Suffering From Intractable Anal Fistula? Safe Homeopathic Remedies for Anal Fistula

An anal fistula is a small tunnel with an internal opening in the anal canal and an external opening in the skin of the perianal area (an area that surrounds the anus). An anal fistula usually results after improper healing of an anal abscess following pus drainage.

Homeopathy is the best alternative for treating many surgical diseases including anal fistula. Homeopathic remedies for anal fistula treat the condition with gentleness and safety, and with no side effects because of their natural origin. In the first place these medicines help to manage the signs and symptoms like the pus discharge associated with anal fistula, pain, swelling, and itching around the anus. The natural medicines also assist in regularising bowel movements and treating hard stool, which could otherwise worsen the symptoms. Simultaneously, they halt the further worsening of the medical condition. Afterwards, with regular use of these medicines gradual healing of the anal tract takes place. The results, however, vary depending on the severity and complexity of the problem.

Homeopathy treats anal fistula cases by boosting body’s own restorative healing processes. It uses highly diluted substances to heal itself from within on its own. It helps to fight germs causing pus formation and throw them out of the body followed by gentle healing. Thus, it brings natural recovery in fistula cases with no harmful after effects.

Homeopathy employs the use of medicines as per case presentation. As the signs and symptoms vary from person to person, so does the homeopathic prescription. Also the potency, dose and repetition of medicines differs from case to case. So, it is advised to avoid self-medication and always consult a homeopathic doctor for the correct prescription.

Homeopathy is very beneficial for treating anal fistula both in recently-developed as well as long term (chronic) cases. In mainstream medicine, usually surgery is recommended to treat cases of anal fistula that carries a risk to re-form even after surgical correction. Here homeopathy can save a person from undergoing surgical procedures in most of the cases. Though cure with homeopathic medicines in fistula cases is a time-consuming process, it is the best alternative to surgical intervention.

Best 9 Homeopathic Remedies For Anal Fistula

The 9 medicines that top the list for anal fistula treatment are Silicea, Hepar Sulph, Myristica Sebifera, Calcarea Sulph, Berberis Vulgaris, Calcarea Phos, Paeonia Officinalis, Causticum and Thuja Occidentalis.

1. Silicea – For Anal Fistula With Copious Pus Discharge

Silicea is the most recommended medicine for anal fistula. It is the most widely used medicine for treating anal fistula in homeopathy. It carries a great ability to resolve multiple medical problems where pus formation occurs including anal fistula. The way it controls the process of pus formation is magnificent. It can be given in anal fistula cases with copious pus discharge. Sometimes blood may be present in this discharge. The discharge is also highly offensive and putrid smelling. The discharge is accompanied by perianal swelling. Sharp, stitching pain in the rectum may occur especially while walking. When passing stool, burning and itching at anus may be felt. Silicea is also a remedy for anal fistula with brownish fluid discharge and/or accompanied with constipation. Silicea is also applicable to treat hardness/indurations left around the anus after the healing of an anal fistula.

When to use Silicea?

This medicine is a wonderful choice to manage anal fistula with excessive pus discharge that can sometimes be blood stained.

How to use Silicea?

Among its different potencies, the most commonly used is 6X potency. Silicea 6X can be taken three to four times a day as per symptom intensity.

2. Hepar Sulph – For Intense Pain

Hepar Sulph is the most valuable medicine to manage anal fistula accompanied by extreme pain. It works in cases where the area around the perianal region is highly inflamed, hard and swollen, and is very sore and sensitive to touch. The pain, in most cases, gets worse at night. Cold worsens the pain. Other symptoms may include throbbing or beating sensation around the anus. It is indicated when pus is present in the tract but hasn’t begun to discharge. This medicine will aid pus drainage from fistula tract followed by relief in pain. The discharge of pus from the anal fistula may be blood-stained and may smell like decaying matter. The patient may also have fever with chills.

When to use Hepar Sulph?

Hepar Sulph is well indicated for cases of anal fistula with pus formation attended with marked swelling, throbbing pains and sensitivity to touch area around the anus.

How to use Hepar Sulph?

It is recommended to take Hepar Sulph 30 twice or thrice a day based on the severity of the condition.

3. Myristica Sebifera – Top Remedy For Fistula

Myristica Sebifera is another primary natural medicine of plant origin and is used for treating many suppurative (pus forming) conditions including anal fistula. This remedy works wonders in expelling the pus readily and in healing anal fistula. It has its most prominent action in speeding up the process of pus drainage and cut short the healing process of anal fistula. Use of this medicine often prevents the need for surgery in anal fistula cases.

When to use Myristica Sebifera?

This medicine can be taken in anal fistula cases to speed up the process of pus drainage and shorten the recovery period.

How to use Myristica Sebifera?

It is advised to use Myristica Sebifera in 30C power once or twice a day.

4. Calcarea Sulph – For Thick, Yellow Discharges

Calcarea Sulph is beneficial for the treatment of anal fistula with thick and yellow pus discharge. The discharge is often blood stained. It is indicated when the pus is already oozing out of an anal fistula opening on the skin. Calcarea Sulph aids in hastening pus expulsion. Pain is also prominent in the anal region where this medicine is required.

When to use Calcarea Sulph?

One may opt for it when there is thick yellow pus discharge along with anal pain.

How to use Calcarea Sulph?

Usually its biochemic form is preferred in 6X potency in most of the cases, Calcarea Sulph 6X can be used two to three times a day.

