Piles & Hemorrhoids: Its Causes, Symptoms, Home Remedies and Homeopathic Management

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles are enlarged & swollen veins around the anus or in the anal canal. It is caused due to increased pressure on rectal veins due to constipation or diarrhea which leads to straining to the rectum to pass the stool. 

It may occur during pregnancy and in people with long-standing constipation which cause straining to the rectum and anal canal.

Piles or Hemorrhoids can be painful and make life difficult and distressful. Piles can be internal or external, Bleeding or non-bleeding.

Unfortunately, due to bad eating habits, a large population in India is suffering from Piles or hemorrhoids, and the number is increasing day by day. In India, piles are used as a loose common term for piles, hemorrhoids, fistulas, and fissures. 

Fistulas are abnormally small openings next to the anus from where discharge keeps occurring. This is due to a tunnel-like tract between the anal canal and the skin.

Fissures are like a small cuts at the anal margin. This condition is mostly painful and causes burning and itching.  

Causes of Piles

The exact cause is unknown. Following are some causes that are normally responsible for piles or Hemorrhoids:

1.     Ageing- Starting in the thirties, there is a progressive weakening of the support structures in the area

2.     Constipation- One of the top causes of hemorrhoids is constipation. Straining increases pressure on these veins.

3.     Pregnancy- Hemorrhoids are a common problem caused by hormonal changes and increased pressure on the rectal veins due to the fetus.

4.     Inflammatory bowel disease- Faulty bowel function due to overuse of laxatives or enemas; straining during bowel movements. Inflammatory bowel disease, Ulcerative colitis may be the underlying cause of hemorrhoids.

5.     Chronic venous insufficiency - Hemorrhoids can be a sign of general weakness in the veins. standing or sitting for long periods, obesity, not exercising, and excessive smoking can be the contributing factors.

6.     Portal hypertension- Increased pressure within the portal vein blood and liver cirrhosis is the most common cause of engorged hemorrhoids.

Symptoms

Piles can be internal or external, bleeding or non-bleeding.

• Bleeding-- If the hemorrhoid is internal, then the blood will be bright red and will be most noticeable on toilet paper. If external, you could experience a blood clot around your anus or swelling.
• Swelling around the anus
• Itching at anus
• Irritation
• Anal pain during and after passing stool
• Burning during and after passing stool

Treatment

Normally people take an OTC medication to cure the piles or hemorrhoids on its own, without knowing their possible side effects. Surgery is also not a guarantee to cure the piles.

Fortunately, there are a number of home remedies and diets that are effective and fast relieving. Follow these natural remedies to get rid of hemorrhoids fast and naturally.

Home Remedies for Hemorrhoids

There are several home remedies that can be used at home or the workplace to relieve or treat piles.

1.       Drink enough Water—Increase your water intake, when suffering from internal or external piles or hemorrhoids. Try to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. It will help to cleanse and hydrates your entire body. It also regulates bowel movements and will keep stool soft without much straining.

 

2.      Eat more fiber – Eat whole grain and fibrous products like whole wheat, brown rice, rye, corn, oats/oatmeal, barley, popcorn, millet, quinoa, and sorghum. Whole grain products contain a good amount of fiber, which is highly effective in relieving piles.

3.     
Aloe Vera – It is one of the best natural ingredients for treating hemorrhoids. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory which helps to reduce the irritation of hemorrhoids. Aloe vera gel can be used for both internal and external hemorrhoids. 

4.      Lemon Juice -- Lemon juice contains various nutrients that can give relief from hemorrhoids by strengthening the capillaries and blood vessels of the anal canal. squeeze half a lemon into a cup of hot milk and drink it 2-3 times daily for best results. You can apply freshly squeezed lemon juice to the hemorrhoid. Initially, it can cause some tingling or a burning sensation, but soon it will give relief from the pain and itching.

5.      Olive Oil-- Olive oil has anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties which are very useful to treat external hemorrhoids. Olive oil will help to increase the elasticity of blood vessels, which in turn will help reduce inflammation and shrink the size of swollen hemorrhoids in the anal canal.

6.      Banana is known to be a good laxative. Take boiled bananas and consumed them twice a day. Boiled banana is more effective in case of piles and hemorrhoids.

7.      Enema - Sometimes an enema prepared with warm water boiling with Neem leaves is more useful to patients suffering from piles so as to clean the system of all its wastes. Enema kits for home use are available in the market. 

8.      Baking Soda -- The Application of baking soda on the swollen veins also serves to reduce inflammation.

9.      Avoid Spicy and chilly food—Food, which are very spicy and chilly should be avoided because they can aggravate the conditions of piles. Artificially flavored food containing preservatives should also be done away with.

10.  Sitz Bath - Bathing in tubs with warm water is almost always helpful-- A 20-minute sitz bath (a warm water bath by immersing the buttocks and hips), may help to relieve irritation.

11.   Mind the nature calls -- Try to go to the bathroom when you feel the urge, rather than waiting, in order to prevent straining and added pressure.

12.   Chamomile or calendula - These are herbs that may be applied topically as a compress or ointment. calendula is a great anti-inflammatory herb and is also available in cream. 

13.   Triphala – “Triphala”, Ayurvedic medicine is a compound of three fruits, that is used to treat constipation and thus give relief in piles.

14.  Avoid medicinal laxatives – Medicinal Laxatives can be habit-forming and also weaken the natural power of bowels, thus leading to chronic constipation. If you want to stimulate your bowels, try to change your diet or consider taking herbal supplements that have laxative properties.

15.  





Exercise. Make the habit of doing daily exercise. Exercise helps in increasing the circulation of blood and thus increased the circulation of rectal veins and helps in treating piles.

  

16.   Avoid sitting for long periods of time - Sitting for long periods of time can increase the excessive intra-abdominal pressure and may cause hemorrhoids. If you have a sitting job, take regular small breaks from your work or go for a short walk to avoid piles and hemorrhoids. You can also use a specialized seat cushion for relieving and preventing the pain of piles and fissures.

17.   Cut back on alcohol - Alcohol can cause piles or hemorrhoids, as it dehydrates the body and causes stools to be hard. Alcohol use can badly affect the piles and decreases the chances of recovery from bleeding piles. It has been proven that prolonged use of alcohol leads to portal hypertension & hemorrhoids

Although there is no proven natural remedy that has been proven effective for hemorrhoids, by keeping the above point into consideration, you can get some relief.

Still, if your symptoms are not relieving, you should consult to your doctor immediately to prevent further damage.

Homeopathic Management 

Homeopathy is a natural system of medicine that can be used to cure Piles and hemorrhoids permanently. 

Some homeopathic medicines like Aesculus, Collinsonia, Nitric acid, Rathania, Nux vomica, and capsicum, etc are known for their therapeutic effects in treating piles. Some external creams are also available online or in homeopathic shops for soothing the inflamed area. 

With the use of a balanced diet, avoiding harmful food & activities, and taking appropriate homeopathic medicines according to your symptoms, you can get rid of your piles and hemorrhoids permanently.  

About the Author: Dr. Rahul Singh

Dr. Rahul Singh is a registered Homeopath and Certified Nutritionist with over 16 years of experience and recipient of multiple awards, helps busy people in this fast life, re-energize with tips on a healthy diet, yoga, beauty, health, and wellness strategies that have an impact on their life.