Home Remedy for Piles

Hemorrhoids, more popularly known as piles, can be described as a condition where the veins around the anus or lower rectum swell or get inflamed. It is due to this that a person faces difficulty in passing stool. Piles can be dry as well as bleeding. Even dry piles can result in bleeding, if they continue for a long time. There are two types of piles - internal piles, not seen but felt, and external piles, visible around the exterior of the anus region. Increased pressure from the internal or external veins can be one of the reasons of piles. Some other causes include low fiber diet, pregnancy, aging, hereditary factors, chronic constipation and anal intercourse. Piles can be treated using some home remedies as well. Read on to know some natural ways of curing hemorrhoids, or piles, at home.

Incidences – Piles is very commonly seen nowadays. Women have higher incidence than men. The reason behind it is not clearly known. It is more commonly seen in adolescent age group and aged persons who all seem to be more tensed. There must be a relation between piles and tension/psychological factors. Its incidences is more common in persons who deviate more from nature in diet, living style and sitting habits. Sufferers are mostly

* Long sitting travellers
* Sedentary workers
* Alcoholics and those who suffer from liver disorders
* One who suffers often from constipation or diarrhoea

Anal architecture - is designed in such a manner to control even the release of air (flatus) and watery stools i.e., airtight and leak-proof. It is well-formed with internal sphincter and external sphincter muscles. Anal canal is anatomically divided into two parts (namely upper part and lower part) by Hilton’s line (bluish pink ring). This upper anal part originates from the endoderm and is covered with mucous membranes. The nerve supply of the upper part is supplied from the autonomic nervous system which doesn’t have any pain sensitive nerve fibres. The lower part of the anal canal originates from ectoderm and is covered by skin. Unlike the upper part, it is supplied by spinal nerves which have pain sensitive nerve fibres. The blood supply to upper part of the anus is supplied by superior haemorrhoidal plexus and the lower part is supplied with inferior haemorrhoidal plexus. The occurrence of swelling/varicosity in the anus (piles) is more common in 3 O’, 7 O’ & 11 O’ clock position of anus which are all supposed to be weak points of the anus.

Types - Piles is classified in two ways.

Internal piles - lies inside the anus. Usually internal piles originates from superior haemorrhoidal plexus of the upper part of anal canal and lies above the Hilton’s line. This type usually will not be painful, since it lies in the upper part of anal canal, which lacks pain-sensitive nerve innervations.

External piles - lies outside the anus. External piles originates from inferior haemorrhoidal plexus of the lower part of the anal canal i.e. it lies lower to the Hilton’s line. This type of external piles is most painful, since the lower part of the anal canal has pain-sensitive nerve fibres. Some piles patients may have both types. Piles can also be classified as

Symptoms – Symptoms of piles usually vary according to the type and place of origin. Piles in its initial stages is most commonly found to be without any symptoms. It is often noticed after constipation and abrasions. As said earlier internal piles are usually silent except rarely bleeding, but the external piles mostly produce a lot of suffering/symptoms. Internal piles, when get prolapsed or protruded, produce symptoms like external piles.

The most common symptoms of piles are

• Feeling a lump or discomfort in anus
• Frequent ineffectual urge for stool without passing stool or without satisfaction of complete evacuation. Even after passing stool, they will not feel any satisfaction, since the bulge of the blood vessels (pile mass) give the sensation of impacted faecal matter in anus.
• Bleeding from anus - Mostly pile mass bleed as bright red blood in drops just after defecation, but sometimes blood may splash over the toilet pan making the sufferer panic about the loss of blood. Sometimes it may just stain undergarments.
• Pinkish or bluish colour swellings protrudes from anus like bunch of grapes
• Pain - Piles mass will usually have a burning or stabbing or throbbing type of pain which often makes the person restless and doesn’t allow them to sit and relax. They may also have a sensation of having thorns or glass pieces in anus while sitting.
• Itching of anus.
• Mucus discharge or oozing/leakage of faecal matter from anus, since anus could not be able to close so tightly due to pain.
• Strained and frequent urination
• due to irritability of anus with the contact of expanding, filling bladder.
• Prolapsed or protruded piles often become thrombosed and become hard tender external mass.

Diagnosis – Piles can be easily diagnosed by examination of the anus with finger palpation and proctoscope. The prolapsed internal piles and external piles are easily visible and can be diagnosed on the spot. Sentinal piles – a natural skin tag/knot which guards the extension of fissure - is often misunderstood as pile mass by many patients.

Complications of untreated piles are - bleeding, infection, prolapse, strangulation, necrosis and gangrene. Painful bleeding usually indicates startup of complications.

MANAGEMENT

• Take rest and avoid long walks, long distance travelling and cycling
• Take plenty of water and follow regular bowel habits to avoid constipation and strain
• Use Indian style toilets since squatting position will be a better position for pain and natural defecation
• Follow hygienic measures in cleaning and caring
• Pass stool twice a day to avoid dry hard stool and strain to rectum and anus
• Never suppress an urge. Go for stool whenever there is a call since it is passed on easily
• Don’t strain to evacuate hard faecal matter. Take time in toilet for a natural descend or try enema or stool liquefiers. It is better to have semisolid stool for easy defecation
• Take proper treatment for cause of pile mass, if it is of secondary to any other disease
• Sitz bath – Before passing stool, sit in a shallow bath tub of warm water for 10-15 minutes to relieve the anal spasm and relaxation of anal sphincter. This method also pacifies all painful anal conditions
• Ice application is advised, when there is constant bleeding
• Take easily digestible, simple cooked foods. Avoid spices and chillies
• Take foods containing greens, ginger, onion, garlic, radish, berries, beet root, bitter gourd which helps in healing piles.
• Take plenty of fruits and juices especially papaya, mango, lime, jambul, cherry, figs, etc.
• Vitamin E and zinc supplementation can be taken for better healing.
• Avoid sedentary habits, alcohol, smoking and unnecessary drugs like pain-killers.

General treatment – Mostly, piles becomes better with water, dietary regimen and correcting the constipation. Anyway, care for blood loss should also be taken to avoid anaemia.