How to Cure Piles Naturally
Three Parts:Soothing the PainMaking Dietary ChangesMaking Lifestyle ChangesQuestions and
Answers
Piles, or hemorrhoids, are enlarged veins found either externally or internally around the anus.
They are caused by increased pressure on the pelvic and rectal veins and are often related to
constipation, diarrhea and straining to pass a stool. Piles affects over half the population by the
age of 50. Piles can be rather painful and can make your daily life difficult and uncomfortable.
The steps below will help you naturally treat piles; however, if you don't experience relief from
piles within four to seven days, you should consult your physician.
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Part 1 of 3: Soothing the Pain
1.
1
Avoid medicinal laxatives. Laxatives can be habit forming and can also weaken the
bowels, potentially leading to chronic constipation.[1]
o If you want to stimulate your bowels, try to change your diet (see Part 2) or
consider taking herbal supplements that have laxative properties (see Part 3).
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2.
2
Take a Sitz bath. Sitz baths technically only have a few inches of water to soak the anus
but if you prefer a full bath, it can accomplish the same thing. If you prefer the traditional
Sitz bath, just fill the tub with a few inches of water or buy a Sitz bath at any pharmacy or
medical supply store. Some of the commercial bags come with tubing and vents to allow
water to constantly circulate. These provide a constant supply of water that is useful but
not essential; the same effects can be accomplished at home using the tub. These baths
allow for better circulation in the anal area and for relaxation and healing of the tissues
around the anus.[2][3]
o Add about one cup of epsom salts to a full bathtub or two to three tablespoons of
epsom salts for a few inches of water in the tub. Keep the water warm, but not too
hot. Repeat two to three times a day.
o Fill your bathtub with about 6 inches (15 cm) of warm water and add a handful of
Epsom salt to the mix, stirring it up so it dissolves. Now sit in the bathtub with
your knees flexed for fifteen minutes. Flexing the knees will expose your anus to
the water and the warm water will soothe the pain and the inflammation.
3.
Try a warm compress. Get a clean, cotton wash towel and soak it in warm (but not hot)
water. Apply the compress for about 10 to 15 minutes, directly on the pile three times a
day. Repeat four to five times a day.[4]
4.
4
Use ice. Ice packs can help reduce the swelling of piles. You can use already-made ice
packs or place some ice into a plastic bag and wrap in a piece of cloth. Place it onto the
hemorrhoid region.[5]
o Only use ice packs for five to ten minutes at a time. Do not apply ice directly onto
your skin because it can had adverse affects on your skin (like frostbite).
5.
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5
Use unscented wipes. Maintaining hygiene is important for anyone who is suffering
hemorrhoids because it prevents complications from arising, like infections or blistering
of anal mucosa due to excessive dryness. To prevent these complications you can use
unscented cotton wet wipes to gently wipe the anal region after every bowel movement.[6]
o After a Sitz bathand in generalavoid wiping with regular toilet paper or hard
towels. One must use soft and gentle methods of cleaning. Baby wipes are one of
the most effective and soothing wipes to use.
o In addition, avoid perfumed toilet paper or colored toilet paper. The chemicals
that lend it the pleasant scent or the color can cause local irritation.
6.
6
Apply an astringent to the affected area. A natural anti-oxidant and astringent, which
helps soothe the engorged hemorrhoids and makes them less sore, witch hazel can be
applied directly with cotton swabs. It also helps to reduce the itching of piles
significantly.[7][8]
o Repeat as often as needed. Try to apply witch hazel at least four to five times a
day.
o Warm olive oil is an alternative to witch hazel. Olive oil also takes care of the
dryness of the region by being a superb lubricant rich in anti-oxidants.
o You could also apply warm, wet tea bags to sooth the pain in the anal region. Take
care to ensure that the tea bag is not too hot. Tea contains a natural astringent
which helps to reduce swelling, while the warmth of the tea bag works to relieve
pain.
7.
7
Try pain and itch-relieving gels or lotions. After having a bath and letting yourself fully
dry off, use a small amount of aloe vera gel or Preparation H to help with hemorrhoidal
pain and/or discomfort. Apply as often as needed.[9][10]
o Aloe vera gel contains components that have been shown to inhibit infection and
help in healing minor wounds. You can use the gel straight from an aloe plant by
taking a large leaf and cutting it open to release the gel. Alternatively, you can
purchase 100% all natural aloe vera gel from the drugstore.
o Preparation H ointment, available in most grocery stores, contains petroleum jelly,
mineral oil, shark liver oil and phenylephrinethe phenylephrine acts as a
decongestant and helps shrink the hemorrhoid.
