Pruritus ani

What you need to know:

The possible underlying conditions require conventional medical treatment, but natural remedies and complementary therapies can provide relief in many cases.

Washing with warm, slightly salted water and the avoidance of perfumes soaps bath salts, bubble baths and perfumed talcum powders will also help. After bathing, apply a very light dusting of Tea tree talculm powder.

The most useful Herbs:

Distilled witch hazel, kept in the fridge, is soothing
Borage - if you have a plant in your garden, crush a few leaves to extract the juice and dab on to relieve the itching
Aloe Vera gel

Homoeopathy

The homoeopathic remedies Aesculus and Aloe could also help.

Aromatherapy

Alternate hot and cold bathing of Aromatherapy essential oils Cyprus, Geranium and Juniper may be beneficial, but don’t use them undiluted, particularly if any of the skin is broken.

Other useful advice:

If you’re suffering an acute bout of pruritis, instant relief is only as far away as your kitchen. Take a handful of icecubes, put them in a plastic bag and gently massage the painful area. It might 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.

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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.