Best herbs for treating hemorrhoids (Piles)

SYMPTOMS

Burning pain, itching, inflammation, swelling, irritation, seepage and bleeding.

CAUSES

Hemorrhoids are enlarged varicose veins, which are found in the anus and rectum.

   Those occurring below the internal sphincter (a circular muscle which closes the rectum) are called external hemorrhoids. Those above that sphincter are called internal hemorrhoids.

   Internal hemorrhoids are generally painless, but often bleed. When they do, the blood is bright red.

   External hemorrhoids are also called piles. Sometimes they protrude from the anus. Because they enlarge and lose their elasticity, they often form little sacs which protrude into the anal canal. The skin above them turns blue or purple and can be extremely painful.

   A prolapsed hemorrhoid is an internal one which is protruding outside the anus. Often there is a mucous discharge and heavy bleeding. They can be extremely painful.

   When they bleed, a fair amount of blood can issue forth. Yet it does not indicate a serious disease.

   Older people are more likely to have them. Pregnant women, and women who have had children, tend to have hemorrhoids more often than other younger people.

   Circulatory weakness of the veins, along with constipation, is a primary cause of hemorrhoids. Liver congestion can also be a factor.

   Any condition which increases pressure on that area or reduces the flow of blood through those veins can include hemorrhoids.

   Hemorrhoids are common in folk who live on junk food diets, low-fiber diets, lack of exercise, sit while working (especially sitting when tense and nervous), do heavy lifting, are obese or pregnant, strain at the stool, do heavy coughing, frequently sneeze, have prolonged use of laxatives or enemas, have elevated pressure on the portal vein of the liver (as occurs in cirrhosis of the liver), and sit on something cold.

NATURAL REMEDIES

• To whatever degree you are able, take corrective actions as indicated in the above two paragraphs.
• Avoid sitting spicy, highly seasoned foods; for they irritate the inflamed area.
• Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.
• When lifting, bend your knees and not your back. Do not hold your breath as you lift. Instead, take a deep breathe and exhale at the moment of lifting. Avoid heavy lifting as much as possible.
• Do not sit on things which do not warm up (a rock, steel, the ground, or deep foam) for periods of time. Sit on a soft cushion, but not on doughnut-shaped one.
• A high-fiber diet, which is nourishing, is crucial to success in avoiding or managing this problem. Fresh fruits and vegetables are full of fiber.
• Use soft toilet paper and only dab with it. Use only non-perfumed, white toilet paper.
• Do not scratch the area.
• Avoid diarrhea; it intensifies the problem. For the same reason, avoid constipation.
• Sitz (sitting) baths soothe inflamed tissues and relax spasms of the rectal and anal muscles.
• In severe cases, take an alternating hot and cold sitz (sitting) bath. Use two large galvanized washtubs, propped up at one end, to make sitting in them more comfortable. Fold a large towel and place it in the bottom and sides, for comfort. Fill one with hot water (100^o F.), the other with tap water. Sit in the hot, for 5 minutes, and in the cold for 30 seconds. Spread the buttocks, as you do this, so the temperature changes will have the best effect on the desired area. Do this 3 times. You can come back later and do it again as needed.
• An alternate method, for less severe cases, is to sit in a bathtub with 10-12 inches of hot water. Do this 3-5 times a day.
• Take B complex, beta carotene (25,000 IU), vitamin E (400 IU), vitamin C (2,000 IU in divided doses), calcium (800 mg), and magnesium (1,200 mg).
• For hemorrhoids which are extruded or prolapsed, take supplements containing glycosaminoglycans.

HERBS

• Apply cold witch hazel tea to help shrink them.
• Cranberry poultices are helpful. Blend a handful against the area. Change an hour later and repeat when you wish.
• An ice pack to that area may also bring relief.
• Dab lecithin on the area, as you would Vaseline.
• Peel a garlic bulb and scrape it to get the juice to flow. Then insert it. It will be expelled the next day during elimination. Do this 3 times a week
• Cut a piece of aloe vera, about 2½ inches in length, peel, and insert.
• Applications of white oak bark tea or witch hazel to the area will, through astringent action, tend to shrink the hemorrhoids.
• Apply goldenseal as an anal antiseptic.
• In a research study, 84% of those receiving a psyllium preparation reported improvement: less pain, itching, bleeding and discomfort when defecating. Psyllium and flaxseed absorb water, expand, and soften stools.
• Very good poultices for this problem include butcher’s broom, horse chestnut, and plantain.
• Mix equal parts witch hazel, slippery elm, mullein, wild alum, and goldenseal. Internally, take 2-4 capsules daily. Externally mix with vasoline and apply to area.
• Apply ginger tea or yarrow extract.
• Melt 2 oz. cocoa butter on top of a double boiler. Stir in 2 Tbsp. finely powdered witch hazel, bayberry, or yellow dock (all astringent). When pliable, roll into cigar-shaped inserts (suppositories). Harden them in refrigerator. Insert. Cocoa butter melts at room temperature.
• Flavonoids (found in fresh fruits and vegetables) strengthen the anal veins so hemorrhoids are less likely to occur.
• Stone root strengthens hemorrhoidal veins (2 capsules between meals twice daily during acute attacks; otherwise, use once a day).