Hemorrhoids are a condition in which the veins around the anus or lower rectum are swollen or inflamed. It is painful and itchy and sometimes bleeds.
Hemorrhoids may be internal (inside the anus) or external under the skin around the anus. Most of hemorrhoids in early stages are short lived and can easily be cured at home. A good natural remedy may give you relief within 2-3 days
Every man and woman is prone to hemorrhoids sometime during his/her lifetime. Hemorrhoids are not life threatening conditions. Most causes of hemorrhoids are lifestyle related and some are genetics.
Table of Contents
- What Causes Hemorrhoids?
- Internal Hemorrhoid Treatment
- External Hemorrhoid Treatment
- 3 Powerful Home Remedies for Hemorrhoids
- Precautions and Tips
What Causes Hemorrhoids?
Chronic Constipation is one of the most common causes of hemorrhoids. straining to pass stool causes pressure on blood vessels around the lower rectum and anus area.
These vessels usually circulate blood to facilitate stool passing. When the vessels are strained they get inflamed and swollen. The swollen or bulged veins are called hemorrhoids.
Therefore, you should get rid of constipation as soon as you realize it.
Lack of fiber in the diet causes constipation which can lead to hemorrhoids. Similarly chronic diarrhea also causes strain in the bowel vessels causing hemorrhoids.
Some people are genetically predisposed with weaker veins.
Some people have occupational compulsion to stand for long hours. The standing position causes strain on the rectum vessels causing hemorrhoids. If your job involves long standing hours then you must ensure that you get periodic rest from standing.
Pregnancy also causes hemorrhoids. The fetus produces strain on the lower abdominal vessels. The hemorrhoids caused by pregnancy usually disappear after the child birth.
Anal intercourse is another cause for hemorrhoids. If any other activity such as lifting weight etc causes strain on these vessels then the veins will get swollen causing hemorrhoids.
Interestingly, most of the above causes of hemorrhoids are probable causes. Exact mechanism has not been researched well.
In Hemorrhoids the veins around the anus are strained and bulge out to form lumps . Internal hemorrhoids are the lumps that remain inside the anal canal and external hemorrhoids are the ones that are outside and around the anus. Internal hemorrhoids are difficult to detect at early stages.
They get diagnosed only when they rupture and begin to bleed or a stain of blood is seen with the stool. Sometimes the internal hemorrhoids protrude outside the anus and get noticed.
Internal Hemorrhoid Treatment
Anal fissures are other conditions which mimic hemorrhoids. Bleeding could be as a result of this condition. Therefore the treatment should be specific to that condition. You can use home remedies for anal fissure.
One of the unusual treatments for Internal Hemorrhoids is rubber band ligation. This is a simple outpatient procedure which doesn’t require hospitalization. A small rubber band is placed at the base of the internal hemorrhoids. This stops blood supply to the inflamed hemorrhoids.
Restricting the blood supply helps to shrink the vessel which normally falls off within a week of the rubber band ligation procedure.
Laser Coagulation, Injection Sclerotherapy and Hemorrhoidectomy are other medical and surgical procedures to treat internal hemorrhoids.
The natural methods of treatment of internal hemorrhoids and even for external ones begin with changing the food habits by increasing fiber and fluids in the diet.
Eating the right amount of fiber and drinking six to eight glasses of water and other fluids like fruit juices result in softer and bulkier stools.
Softer stool helps emptying the bowels easier and reduces the pressure on hemorrhoids caused by straining. Elimination of straining helps to prevent the hemorrhoids from protruding.
Other natural treatment of hemorrhoids is taking tub baths twice a day. This softens the tissues and reduces the pain and itching.
External Hemorrhoid Treatment
External hemorrhoids develop around and outside of the opening of the anus. External hemorrhoids are very painful. A variety of treatments including natural, medical and surgical are available.
Sometimes external hemorrhoids develop a clot inside them which is very common among chronic constipation or diarrhea sufferers. These types are called thrombosed external hemorrhoids.
Treatment of External hemorrhoids in early stages is simple. You should take precautions and don’t let it become thrombosed external hemorrhoid.
