FREE FROM PILES

Sunday, 25 November 2012

Home remedies for piles

Piles are medically known as haemorrhoids. It is a condition wherein the veins inside or outside the anus or lower rectum gets inflamed or swollen. Symptoms of piles include feeling of soreness, irritation or pain while passing stool. As a person passes stool, piles get aggravated because of pressure on the rectal area. In some cases, when the condition is severe, bleeding can also occur. Here are some natural home remedies for seeking relief from piles:
Drinking radish juice twice a day is a common remedy for piles. Start off with 1/4 th cup and gradually increase it to half a cup, twice a day.
Soak three to four dried figs in water, overnight. Have these twice a day along with the water in which they have been soaked.
Boil the peel of pomegranate in some water. Strain and drink this water twice a day.
To reduce the pain felt due to piles, drink buttermilk to which rock salt, ginger and peppercorns has been added. Have this twice a day.
To seek relief from bleeding due to piles, powder a teaspoon of mustard seeds and mix it with half a cup of goat's milk, adding a little sugar. Drink this early in the morning on an empty stomach.
Powder dried mango seeds. Mix two teaspoons of this powder with a little honey and eat this twice a day.
Mix one teaspoon of ginger and lime juice along with mint leaves and honey. Have this two to three times a day.
To reduce pain due to piles, mix one ripe mashed banana in a cup of milk. Have this mixture three to four times a day.
Jamblang better known as jambul fruit is effective in treating piles. This fruit is available during the summers, so make full use of their availability. Eat a handful of jambul with a little salt early in the morning on an empty stomach.
Turnip better known as shalgam, is another useful remedy. Prepare a mixture of 50 ml each of carrot, spinach and turnip leaves juice.
Add some juice of bittergourd or karela leaves mixed with some buttermilk. This should be taken every morning.
Turmeric has antiseptic and healing properties. Therefore, eat a teaspoon of ground, fresh turmeric root.
Application of coconut on the affected areas will give relief from the burning and itching.
Prepare a mix of ground, black cumin seeds better known as shahjeera and cumin seeds. Add a teaspoon of this powder to a glass of water and drink once a day, preferably in the morning.
Mix two tablespoons of honey to one grated raw onion. Have this twice a day.
Boil a handful of sesame seeds or til, in 500 ml of water, till its reduced to one-third. Make a paste of this and add a teaspoon of butter. Eat this once a day.

What are haemorrhoids (Piles)?

Definition:

Called `Arsha` in Ayurveda and stratified into dry and bleeding categories, it denotes the condition when veins in the anal region get varicosed. Main symptoms are intense pain at the time of passing stool. bleeding. Often leads to anemia due to profuse bleeding, itching in the rectal region, wind formation in the stomach. sitting becomes problematic. Treatment:

Main herbs used in the treatment are Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) Jimikand (Amorphophallus campanulatus).

Avoid potato, yellow variety of pumpkin, colocasia.

Go for the following diet:
Seeds:
Mango Seeds, Sesame seeds Fresh Fruits:
Jambul Fruit, Dry Figs, Papaya, Amalaki
Vegetables:
Radish, Turnip, Bitter Gourd, Onion,
Ginger Grains:
Rice, Wheat.

Intestine should be thoroughly cleansed. Exercise is a must. Do not indulge in sex in excess. Avoid going for horse rides or sitting on hard seats. Drink lots of water.

