A Doctor-Approved Guide to Naturally Healing Hemorrhoids

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Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins around your anus, which may be external or internal. They’re often caused by increased pressure due to constipation, diarrhea, and straining to pass a stool. However, they may also be related to obesity, pregnancy, or lifting heavy objects. The most common symptom is slight bleeding during a bowel movement, but they can also be itchy and painful. You can treat hemorrhoids at home using natural treatments, making lifestyle changes, and applying over-the-counter remedies. However, it’s best to see your doctor if your hemorrhoid won’t go away or is causing severe symptoms.

Things You Should Know

  • Add 1 cup (236 ml) of Epsom salts to a bathtub full of warm water for a soothing sitz bath and repeat 2-3 times a day.
  • Soak a clean, cotton washcloth in warm water. Apply the compress directly to the hemorrhoids for about 10-15 minutes, 4-5 times a day.
  • Use a cotton pad soaked in witch hazel after a bowel movement to reduce swelling.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Home Treatments

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  1. If you don’t want to take a full bath, you can take a Sitz bath, where you sit in a few inches of water. Add about 1 cup of Epsom salts to a full bathtub and 2–3 tablespoons (29.6–44.4 ml) of Epsom salts for a few inches of water in the tub. Keep the water warm, but not too hot. Repeat 2-3 times a day. [1]
    • Using Epsom salts may also speed up the healing process.
  2. Get a clean, cotton wash cloth and soak it in warm (not hot) water. Apply the compress directly to the hemorrhoids for about 10-15 minutes. Repeat 4-5 times a day. This should offer some soothing comfort.
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  3. You can use a cotton pad soaked in witch hazel after a bowel movement. Witch hazel acts as an astringent and may help reduce swelling. Repeat as often as needed--at least 4-5 times a day.
  4. After having a bowel movement, be sure that you clean yourself completely to avoid irritation. You might want to use baby wipes or a pre-moistened toilet paper product rather than dry toilet paper to clean yourself. [2]
  5. An ice pack may help reduce your hemorrhoidal swelling but it should not be left on for too long; limit the ice pack use to 5-10 minutes at most each time. [3]
  6. Find a foam cushion or a doughnut cushion to sit on. This can help relieve some of the pressure associated with hemorrhoids. While this will not aid in "curing" your hemorrhoids, it may help ease your discomfort and make them easier to live with.
    • Keep in mind that hemorrhoids are caused by too much pressure on your veins.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Making Lifestyle Changes

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  1. Allow gravity to help, but let your bowels do most of the work. If nothing happens, put it off for an hour or so, and try again but most importantly, don’t strain and force a bowel movement that isn’t happening naturally.
  2. Increase your water consumption to at least 8-10 8 oz glasses each day. Stool (feces) contain significant amounts of water—and the more water a stool contains, the softer it will be, which makes it easier to pass.
  3. Fiber helps keep water in the stool and bulks it up so that it passes through the rectum and anus more easily--and in the case of hemorrhoids, with less pain. Good sources of fiber include:
    • Seeds -- One hand full of chia seeds will ensure you will get enough fiber.
    • Whole grains-- include brown rice, barley, corn, rye, bulgur wheat, kasha (buckwheat) and oatmeal
    • Fruits, especially with the rinds
    • Vegetables (especially leafy vegetables like Swiss chard, collard greens, spinach, lettuces, beet greens)
    • Beans and legumes-- be aware that for some, eating beans and legumes can increase intestinal gas
  4. Laxatives can be habit forming and can also weaken the bowels, potentially leading to chronic constipation. If you do feel as though you need a laxative, try an herbal laxative instead. [4]
    • Senna and Psyllium are herbal laxative options. Senna is a natural and gentle stool softener. You can take senna as tablets (follow manufacturer’s instructions) or as a nightly tea. You can also try psyllium fiber as found in Metamucil. Psyllium [5] is a natural bulking agent.
  5. The exercise can be aerobic, endurance, cardiovascular, or even just walking. Exercise makes your heart stronger, thus increasing the efficiency of your cardiovascular system. During exercise, you will also have high circulation thus removing your hemorrhoids (as these are basically blood sacks, caused by sedentary lifestyle and weak cardiovascular system)
  6. Don’t wait once you feel the urge to have a bowel movement; go as soon as you can, but don’t sit and try for too long waiting—sitting is also associated with an increased risk of hemorrhoids. [6]
  7. See if you can arrange a regular time to have a bowel movement without interruptions around the same time every day. This tends to make bowel bleeding movements easier, and it turns out that having regular bowel movements is a great predictor of overall good health. [7]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Applying Over-the-Counter Treatments

