Have you ever visited the toilet and noticed blood on your toilet paper? There could be several possible reasons for that, but piles top them all. It is also commonly known as hemorrhoids.
Piles are swollen and irritating veins around the anus or lower parts of the rectum. The causes may range from lifestyle to underlying medical conditions. (1)
Research shows that a significant percentage of adults are shy to report these symptoms. And increase in BMI is a common risk factor of hemorrhoids in adults. (2)
Well, the good news to all is that there are several home remedies for piles. And it starts by looking away from the Pharma drugs.
This post highlights the top 13 of the home remedies for hemorrhoids. We also highlight some things you should avoid when battling the condition.
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera arguably tops the list of the most effective home remedy for piles. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce irritation and itchiness caused by piles.(1)
It has been widely used and recommended by qualified medics like Emmanuel A. G. In his book “Home Remedies for Hemorrhoids”, he recommends aloe vera strongly for those with piles.
To use, one must extract the gel from the aloe vera leaves directly and apply it around the anus.
Note that it is not advisable for persons who are allergic to aloe vera. If used by them, their condition may grow worse. The aloe vera used must also be clean and fresh.
If you are unsure, you can take a little of the aloe vera gel and rub it onto your skin. Leave it for one day and observe. If there’s no reaction, then you may proceed to apply it on the piles.
2. Warm Bath
Harvard health pose that warm baths are an effective way of counteracting hemorrhoids. Whether in your tub or just a full body shower, warm baths provide significant relief from piles.
As warm water runs over the affected area, it cleans it up. This leaves you with a fresher feeling and better relief.
Therefore if you experience the symptoms, consider taking a warm bath at least twenty minutes after every bowel movement.
To improve the results, add Epsom salt to your bathwater. It provides extra relief by reducing pain around the anus.
3. Soothing wipes
Whenever you use toilet paper, it leaves some fragments around the anus. If you have piles, the blood around the bowel may dissolve these fragments, hence multiplying your pain.
When the pain multiplies, the cells around the area become more aggressive. This can worsen the condition of the hemorrhoids.
Therefore, it is advisable to avoid the toilet papers and instead use an alternative that would not leave pieces around the anus. Wipes are just a perfect example of such.
You must, however, make sure to avoid wipes that contain alcohol, perfume, and irritants.
Instead, choose wipes with more friendly ingredients like aloe vera, witch hazel, and other soothing anti-hemorrhoids.
4. Cold compresses
Cold compresses are preferred for their instant relief. For people with hemorrhoids that have advanced to worse stages, this is the best home remedy.
A 2008 study poses that ice parks for cold compress may help relieve pain on extended piles due to hemorrhoids.
Take a piece of ice and wrap it in a piece of cotton cloth or paper towel. Compress it to the anus for about fifteen minutes. Apart from the instant elimination of pain, it also relieves swelling and itchiness.
So why not try it?
5. Loose cotton clothing
People with piles should avoid tight clothes made with polyesters. Such clothes harbor heat causing sweat around the anus. This may worsen the itchiness and irritation in the area.
It is therefore advisable to wear loose cotton clothes. They can allow free air circulation around the anus and bring about great relief. This increased aeration also boosts the healing process.
If you have piles, wearing loose cotton clothes may see you heal naturally in the comfort of your home.
6. Drink Water
Water keeps the body hydrated and prevents constipation. It also loosens stool, making it easier to pass through the anus.
When there is a lower amount of water in the digestive system, the stool tends to be harder and more compact. It, therefore, becomes more difficult to pass out. The friction it creates around the anus may cause more damage to the tissues. This worsens the hemorrhoid condition.
Drinking more water, therefore, is one of the best home remedies for hemorrhoids.
It loosens the stool. A loose stool passes out without straining the tissues and ligaments around the anus. The healing process is therefore not interrupted.
7. Fiber-rich foods
Fiber-rich foods bring about an effect almost similar to drinking water.
Fiber significantly prevents constipation. They also aid in the formation of loose stool, making the egestion process much easier. For this reason, they provide great relief from pain.
If this is your best choice of home remedy for hemorrhoid, then you’re lucky. There’s a long list of options for you.
