Haemorrhoids

What you need to know

The biggest cause of Haemorrhoids (piles) is something we can almost always control. The advice given for Constipation is therefore also relevant here.

The most useful Supplements:

Vitamin A	7,500iu to 25,000iu per day
Vitamin C	1,000mg 3 times per day
Bioflavanoids	7,500iu to 25,000iu per day
Carotenoids	15mg to 25mg 3 times per day
Zinc with Copper	15mg to 30mg and 1mg to 2mg per day

The most useful Herbs:

Horse chestnut	1ml to 5ml tincture of extract or 60mg to 120mg of standardised capsules per day
Psyllium (isphagula seeds)	1 to 2 teaspoons 3 times per day with plenty of water

Topical herbal preparations for piles include:

Pilewort ointment - called by this rather obvious name in the Middle Ages by herbalists because the roots look like Haemorrhoids, but it’s a very soothing topical remedy
Distilled Witch hazel, kept in the fridge, also relieves the pain
Borage - if you have a plant in your garden - and it’s really easy to grow - crush a few leaves to extract the juice and dab on to stop the itching
Aloe vera gel

Homoeopathy

The following homoeopathic remedies may also help.

Aesculus hippocastanum	Hypericum
Aloe	Ignatia
Arnica	Nux vomica
Calf fluor	Ruta grav
Graphites	Sulphur

Aromatherapy

Alternate hot and cold bathing with the following Aromatherapy essential oils are also very soothing. But it’s especially important in this condition NEVER to apply undiluted essential oils and NEVER to use them - even diluted - if your piles are bleeding.

Cyprus
Geranium
Juniper

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

During an episode of painful Haemorrhoids it is important to keep the stool as soft as possible. Dried fruit, especially prunes and apricots and a regular intake of prune juice will help. It goes without saying that you need to drink plenty of fluids, especially water.

Avoid foods with lots of small seeds, such as tomatoes, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, and kiwis, until your condition has settled down, because these can cause further irritation.

If you are constantly losing small amounts of blood from your piles, there is risk of anaemia, so you must take nutritional steps to prevent this (See the section on). This particularly important for women, especially during pregnancy.

As a preventative measure try to eat foods rich in soluble fibre, such as Oats, apples, Pears and nearly all vegetables.

Traditional Remedies:

If you’re suffering an acute bout of extremely painful Haemorrhoids, instant relief is only as far away as your kitchen. Take a handful of ice cubes, put them in a plastic bag and gently massage the painful piles. They’ll hurt more for a moment or two, but before long the cold will anaesthetise the area and you should be pain free for a couple of hours. Repeat as often as necessary, but don’t apply for more than 10 minutes at a time or you may be in danger of a very unusual and uncomfortable case of frostbite.

Other useful advice:

Regular exercise helps improve the circulation in general and is very important in both treatment and prevention of piles.
Contrast bathing can be used to prevent Haemorrhoids from developing, it is important to stimulate blood flow to the rectum area. The best way to do this is by daily contrast bathing with alternate hot and cold water.

Back

This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk).
The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.