Causes of Piles Disease

The signs of piles or hemorrhoids are multiple & vary from individual to individual. For most people hemorrhoids do not creep up on them. The warning signs may be there but some signs of piles are subtle & therefore basically dismissed or ignored.
Piles or hemorrhoids are a problematic & painful medical condition. Piles happens if for any reason there is a pressure on anal veins that ends in their rapture. People suffering from piles experience swelling in the veins of rectum & feels inflammation & burning sensation around their anus. There is a general feeling of discomfort & face pain when passing chair. Sometimes in extreme cases the discomfort continues even after passing chair & often people suffering from piles have issues in sitting for a long time.
Usually people suffering from piles have itching sensation around the anal area. Often they feel a burning sensation in the coursework of passing the chair. In extreme cases there may be blood & mucus in the chair. In the case of bleeding piles often they may experience heavy bleeding occasionally like periods & can stain their undergarments. Also there may be some lump around the anal area.
There's various reasons that may cause plies. Sometimes there is hereditary reason for this issue. Also people in elderly age may experience piles because of weakening of the vein walls. Also ladies experience piles in the coursework of pregnancy because of hormonal changes. However extended constipation is of the major reason for piles in most of the adults. Usually people suffering from constipation put lot of pressure in the coursework of passing chair that damages the veins & arteries in the area around anus & that ends in the inflammation & swelling. Sometimes frequent dysentery can also aggrevate the issue of piles.
Strenuous physical exercise & sometimes sitting in incorrect postures for long times can also trigger issue of piles. Sometimes defective dietary habits ends in piles. Usually individuals who eat low fiber diet & do not include fresh vegetables, fruits or whole grains in their diet are most likely to suffer from this issue. Irregular meals may cause piles. Also eating much of spicy food may cause issue of piles.
In most of the cases treatment of piles disease is feasible by simple dietry majors. must include lots of raw vegetables, fresh fruits & whole grains in their diet to increase the intake of fibre. Drinking lots of water also helps. However in the case of extreme issue it is always advisable to think about a doctor to get rid of this issue.

Causes Of Hemorrhoids & Preventing It

Piles: When a person is affected with piles, the veins in the region of the anus become swollen and bleed. While these are also called hemorrhoids, piles should not be confused with fissures. Piles can be external or internal.
Internal piles happen when the piles affect the internal part of the anus and causes bleeding. In external piles, the affected area can be seen as well as felt on the outside of the anus. External piles can be painful but does not cause too much of bleeding. Commonly, people get piles that are a combination of internal and external types.
Stages: Piles can happen in different stages, which are known as grades in medical terms.

First-grade piles – This develops inside the anal canal or the rectum.
Second-grade piles – There is a protrusion from the anus during the opening of the anus. But the protrusion returns inwards on its own.
Third-grade piles: This is similar to second-grade piles, only the protrusion needs to be pushed back manually.
Fourth-grade piles – In this the protrusion hangs outside the anal canal.

Symptoms:

Chronic constipation: When a person is constipated, they have to exert a lot of pressure to evacuate the bowels. That is the time; the pressure affects the veins in and around the anus, leading to piles.
Bleeding: Fresh blood from the anus is one of the earliest symptoms. Bleeding can happen during, before or after passing stools. People, who have piles, often feel that they have not been able to evacuate their bowels completely – this happens because of the protrusion.

Causes: Bad lifestyle habits and bad diet are the most common causes of piles.

Diet: According to health experts, junk food, sodas, aerated beverages and an unhealthy diet, sans all the nutrients can cause constipation, and then, lead to piles. People who eat very less of fruits and vegetables, and drink too much of tea and coffee, can suffer from piles.
Lack of exercise: Sedentary jobs and lack of physical activity and exercise can cause irregular bowel movement.
Stress: Stress can affect the bowel movement and cause constipation.
Wrong bowel habits: Some people strain too hard while passing stools. Others have no time to evacuate their bowels completely, or some even postpone the bowel movement as they are in a rush to get to work. This can lead to constipation.
Pregnancy and childbirth: These can cause piles too.

Prevention:

It is important to inculcate good bowel habits since childhood.
Try to evacuate your bowels as regularly as possible.
Make sure that you eat a fiber-rich diet. The diet should also be rich in all kinds of nutrients.
Make time for exercise and physical activity.
Drink plenty of water and natural juices.

What is Piles?
Common Causes of Piles
Home Remedy for Piles

What is Piles?

Piles otherwise known as hemorrhoids are enlarged, painful veins in your rectum. It refers to a condition in which the veins around the anus or lower rectum are swollen and inflamed. Piles arise from the increased pressure of internal or external veins around the anal canal. Piles are both internal and external.Internal hemorrhoids, unless they are severe, cannot be seen or felt.External hemorrhoids can be seen around the outside of the anus. Although uncomfortable and embarrassing, it is not normally a serious condition.

