Should I Use Vicks Vapor Rub For Hemorrhoids
Home remedies are popularly shared and discussed when hemorrhoids are concerned.
Many home remedies have been tested and researched by the experts, such as the use of witch hazel for external hemorrhoids and other superficial skin irritation issues.
Other remedies such as the gentle application of aloe vera to sensitive areas, including the anal area for hemorrhoid pain, has shown positive results in relieving symptoms of discomfort and skin irritation.
Due to lack of evidence and conducted research on the application of Vicks Vapor Rub to hemorrhoids, it is suggested that you use caution if you plan on using this product as a part of a home remedy to relieve hemorrhoid symptoms.
Your anal region is a sensitive area, even without the additional pain caused by hemorrhoids, and applying Vicks Vapor Rub may further induce irritation of this sensitive area.
Change In Bowel Habits
With a prolapsed internal hemorrhoid you may develop the sensation that you cant fully evacuate your bowels. You may also notice a mucous discharge or difficulty cleaning yourself following a bowel movement because of displaced toilet tissue.
These symptoms can be uncomfortable but easily treated with medical intervention.
Looking For Lasting Relief From Your Hemorrhoids
Answer these 6 questions to see if the CRH ORegan System is right for you!
- Have you tried any of the following to relieve your hemorrhoid symptoms?*
- Over the counter ointments and creams
- Prescription ointments and creams
- How severe are your symptoms?*
- Mild
- How long have you been experiencing symptoms?*
- Less than 1 year
- Have you ever heard of hemorrhoid banding?*
- Yes
Also Check: Can You Remove Hemorrhoids Yourself
If Hemorrhoid Treatment Is Working Keep It Up
- PETER GOTT, M.D. Newspaper Enterprise Association
Dear Dr. Gott: Seven or eight years ago, you suggested using Vicks VapoRub for relief of the discomfort associated with anal hemorrhoids. It has worked really well for me. I have used both the Vicks and store-brand equivalents.
Should I keep using the product or have the hemorrhoids removed? I am a 67-year-old male.
Dear Reader: I had all but forgotten this advice for the treatment of hemorrhoids.
Home therapy for hemorrhoids includes over-the-counter topical hemorrhoid creams and/or suppositories, ice packs to relieve swelling, several warm baths or sitz baths daily, using unscented, alcohol-free moist towelettes to pat the area clean after a bowel movement, and oral pain relievers.
If these conservative measures don’t help, it’s time to return to your physician. He or she may recommend a minimally invasive procedure, such as rubber-band ligation, which cuts off blood flow to the affected area injecting a chemical solution into the tissue to shrink the hemorrhoid and using one of several methods to harden and shrivel smaller hemorrhoids.
For large or resistant hemorrhoids, surgery may be recommended. Hemorrhoidectomy involves removing all the excessive tissue causing the bleeding. It is the most effective and complete way to remove the hemorrhoids but is also associated with the highest rate of complications.
My advice is, if you are not having a problem, then stick with what you are doing.
Dr Gott: Could Vicks Be The Cure For Hemorrhoids
Thu., June 21, 2007
Dear Dr. Gott: Your Vicks VapoRub cure for thick toenails really worked for me. Did you know that Vicks is wonderful for hemorrhoids?
After my mother, who is 95 years old, told me to use it, Ive never used anything else. It is better than any creams or suppositories and feels better right away.
Dear Dr. Gott: Regarding your recent column on peeling feet: My husband had the same condition for years, in addition to toenail fungus.
It was your columns on the use of Vicks to treat toenail fungus that helped my husband. He has used it religiously ever since, and not only has the fungus cleared up, but the scaling has disappeared, as well.
Dear Readers: The use of Vicks VapoRub to treat scaly dermatitis and hemorrhoids is new to me, so I am publishing your letters as a public service. Other readers who try these remedies, please let me know if they are effective antidotes for two common conditions.
