Natural Remedies For Hemorrhoids
- By Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men’s Health Watch
Hemorrhoids are painful, unpleasant, and, um, well, difficult to talk about. But they actually are quite common: about half of people over age 50 have had them. However, theyre easy to treat and manage.
Hemorrhoids can be troublesome and embarrassing, but they often shrink on their own with simple self-help care and over-the-counter remedies, says Dr. Howard LeWine, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
If Discomfort From Hemorrhoids Isnt Resolved Within A Week
When youve had persistent discomfort, pain, or itching for a week, its time to talk to a doctor. While some symptoms of hemorrhoids resolve on their own, others do not and can be treated by a doctor, so you dont have to live with the daily symptoms. Your doctor can recommend treatments that range from the conservative, like dietary and behavioral changes, or in-office procedures, such as rubber band ligation, to more invasive approaches like surgery.
Best For Pain Relief: Wiseways Herbals Witch Hazel Salve
According to Dr. Nazarian, witch hazel can be very calming and anti-inflammatory, which is perfect for treating painful hemorrhoids. It’s the main ingredient in this salve from WiseWays, where it works with other soothing ingredients such as yarrow, arnica, calendula, and chamomile to provide relief from itching, burning, and discomfort.
“I’m eight months pregnant and suffer from painful hemorrhoids,” says one reviewer, who calls the salve a must-have. “After weeks of pain and trying over the counter medicines, I saw the reviews for this and decided to try. And in just days, it reduced my hemorrhoids and pain.”
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Increasing Your Fibre Intake
You can gradually increase the amount of fibre in your diet by eating foods including:
- fresh fruit and vegetables
Commercial fibre supplements are also available and can be useful if you think you are not getting enough of the above foods in your diet.
Make sure you increase your fibre gradually so your digestive system has time to adapt.
Its also important to increase your fluid intake at the same time. This is because fibre in the stools acts like a sponge, absorbing moisture from the body. Try to drink lots of water. Cutting down on sugary drinks will also help you to cut down on calories that cause weight gain.
How To Treat Severe Hemorrhoids
If you are suffering from severe hemorrhoids, there are surgical options you can seek as a method of treatment.
With severe hemorrhoids come equally severe symptoms: pain, itching, burning, prolapsed hemorrhoids, or thrombosed hemorrhoids.
Your doctor will likely try non-operative procedures first, like sclerotherapy or rubber band ligation. These methods are not as aggressive as others and still are used to treat severe hemorrhoids.
There are surgical treatments, like a hemorrhoidectomy, which completely removes hemorrhoids, but is only a last resort way to treat severe hemorrhoids.
There is a high chance that your doctor will also recommend a change of diet to help treat your severe hemorrhoids.
A diet full of fiber aids in the prevention of constipation, and in turn, offsets hemorrhoid flare-ups.
Even the addition of fiber supplements is an excellent way to treat severe hemorrhoids.
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Consider Having A Clot Removed
External hemorrhoids can result in extremely painful blood clots, and while theyre not dangerous, they can take a couple of weeks to resolve on their own. If yours scores high on your personal pain scale, a doctor can remove a thrombosed hemorrhoid with a relatively simple in-office procedure under local anesthetic in about 10 minutes. Keep in mind: The first 24 to 48 hours are typically the most painfuland the best time to have a clot removed, says Dr. Ky.
Best For Itch Relief: Preparation H Soothing Relief Anti Itch Cream
Designed to deliver instant relief using a powerful dose of 1% hydrocortisonewhich is the highest strength available over the counterthis maximum-strength, fragrance-free cream significantly soothes and reduces itchiness to kickstart your healing. It works best used with the Preparation H Cooling Wipes mentioned above.
“I will say that this worked instantly, and provided an itch-free night which was great,” . “Grease-less formula which sinks into the skin quickly and goes to work fast.”
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How Can I Treat My Hemorrhoids
You can most often treat your hemorrhoids at home by
- taking a stool softener or a fiber supplement such as psyllium or methylcellulose
- drinking water or other nonalcoholic liquids each day as recommended by your health care professional
- not straining during bowel movements
- not sitting on the toilet for long periods of time
- taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin
- sitting in a tub of warm water, called a sitz bath, several times a day to help relieve pain
Applying over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams or ointments or using suppositoriesa medicine you insert into your rectummay relieve mild pain, swelling, and itching of external hemorrhoids. Most often, doctors recommend using over-the-counter products for 1 week. You should follow up with your doctor if the products
- do not relieve your symptoms after 1 week
Most prolapsed internal hemorrhoids go away without at-home treatment. However, severely prolapsed or bleeding internal hemorrhoids may need medical treatment.
What Are The Causes Of External Hemorrhoids
The most common cause of hemorrhoids is repeated straining while having a bowel movement. This is often caused by severe cases of constipation or diarrhea. Straining gets in the way of blood flow into and out of the area. This results in the pooling of blood and enlargement of the vessels in that area.
