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Piles or hemorrhoids refers to dilatation, swelling, and inflammation of the veins around the anus or lower rectum. This results in blood stagnation inside these veins hence causing symptoms like anal pain, tenderness, itching, and bleeding.
Homeopathy offers highly successful treatment for piles. There are two aspects of how homeopathy helps in cases of piles. The first one is it provides prompt relief in symptoms like anal pain, burning, bleeding, swelling, and itching. The second aspect is it corrects the internal disturbances of the venous system to reduce engorgement of the rectal veins and the pooling of blood and ensures unobstructed blood flow which helps in complete recovery.
As is well known that the major predisposing and maintaining factor for piles is chronic constipation, so homeopathy also focuses on treating. Homeopathic remedies help to regulate bowel movements, soften the stool, and aids its easy passage.
Homeopathic medicines are sourced from natural substances thus ensuring their safety that treat piles from its roots along with easing the symptoms. On the other hand, conventional treatment of piles involves over-the-counter (OTC) medications for piles including ointments, creams and painkillers. For constipation, laxatives are recommended that offer temporary relief and can have side effects from prolonged use.
In many cases of piles, surgery is the only option left for most patients. However, timely homeopathic treatment can help avoid invasive procedures like surgery in piles in most of the cases. The sooner the patient approaches a homeopathic physician for treatment, the higher the chances of avoiding surgery.
The treatment period in homeopathy for piles can range from a few weeks to a few months. The length of homeopathic treatment for piles depends upon the duration of the symptoms, their intensity, and how quickly a person responds to medicines.
Top 8 Homeopathic Medicines for Piles
The eight most important medicines for treating piles are Aesculus Hippocastanum, Nux Vomica, Aloe Socotrina, Hamamelis, Collinsonia Canadensis, Muriatic Acid, Ratanhia and Nitric Acid.
1. Aesculus Hippocastanum – For Painful, External, Non-bleeding Piles
It is the best and most frequently used medicine for painful piles. It is taken when pain is felt during or after passing stool. The pain continues for long hours after the passing of stool. Pain is very sharp that may extend from the anus to the lower back. A person may have a distinct feeling of small sticks filling up the rectum. It is a specific medicine for external piles and blind piles (non-bleeding piles). This medicine does wonders on engorged haemorrhoidal veins, brings great relief in pain, and also helps in shrinking piles naturally.
When to use Aesculus Hippocastanum?
The characteristic feature to use this medicine is external piles with marked pain during and after passing stool.
How to use Aesculus Hippocastanum?
The most commonly recommended dosage of this medicine is Aesculus Hippocastanum 30C two to three times a day as per the intensity of the symptoms.
2. Nux Vomica – For Piles With Constipation And Ineffective Urge To Pass Stool
Nux Vomica is the best medicine to treat piles with constipation and ineffective urge to pass the stool. Those who need this medicine have to pass stool several times in a day to completely clear the bowels. They pass stool bit by bit throughout the day and yet have the urge to pass the stool. They also have marked pain and itching at the anus. Nux Vomica is recommended for piles that are non-bleeding. For piles or constipation triggered by alcohol intake, Nux Vomica is the right medicine. It is also the best choice of medicine for people with piles who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
When to use Nux Vomica?
Its use is highly suggested to manage piles with constipation where the ineffective urge to pass the stool is most prominent.
How to use Nux Vomica?
Though it can be used in both low to high potencies, in the beginning, it is advised to take it in 30C potency twice or thrice a day.
3. Aloe Socotrina – For Protruding Piles
Aloe Socotrina is ranked the number one medicine when it comes to treating protruding piles (internal piles take an outward bulge from the anus and can be seen as soft lumps of tissue). The protruding piles are very sore and tender and look like a bunch of grapes bluish in color. Persons who require it may find cold applications on affected areas soothing and help during pain, soreness, and tenderness. They may also have severe itching.
When to use Aloe Socotrina?
This medicine is well indicated for protruding piles with marked pain and tenderness.
How to use Aloe Socotrina?
It is advised to take this medicine in 30C power three to four times a day depending on the severity.
4. Hamamelis – For Bleeding, Internal Piles
This natural medicine sourced from plant ‘witch – hazel’ is the best prescription for piles that bleeds. It controls bleeding piles outstandingly. Hamamelis is useful in cases where piles is internal, painless, and bleed. ‘Painless, bleeding piles’ these three words are an indication to describe the use of this medicine in its entirety, and it requires no further description.
When to use Hamamelis?
Opt its use for managing bleeding from piles without any pain.
How to use Hamamelis?
One may take Hamamelis in 30C potency three to four times a day as per the intensity of the problem.
5. Collinsonia Canadensis – For Piles With Constipation (Dry, Hard Stool)
It is an effective medicine to treat piles with constipation when stool is dry and hard. It can be used when hemorrhoids are external or protruding and there is also marked pain. Additionally, a particular sensation of sand or sticks in the rectum may be felt. This medicine is also used to treat piles which is painful, along with bleeding.
When to use Collinsonia Canadensis?
Consider the use of this medicine for managing piles with constipation with the passage of dry, hard stool.
How to use Collinsonia Canadensis?