Dear Dr. Gott: I am a 66-year-old woman who has struggled with fungal infections of the perineal area for more than 10 years.
I also was diagnosed with lichen sclerosis. No prescribed medication ever worked.
After I read two letters from men who had cured their jock itch with Vicks VapoRub, I tried it myself. The infection cleared in a few days,
When I visited my gynecologist yesterday, she saw nothing but healthy tissue. She was amazed at the results and urged me to write to you.
I thought some of your female readers would like to know.
Also Check: Can You Live With Hemorrhoids
How Do You Stop Hemorrhoids From Flaring
Here are six self-help tips to ease hemorrhoid pain and promote healing:
Home remedies
- Eat high-fiber foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Use topical treatments. Apply an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream or suppository containing hydrocortisone, or use pads containing witch hazel or a numbing agent.
- Soak regularly in a warm bath or sitz bath.
- Take oral pain relievers.
What Is Vicks Vapor Rub Used For
One treatment, in particular, is using Vicks Vapor Rub on external hemorrhoids. Vicks Vapor Rub is an ointment designed to aid in the relief of coughing and other flu symptoms.
The original use for Vicks Vapor Rub recommends that a thick layer is applied to the chest and throat to alleviate bouts of coughing as well as aches and pains.
While there should be some concern when applying Vicks to such a sensitive area as means for a treatment to relieve hemorrhoid pain and its associated symptoms, it is worth noting that ingredients in Vicks Vapor Rub are considered safe to use for small children as young as two. Despite this, we always recommend you consult your doctor when giving a child any over the counter products.
Additional concern over the strength of the ingredients applied to the anal area in Vicks Vapor Rub should try using Vicks BabyRub, which contains mild ingredients for babies three months and older.
Read Also: What Can I Do For Bleeding Hemorrhoids
Should I Get Hemorrhoid Surgery
If you have hemorrhoids that are persistently painful, that protrude, or that return after minimally invasive procedures, you probably need surgery. Although hemorrhoidectomy requires general anesthesia and youll need pain medication afterward, it cures roughly 95% of cases and has a very low complication rate.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Why do I have hemorrhoids?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I can do that can relieve or prevent hemorrhoids?
- I saw blood on toilet paper. Is this serious?
- Are having hemorrhoids a sign of another health condition?
- Will I always have hemorrhoids?
- Is there medicine I can take for hemorrhoids? Are there side effects?
Read Also: Does Preparation H Work For Hemorrhoids
What Shrinks Hemorrhoids Fast
4.5/5shrinkhemorrhoids
Similarly, you may ask, what can you put on hemorrhoids to shrink them?
Apply an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream or suppository containing hydrocortisone, or use pads containing witch hazel or a numbing agent. Soak regularly in a warm bath or sitz bath. Soak your anal area in plain warm water for 10 to 15 minutes two to three times a day. A sitz bath fits over the toilet.
Additionally, what is the fastest home remedy for hemorrhoids? Home remedies can make them more tolerable.
Consequently, how long does it take for a hemorrhoid to shrink?
The pain of thrombosed hemorrhoids should improve within 7 to 10 days without surgery. Regular hemorrhoids should shrink within a week. It may take a couple of weeks for the lump to completely go down.
Can Apple cider vinegar shrink hemorrhoids?
Apple Cider Vinegar works to alleviate hemorrhoid symptoms because the natural agent in unpasteurized vinegar has been shown to shrink and reduce inflammation. This is how apple cider vinegar provides temporary pain relief from hemorrhoid symptoms like itchiness and pain.
What Exactly Is A Hemorrhoid
A hemorrhoid is, at its most basic definition, a varicose or swollen vein. While varicose veins are most commonly associated with the legs, a hemorrhoid caused by a swollen vein in the rectum or anus and a leg varicose vein are both caused by the same thing: a thin or weak section in the wall of a blood vessel that enables blood to pool in that location, often causing a bulge.
