Hemorrhoid Treatment
What is a Hemorrhoid?
Hemorrhoid also known as piles are veins in the anal area that becomes enlarged resulting in pain, swelling or bleeding around the anus. The cause for hemorrhoid is the increased pressure on the anus due to strain during bowel movements. It can also result from constipation, sitting in one position for long periods of time or due to anal infections. In some cases it could be due to some other diseases like liver cirrhosis.
Hemorrhoids are of two types namely
- Internal Hemorrhoid – occurs just inside the anus
- External Hemorrhoid – occurs at the anal opening and may hang out.
Symptoms
The common symptoms are anal itching, anal pain especially while sitting, blood spots on the toilet bowl or toilet paper and pain during bowel movement.
Hemorrhoid Treatment
For many patients if the Hemorrhoid is at an initial stage, following a high fiber diet consisting of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and drinking lot of fluids (at least eight glasses per day) is all that it takes to get relief. For others, corticosteroid creams that can reduce pain and swelling are available. Hemorrhoid creams can be used to reduce pains. Applying of witch hazel with a cotton swab can reduce itching. To ensure that there is no itching, you may also wear cotton undergarments, avoid toilet tissue with perfumes and try not to scratch the affected area.
For Hemorrhoid Treatment one may consider home remedies, however if the hemorrhoids are very large and painful, then you may have to undergo a surgery.
Some of the effective home remedies are:
Add 15 to 20 sesame seeds in a glass of water and boil it. Take the strained mixture 2 to 3 times a day for about a month.
Drink a mixture of figs soaked in water overnight on empty stomach
You can take a glass of warm milk with a few drops of honey mixed in it before sleeping. This will make passing of stools much easier.
Buttermilk mixed with rock salt also helps to reduce constipation.
Another effective home made solution for Hemorrhoid treatment is Onion. Drink onion juice or raw onion soaked in water containing sugar. This will prevent the discharge of blood while passing stool.
Herbal remedies are also available for Hemorrhoid treatment. Garlic can be kept on the piles in the rectum. This gives you relief from bleeding.
Bitter gourd is very useful for a number of ailments. Juice extracted from bitter gourd may be mixed with butter milk. Take this mixture at least 2 to 3 times a day.
Inspite of all the home remedies, if you do not get any relief, you may contact a surgeon or a gastroenterologist. Patients who suffer severe pain and bleeding may have to undergo rubber band ligation or hemorrhoidectomy.
All options mentioned above are effective, however it is very important to maintain a high-fiber diet and take a lot of fluids to prevent Hemorrhoids from recurring.