Overview
Hemorrhoids are considered a common condition in adults and it will cause a lot of pain and discomfort to the people who are suffering from hemorrhoids if it remains untreated. Hemorrhoids or piles form when you put too much pressure on the veins during your bowel movements and it is also a result of being overweight. The other name of hemorrhoids is piles. Internal hemorrhoids considered as more dangerous when compared to external hemorrhoids. If you are lucky, you don’t need to consult a physician for your problem and this problem will go away on its own. All you need to do is try several home remedy techniques in order to get rid of hemorrhoids or piles. Following are the symptoms of Hemorrhoids and these include
- Itching
- Bleeding while having a bowel movement
- Irritation
- Pain in the anal area
Below are the several home remedies that can offer you relief from hemorrhoids pain and discomfort. Please keep in mind that all these home remedies will first reduce the intensity of your pain and can ease the symptoms of hemorrhoids.
Take a Hot Shower
Taking a warm bath can ease the symptoms and reduce swelling and irritation caused by piles. We would advise you to have a seat in a tub of hot water and make sure that the water is covering your whole body. Doing this may give you relief from the hemorrhoids temporarily and doing it daily can ease the symptoms of piles.
It has been observed in some people that to reduce the symptoms of piles, people are adding a cup of Epsom salts or apple cider vinegar into the bath. It will result in reduce irritation that is caused by piles. All you need to do is add a cup of Epson salt or apple cider vinegar into your bathtub which contains hot water in it and you can experience the benefits it offers you. Bathe or shower daily to clean the affected area. We would advise you to prefer to bathe over shower, as taking bathe allows the area to sit in warm water for longer. Also, be gentle while cleaning the affected area as too much scrubbing can cause irritation and make your condition worse.
We would advise some people not to add apple cider vinegar directly to their piles as it may cause irritation and make your condition even worse. You can purchase these ingredients i.e., Epsom salts and apple cider vinegar online or it is available in all market stores.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is considered a home remedy and it will help treat your piles temporarily. You require a witch hazel alcohol solution or a witch hazel tincture to use witch hazel. The usage of this solution to reduce hemorrhoids is completely depends on the types of hemorrhoids you are having in your butt and we would advise you to identify whether your hemorrhoids are Internal or External. The course of action will be decided based on the types of hemorrhoids you are suffering from. Internal hemorrhoids present in the inside of your anal cavity and external hemorrhoids present in the outside of the body. All you need to do is apply the witch hazel solution to a piece of cloth and soak it in a witch hazel-alcohol extract. Gently apply it to your anal area and hold the cloth for a few minutes.
It has been observed in a study that the Witch hazel has all the properties of Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and this study is published in the Journal of Inflammation. It is also known for reducing bruising. There are lots of health benefits associated with witch hazel other than treating hemorrhoids. These include
- It has the capability of preventing widespread inflammation
- It can offer you a relief from skin irritation
- With its anti-inflammatory properties, it can be useful in the treatment of acne
- It alleviates Scalp sensitivity
- Witch Hazel can help you to get relief from a sore throat
- Protects your skin against damage
- Fights viral infections
Witch hazel is considered as a natural topical remedy and it can treat various conditions other than treating hemorrhoids or piles.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is considered as a natural moisturizer and can help you to get rid of the symptoms of hemorrhoids or piles. It has been observed that applying this natural moisturizer can ease the symptoms of hemorrhoids such as swelling and irritation. It will also help you to decrease your urge to scratch the affected area. It is available in all grocery stores or all supermarkets.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is an old remedy and people have been using it for a long time for different purposes. It has great potentials and based on a recent study, it has been observed that the anti-inflammatory effects this plant produces on the body can speed up the healing process and this study is published in the Journal of Biomed Research International. It can also give you relief from
- Swelling
- Burning
- Itching caused by hemorrhoids
Don’t add anything to this mixture as give priority to purity. Adding preservatives and additives to this natural product may make your condition even worse. We would advise you to maintain purity while applying this to hemorrhoids and you can purchase aloe vera gels online or it is available in all health stores.
Ice Packs
In order to get rid of pain and reduce inflammation, we would advise you to apply cold or ice packs to the affected area. Also, applying the ice pack to the hemorrhoids while seated can offer you relief from pain and it can also reduce swelling.
Don’t apply ice directly to your skin as it can damage your skin. We would advise wrapping the cold pack in a small towel or a piece of cloth in order to prevent further damage to the skin. Hold it for fifteen minutes and repeat the same process if you don’t find relief in the first attempt. Sometimes, it will take some time for you to get relief from pain and swelling. All you need to is be patient.
OTC Medications
If you are unable to get relief from hemorrhoids by following simple home remedies or if you are suffering from pain even after trying all the home remedies then it is time for you to switch to over the counter drugs and ointments.
Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen drugs belong to Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medications also provide temporary relief to your problem. But you are safe as long as you are taking these medications. Minor changes in your vision, unable to breathe, abrupt changes in your weight, rashes in your skin, tarry stools, loss of appetite, exhaustiveness, getting pain while urinating, low red blood cells, unable to concentrate on the things, and liver problems such as jaundice, dark urine, and upper stomach pain are the side effects of ibuprofen.
We would advise people to consult their physician immediately if they are experiencing the above side effects. It is not possible for you to deal with this problem and due to this reason, you should have a word with your health care provider and ask him to change your drugs or he may change the dosage of your medication or switch you to another one.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil contains the properties of anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Using this oil may help you to get relief from the hemorrhoids. This oil has the capability of reducing swelling and can ease the symptoms of piles. It has been observed in research that the gel made with tea tree oil can ease the symptoms of hemorrhoids but it lacks evidence. We would advise you to not try this remedy until there is an official confirmation coming from the researchers.
Psyllium Husk
Psyllium Husk has the capability of reducing the hardness of stool and makes it easier to pass. As it is packed with fiber and helps you to get relief from the symptoms of hemorrhoids. It will reduce the severeness of your condition and makes you comfortable.
Lemon Juice
Antioxidants present in the lemon juice can fight against hemorrhoids and you can apply it directly to your affected area.
Olive Oil
Hemorrhoids can be cured with the help of olive oil. Anti-inflammatory properties present in olive oil can help in curing the condition. First, it will reduce your discomfort and make you feel great. The monosaturated fatty acids present in olive oil makes your stool easier to pass during your bowel movements. We would advise you to consume olive oil regularly when you are suffering from piles or hemorrhoids.
Conclusion
Hemorrhoids often go away without the doctor’s involvement. Even if it stays, you don’t need to panic as there are lots of home remedies, and Medications are available for you to deal with this problem. If you are experiencing any side effects during the course of action, we would advise you to consult your physician immediately. We suggest you made some changes to your lifestyle such as hitting the gym regularly and doing exercises will bring a lot of changes in you and also we suggest you follow a proper diet which consists of fiber content foods.
References
- https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v18/i17/2009.htm
- https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0035-1568144
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29431977
Sirisha B 
Raju Ch