Is There A Remedy For Hemorrhoids?
As Hemorrhoids are common among most of the cultures in the world,
there are a number of remedies that may help ease, heal or remove hemorrhoids.
The treatment depends on the type of hemorrhoids.
How to treat external hemorrhoids
- Since the hemorrhoids are outside the body and can be easily seen
by the doctor or felt by the patient, it may be a bit easier to remedy.
For most external hemorrhoids, home treatment is all you need. - Change to a high fiber diet (at least 25 gms a day)
- Drink about eight glasses of water everyday
- Exercise aerobically at least for 45 minutes a day so that the circulation
is efficient. You may try Pilates, yoga, jogging, cycling, weights,
etc. - Add bioflavonoid to your diet to reduce symptoms of pain, discharge,
heaviness, bleeding and itching. - Apply witch hazel cream (Hamamelis virginiana) topically on the
anal area to relieve pain - Take Butcher’s broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) in pill form to reduce
the inflammation and pain.Not recommended for people with high blood
pressure. - Add a laxative such as bran or psyllium daily (1 tsp in a 1 glass
of orange juice). Also increase the amount of fruits and vegetables,
nuts and grains and organic, unprocessed food that you eat everyday.
Simple ways in which you can control the pain, pressure and itching
- Sitting in warm water or a sitz bath for 15 minutes or so until
there is some relief - Apply petroleum jelly, hemorrhoid cream such as Preparation H in
the anus or outside of it so that you get some relief. - You may also use ice packs to ease the swelling and soreness if
any. - Take care while cleaning after a bowel movement so that the area
around the anus does not get irritated or itchy. If you have a rough
tissue, dampen it and gently clean your underside. - Do not rub repeatedly or use dry tissue. There are many type of
cleaning pads that are available in the market for this purpose. - If external hemorrhoids do not get healed by the above methods,
surgery may be necessary. - For hemorrhoids that don’t respond to home remedies, there are procedures
to shrink or get rid of the hemorrhoids.
What types of surgical techniques are there?
- Rubber Band Ligation is the process by which the doctor cuts off
the blood circulation to the hemorrhoids using rubber bands. Without
the constant blood supply to the veins, the hemorrhoid may just shrink
or shrivel away. - Injection Sclerotherapy – This procedure is also used to reduce
varicose veins. A chemical solution is injected near the hemorrhoid
to close the inflamed veins. - Hemorrhoidectomy – The doctor removes the hemorrhoid using
laser surgery or other techniques. Sometimes, the site is cauterized
and treated so that the hemorrhoid will not return. - Infrared Photocoagulation is the process where infrared light is
directed at the hemorrhoid to coagulate the blood vessels and shrink
the hemorrhoids. - Coagulation may also be performed using a laser. In this procedure,
electric current is applied to the hemorrhoids. This current triggers
a chemical response which shuts down the blood supply to the hemorrhoid.