Hemorrhoids are typically found along the linings of the rectum or the anus. The rectum as well as the pelvic floor muscles are richly supplied by blood vessels. One of the most common causes in the formation of a hemorrhoid is overexertion of pressure or stretching of the veins found around the anus. Hemorrhoids are typically caused by:
- Straining to have a bowel movement
- Pregnancy
- Aging
The hemorrhoid itself is defined as an enlarged vein that bulges from the internal lining of the rectum or can protrude externally through the anus . A hemorrhoid often becomes inflamed and can develop a blood clot known as a thrombus.
Increased pressure when defecating causes some hemorrhoids to bleed. Straining to produce a bowel movement increases blood pressure, which may prompt the hemorrhoid to burst. Some are painless, only suspected by bloody toilet tissue or some blood in toilet water. Blood may also be found in the stool itself.
A number of over-the-counter treatments are available for hemorrhoids. However, some cases may require in-office medical treatment such as sclerotherapy or rubber band ligation.
Don’t Miss: What Can I Do To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids
When Do Hemorrhoids Require Medical Intervention
Your hemorrhoids can be an embarrassing topic to discuss with anyone, even your doctor. But hemorrhoids are common and affect 5% of adults in the United States every year, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Its estimated, in fact, that as many as three in four adults will experience problems with hemorrhoids at some point in their lives.
Though you can find many treatments for hemorrhoids at your local pharmacy, home remedies dont help everyone. At Rivas Digestive Center, located in Hollywood, Florida, our expert gastroenterologist, Dr. John Rivas, wants you to know when its time to get medical help for your hemorrhoids.
Diet Tips To Treat Piles
Get more roughage into your diet. Research shows that a high-fibre diet can significantly reduce haemorrhoid symptoms, including pain and bleeding. Foods that are rich in fibre include wholegrain breads and cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, brown rice and nuts.
When you’re getting more fibre,you need to stay well hydrated to prevent constipation. Be sure to drink enough fluids so that your urine is pale, not dark, yellow.
You May Like: What Is The Best Thing To Do For Hemorrhoids
How To Use Vicks Vaporub For Hemorrhoids
During hemorrhoids using Vicks is probably a better idea for fast hemorrhoids relief for the itch, pain, and discomfort. Though pregnant ladies are forever recommended to take additional caution on the ointments, medication, and several other products they apply, and Vicks is no exception.
Vicks VapoRub might look to be safe for pregnant women to use in the conventional sense, for layering on the relieve pains, aches, and coughs. Still, you forever should consult health providers about using Vicks VapoRub when pregnant. We have got a fine guide for hemorrhoids so take a peek if thats what you need. Its tempting to try something and everything to assist alleviates hemorrhoids symptoms.
Hemorrhoids can be so painful, itchy, uncomfortable, and prevent you from engaging in several regular activities, so it is a wonder why several unique and non-conventional home hemorrhoids treatments exist.
How To Make A Vicks Salve For Hemorrhoids
If you are planning on using Vicks Vapor Rub on your hemorrhoids, there is no need to mix the ointment with any additional ingredients.
Vicks can be applied directly to the external hemorrhoid by itself with a medium or thick layer. Once again, we do not recommend you do this though.
Other products are better than Vicks.
Feedback from those who have previously used this home remedy recommend that Vicks Vapor Rub not be used on damaged or broken skin.
The strong, medicinal vapors are meant to be absorbed, and the breathed in through the nose and mouth, and if it is used on broken skin, the overpowering strength and cooling sensation could leave you with an intense burning feeling.
You May Like: Can Adults Use Desitin For Hemorrhoids
What Is The Best Way To Use Vicks Vaporub
If youre planning on using it on your hemorrhoids, theres no need to mix the ointment with any further ingredients. Vicks VapoRub can be applied directly to external hemorrhoids by itself with thick or mid-layer. Once again, we dont recommend you do this though.
