Diverticulitis

Pouches that develop in the intestinal muscle wall can hold onto faeces as it passes through the bowel sometimes creating infection and pain. 

This is a condition of literally holding onto old stuff instead of letting it go .

As I discussed in the last post, the intestines are organs of discernment. The large intestine is linked to the metal element in 5 element acupuncture, the element associated with autumn, and just as the leaves fall, so does our body eliminate, releasing the old, allowing the ending of a cycle, a dying process to happen. 

In a flare up of this condition the person may find themselves in a situation that stimulates a recognition in their body of a time when they felt out of control, or perhaps controlled by another. Feeling powerless, held back, stuck. 

Infection is an internal battle, it is anger. 
Pain is the cramping / tightening of the muscle. Internal tension, guarding, armouring against the next attack the not knowing whether to hold on or let go. 

There is an internal struggle here, a difficulty in sorting this situation out, not knowing the best way to proceed. 

The situation and thoughts/ emotions have activated that part of you that you try to keep hidden, the wounded part that feels unworthy, the powerless inner child.

So if you are someone who is struggling with a flare up in this condition consider the events leading up to the flare up, what was happening, how did you feel inside? Did this bring up anger from the past? What are you holding onto ? 
How does it help you to hold onto this? 
Who or what holds you back in your life? 
What events/ situations/traumas may have effected your self esteem?