5. Berberis Vulgaris – For Shooting or Stitching Pain

Berberis Vulgaris works well in cases where there is shooting pain around the anus. In addition to this, a stitching pain around the anus also points towards the use of Berberis Vulgaris. The skin around the anus is very sore and is accompanied by itching, which gets worse in the evening.

When to use Berberis Vulgaris?

Berberis Vulgaris can be considered for managing anal fistula with shooting or stitching pain along with itching and soreness around anal region.

How to use Berberis Vulgaris?

This medicine can be used in both low and high potencies. However, it is suggested to begin it in low potency like 30C that can be taken one to two times a day.

6. Calcarea Phos – For Painless Fistula

Painless anal fistula points towards the use of Calcarea Phos. In these cases, there is blood and pus discharge from the anal fistula. These discharges can be accompanied by warm or burning sensation around the anus. Another striking indication for using Calcarea Phos is anal fistula alternating with chest complaints. Calcarea Phos hastens the healing process of anal fistula resulting in speedy recovery.

When to use Calcarea Phos?

This medicine is apt for cases of anal fistula with pus or blood discharge without any pain.

How to use Calcarea Phos?

This medicine is frequently prescribed in 6X potency. Calcarea Phos 6X can be administered three to four times per day as per case requirement.

7. Paeonia Officinalis – For Pain And Itching At Anus

Paeonia Officinalis is a natural medicine for anal fistula treatment. In cases needing it, there is persistent oozing of fluid from the fistula track. The fluid is extremely offensive in smell and there is also much pain in the anus region. Sitting makes the pain worse. Itching and biting sensation around the anus also attend. Burning sensation at the anus is also marked. Apart from anal fistula, Paeonia Officinalis is also a prominent remedy for treating anal fissures and piles.

When to use Paeonia Officinalis?

It is a prominent medicine to deal with anal fistula cases with persistent oozing from fistula along with anal itching and pain that usually gets worse from sitting.

How to use Paeonia Officinalis?

This medicine is best suited in 30C potency that can be repeated 2 times a day.

8. Causticum – For Pulsating Pain

Causticum works well when in anal fistula cases, pulsating pain is felt around the anus. The pulsations are of high intensity in the perineum. The anal fistula discharges pus, blood, and serum. Along with anal fistula, hemorrhoids may also be present. The hemorrhoids are hard, large and swollen.

When to use Causticum?

This medicine is beneficial to manage pulsating pains at the anus in anal fistula cases.

How to use Causticum?

Causticum can be taken in 30C potency twice a day for good results.

9. Thuja Occidentalis – For Fistula With Burning Around the Anus

Thuja Occidentalis is a beneficial medicine for anal fistula accompanied by burning pain around the anus. Soreness is felt around the anus the whole day, along with burning sensation. Stitching pain, as from a needle pricking in the perianal region, may also attend. Perianal pains get worse after walking. Offensive sweat around the anus may also be present along with the above symptoms.

When to use Thuja Occidentalis?

It is prescribed for anal fistula cases when attended with marked burning around anus and also stitching or pricking pains.

How to use Thuja Occidentalis?

It is a deep acting remedy mostly used in 30C potency, once a day only.

Signs And Symptoms Of Anal Fistula

1. An opening (hole) on the skin near the anus and fluid/pus discharge from that opening. The discharge may even be blood stained. The discharge may be foul smelling. Rarely, fecal discharge may occur.

2. Perianal swelling, redness, inflammation and pain. The pain could vary in nature from throbbing, pulsating, sharp and tearing, to a stitching pain. The pain usually gets worse during bowel movement and also while sitting or walking. There may be tenderness around the opening of fistula. After fistula drains, the pain may decrease.

3. Burning and irritation or itching in the perianal area are other attending symptoms

4. Fever and chills may also be present in a few cases

5. A feeling of weakness can accompany the above symptoms

Anal Fistula: What Causes It?

An anal fistula arises from a clogged anal gland, followed by an infection in anal gland. Anal glands are present in the wall of anal canal that secrete fluid. These may sometimes get clogged by foreign matter like fecal bacteria that may cause infection in anal glands. Due to the infection, an abscess is formed which drains by itself or via surgery through a skin point around the anus. Anal fistula refers to a tunnel that develops along this tract running from the anal gland to a hole in the skin surrounding the anus.

Some of factors that increases risk of anal fistula are as follows:

1. An infection or trauma to anal region

2. An improper healing of an anal abscess (pus filled mass) following pus drainage

3. A surgery near the anus

4. Having IBD means inflammatory disease, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in gastrointestinal tract, diverticulitis (infected pouch in colon), tuberculosis and certain sexually transmitted infections (eg HIV, syphilis)

5. Radiation treatment of anal cancer

6. Chances of anal fistula are more in males as compared to females

Diagnosis Of Anal Fistula

To diagnose anal fistula, a physician examines perianal area where a hole is seen in anal fistula (denoting its external opening) that in most cases is draining fluid or pus. To detect internal opening and the entire tract of anal fistula, the following tests are recommended:

1. Anoscopy: The doctor views inside the anus and rectum using an instrument

2. MRI and an ultrasound of anal regionto see complete path of fistula tract

3. Anal Fistulogram: It is an X-ray process (taken after injecting a contrast) to view fistula

4. Colonoscopy: If ulcerative colitis is also suspected

Complications Of Anal Fistula

If anal fistula is not treated rightly, then recurrence of abscess near anus is possible and there are chances of developing a complex fistula. Fecal incontinence (inability to hold stool), and cellulitis (skin infection) are other complications. The surgery of anal fistula also carries complications like fecal incontinence and recurrence of anal fistula.