Common Causes of Piles

Low fiber diet
Pregnancy
Aging
Hereditary
Chronic constipation
Anal intercourse

Home Remedies for Piles

Tip 1:

Take 1 tbsp black cumin seeds (shah jeera), roast and mix with 1 tbsp of unroasted black cumin seeds and powder both
together. Take 1/2 a tsp with a glass of water once a day.

Tip 2:

Radish juice taken in the morning and night. Start with 1/4 a cup and increase to 1/2 a cup gradually over a period of 1 month.

Tip 3:

Wash 3-4 figs. Soak in a glass of water over night. Eat them first thing in the morning. Again repeat in the night.

Tip 4:

Boil 1 ripe banana in 1 cup of milk, mash well. Take 3-4 times a day.

Tip 5:

Crush bitter gourd leaves and extract the juice. Mix 3 tsp in 1 glass of buttermilk, and drink on an empty stomach every morning, for a month.

Tip 6:

Drink a glass of buttermilk with 1/4 tsp carom seed powder (ajwain) and a pinch of salt

What is Piles?
Common Causes of Piles
Home Remedy for Piles

What is Piles?

Common Causes of Piles

Low fiber diet
Pregnancy
Aging
Hereditary
Chronic constipation
Anal intercourse

Home Remedies for Piles

What is Piles?

Common Causes of Piles

Low fiber diet
Pregnancy
Aging
Hereditary
Chronic constipation
Anal intercourse

Home Remedies for Piles

Piles are hemorrhoids that become inflamed. Hemorrhoids are masses, clumps, cushions of tissue in the anal canal - they are full of blood vessels, support tissue, muscle and elastic fibers.

Although hemorrhoids are thought of as unpleasant inflammations, we all have them. It is when the hemorrhoidal cushions become too big (inflamed) that problems occur - when this happens they are called piles or pathological hemorrhoids.

Put simply, "piles" are the swollen ones that are painful and cause problems, hemorrhoids can refer to the swollen ones (pathological hemorrhoids) or simply the normal structure. However, in most cases these days, the words piles and hemorrhoids are nearly always used interchangeably.

Piles can be of various sizes and may be internal (inside the anus) or external ones (outside the anus). Typically, internal piles occur from 2 to 4cm above the opening of the anus. External piles (perianal hematoma) occur on the outside edge of the anus. The internal ones are much more common.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, symptomatic hemorrhoids affect at least half the US population at some time in their lives, and approximately 5% of all adults have piles at any given time.

According to the National Health Service (NHS, UK), piles affect between 4% to 25% of the UK adult population. They are more common among adults aged between 45 and 65 years, as well as pregnant mothers.

Males and females are equally susceptible to developing troublesome hemorrhoids.

In the vast majority of cases, piles are effectively treated with OTC medications, a good fluid intake, and by following a diet high in fiber. In severe cases the piles may have to be surgically removed. Approximately 10% of patients who go and see their doctor about piles eventually require surgical intervention.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary:

Hemorrhoids are "A varicose condition of the external hemorrhoidal veins causing painful swellings at the anus."

Internal Hemorrhoids are "Dilated veins beneath the mucous membrane within the sphincter."

External Hemorrhoids are "dilated veins forming tumors at the outer side of the external sphincter."

Schematic demonstrating the anatomy of hemorrhoids

What are the signs and symptoms of piles?

A symptom is something the patient feels and describes, such as a pain, while a sign is something everybody can see, such as a rash.

In most cases piles are not serious and go away on their own after a few days. In fact, a considerable number of people with hemorrhoids do not experience any symptoms and do not even know they have them.

An individual with piles may experience the following symptoms:

A hard lump may be felt around the anus. It consists of coagulated blood, called a thrombosed external hemorrhoid. This can be extremely painful
After going to the toilet, a feeling that the bowels are still full
Bright red blood when doing a bowel movement
Itchiness in the anus area
Mucus discharge when emptying the bowels
Pain while defecating
The anus area may be red and sore
When passing a stool the person may strain excessively

Internal hemorrhoids - they are classified into four grades:

Grade 1 - there are small inflammations, usually inside the lining of the anus. They are not visible.
Grade 2 - larger than Grade 1 hemorrhoids, and also inside the anus. When passing a stool they may get pushed out, but soon return.
Grade 3 - often called 'prolapsed hemorrhoids'; these appear outside the anus. The patient may feel them hanging out. They can be pushed back in if the patient presses with his/her finger.
Grade 4 - these cannot be pushed back in and need to be treated by a doctor. They are large and stay outside the anus all the time.