8.
8
Put those vegetables in your fridge to good use. Beet root and carrots can be crushed to
extract their juice. A thick piece of cotton or a big gauze piece can be soaked in the juice
and then applied on the swollen veins. Initial research has shown beetroot can reduce
high blood pressure and might help reduce swelling of the engorged hemorrhoids.[11]
9.
9
Consider taking herbal supplements. There are different types of herbs that can act as
natural laxatives and do not have the same dependency-developing ability. Some good
options include:
o Senna: Senna is a natural and gentle stool softener. You can take senna as tablets
(following manufacturers instructions) or as a nightly tea.[12]
o Psyllium: Psyllium is a natural bulking and softening agent. Adults can take
between 1/2 and two teaspoons of psyllium (such as Metamucil) in 8 ounces of
water once daily. The psyllium should be added to the water, stirred and drunk
immediately (the mixture thickens quickly). You may want to start with 1/2
teaspoon and increase the dose by 1/2 teaspoon the next day if passing stool is
still uncomfortable.[13]
o Flaxseeds: Flaxseeds can be added as a bulking agent to foods such as cereals,
salads, soups and smoothies. Adding two to three tablespoons of flaxseed daily
can ease the passage of stools.[14]
10.
10
Explore natural relief remedies. You might have a few things in your kitchen that you
didn't know could help with piles. Here are some ideas:
o Bitter gourd leaves when crushed can be applied locally to relieve the pain caused
by piles.[15]
o Baking soda can be applied as a powder or as a paste on the swollen veins (use
one tablespoon of baking soda and mix with water). Make sure to only leave it on
for 15 minutes as the paste could dry out the area and worsen the situation.[16]
o About five millimeters of the latex or juice of the banyan tree when added to a
glass of milk and consumed once daily, especially in the morning, is beneficial for
patients with piles.
o A mixture of ginger and honey, boiled to make a decoction (an extraction through
boiling) and then spiced with a dash of sweet lime and mint leaves helps detoxify
the body and cool the system. It will ensure a good blood supply to the piles.
o Three teaspoons of honey boiled with two teaspoons of pepper and two teaspoons
of fennel along with 500 millimeters of water makes an excellent decoction that
can be consumed over the day.
11.
11
Use essential oils. To make a mixture, add two to four drops of the essential oil of your
choice to two fluid ounces of a base oil, such as castor or almond oil. Mix well and apply
directly on external piles. You can use one oil or up to two to three oils in your mixture.[17]
o Lavender oil can help relieve pain and itching.
o Cypress oil is used to sooth and help heal the tissues.
o Tea tree oil is used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory oil.
o Avocado oil can be used as a base or added to other oils. It moisturizes, soothes
and accelerates healing.
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Part 2 of 3: Making Dietary Changes
1.
1
Eat more fiber. Preventing difficult or straining bowel movements by softening the stool
is a major method of both preventing and getting rid of piles. Fiber is very important in
this regard. It helps keep water in the stool and bulks it up so that the stool passes through
the rectum and anus more easily and, in the case of hemorrhoids, with less pain. Good
sources of fiber include:[18][19]
o Whole grains, including brown rice, barley, corn, rye, bulgar wheat, kasha
(buckwheat) and oatmeal.
o Fruits, especially cherries, blueberries, plums, prunes, apricots, raspberries and
strawberries.
o Vegetables, such as leafy vegetables like Swiss chard, collard greens, spinach,
lettuces, beet greens.
o Beans and legumes. Note: Eating beans and legumes can increase intestinal gas.
2.
Drink more water. An adequate consumption of water cannot be emphasized enough. A
minimum of 8 to 10 (8 oz) glasses per day is recommended. Sufficient water intake helps
keep the bowel movement soft and keeps the area well hydrated and lubricated. Not to
mention water is good for your skin, hair, nails, and organs, too.[20]
3.
3
Get more vitamin C. Vitamin C is rich in flavonoids which keep your veins supple and
help to maintain their integrity. This in turn will not allow them to become lax or prolapse
or bleed easily. Vitamin C along with anthocyanins helps keep your veins strong and can
protect against straining or tearing in the anus.[21]
o Fruits rich in flavonoids are lemons and limes, apples and tomatoes. Anthocyanin
rich foods include onions, red cabbage and carrots and fruits like berries, grapes
and cherries.
o All varieties of berries, owing to their anti-inflammatory properties and being rich
in vitamin C and flavonoids, ensure smooth passage for the stool. They're also
excellent sources of anti-oxidants.
4.
