Haemorrhoids / piles

What are haemorrhoids?

Symptoms of haemorrhoids

Causes of haemorrhoids, triggers

Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for haemorrhoids

References

What are haemorrhoids?

Haemorrhoids (also known as hemorrhoids, emerods or piles) are swollen or inflamed veins in the rectum and anus. When healthy, these veins act as a cushion around the rectum and anus that aid the passage of stool. Haemorrhoids are a bit like varicose veins in the anus, whereas anal fissures are from tearing and over-stretching the skin.

In the USA and most Westernised countries, about 5% of the population suffer from piles. The condition is more common in overweight people. By the age of 50, the majority of people have been affected by haemorrhoids at some time in their life. About 10-20% of cases have serious haemorrhage (bleeding) and require medical intervention or surgery.

External haemorrhoids occur below the dentate line. Often you can see them, though sometimes they are inside the anus. They are often painful, and may cause swelling, irritation or iching from skin irritation. External haemorrhoids are prone to thrombosis if a vein ruptures or a blood clot develops.

Internal haemorrhoids occur above the dentate line. This area lacks pain receptors, so internal haemorrhoids are not usually painful and most people are not aware that they have them. However, they may bleed when irritated. If they are not treated, they can develop into two severe forms of haemorrhoids: prolapsed and strangulated haemorrhoids. Prolapsed haemorrhoids become so distended that they are pushed outside the anus. Strangulated haemorrhoids occur when the blood supply to the haemorrhoid is cut off, usually when the anal sphincter muscle goes into spasm and traps a prolapsed haemorrhoid outside the anal opening.

Symptoms of haemorrhoids

• Pain when having a bowel movement or when sitting.
• Bright red blood on toilet paper or in the toilet bowl.
• A feeling that your bowels have not emptied properly after going to the toilet.
• Itching and irritation around the anus.
• External haemorrhoids or Prolapsed haemorrhoids can protrude outside the anus, forming a painful swelling.

Causes of haemorrhoids, triggers

• CONSTIPATION. Excessive pressure from constipation.
• Straining on the toilet, pressure around the anus.
• Repeated episodes of diarrhoea.
• Holding your breath when having a bowel movement, anal retention.
• Sitting rather than squatting when having a bowel movement.
• Sitting or standing for long periods.
• Lifting heavy objects.
• Pregnancy. Pressure from the fetus on the abdomen and hormonal changes cause the haemorrhoidal vessels to enlarge. Delivery also causes increased intra-abdominal pressure. Hemorrhoids usually heal on their own after the birth.
• High levels of estrogen or estrogen mimickers.

Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for haemorrhoids

• Do not strain in the toilet. It is essentail to adopt a comfortable correct squatting posture.
• Spend less time in the toilet, don't bring anything to read!
• Citrus bioflavonoids. Blend a small lemon or lime with a cup of water. Wash it first if there is any chance it was sprayed with chemicals. Blend the whole fruit with a cup or more of water, including the pith, rind and seeds. If suffering from severe haemorrhoids or varicose veins, for example, drink this twice or even three times per day. As the ailment heals, reduce to once per day. In good health, a maintenance dose is once per week. (1, 2, 3, 4)
• Diet. Eat plenty of vegetables and non-sweet fruit. Avoid processed foods, especially those made with refined carbohydrates (eg white flour) and high in sugar. For recipe ideas, see the Grow Youthful Recipe eBook.
• Water. Drink 1-2 litres (quarts) of water per day or more.
• Probiotics.
• Smaller haemorrhoids often disappear spontaneously once constipation is relieved. In more serious cases the piles will subside with time provided bowel movements are normal. The veins can remain weak for months or years but will eventually heal and strengthen.
• Collinsonia root is a herb that has been used for centuries to treat haemorrhoids and problems caused by restricted flow in the liver's portal vein. Collinsonia root was the go-to treatment for haemorrhoids until the widespread use of patents by the pharmaceutical industry started to hide cheap, natural, effective traditional and home remedies. (5)
• Anal sphincter contraction is a good exercise to heal piles or haemorrhoids. Several times a day, take a deep breath and contract your anus three or four times. Hold the last contraction for a few seconds, and then relax while exhaling. Repeat the sequence two or three times. This exercise greatly assists with removing stale blood from the fine network of damaged capillaries around the anus.
• See the list of remedies suggested by visitors to growyouthful.com. They include apple cider vinegar, molasses, magnesium and coconut oil.
• Stress-managed lifestyle. This is explained in Grow Youthful, along with more detail on diet and how the foods used by most people create these problems.
• Avoid pharmaceutical laxatives. If you are seriously constipated, do not use pharmaceutical laxitives. They only create dependence.
• Stone root (Collinsonia).
• Flowers of sulphur.

Medical and surgical procedures

• Rubber band ligation. A tight elastic band is applied to an internal haemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply. After 5-7 days the withered haemorrhoid falls off. This procedure is only for internal haemorrhoids. If the band is placed too close to the dentate line, it can cause intense pain.
• Sclerotherapy involves the injection of a sclerosing agent (such as phenol) into the haemorrhoid. This causes the vein walls to collapse and the haemorrhoid to shrivel up.
• Cauterization, by freezing, burning, lasers or infrared radiation.
• Surgical excision; tying the supplying artery; stapling.

References

1. Huwait E, Mobashir M. Potential and Therapeutic Roles of Diosmin in Human Diseases. Biomedicines. 2022 May 6;10(5):1076. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10051076. PMID: 35625813; PMCID: PMC9138579.

2. Corsale I, Carrieri P, Martellucci J, Piccolomini A, Verre L, Rigutini M, Panicucci S. Flavonoid mixture (diosmin, troxerutin, rutin, hesperidin, quercetin) in the treatment of I-III degree hemorroidal disease: a double-blind multicenter prospective comparative study. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2018 Nov;33(11):1595-1600. doi: 10.1007/s00384-018-3102-y. Epub 2018 Jun 22. PMID: 29934701.

3. Giannini I, Amato A, Basso L, Tricomi N, Marranci M, Pecorella G, Tafuri S, Pennisi D, Altomare DF. Flavonoids mixture (diosmin, troxerutin, hesperidin) in the treatment of acute hemorrhoidal disease: a prospective, randomized, triple-blind, controlled trial. Tech Coloproctol. 2015 Jun;19(6):339-45. doi: 10.1007/s10151-015-1302-9. Epub 2015 Apr 19. Erratum in: Tech Coloproctol. 2015 Oct;19(10):665-6. PMID: 25893991.

4. Li C, Schluesener H. Health-promoting effects of the citrus flavanone hesperidin. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017 Feb 11;57(3):613-631. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2014.906382. PMID: 25675136.

5. Kathy Abascal and Eric Yarnell. Botanical Treatments for Hemorrhoids. Alternative and Complementary Therapies.Dec 2005.285-289.http://doi.org/10.1089/act.2005.11.285.