrients as well like protein, iron, magnesium, selenium, folate, niacin, riboflavin etc.
Whole Grains help growth of healthy bacteria in the colon. They help regularize bowel movements and prevent constipation. This aspect helps treat varicocele symptoms.
Oats, quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat, millet, sorghum, whole wheat flour, whole grain barley are some of the wholegrain arteries that you may include in your meal plan as a part of varicocele treatment.
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Olive oil:
Olive oil has mild laxative properties. It helps in relieving constipation that may put pressure on the veins.
You may add it to your dishes while cooking, have it raw, or drizzle it on salads too. Extra virgin olive oil is the best for your consumption as it is the purest and is not heated up much when processed.
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Flaxseed oil:
Flaxseed oil is very good for improving your digestive health. You should not use it for cooking. You may add it to shakes, smoothies, salad dressings for consumption.
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Flavonoids:
Foods that contain flavonoids are good for treating varicocele.
Banana, apple, onion, leafy greens, soybean, citrus fruits, berries, cherries etc. are packed with flavonoids.
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Plenty of fluids:
Drink lots of water and other healthy fluids like coconut water or lemon water. It will keep you well hydrated and keep your bowel movement regular.
Foods to avoid for varicocele treatment:
To prevent worsening of symptoms of varicocele, you should avoid the following food items from your meal plan-
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Caffeine:
Avoid products that contain caffeine in any form like tea, chocolates, coffee etc.
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Hydrogenated oil and margarine:
Change your cooking medium from hydrogenated oil to healthier options like olive oil.
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Sugar:
Give up all drinks and edible items that have sugar. Sweets, sugary drinks, sugared tea, chocolates, biscuits etc. should be completely avoided during varicocele treatment.
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Refined white flour:
All food stuff made with refined flour should be completely off your food list. Refined white flour is generally used to make junk food items like pizza, cake, bread, noodles etc. They are not good for your digestive health at all.
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Animal fat:
Animal fat is hard to digest, so it is best to avoid it during varicocele treatment.
Beef, lamb, pork, chicken skin, dairy products with whole fat like milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, sour cream, lard etc. are full of animal fat.
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Alcohol:
Alcohol may aggravate symptoms of varicocele, so avoid it during varicocele treatment.
Yoga for Varicocele Treatment:
If you want varicocele treatment without surgery, then yoga is a very good option. Clubbed with a well-planned diet and varicocele medicine, yoga can definitely make a difference to your healing.
Here are yoga asanas that help improve blood circulation and make varicocele treatment more effective-
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Vajrasana:
Vajrasana helps in improving digestion, makes your pelvic muscle strong and relieves or stops constipation. It also cures acidity due to indigestion and gas formation.
This helps treat varicocele condition effectively.
Steps to do it:
- Sit on a yoga mat on the floor and stretch your legs straight in front.
- Now bend your knees one by one and sit in a kneeling pose.
- Rest your buttock on the V-shape formed by your feet.
- Keep your spine erect and head straight.
- Rest your palms on your thighs with palms facing upwards.
- Sit in this pose for 30 seconds to 15 minutes (as long as you can comfortably sit)
- Keep taking long deep breaths in this asana.
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Shavasana:
Shavasana is also known as the corpse pose. It helps relax your mind and body.
It reduces fatigue and stress. It aids in improving the digestive system that helps treat varicocele condition.
Steps to do it:
- Lie down flat on your back on the yoga mat and close your eyes.
- Do not use any pillows under your neck.
- Keep your legs a little apart and relaxed.
- Keep your arms by your side with palms facing upwards.
- Take your attention to each body part from head to toe slowly.
- Take deep breaths while doing the above.
- Just relax your body and mind (don’t fall asleep) and continue breathing deeply.
- When you finish, roll over to your right side.
- Get up with the support of your arms gradually and slowly open your eyes.
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Dhanurasana:
Dhanurasana is also known as the bow pose. It helps in varicocele treatment as it helps relieve constipation. This prevents pressure on pelvic floor and veins near the anal area.
Steps to do it:
- Lie down on your tummy on the yoga mat on the floor.
- Keep your arms by your side and your legs apart.
- Bend your knees, take your arms behind and hold your ankles with the hands.
- Breathe in, pull your chest up and also pull up your legs with your hands at the same time.
- Look ahead, smile and keep your body taut like a bow.
- Keep breathing in and out while holding this pose for 10-15 seconds (as long as you comfortably can).
- Exhale and slowly bring your chest and legs down and release the pose.
- Relax your body and sit up gently by rolling over to your right side.
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Padmasana:
Padmasana as the name suggests is also known as the lotus pose. It helps kindle the digestive fire and enhances your digestive health.
It is a very effective pose for relieving constipation or diarrhea. In this way it is effective in boosting varicocele treatment.
Steps to do it:
- Sit on a yoga mat on the floor and stretch your legs straight in front.
- Bend the right knee, cradle it in your arms and gently place your leg on the left thigh.
- Now do the same with the left leg.
- Make sure your heels are near the abdomen and the soles of your feet are facing upward.
- Keep your spine erect and your hands in namaskar mudra or on your knees.
- Hold the pose for 5 minutes to 20 minutes (as much as you can hold comfortably).
Adopt these yoga and diet tips for varicocele treatment without surgery. Your Ayurvedic doctor may club these with varicocele medicine and related therapies for best results.