You can take fruits like apples, raisins, pears, and bananas. Nuts and legumes are also good, especially kidney beans, peanuts, and lentils. Carrots, peas, broccoli, and cabbage are equally effective.
You can also do whole grains like wheat bran, brown rice, and corn to add to the list. They are all equally effective in offsetting the symptoms of piles.
8. Exercise
When you exercise regularly, you train your body muscles and veins to be flexible and freely functional. This eliminates the possibility of blood overstaying in veins around the anus which may cause piles.
Regular exercise is one of the most effective home remedies for hemorrhoids.
What’s even better with exercise is that it prevents and eliminates the possibility of them forming.
9. Psyllium husk
Psyllium husks are essential in increasing fiber intake. They also soften stool, making bowel movements easier.
It is important to note, however, that excessive intake of psyllium husk may not be helpful. It can lead to stomach cramping and gas formation.
A 2017 study found that psyllium husk is a suitable home remedy for hemorrhoids. He observed that when the stool has adequate fiber quantities, it is easier for them to pass. This is likely to speed up the recovery for those with hemorrhoids.
10. Witch hazel
Naturally, Witch hazel is an astringent. It causes the shrinking of the tissue. Witch hazel has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties necessary in piles treatment. It is well known for its ability to reduce bruises and pain relief.
However, with this remedy, patients are warned to watch out for any other remedy they use. This is because if you miss it once, the condition may escalate threefold in just a short time. Irritation and inflammation may also get worse.
For quick relief from piles, add a little pure witch hazel to a cotton ball. Dab it onto an external hemorrhoid. If the condition becomes worse, try a less direct way. You can dab it on the area around hemorrhoid. Better yet, you can cover it with a piece of cotton cloth.
Be careful not to dilute the witch hazel with alcohol. It may cause drying and irritation on hemorrhoids.
11. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer. It reduces swelling and irritation. This helps reduce the urge to scratch, preventing further damage. As a result, the cells and tissues around the affected area have adequate time to recover.
If you can, get some coconut, grate, soak, and stain. Then heat and cool. You can then collect the oil and use it. If you have already made oils, you’re as well good to go.
12. Correct Bathroom Habits
Adopting good bathroom habits can help improve the speed of recovery from piles.
Do not force a bowel movement. This causes strain that may worsen hemorrhoids. If you have waited for two minutes before a movement occurs, it’s advisable to stop and try later.
Moreover, holding on with a bowel movement urge may also worsen the situation. Do not wait for a less social setting, or you wait to go home. This also causes strain which worsens the hemorrhoid situation.
To help speed up your recovery process, you must be keen on your bowel calls. Answer them just right when they come.
During bowel movements, it is advisable to take a squatting position. That way, it becomes easier for the rectum to empty itself without much strain.
Avoid toilet papers that feel rough and irritating. Instead, you can make your paper moist. Alternatively, you may opt for alcohol and scent-free baby toilet paper. Finally, do not push too hard when pooing.
13. Keep it Clean
Hemorrhoids can grow so painful and irritating to a point you just want to leave them alone. What do you do in this case? Well, you must do something uncomfortable, keeping it clean.
You may eat the fiber foods and drink adequate water, but if you don’t keep the area clean, your efforts are nullified.
The anus is one of the body parts with the highest bacteria. These bacteria speed up fermentation and may cause rotting. Regularly cleaning helps remove the bacteria.
It also helps create a favorable condition for the healing process. Keeping the area clean is one of the best ways to speed up the recovery from hemorrhoids.
Things to Avoid with piles
Even with the most effective home remedies, other things may cancel out the effects. To give the body the best conditions for healing, doing what is expected may not be enough. There are certain things you must avoid at all costs. And if you can’t, at least reduce their use. They include the following.
Tea tree oil
There are claims that tea tree oil’s anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties are necessary for the healing of the piles. Some early researchers also indicated that oils made from tea tree oil were effective in decreasing hemorrhoid symptoms. However, these researches was not exhaustive on the topic.
Soni (2018) discourages the use of tea tree oil at all costs. In his report, there is much evidence that a lot has not been studied about tea tree oil. They also found out that the condition of some people with piles got worse after using tea tree oil.
