Hemorrhoids are usually caused by increased pressure due to obesity, pregnancy, poor eating habits, desk-bound lifestyle or irregular bowel movements. By midlife, hemorrhoids often become an ongoing complaint and by age 50, roughly half the population experience the symptoms of Haemorrhoids.
Fortunately, Hemorrhoids are rarely dangerous, although it is a recurrent or painful intrusion and there are simple ways to cure it. In this article, learn all about healing hemorrhoids the Ayurveda way.
What are Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids, also known as Piles is a common condition that affects many people. This condition arises when the veins in the anus become swollen and distended, like varicose veins in the legs. These swollen veins obstruct the normal function of defecation. As a result, there is a whole lot of discomfort, bleeding, and pain at the time of discharge of prolapses.
More than pain, many people are embarrassed about seeking assistance, when they are affected by this condition. But, there is no point in neglecting the condition as it can aggravate and worsen the situation even more.
Types of Haemorrhoids
There are two kinds of Hemorrhoids – Internal, which occur in the lower rectum and External, which develop under the skin around the anus.
External Haemorrhoids cause the most discomfort since the overlying skin becomes irritated and erodes. When a blood clot forms inside external hemorrhoid, the pain can be severe and sudden. You might see or feel a lump around the anus, because the clot usually dissolves, leaving excess skin tag.
On the other hand, Internal Hemorrhoids are generally painless and commonly experienced by most people. They produce signs of bleeding or discharge of mucous or tiny stool particles that lead to irritation.
Symptoms of Haemorrhoids
- Itching, Irritation, and Pain in the Anal Region
- Bleeding during or after bowel movements
- Discharge of Mucous
- Chronic Constipation
- Prolapse of Pile Mass or Lump near Anus
- Painful Bowel Movements
- Leakage of Stool
Ayurvedic View of Haemorrhoids or Piles
Ayurveda views piles as the enemy of the human body and therefore it is named as Arsh in the ancient texts. It proposes that there are three veins surrounding the anal region – Visarajni, Samvarni, and the Pravahani. These veins get swollen mainly due to digestive disorders and imbalance of energies or Doshas inside the body. Following is the Ayurvedic Categorization of Piles:
- Vata Imbalance – Extremely Painful Piles that are black in color and rough in texture. It gives rise to Constipation
- Pitta Imbalance – Here, the piles tend to be reddish and soft leading to bleeding and symptoms manifest in the form of Fever, Thirst, and Diarrhoea
- Kapha Imbalance – In this type, the pile size is large and whitish in color. Digestive problems are witnessed
Ayurvedic Remedies for Haemorrhoids
Ayurveda treats any disease holistically and treatment includes herbal remedies, lifestyle changes, and minimally invasive procedures.
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Natural Herbs
Treating any disease naturally works in the long term to ensure that there are no relapses. Ayurveda relies on various safe and natural herbs that are effective for both internal and external hemorrhoids. These formulations help to reduce pain, inflammation, constipation and digestive issues. They must be taken according to your predominant dosha or body constitution.
Some of these herbs include Ginger root, Pippali, Amalaki, Haritaki, Vacha, Black Pepper, Haridra, Trikatu and Varuna. Herbal formulation of Triphala is also very effective.
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Lifestyle and Diet Changes
Here are some do’s and dont’s that Ayurveda states:
Do’s
- Drink plenty of water and Juicy Fruits
- Include nutritious food with water-soluble and easy to digest fiber like Ash Gourd, Carrots, Cucumber, Radish
- Exercise well, especially morning walks are recommended
- Consume a tablespoon of Psyllium Husk with a glass of water before bedtime in order to ease constipation
- Include buttermilk to cool down your system and alleviate aggravation of Vata and Kapha
- Add healthy spices to your food to boost natural flavor like Asofoetida, Cumin, Turmeric, Coriander
Don’ts
- Avoid over spicy, dry, heavy, cool and stale food
- Skip refined sugars and processed food
- Say no to Alcohol, tobacco and aerated drinks
- Don’t sit for a prolonged time, take a break and stretch in between
- Don’t skip meals or indulge in over-eating
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Sitz Bath
Warm water and Heat Therapy is very effective in relieving pain associated with this condition. It improves circulation and helps the damaged veins to heal faster. Fill a bucket with warm water and soak the inflamed area in it for 15-20 minutes. You can also add herbal formulations to the warm water and do it twice a day until symptoms ease out.
Application of diluted Essential Oil like Sesame Oil, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil also have the ability to reduce inflammation and cure hemorrhoids naturally. In addition, pure Aloe Vera gel can help soothe and hydrate external hemorrhoid
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Herbal Application or Kshara
Most Haemorrhoids can be treated with Ayurvedic medications alone. However, if the condition is severe then other non-invasive procedures can be used. This includes Kshara which is a caustic, alkaline paste that is applied on hemorrhoid using a specialized device called a slit proctoscope.
This paste is made of herbal blends such as Jīmūtaka Lepa and cauterizes hemorrhoid which may have been open or bleeding. In Ayurveda, this Kshara Karma method is considered to be very effective. Medications according to the body type are also prescribed along with this procedure to support healing.
In some cases, Kshara Sutra has also practiced wherein the Ayurvedic practitioner uses a special medicated thread to tie hemorrhoid off the base. This will cut off blood supply to the vein and allow hemorrhoid to shrink over the next 7 to 10 days, eventually detaching on its own.
Are Ayurvedic Treatments for Piles Safe?
Ayurveda employs effective procedures without surgery and is relatively low-cost along with faster healing. There are no side-effects associated with Ayurveda.
The holistic approach and minimally-invasive treatment procedures together ensure that it cures the condition and there are no relapses. As opposed to Allopathic procedures and medicines that might provide quick relief, Ayurvedic procedures help you in kicking off the issue right from its roots.
Moreover, the use of natural healing herbs ensures that the Ayurvedic treatment for piles is the most reliable, safe, affordable and effective treatment for piles. Contact the best Ayurvedic practitioner to treat hemorrhoids the natural way and be tension-free!
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