4
Try drinking more vegetable juices. Drinking beetroot juice has shown to reduce blood
pressure by about 2% and may be helpful in reducing the swelling of hemorrhoids. You
might try having a glass each week or eat a boiled beetroot each day for a month and see
if you notice the difference.
o Alternatively radish juice is one of the best options to flush out the toxins from
the body as well as ensure that the stool passes through without any pain and
discomfort. One must be careful with the quantity consumed, as cup of radish
juice once a day is more than enough. More than a cup can aggravate the
symptoms. A little juice of turnip leaves can also be added to the radish juice or
can be had by itself too.
5.
5
Know what foods to avoid. Piles can easily be aggravated by certain foods. For
example, heavily seasoned food with spices and chilies must be avoided at all costs as it
can greatly increase the discomfort and bleeding of piles.[22]
o Processed food, canned food, and food with preservatives should also be avoided
as they are very low in fiber and typically contain chemical additives that can
aggravate the condition of piles. [23]
o Fatty or deep fried food like meat, fast food, and french fries can also intensify the
symptoms of piles due to their poor fiber, high fat content and chemical additives
involved.
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Part 3 of 3: Making Lifestyle Changes
1.
1
Dont strain. Straining is one of the main causes of hemorrhoids. Allow gravity to help,
but let your bowels do most of the work. If nothing happens, put it off for an hour or so,
but most importantly, dont strain![24][25]
2.
2
Try to routinize your bowel movements. See if you can arrange a regular time to use
the bathroom without interruptions. Regular bowel movements at around the same time
every day tend to make bowel movements easier. Moreover, having regular bowel
movements is a great predictor of overall good health.[26][27]
o Dont wait once you feel the urge to have a bowel movement. Go as soon as you
can, but dont sit for too long waiting since sitting is associated with an increased
risk of hemorrhoids.[28]
o Use baby wipes to clean yourself after a bowel movement.[29]
3.
3
Wear cotton underwear. If you suffer from piles or hemorrhoids you should use 100%
cotton underwear. Cotton is very gentle on the skin, which means it will minimize any
irritation that you may feel from other materials such as polyester or silk. Cotton prevents
itching in the piles, is absorptive and gentle on the sensitive piles.[30]
o Avoid wearing thongs which may irritate the tissue surrounding the piles.
4.
4
Exercise. The exercise can be aerobic, endurance, cardiovascular or just walking. The
idea is that body movement can help keep your bowels moving by essentially massaging
them. In other words, as your body moves, your internal organs move and get massaged
as well. This can help with circulation to the piles and also help keep your bowels regular
in general.[31]
o It is essential that a healthy circulation be maintained in the piles, which are
nothing but engorged anal veins. If the blood supply reduces, they might become
gangrenous and lead to an emergency.
5.
5
Avoid sitting for long periods of time. Not sitting for long periods of time can be
beneficial for people who suffer from hemorrhoids. Sitting can actually develop
excessive intra-abdominal pressure and may aggravate the hemorrhoids. If you have a
desk job, get up every hour and go for a short walk.[32][33]
o Find a foam cushion or a doughnut cushion (a coccyx cushion) to sit on if you do
need to sit for a bit of time. This can help relieve some of the pressure.
6.
6
Cut back on alcohol. Alcohol is one of the first things you should cut down on because it
dehydrates you and causes your stools to be hard. Alcohol use can negatively affect piles
and will not only hamper the chances of recovery but can increase the bleeding as well. It
has been proven that prolonged use of alcohol leads to portal hypertension (swelling of
the liver) and hemorrhoids.[34]
o Try to limit yourself to a maximum of one to two drinks per day. This is the
recommended amount, but you might want to try to drink even less than that if
you are currently battling piles.
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Tips
A physician can diagnose internal or external hemorrhoids by performing a rectal exam.
If rectal bleeding is not caused by a hemorrhoid, your doctor will likely recommend a
more extensive test called a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy because one of the
symptoms of colon cancer is rectal bleeding.[35]
Note that children do not get piles very often, but it can happen. If your child complains
of pain when using the toilet, bring him in to see his pediatrician right away. There are
many common reasons for a childs painful bowel movement including dry stools,
dehydration, lack of fiber, toilet training and stress. However, if there is blood in the stool
or on the toilet paper, this may be a sign of piles, an anatomic malformation, an anal
fissure (a break in the tissue) or an early sign of intestinal disorders such as Crohns
disease. All these would require that your child be seen by a pediatrician.[36]
Warnings
If you dont experience relief from piles within four to seven days, make sure you see
your physician. Complications of piles are rare, but anemia from blood loss and
strangulated (twisted) piles can occur.[37]