It is therefore advisable to avoid tea tree oil. If that is not possible, at least try reducing the quantity you take.
Apple cider vinegar
Some patients claim that apple cider vinegar is a good home remedy for hemorrhoids. They claim that it brings almost instant relief from itching and pain.
However, this is not recommended. There is no research backing up the claims. Other patients reported an increased burning sensation after using apple cider vinegar.
This vinegar contains large quantities of acid that could worsen the burning sensation and itching of the areas affected. Excess consumption may escalate the hemorrhoid condition.
What even makes it worse is the difficulty of telling what quantity is an excess. A little amount to someone may be too much for another person.
To be safe, you can just avoid taking apple cider vinegar altogether. The negative effects may not be worth the risk.
Alcohol, Coffee, and Soda
Alcohol increases the blood pH. This may increase the pain and itchiness around the affected area. Drinking Soda may also increase blood sugar levels making it difficult to clot or heal.
Furthermore, Caffeine in coffee and Soda also makes the blood impure, restraining its normal ability to fight infections.
It is therefore advisable to avoid food that is likely to make the blood impure. When the blood is clean, the healing process improves.
As a home remedy for piles, avoid such drinks and food whose contents are not good for blood formation.
Sitting for long periods.
A 2016 study shows that adults working in offices are more likely to develop hemorrhoids. The reason is sitting for long hours.
Ideally, when you sit, the veins on your butt and anus become compressed. This strains blood movement and circulation around the area. Blood in such conditions is likely to be less oxygenated or healthy.
When this becomes a habit, it may cause swelling of the veins around the anus. This leads to the development of hemorrhoids.
An effective home remedy to prevent piles is ensuring the better circulation of blood through the body. This can be done by simply avoiding sitting for a long time.
Perfumed Detergents and Fabric Softeners
The perfumes in detergents contain chemicals that increase itchiness and irritation. These may lead to scratching that damages cells and tissues. Damaged cells and tissues are exposed to bacteria and more infections.
Patients using perfumed detergents and softeners are likely to have a worsening condition of piles. For proper and natural healing, it is advisable to avoid using scented detergents.
Common causes and symptoms of hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are a very common health problem. Although it is not very clear what causes piles, Researchers in 2012 suggest that it may result from constipation, excessive force when moving the bowels, pregnancy, and heavy lifting, having anal intercourse and eating a low-fiber diet.
Other symptoms of hemorrhoids include rectal bleeding, pain, and itching around the anus.
So next time you notice any similar symptoms, try one or two of the home remedies. They can definitely save you from incurring extra expenses. Moreover, the home remedies will also help you fight other numerous medical conditions.
But if you have tried for about two weeks without noticing a change, do not hesitate to see a doctor; it could be a different thing altogether.
What are the 4 grades of hemorrhoids?
There are four clinical grades or stages of piles. The classification depends on the size and position of the prolapse.(3,4,5)
Grade 1
Stage one hemorrhoid is the most minor, severe stage of hemorrhoids. There is no prolapse at this stage. All the swelling is in the rectum
Grade 2
At stage two, the hemorrhoids form prolapse, which protrude from the anus but returns after bowel movements. At this stage, there are signs of blood on the stool.
Grade 3
In a grade 3 hemorrhoid, the prolapse protrudes during the evacuation, but you must manually return it. Symptoms at this stage are irritation, discomfort, itching, and pain.
Grade 4
In stage 4, the prolapse remains outside, and it’s very painful. When a hemorrhoid reaches this stage, you need to seek medical advice. In some severe cases, stage 4 hemorrhoid may lead to surgery.
When to see a doctor for hemorrhoids
There are certain conditions in which you may be forced to see a doctor for hemorrhoids. You should seek medical advice from a healthcare provider when you have the following symptoms:(6,7)
- When the piles extends out and its very hard to push back manually.
- Continual bleeding and irritation.
- No apparent relief even after using home remedies for hemorrhoids.
- If you have other digestive tract disorders
Take away
With the current office work where people sit for long ours, piles seems almost inevitable. But there is good news if you can adhere to the natural laws of health, and practice a positive lifestyle you may be safe safe.
Meanwhile try the above 13 remedies on your piles and i assure you of recovery. All the best.