Pregnant women may also be at an increased risk of hemorrhoids because of the pressure that the uterus places on these veins.
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Rachael Schultz is a freelance writer with a focus in health and nutrition. Her articles have appeared on a handful of other Health sites, and she has a degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She specializes in breaking down science and medical jargon into digestible information.
Additional reporting to this story by Marlene Lenthang
As a health writer, knows just how important it is to find the right product for your body and mind. Over the years she has written about health crises, vaccines and product guides. She takes careful note of doctor recommendations, medical research and customer reviews in every product review to assure readers can choose quality products and understand the science behind them.
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How Are The Hemorrhoids Issue Tested And Diagnosed
SIGMOIDOSCOPY, which looks at your lower colon, or sigmoid and colonoscopy that determines the complete colon. And both use flexible, lighted viewing tube that goes into the rectum.
Barium X-Ray can also show the outer of the complete inside of your colon. First, you will get a barium enema, and then an expert will take x-rays of your lower part gastrointestinal tract.
A few questions your doctor might ask during medication for oral Hemorrhoids treatments include:
Have you experienced Hemorrhoid before?
When did your Hemorrhoid symptoms start?
Are you taking any sort of medication?
Does anything look to trigger your discomfort?
You might also want to ask your doctor some questions such as:
Do I have got a Hemorrhoids problem?
What are my Hemorrhoid treatment options?
Will there be a bodily examination?
What caused this problem?
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What Are The Treatment Options
Small hemorrhoids often clear up without treatment or with home treatment and lifestyle changes. If youve continued problems or complications, such as bleeding, you should see your doctor.
Your doctor can rule out other causes of bleeding during bowel movements, such as colon or . If your symptoms become severe, your doctor may recommend medical procedures to remove or shrink the hemorrhoids.
Your doctor may recommend a minimally invasive outpatient treatment. Outpatient treatments are treatments that your doctor performs in their office. Some treatments include the following:
- Rubber band ligation is the most common nonsurgical treatment, and it involves your doctor tying a tight band around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply. Eighty percent of people who receive treatment for hemorrhoids have this type of treatment.
- During coagulation, your doctor uses infrared light, heat, or extreme cold to shrink the hemorrhoid.
- During sclerotherapy, your doctor injects a chemical to shrink the hemorrhoid.
If you have severe hemorrhoids or hemorrhoids that dont respond to in-office medical treatments, you may need a doctor to surgically extract them. This has been shown to provide symptom relief and reduce future outbreaks.
Best Sitz Bath: Carex Sitz Bath
Per Dr. Nazarian’s recommendation, this small bowl fits over your toilet seat and offers a convenient way to soak and soothe the affected area. In addition to a sitz bath, this top-selling Amazon basin, which has a contoured design for optimal comfort and vents to prevent overflowing, comes with a solution bag for you to fill with your chosen hemorrhoid relief ingredients.
“This was for my boyfriend since he has hemorrhoid problems often,” one reviewer writes. “Since he refuses to go to spas and saunas, I made him do these baths on the toilet for 20 minutes and they helped a lot. It helps with cuts and swelling and the heat helps shrink hemorrhoids.”
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Skin Tag Removal: Optional But Effective
- By Kristina Liu, MD, MHS, Contributor
Skin tags are common, benign skin growths that hang from the surface of the skin on a thin piece of tissue called a stalk. They are made up of many components, including fat, collagen fibers, and sometimes nerve cells and small blood vessels. Its possible that these collagen fibers and blood vessels become wrapped up inside a layer of skin, leading to the formation of a skin tag. The medical term for a skin tag is acrochordon, and they can also be referred to as soft fibromas or fibroepithelial polyps.
Skin tags are frequently found in areas of friction on the skin, such as the neck, underarms, under the breasts, eyelids, and other skin folds. They start as small, often flesh-colored bumps. They may stay that size and go largely unnoticed, enlarge and continue to be painless, or enlarge and become irritated due to friction or pressure.
Its not entirely clear what causes skin tags, and there are no proven ways to prevent them. Some studies have shown that skin tags are more common in people who have diabetes or are overweight. Pregnancy may also lead to increased numbers of skin tags, most likely due to hormonal changes in the body.
Signs & Symptoms Of Internal Hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids are located inside the rectum. These types of hemorrhoids generally resolve on their own and due to their location, are often asymptomatic. In instances when patients do experience discomfort from internal hemorrhoids, it is often because of their size. Larger internal hemorrhoids may cause symptoms such as pain, itching, or burning.
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How Long Does Thrombosed Hemorrhoid Pain Last
Thrombosed hemorrhoids can be very painful. How long the pain lasts depends on what action you take to treat these hemorrhoids.
A surgical procedure is often performed within three days of the onset of thrombosed hemorrhoids.