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  1. It may sound a bit odd, but if the hemorrhoids are very painful and uncomfortable, use a tiny bit of baby teething gel on the area. The gel contains a local antiseptic that can decrease the pain and discomfort. [8]
  2. Gently clean your anal area with warm water and carefully pat dry. Then apply a small amount of aloe vera gel or an ointment such as Preparation H to help with hemorrhoid pain and/or discomfort. Apply as often as needed. [9]
    • Hemorrhoid relief ointments such as Preparation H usually contain petroleum jelly, mineral oil, shark liver oil and phenylephrine, which acts as a decongestant and helps shrink the hemorrhoid.
    • Aloe vera gel contains components that have been shown to inhibit infection and help in healing minor wounds.
    • Avoid steroid creams as they can damage the delicate tissue around a hemorrhoid.
  3. If you have persistent discomfort, you may want to consider taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen. [10] These can help you feel more comfortable and may aid in swelling reduction as well. As always, check with your care provider to ensure that it is safe to take a medication that you do not normally take.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

When to Seek Medical Care

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  1. Typically, hemorrhoids go away within of week of starting home treatment. If yours doesn’t start improving or immediately comes back, then it’s best to talk to your doctor about it. Additionally, you may need additional treatments if your hemorrhoids are causing extreme pain or excessive bleeding. Don’t ignore these symptoms. [11]
    • Let your doctor know that you’ve been experiencing symptoms of a hemorrhoid, as well as how you’ve been caring for it.
  2. While you likely have nothing to worry about, these symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition. It’s best to get checked by a doctor to make sure you’re okay. If you do need treatment, your doctor will provide it for you. [12]
    • Call your doctor for a same day appointment or visit an urgent care center. Let them know your symptoms first started with a hemorrhoid.
  3. Although rectal bleeding is typical with hemorrhoids, it may also be a sign of anal cancer or colon cancer. Try not to worry because it’s likely it’s just your hemorrhoids. However, your doctor can examine you and provide a proper diagnosis so you get the right treatment. [13]
    • If you notice frequent rectal bleeding, monitor your bowel movements for changes in color, consistency, and frequency. Report what you observe to your doctor to help with your diagnosis, as anal or colon cancer might cause these kinds of changes.
  4. After discussing your symptoms with you, your doctor will likely do a visual examination to check for hemorrhoids. If you have may have an internal hemorrhoid, they might do a quick finger exam, where they feel the area with a gloved finger. This will help them make a diagnosis. [14]
    • Your doctor may make a diagnosis based solely on your symptoms.
    • The exam won’t hurt, but you might feel a little uncomfortable.
    • Although hemorrhoids can feel embarrassing, they’re totally normal and most people have them at some point. Your doctor has likely seen a lot of hemorrhoids, so there’s no need to be embarrassed.
  5. If your hemorrhoids won’t go away or are significantly impacting your life, your doctor may recommend getting a medical procedure to help you heal. Most of these procedures are minimally invasive. The most common ways to treat severe hemorrhoids include: [15]
    • Ligation, which involves tying a rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off the blood flow.
    • Injection of a chemical solution designed to shrink the hemorrhoid without causing you pain.
    • Cauterization to heat the hemorrhoid until it hardens and stops causing symptoms.
    • Hemorrhoid stapling, which blocks blood flow to an internal hemorrhoid so it shrinks.
    • Hemorrhoidectomy, which is the surgical removal of a severe hemorrhoid that’s interfering with your daily function.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Do anal fissures take a long time to heal?
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Expert Answer
    Anal fissures (small tears in the tissues of the anus) can take a long time to heal because every time you have a bowel movement, the fissure takes some extra pressure and can get irritated.  Make certain your stools are as soft as possible--include fiber in your diet and drink lots of water.  You may need a stool softener as well-- talk to your doctor about the best one for you.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-rid-of-hemorrhoids/
      2. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemorrhoids/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20029852
      3. ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hemorrhoids
      4. ↑ https://healthimpactnews.com/2013/a-key-predictor-of-well-being-healthy-bowel-movements/
      5. ↑ https://healthy.net/2005/09/28/use-psyllium-instead-of-metamucil/
      6. ↑ https://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/hemorrhoids/treatment.html
      7. ↑ https://healthimpactnews.com/2013/a-key-predictor-of-well-being-healthy-bowel-movements/
      8. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/hemorrhoids_and_what_to_do_about_them
      9. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/hemorrhoids.html
      1. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemorrhoids/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20029852
      2. ↑ https://fascrs.org/patients/diseases-and-conditions/a-z/hemorrhoids
      3. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemorrhoids/symptoms-causes/syc-20360268
      4. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemorrhoids/symptoms-causes/syc-20360268
      5. ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hemorrhoids
      6. ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hemorrhoids

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To get rid of hemorrhoids naturally, try soaking a clean cotton cloth in warm water and applying it to your hemorrhoids for 10 to 15 minutes. For the best results, repeat the process 4 to 5 times a day. Alternatively, try an ice pack in place of the warm compress if you need cooling relief. You can also apply a cotton pad soaked in witch hazel after a bowel movement, which may help shrink your hemorrhoids by reducing the swelling. Whichever treatment you use, make sure to clean yourself thoroughly after using the restroom to avoid any further irritation. If you find sitting uncomfortable, try using a foam or doughnut cushion to relieve some of the pressure from your hemorrhoids. For more advice from our Medical co-author, like how to prevent hemorrhoids by making healthy lifestyle changes, keep reading.

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