Heal Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are one of the most common ailments of the rectum, affecting as much as half the population by the age of 50. Suffering from hemorrhoids is not only painful but embarrassing as well. Many not only want to know how to heal hemorrhoids but how to heal hemorrhoids fast and naturally.

Steps

Healing Hemorrhoids

1. Clean the anal area thoroughly after every bowel movement. Wipe gently so as not to further irritate the skin using either dampened, unscented toilet tissue or a pre-moistened baby wipe for sensitive skin.
2. Take a warm bath. Fill a bath with warm water to about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. Ease yourself into the bath for approximately fifteen minutes and sit back with knees raised. This position will enable maximum exposure of the anal area to the warm water and will kill pain and soothe any irritation in the area.
   • Add a handful of Epsom salts to the bath and make sure to stir the water well to dissolve the salt. Epsom salts can help to shrink and/or soothe the hemorrhoids.
3. Apply a topical cream or ointment. The use of topical creams can aid greatly in the healing process. Available over-the-counter from your local pharmacy or drugstore. Examples of Creams include:
   • Corticosteroid creams with low doses of steroids that help reduce pain and swelling.
   • Creams with lidocaine to help reduce pain. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic.
4. Apply a warm, wet teabag. You can do this while sitting on the toilet for some added relief. The warmth of the teabag is soothing in itself and the tannin found in tea is a natural astringent which will help to reduce swelling and pain.
5. Using witch hazel. Dabbing the hemorrhoids with a cotton wool ball soaked in undistilled witch hazel will also reduce swelling and pain as witch hazel is well known as one of the most effective tannin-rich herbs.
   • You can also buy medicated wiping pads that contain witch hazel. They are usually moist and can be used in lieu of or in combination with toilet paper.

Preventing Hemorrhoids

1. Understand that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Preventing hemorrhoids from cropping up in the first place is a good way to avoid having to treat them. Try practicing all of the methods below in order to prevent hemorrhoids from afflicting you.
   • Drink 8 glasses of water per day. Drinking lots of fluid will help.
   • Eat a diet rich in fiber, especially fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, in order to ease bowel movements.
   • Don't be afraid to use stool softeners if necessary.
2. Don't strain during bowel movements. Hemorrhoids can be caused by excessive straining during bowel movements. Try to let the bowel movement pass without straining or forcing, as this can cause an unnecessary pressure buildup and worsen hemorrhoids.
3. Take a break from sitting every once in a while. If you sit for long periods of time, get up and move around. Constant pressure can cause and/or worsen hemorrhoids.
4. Don't scratch the area with hemorrhoids and don't over-wipe. If the area with hemorrhoids itches, apply a bit of witch hazel. When wiping, don't use tissue to itch the area.
   • Use softer, non-aggravating toilet paper. Avoid toilet paper that is colored and/or perfumed.
5. Wear cotton underwear. Cotton undergarments are very breathable fabrics. They also have the benefit of being softer and less irritating than other non-natural fabrics.

Seeking Help

1. For persistent, painful hemorrhoids, talk to a doctor about heat treatments and other types of procedures. For hemorrhoids that consistently get in the way of daily activities and present a painful medical condition, talk to your doctor:
   • Heat treatment. Called "infrared coagulation," this heat treatment blocks blood flow to a single hemorrhoid at a time, causing it to eventually fall off. Only one hemorrhoid can be treated at a time.
   • Rubber band ligation. This procedure also blocks blood flow to hemorrhoids, causing them to die. A rubber band is tied around the hemorrhoid to do this.
   • Surgical hemorrhoidectomy. Surgical hemorrhoidectomy removes individual hemorrhoids using a stapler or sutures.
2. Seek help for hemorrhoids that have formed nearby clots. Hemorrhoids can cause surrounding blood in the anus to clot and nearby tissue to scar. If you think you may have clotting, see a doctor to help remove them and treat the hemorrhoids.
3. Seek help for excessive bloody discharge from bowel movements. Blood from the stool may be caused by hemorrhoids, but it may also be caused by a more serious condition, such as cancer.