While you may still experience pain after hemorrhoid surgery, you should notice a substantial difference.
Pain of thrombosed hemorrhoids should subside within seven to ten days when no treatment is provided.
Make sure you do not lift anything heavy after your surgery . A very common procedure for thrombosed hemorrhoids is called banding.
How To Treat Internal And External Hemorrhoids
- How to Treat Internal and External Hemorrhoids
There are some medical conditions we go through in life that we dont mind sharing about with our family and friends, like having a cavity, a migraine, or even being a little gassy . There are others, though, where the mere thought of this condition and where it brings the suffering incites enormous amounts of embarrassment and ultimately silence from the afflicted. In reality, though, these painful little guys are much more common than we think. Why would we know that when no one talks about them? Well, thats a great point, and we wouldnt. But, and no pun intended, chances are youve had one , and if you havent, statistics show that youll perform a google search – standing up – at some point in your life in search of how to deal with and treat hemorrhoids.
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What Can I Use For Hemorrhoid Pain
Topical treatments such as hemorrhoid cream or suppositories can be used to reduce the pain associated with hemorrhoids.
Our OTC hemorrhoid medicine guide can help you pick out the right OTC treatment for you.
We put together a list of the best hemorrhoid products of 2018.
Some over-the-counter options include pads that contain numbing agents to temporarily reduce the feeling of pain.
Applying ice packs or cold compresses can also help with pain and possibly even reduce and eliminate strangulated prolapsed hemorrhoids .
For more severe pain, you can use over-the-counter acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen products.
If these options do not relieve your pain, contact your doctor.
Check out our hemorrhoid cream reviews guide for more information on creams that can help.
Will Severe Hemorrhoids Go Away
If your hemorrhoids are considered severe, chances are you might need medical intervention from your doctor to get them to go away.
Most hemorrhoid doctors are either a proctologist or a gastroenterologist.
While you can treat your severe hemorrhoids at home to achieve temporary relief, there are surgical options available to you that your doctor can further expound upon.
Hemorrhoid flare-ups are known to subside even without treatment within a few days.
Severe hemorrhoids, however, could persist.
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Personal Stories About Treating Hemorrhoids
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
I have had hemorrhoids for many years, but they have never bothered me much. Once in a while they hurt or bleed, and I know that it’s time to pay more attention to my diet and drink some extra water. My new doctor and I talked about them during my last visit. She asked if I had ever considered having them treated, and we talked about the pros and cons of my options. I decided that since they don’t bother me very much, and because I know what to do if they flare up, I will just keep managing them as I have been. I can always have treatment later if they get worse.
John, age 40
Because I sit all day at work, my hemorrhoids can be a big inconvenience. I get plenty of fibre and water in my diet, but they are still bothering me. My doctor and I agreed that it would be reasonable for me to try the rubber band treatment. I will still have to watch what I eat and drink to keep my stools soft, but I hope that the treatment will take care of most of the pain so I can be more comfortable at work.
Genevieve, age 50
Ricardo, age 38
Barbara, age 47
Symptoms Of Severe Hemorrhoids
The worst symptoms of severe hemorrhoids include:
Severe hemorrhoids can bring about equally severe symptoms. There are two different types of hemorrhoids, one internal and the other external.
Having severe internal hemorrhoids typically means that you are experiencing its extreme form, a prolapsed or prolonged hemorrhoid.
This prolapsed hemorrhoid can bring on symptoms like severe itching and pain.
External hemorrhoids can also be severe, and this usually is in the form of thrombosed hemorrhoids, a name for the formation of blood clots inside of an external hemorrhoid.
Blood clots are incredibly painful, and this can engorge the size of your already uncomfortable external hemorrhoids. You may feel sudden and extreme pain and have trouble sitting or standing comfortably.
Going to the bathroom with these severe external hemorrhoids can make what was once a simple task all the more difficult and painful.
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How Are Haemorrhoids Diagnosed
- Digital rectal examination, where your doctor puts on gloves and places a lubricated finger inside the back passage to gently feel for any abnormalities. This is likely to be uncomfortable but will probably not be painful.
- Proctoscopy, where your doctor examines the inside of the rectum using a proctoscope to look for any swelling or other symptoms. Again, this may be uncomfortable but will probably not be painful.
There is no need to feel embarrassed about these tests haemorrhoids are a common problem and your doctor is used to diagnosing and treating them.
In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a surgeon who can assess your haemorrhoids and recommend a treatment.
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Keep An Eye Out For Atypical Features
Sometimes, what may look like a skin tag could actually be a different type of skin growth. If you notice a fleshy growth that has features that are not typical of skin tags, such as variations in color, sudden changes in size, or areas of bleeding or pain, ask your doctor to take a look.
Follow me on Twitter @KristinaLiuMD
About the Author
Kristina Liu, MD, MHS, Contributor
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