Home remedies for Piles
November 4, 2022
Haemorrhoids or piles are known to cause a lot of discomfort during bowel movements and most of you might not be able to eat your favourite food as well. Digesting food with ease may seem a big task and difficult to accomplish. But, with newer technologies and potential ingredients being recognized as beneficial for the treatment of piles, overcoming piles is now a reality. This blog will discuss the various treatment options and useful home remedies for piles.
What are the treatment options for piles?
Piles are the abnormal distension or swelling up of the veins in and around the rectum and anus. This leads to painful and uncomfortable passage of fecal matter with occasional bleeding. There may be discomfort in sitting for a long time. Treatment for piles consists of both conservative and surgical methods to reduce the bulging of the anal veins.
Conservative treatment
- Antidiarrheal medications are prescribed in case of loose stools.
- Those with symptoms of constipation may require stool softeners.
- High fibre diet and supplements help reduce constipation and aid in bowel movements.
- Over-the-counter suppositories and topical analgesics are used to reduce pain and discomfort around the anus.
Surgical treatment
- Rubber band ligation: The haemorrhoids are ligated or tied with a rubber band which cuts off blood supply to the tissue leading to the death of the haemorrhoids.
- Sclerotherapy: Certain chemicals are injected into the anus and rectum to cause haemorrhoids to shrink and become fibrotic.
- Radiofrequency ablation: A radiofrequency generator is used to coagulate and vaporize the hemorrhoidal tissue.
- Haemorrhoidectomy: The haemorrhoids are removed entirely through various techniques like scissors, diathermy, or a vascular-sealing device.
It is advisable to consult a doctor or piles specialist to understand the treatment option best suited for individual needs.
Home remedies for piles
Certain home remedies help to reduce discomfort from ongoing piles treatment. One should consult a doctor before adopting any home remedy or making dietary modifications. Some of the home remedies for piles include:
- Diet: Food and fluids form a major part of managing piles in the long run. One should include foods and ingredients like legumes, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, etc., bell peppers, cucumber, pears, apples, and bananas. Maintain optimal hydration levels. Avoid foods like dairy products, white flour, red meat, fried foods, salty and spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol. These are important home remedies for constipation as well.
- Sitz bath: A sitz bath is used to relieve discomfort around the anus while sitting. A large tub is taken filled with warm water nearly 3/4th of its capacity. The person has to squat or sit with support in the water with the genital area exposed for around 10-15 minutes. The anal area feels more comfortable in warm water and helps reduce distension of the anal veins. This can be repeated several times a day as per requirement.
- Warm wipes: These protect the sensitive anal tissues in individuals with piles while practising bowel hygiene.
- Maintain physical fitness with exercise: Any form of exercise is highly recommended for individuals with piles to improve the digestion of food and reduce inflammation in the body. One can do walking, cycling, swimming, yoga, and pilates exercises.
- Fibre supplements: Over-the-counter fibre supplements like psyllium husk fibre supplements or the ones prescribed by a doctor should be consumed in case there are restrictions on dietary consumption of fibre.
- Bowel hygiene: Practising good bowel hygiene with precautions may help overcome most causes of piles. These include the use of a baby wipe or a cotton cloth while cleaning the anal area after bowel emptying, bathing, and several times during the day to ease discomfort. An aloe vera gel or petroleum jelly is used after wiping to keep the anal area moisturized.
- Adopt useful Ergonomics: Ergonomics denotes adopting certain measures or lifestyle changes to help keep the body comfortable during work and rest. The most important activity to watch out for in piles is sitting. One must avoid sitting on hard surfaces and avoid sitting for a long time. As a general rule of thumb, do not sit for more than 20-30 minutes in one position. Keep changing position or walking to maintain a balance. Use a cushion to sit on hard surfaces. Avoid sitting on the toilet seat for a long time as this position opens up the anus causing greater distension of anal veins.
- Clothes: Cotton under clothes are advised to help keep the anal area comfortable at all times. This also prevents rashes from developing around the anus and buttocks due to tight and rough textured clothing. Keep the area adequately moisturized with moisturizers when wearing rough textured clothes.
- Regular emptying of bowels: Delaying emptying of the bowels causes the stools to accumulate in the lower intestines and rectum. This leads to greater pressure and straining while emptying the bowels. Therefore, it is advisable to empty the bowels regularly and maintain a routine or a schedule called toilet retraining.
- Use coconut oil and Tea tree oil: Both coconut and tea tree oil are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and are natural moisturizers. One can consume coconut oil regularly in their meals. Apply coconut or tea tree oil externally with a cotton ball or wipe the painful anal areas.
Piles can be managed!
Haemorrhoids or better known as piles can be effectively managed with medications and surgery when indicated. Adopting healthy lifestyle measures and the use of home remedies helps in overcoming piles and maintaining a healthy gut. Home remedies for piles include a fibre-rich diet, plenty of fluids, the use of warm wipes, coconut oil, sitting ergonomics, and maintaining good bowel hygiene with regular bowel emptying. One can ease discomfort with a sitz bath. If one is unsure about home remedies or does not find relief with these methods, consult a doctor or a piles specialist at the earliest.
Dr Sanjeev Kumar
MBBS,MD...
| Experience | : | 17 Years |
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| Speciality | : | Gastroenterology |
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Dr Vijay Prakash
MD,DNB,MRCP...
| Experience | : | 30 Years |
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Dr Deepak
MD,DNB...
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Dr. Aditya Shah
MBBS, MD, DM (Gastroenterology)...
| Experience | : | 5 Years |
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Dr. M Barath Kumar
MBBS, MD (INT.MED), DNB (GASTRO), MRCP (UK), MRCP (EDIN)...
| Experience | : | 12 Years |
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| Location | : | Chennai-Alwarpet |
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Dr. Ashwin Kumar Myneni
MBBS, MS, DNB...
| Experience | : | 12 Years |
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| Speciality | : | Gastroenterology |
| Location | : | Hyderabad-Kondapur |
| Timings | : | Mon, Wed, Sat : 07:30 PM to 08:30 PM |
Small Haemorrhoids may resolve spontaneously within a few days. The larger ones may need treatment or surgery as per the doctor's advice and may last for weeks or months
Yes, piles can be caused by stress, anxiety and frustration leading to straining during bowel emptying. One should work on reducing stress as a long-term measure in managing piles.
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