What to Expect from A Doctor

1. Expect the first procedure to be a simple rubber band ligation. Your doctor will place a small elastic band around the hemorrhoid, which cuts off blood flow and slowly shrinks it. This procedure must usually be repeated 2-4 times, with 6-8 weeks between each application.
   • Side effects are mild, usually some light pain and discomfort.
   • There may be some light bleeding, though it is rare.
2. Talk to your doctor about alternative shrinking procedures if rubber band ligation fails. There are several possible therapies your doctor may try. All of them have similarly mild side effects and are low-risk.
   • Sclerotherapy: A chemical is injected directly into the hemorrhoid to shrink it.
   • Laser/Infrared Coagulation: The hemorrhoid is burned, causing scar tissue that cuts off blood supply and shrinks the hemorrhoid.
   • Cryosurgery: Just like freezing a wart, this also scars the hemorrhoid so it cannot get blood.
3. Consider a hemorrhoidectomy with your doctor to permanently remove hemorrhoids. This surgically removes the tissue from your body. If you doctor is worried about prolapsing, constant hemorrhoids, or if the simpler procedures do not work, this is the best. It is also usually the most permanent. The doctor will remove the vein connecting blood to the hemorrhoid.
   • Hemorrhoidectomies boast a 95% effectiveness rate and few risks.
   • You may require stitches.
   • While you will likely be under anesthesia, most patients return home the same day.
   • This surgery is painful. Expect to miss a week or more of work.
4. Talk to your doctor about stapling to remove internal or prolapsed hemorrhoids. A prolapsed hemorrhoid is one that has left your anal cavity. To fix it, a staple-like device is used to reposition the hemorrhoids and simultaneously pin shut the veins giving them blood. Because it places them higher up the anus, there are fewer nerve endings and less pain.
   • Your doctor may refer to this as the Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids, or PPH.
   • Bleeding, pain, and itching is generally lower with PPH than full surgery
   • You should recover more quickly from PPH than a haemorrhoidectomy.
5. Do not expect pain relievers, but be ready for prescription stool softeners. Your doctor will likely recommend that you take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofin, but pain should not be serious enough to require stronger meds. You will receive stool softeners, however, to prevent constipation. Other advice to expect includes:
   • Taking small, frequent bowel movements.
   • Taking warm baths, known as "sitz baths"
   • Avoiding sitting, especially on hard surfaces.
   • Eating a high-fiber diet.

Alternative remedies

1. Herbal remedy for Hemorrhoids: Many herbs are used since ages to treat hemorrhoids. Herbs such as mentioned below ,have been used for reducing the inflammation and congestion of hemorrhoidal veins, to stop the bleeding from piles and to ease the bowel movements. These remedies can be used effectively with the help of an expert in Herbal remedies. It is also very important to follow dietary guidelines so as to avoid the recurrent inflammation of Hemorrhoids ,
   • Amorphophallus campanulatus,
   • Zingiber officinale,
   • Mesua ferrea,
   • Mimosa pudica,
   • Terminalia belerica,
   • Terminalia chebula,
   • Emblica officinalis,
   • Berberis aristata, ,
   • Plumbago zeylanica
2. Resonance Homeopathy remedy for hemorrhoids. Many Homeopathic ingredients are effective in reducing the inflammation and pain associated with hemorrhoids. Scientific research on these ingredients has proved their effectiveness in treating hemorrhoids.
   • Aesculus Hippocastanum : Studies suggest that this Advanced Resonance homeopathic remedy may improve the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels. ,
   • Collinsonia: Studies suggest that this Advanced Resonance homeopathic remedy may wield a corrective action on the anorectal region.
   • Millefolium: Studies suggest that this Advanced Resonance homeopathic remedy may improve the blood flow from the veins.
   • Aloe Socotrina: Studies suggest that this Advanced Resonance homeopathic remedy may stop the bleeding from engorged veins.

Tips

• Once your hemorrhoids have healed, it is vital to ensure you don't get a relapse. Avoiding constipation is probably the most important thing you can do in this regard so increase fibre intake in the first instance.
• There are many ways of naturally treating hemorrhoids and it better to treat them sooner rather than later.
• Don't scratch your hemorrhoids. It can damage the walls of the delicate veins and make them worse in the long run.
• Increase Water Intake. Our bodies are made up of a large percentage of water and we need it long before we are thirsty. It is essential in processing waste material through the bowels. It is when you don't drink enough water and other fluids that the process of waste slows down and there is a backlog in the bowel. The end result is the passage of hard stool.
• Topical creams and gels are available targeting different symptoms, e.g if you are experiencing a burning or itching feeling, a cooling gel containing vitamin E or aloe vera will help with getting the fastest relief. If your hemorrhoids are causing pain, creams targeting pain relief is a better choice.
• Ensure you dry the anal area thoroughly after cleaning by wiping or after a bath. Excess moisture will only cause dampness and annoy or irritate the skin.
• Instead of using a regular bath each time, you could purchase what is called a sitz bath. This is a chair-like bathtub in which the thighs and hips are immersed in warm water, usually as part of a therapeutic treatment.
• Try to take a bath twice a day if possible especially if your hemorrhoids are particularly painful or itchy.

Warnings

• Any significant rectal bleeding, sudden pain or recent changes in bowel movements should also be brought to the attention of your doctor.
• Hemorrhoids do not require immediate medical attention. Bright red blood in the stool is a clear symptom of hemorrhoids and you can first try some home treatment. However should you experience dark coloured blood or black stool contact your doctor straight away as this could be a sign of intestinal bleeding.
• Topical creams and gels are for external use only. There are suppositories available if the burning or itching you feel is inside the anal canal.
• Hemorrhoids that are left untreated might go on to develop complications and become prolapsed or thrombosed where a surgical procedure is usually required to remove the hemorrhoids.

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Sources and Citations

See also

• Cure Hemorrhoids or Piles
• Prevent Piles
• Get Rid of Hemorrhoids Fast
• Get Rid of Hemorrhoids
• Deal With Hemorrhoids
• Reduce Hemorrhoid Pain
• Stop Bleeding Hemorrhoids
• Prevent Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
• Care for Hemorrhoids Postpartum
• Use Witch Hazel to Reduce Hemorrhoids

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