Aloe Vera gel is a very good starting point for external hemorrhoid treatment. Apply the gel buy rubbing it external rectum area. It relaxes the external tissue so that it doesn’t bulge out.
This in some cases is only a temporary relief but in other cases it is a simple long term solution. However, the hemorrhoids can flare up without warning in future.
Many other creams and ointments are available in the market and over the counter.
Other popular external hemorrhoid treatment involves insertion of suppositories in the rectum which lubricates and moistens the area as a result hemorrhoids don’t rupture. This is not very comfortable but it works well with some people.
Other medical route involves taking pills as external hemorrhoids treatment. These pills regulate the blood pressure in the affected area but may have negative health effects in long term.
Then there are surgical treatments for external hemorrhoids which range from cutting off blood supply by using rubber bands, lasers, electric current and heat procedures and surgical removal etc.
The best treatment for external hemorrhoids still remains natural and involves managing bowel movements. However, if your hemorrhoids have become too big then the surgical removal remains the only option. This type of surgery is called Hemorrhoidectomy.
3 Powerful Home Remedies for Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are both preventable and treatable. Following are 3 lifestyle changes and home remedies for hemorrhoids that you will find useful.
1. Fiber Diet
Fiber softens the stool and reduces straining of the vessels. Eating food rich in fiber such as whole grains, wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruits helps softening the stool.
In addition drink a lot of water throughout the day. A glass of water every hour during the day should be enough.
Another way to consume fiber is to take one spoon of Psyllium husk in water, milk or any fruit juice. Make sure that after drinking the husk in your preferred liquid drink one glass of water.
Best time to drink it is 2-3 hours before going to bed and not eating anything after that.
Psyllium immediately acts and the next day morning your stools are softer. Drink the husk for 2-3 days to get quick relief.
2. Butcher's Broom
The butcher’s broom is a plant (Ruscus aculeatus). It is known by many other names such sweet broom, knee holly and box holly. In early days butchers in Europe used the plant to clean their chopping blocks. Hence the name!
The plant butchers broom has an active compound called ruscogen which has been found to be anti-inflammatory and vein contracting.
These properties of the plant improve the tone and integrity of veins as a result it shrinks the swollen tissues and hemorrhoids subsides. This has also been found good for varicose veins.
The best way to take it is by making tea from the plant. To improve its bitter taste, you can add some honey. The tea can be made by adding one spoon of the herb in a cup of hot water. Stir and leave it for 15 minutes and drink it.
People with high blood pressure, pregnant and nursing women should not take this remedy. Check with your doctor before starting this natural treatment for hemorrhoids.
3. Banana Peel
Banana peel can be a quick solutions to many hemorrhoids. Your hemorrhoid can vanish within 3-7 days. Take a ripe banana. You can eat the pulp or use it for any other purpose. Our objective here to get peel of properly ripe banana.
Apply the inside part of the banana peel directly on your hemorrhoid. You can actually keep a piece of banana peel on the hemorrhoid and fix it with the help of a band aid to keep it on the hemorrhoid.
Change it every 12 hours. Within 3 days your hemorrhoids should disappear.
Learn more about causes, symptoms and prevention of hemorrhoids in the other related articles:
Precautions and Tips
Hemorrhoids is more of a lifestyle disorder than a disease. Take the following precautions to prevent further episodes of hemorrhoids.
- Stay hydrated - Drink enough water throughout the day. 8-10 glasses of water and other healthy drinks will suffice. hydration improves bowel movement and prevents hemorrhoids.
- Eat more fiber - Dietary fiber both soluble and insoluble improves bowel movement. Add variety of legumes, vegetables and fruits to your daily diet.
- Avoid laxatives - Use correct laxatives for your constipation. Natural products that add fiber are good but the laxatives that induce contractions to induce bowel movements cause hemorrhoids.
- Exercise more - Exercise improves bowel movement. Sedentary lifestyle causes constipation and hemorrhoids.
- Do not Strain - Avoid the urge to strain. It is one of the main catalysts to cause hemorrhoids.
Bottom line is that if you take care of your lifestyle then you will not only prevent hemorrhoids but also lead an overall healthy life.