Hemorrhoids or piles are swollen and painful veins in the anal region. They consist of small, dry, irregularly shaped polyps, fissures or cracks which hurt every time one passes stools. Hemorrhoids are both internal and external and both types are extremely painful. Most minor cases of hemorrhoids resolve on their own. The main thing the sufferer must do is try and avoid constipation or straining while having a bowel movement. Apart from these two tips, the following home remedies also work on internal and external bleeding piles.
1. Use hot Sitz bath
Sitz bath means sitting in a tub of hot water so that the piles or hemorrhoids are completely immersed in it. Hot water relieves inflammation to give instant relief from hemorrhoid pain. Use this remedy each time you have a bowel movement. Make sure you soak for at least 15 to 20 minutes. You can take Sitz baths twice a day to cure piles quickly. This remedy also clears the rectum and reduces bacteria.
2. Set a routine
We mean setting a routine for a bowel movement each morning. You need to ‘train’ your bowels to pass stools at the same time each day. This will prevent you from straining and also you won’t need to hold back should you feel the urge to go at an inconvenient time.
3. Prevent constipation
Of all the home remedies for hemorrhoids-this one is the most important. You must cut back on refined foods that lead to constipation. Instead, go for a diet rich in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Also drink 10-12 glasses of water to prevent stools from drying up. Eat fiber rich cereals, bran and vegetables such as broccoli that add roughage to the stools and enable the bowels to clear out completely.
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4. Apply hot or cold compress
This is a wonderful home remedy to relieve painful, inflamed fissures particularly after having a bowel movement. Apply some ice to the anal region until the pain stops completely. Ice helps numb the swollen blood vessels and gives long lasting relief. The same is the case with heat. As already stated above, a Sitz bath is the best way to reduce hemorrhoid pain by application of heat. Make sure you apply this hot or cool remedy on the hemorrhoid for at least 20 minutes.
5. Take a laxative
If change of diet does not prevent constipation, then you might need to take a laxative. However; long term use of laxatives is not recommended since it can lead to chemical dependency which could lead to other problems.
6. Take enemas
Enemas help flush out the hardened stools and prevent constipation. It is best to talk to the doctor about using enemas.
7. Witch hazel hemorrhoid remedy
Witch hazel is a wonderful natural remedy for preventing hemorrhoid pain quickly. Soak a few clean cotton balls in witch hazel and apply them all over the inflamed veins and fissures of the anus. Witch hazel is available in drug stores so you can buy a large bottle for daily use. Use this natural hemorrhoid cure every day and particularly after passing stools. The astringent properties of witch hazel cure and relieve hemorrhoids and prevent recurrence.
8. Quit smoking
Smoking has many harmful side effects and one of the little known ones is constipation and aggravating fissures. So you must quit smoking if you want to prevent hemorrhoids.
9. Reduce weight
A common cause of hemorrhoids is obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Losing weight at the rate of couple of pounds per week can help prevent constipation and reduce the pressure caused by excess fat on the anal area.
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10. Apply Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has many health and beauty benefits and relieving hemorrhoid pain is one of them. Cut open an Aloe leaf and apply the gel directly on the painful anal region. You can also buy the over-the-counter creams and gels containing Aloe Vera extracts to apply to the anus, daily, preferably after taking Sitz bath.
11. Hemorrhoid relief with vinegar
One of the best and most popular hemorrhoid remedies is using vinegar on the piles. Soak toilet paper in distilled white vinegar or raw, organic apple cider vinegar. Use it on the piles. Repeat this remedy several times a day. You can also add a cupful of vinegar to the Sitz bath to make it more effective.
12. Foods to stay away from
Coffee, soda, diet soda, sugary fruit juices, sports and energy drinks can aggravate constipation by drying up the anal region. Stay away from these drinks as far as possible. Also avoid hot, spicy and salty foods that can aggravate burning and itching in the anal region. Do not consume nightshade vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes and egg plant that increase inflammation.
13. Apply Vitamin E oil
Take some vitamin E capsules and cut them open. Collect the oil in a small bowl. Using a clean, sterile cotton, apply it all over the anal region. This will give you instant relief from pain caused by dry, irritated internal or external hemorrhoids.
14. Apply Lady’s Mantle
As far as the herbal remedies for hemorrhoids are concerned, you can use Yarrow or Lady’s Mantle. Brew the tea from this herb and squeeze a couple of drops of the brew into the anus. Do this three to four times a day or each time you experience discomfort or pain caused by hemorrhoids.
15. Psyllium husk remedy for hemorrhoids
Psyllium husk helps relieve constipation. Take a teaspoonful of this powder with some warm milk at bed time to soften stools. Drink this every day if you are prone to hard stools.
16. Castor and sesame oil
Warm up some castor oil or sesame seed oil (you can mix the two oils together too) and apply it with clean finger all around the anal region to stop pain, burning and itching caused by piles.
17. Go when you got to go
Do not hold back your stools. If you feel the urge, relieve yourself immediately. These days, there are public toilets available everywhere so you need not feel embarrassed. This is very important to prevent constipation and unnecessary straining during bowel movements.
18. Wear comfortable underwear
Women who wear tight fitting undergarments such as thongs tend to invite hemorrhoids. So avoid wearing these for long periods of time. Choose soft, cotton underpants which prevent infections and absorb sweat and moisture from the private area.
19. Get active
Physical activity is especially important to prevent constipation. Get your daily quota of exercise by walking for at least 30 minutes. You can also take up swimming. Avoid cycling or lifting weights which tend to exert pressure on the anal region. Whatever exercise you choose, start slow and remember to drink plenty of water when you work out.
If the above home remedies for hemorrhoids do not work, you might need surgical treatment. Many procedures such as banding, infrared coagulation therapy and sclerotherapy can be useful as they make the hemorrhoids fall off within a week. However, some of these procedures have a significant down time and could also be accompanied by pain and bleeding. Talk to your doctor about the procedure best suited for your condition and lifestyle. We hope the above natural remedies ease your hemorrhoid and give you quick relief.