The strong and medicinal vapors are meant to be very absorbed, and they breathed in via the mouth and nose, and if its used on broken skin, the strength and cooling sensation of Vicks could leave you with an intense burning feeling.
Should I See A Doctor
There are a variety of procedures that can be safely used to treat hemorrhoids. They often can be performed by your doctor in their office.
- Rubber band ligation.Rubber band ligation involves applying a tiny rubber band to the base of an internal hemorrhoid. This restricts blood flow, eventually causing the hemorrhoid to shrivel up and fall off.
- Sclerotherapy. This involves injecting a medicated solution into a hemorrhoid and has results similar to those of rubber band ligation.
- Bipolar, laser, or infrared coagulation. This method causes an internal hemorrhoid to dry up and eventually wither away.
- Electrocoagulation. An electrical current hardens the hemorrhoid, causing it to eventually fall off.
Its important to confirm that any anal lesions or bleeding are actually hemorrhoids. If youve been diagnosed with hemorrhoids and theyve become larger or more severe, your doctor may recommend more advanced treatment. Your doctor can help determine which procedure may be best for you based on the type and severity of your hemorrhoids.
These treatment options might involve general or regional anesthesia, as well as a potential stay overnight in the hospital:
Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids
Final Verdict: Should You Apply Vicks For Hemorrhoids
The final verdict is that unless a particular way of hemorrhoids cure has been researched and tested, youre treading into an unfamiliar and undocumented region. Vicks might be rightly safe to use for most, but the fact of the matter is Vicks is not made for use on hemorrhoids, so theyre no safety measures in place if your patient skin has an adverse reaction. When in doubt, ask your health provider if youd use Vicks as a cure option for your hemorrhoids.
What If Ive Already Popped It
If youve already popped a hemorrhoid, its important to take steps to reduce your risk of infection. See your doctor as soon as possible so you can be properly evaluated and treated. They can make sure there are no complications. A sitz bath, which involves soaking the area in a few inches of warm water, may help with discomfort temporarily. Read how to do this.
After soaking for about 20 minutes, gently pat the area dry with a clean towel, making sure you dont scrub.
Youll also want to look out for signs of a possible infection and report them to your doctor. Signs of possible infection include:
- heat or redness
- fever
- fatigue
However, its best to see a doctor as soon as possible to avoid more complications and to ensure you receive a proper diagnosis and treatment.
If youve got a hemorrhoid thats causing pain or discomfort, resist the urge to pop it. There are plenty of other things you can do at home for relief without added risk.
Start by gently cleaning the area and reducing inflammation:
Next, try to soften your stools to keep your digestive system in good working order to reduce your risk of further irritating or damaging a bleeding hemorrhoid. Here are some tips:
Don’t Miss: What Causes Hemorrhoids In Males
The Morning Sun Newsletter
When should you seek professional help?
You should see your health care provider if you have severe pain, if home remedies have not helped, if you experience rectal bleeding or if you have any questions or concerns. Most people can tolerate hemorrhoids and learn how to prevent flare-ups. However, definitive treatment requires a procedure to have them removed.
Is surgery the most permanent option, and how successful is it?
Once you develop hemorrhoids, they don’t usually go away completely unless you undergo a procedure to have them removed. There are several options for removal. One option is an injection, usually given by a gastroenterologist. The solution in the injection creates a scar and closes off the hemorrhoid. The second option is called banding. Hemorrhoids that are hanging out of the rectum are closed off by using a tiny rubber band. It takes about one week for the hemorrhoid to shrink, and it will eventually fall off. A third option for removal is using either an electric probe, a laser beam or an infrared light to cause a tiny burn that will painlessly seal the end of the hemorrhoid, causing it to close off and shrink. The last option is a surgery called hemorrhoidectomy. This is often reserved for large internal hemorrhoids or extremely uncomfortable external hemorrhoids.