Hemorrhoids, often known as piles, are enlarged swollen blood vessels in or around the lower rectum and anus. They are caused from increased pressure on blood vessels in that area from excess weight, heavy lifting, pregnancy, constipation, prolonged diarrhea, or sometimes simply aging.
Symptoms include fresh blood during or after a bowel movement, itching around the anus, pain during a bowel movement, discharge of mucus during a bowel movement, and straining or feeling as though you still have to ‘go’ after you went.
* Include plenty of fiber in your daily diet to ensure bowel movements are efficient and reduce strain. For prevention also avoid lifting heavy items and try to maintain a healthy weight, drink plenty of water to keep things moving, so to speak.
* If you are already suffereing from hemorrhoids you can choose from a number of over-the-counter preparations that act as anti-inflammatories to reduce pain and itching.
Witch hazel can be applied to hemorrhoids to reduce swelling and bleeding.
* A warm bath with 10 drops of bergamot will help reduce pain and act as an antiseptic. Myrrh oil is cooling and anti-inflammatory, use the same way.
* Increase intake of bioflavonoids, which stabilize and strengthen blood vessel walls and decrease inflammation. They reduce anal discomfort, pain, and discharge during an acute attack of hemorrhoids. Boost your intake of bioflavonoids by eating more citrus fruit, grapes, berries, and whole grains. Adding lemon to your drinking water has the same effect as adding laundry soap to your wash, it gets your insides clean, lemon is useful for hemorrhoids when taken by mouth, do NOT apply lemon juice to a bleeding sore!
* Butcher’s broom will constrict blood vessels and is an effective treatment for hemorrhoids and varicose veins. It’s available in capsules or make tea with a teaspoon of the herb and hot water, it can be bitter, try a little honey to taste.
* Pycnogenol is getting a lot of attention right now, in 150 mg doses it is helpful for preventing hemorrhoids from returning.
For immediate relief, apply some ice, never directly to the skin but wrapped in a towel, for a local anesthetic effect. This helps to relieve the irritation as well as the pain.
Source: SOURCE: 100 home remedies, Metro Books, 2013
Edited 7/1/14