It can be used in 30C potency twice or thrice a day.
6. Muriatic Acid – For Piles Extremely Painful To Touch
This is a leading homeopathic medicine to manage piles that is highly sensitive, and painful even on the slightest touch. It is mainly indicated for protruding piles. The piles look bluish or dark purple like a bunch of grapes. A characteristic feature is relief of soreness from warm applications.
When to use Muriatic Acid?
This medicine can be selected in cases of piles that are intensely painful to the slightest touch.
How to use Muriatic Acid?
The most frequently used potency of this medicine is 30C. Muriatic Acid 30C should be taken once a day and in severe cases two times a day, not more than that.
7. Ratanhia – For Piles With Intense Burning Sensation
This medicine is well indicated to manage piles attended with severe burning sensation. Along with this, there is marked straining to pass stool. Piles may protrude out of the anus on straining for stool. Apart from these a peculiar sensation of little pieces of broken glass in the rectum can be present. Pouring cold water over the anus may provide relief for a while.
When to use Ratanhia?
Ratanhia is an ideal prescription for piles that have intense burning,
How to use Ratanhia?
In the beginning, one may start with its 30C potency twice or thrice a day. After close observation of symptoms, higher potencies can be considered if the need arises, under a homeopathic physician’s supervision.
8. Nitric Acid – For Protruding Piles With Bleeding And Sharp Pain
Nitric Acid is a beneficial medicine for cases where piles protrude while passing stool accompanied by bleeding. With this marked pain is there that sharp, stitching, pricking, cutting type, or burning in nature. There is constipation with dry, hard stool that passes with much straining. Pain also occurs at the anus. Constant weight and pressure are felt in the rectum.
When to use Nitric Acid?
This medicine can be used for protruding piles with bleeding and sharp, stitching pain.
How to use Nitric Acid?
Nitric Acid 30C can be taken once or twice a day.
Note You may continue these medicines for about 2 to 3 weeks. If symptoms persist, or if you want to continue any of these medicines beyond 3 weeks, it is strictly advised to seek consultation from a homeopath. Do not use high potencies without consulting a homeopathic doctor.
Types of Piles: Signs And Symptoms
Piles is of different types according to their location and whether they bleed or not. External piles, internal piles, protruding/prolapsed piles, and blind piles are the most common types. The symptoms of piles depend on the type of piles.
1. External piles is visible on the surface of the skin around the anus and can be seen or felt from the outside. The main symptoms of external piles include painful swelling and hard lumps around the anus. These hemorrhoids irritate, sometimes itching or bleeding.
2. Internal piles lie deep inside the rectum and cannot be felt or seen outside. It is mostly painless since there are no pain receptors in the region where it tends to appear. The only symptom of internal piles is bleeding while straining at the time of passing stool. However, an internal hemorrhoid may protrude through the anus, causing irritation and pain.
3. Protruding or prolapsed piles is a condition when hemorrhoids get pushed out towards the anus when force is applied to pass stools. They look like pink, moist pads of skin. Prolapsed or protruding hemorrhoids tend to hurt since the anus area is dense with pain-sensitive nerves. The typical symptoms of hemorrhoids are mucus discharge, itching and pain.
4. Blind piles refers to hemorrhoids that do not bleed. They feel like protruding masses, usually detectable after passing stools, at the opening of the anus.
5. Mixed/ interno – external piles refers to a condition in which internal as well as external piles simultaneously.
6. Thrombosed piles refers to external hemorrhoids in which a blood clot is formed that blocks blood flow resulting in swelling of anal tissue with severe pain.
Causes, Risk Factors That Lead To Piles
Primarily, the swollen veins that are seen in piles develop due to increased pressure in the rectum. This may cause disintegration of the tissues supporting the anal walls, leading to hemorrhoids. Various factors contribute to causing this kind of pressure which are enumerated here:
1. Irregular Bowel Movements (Constipation is the leading cause of piles): Factors like constipation, straining to pass stool, overuse of enema or laxatives, spending too much time on the toilet seat adds to the strain on the rectum and anus, leading to the development of piles. On the other hand, chronic diarrhea may also sometimes lead to piles.
2. Diet: Lack of a fiber-rich diet, low water intake, excessive intake of alcohol, and consumption of spicy food and junk food are also contributing factors.
3. Pregnancy: There is increased pressure on the abdomen and pelvic area during pregnancy, which is a leading cause of piles during pregnancy. In some cases, hemorrhoids develop as a result of childbirth due to excessive pressure on the rectum and anus.
4. Age and Heredity: Other factors like age and heredity too may cause piles due to the weakening of the tissues supporting the rectum and anus.
5. Inactive sedentary lifestyle: Prolonged sitting with lack of physical activity or exercise, and obesity also predispose a person towards piles.
6. Portal Hypertension: Portal hypertension refers to a condition where there is an increase in the blood pressure within the veins of the portal venous system. The veins coming from the spleen, stomach, pancreas, and intestines merge into the portal vein which travels through the liver. In case of any complication due to which blood cannot flow properly through the liver, high pressure develops in the portal system. This pressure can cause the development of large, swollen veins in the stomach, esophagus, and rectum. As a result, hemorrhoids may develop in the anal area.