External hemorrhoids - called perianal hematoma. These are small lumps that are located on the outside edge of the anus. They are extremely itchy and can be painful if a blood clot forms inside (thrombosed external hemorrhoid). Thrombosed external hemorrhoid requires medical treatment straight away.

Why do piles occur?

The blood vessels around the anus and in the rectum will stretch under pressure and may swell or bulge. Inflamed veins (hemorrhoids) can develop when pressure increases in the lower rectum. This may be due to:

Anal intercourse
Chronic constipation
Chronic diarrhea
Lifting heavy weights regularly
Obesity/overweight
Pregnancy
Sitting on the toilet for too long
Straining when passing a stool

The tendency to develop hemorrhoids may also be inherited.

The risk of developing piles also grows with age.

Diagnosing piles

A qualified doctor can usually diagnose piles fairly rapidly after carrying out a physical examination. He/she will examine the patient's anus for swollen veins.

The doctor may ask the following questions:

Do any close relatives (parents, siblings) have piles?
Has there been any blood on the stools?
Has there been any mucus on the stools?
Has there been any recent weight loss?
Have bowel movements changed recently?
What color are the stools?

Internal hemorrhoids - the doctor may perform a DRE (digital rectal exam). The doctor may use a proctoscope - a hollow tube fitted with a light. The proctoscope allows the doctor to see the anal canal and take a small tissue sample from inside the rectum, which can be sent to the lab for analysis.

If the physician is presented with signs and symptoms which may suggest another digestive system disease, risk factors for colorectal cancer, and some other factors, he/she may recommend ordering an examination of the colon using colonoscopy.

What are the treatment options for piles?

In the majority of cases, piles resolve on their own without the need for any treatment. Treatments can help significantly reduce the discomfort and itching that many patients experience.

A good doctor will initially recommend some lifestyle changes.

Diet - piles can be caused by too much straining when doing bowel movements, which is the result of constipation. A change in diet can help keep the stools regular and soft. This involves eating more fiber, such as fruit and vegetables, or even switching your cereal breakfast to bran.

Water is the best drink, and the patient may be advised to increase his/her water consumption. Some experts say too much caffeine is not good.

Body weight - if the patient is obese, losing weight may help reduce the incidence and severity of hemorrhoids.

Simple things you can do yourself:

Try not to strain when you go to the toilet
Use moist toilet paper instead of dry
Rather than rubbing the anus area when cleaning after going to the toilet, pat instead to avoid irritation if you already have piles

Ointments, creams, pads and other OTC medications - there are some over-the-counter (OTC) medications which help soothe the redness and swelling around the anus area. Some of them contain witch hazel, hydrocortisone, or some other active ingredient which can relieve symptoms of itching and pain.

It is important to remember that they do not cure piles, they only treat the symptoms. Do not use them for more than seven consecutive days - longer periods may irritate the anus area and cause skin thinning. Unless advised to by your doctor, do not use two or more medications simultaneously.

Corticosteroids - these can reduce inflammation. However, usage must not exceed about six to seven days.

Painkillers - ask your pharmacist for suitable painkilling medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol).

Laxatives - the doctor may prescribe one if the patient suffers from constipation.

Banding - the doctor places an elastic band around the base of the pile inside the anus, cutting its blood supply. After a few days the hemorrhoids fall off. This can work for Grades 2 and 3 hemorrhoids.

Sclerotherapy - a medicine is injected into the vein to make the hemorrhoid shrink - the hemorrhoid eventually shrivels up. This is effective for Grades 2 and 3 hemorrhoids, and is a useful alternative to banding.

Infrared coagulation - also referred to as infrared light coagulation. Used for Grades 1 or 2 hemorrhoids. A device burns the hemorrhoid tissue.

Surgery - used for particularly large piles, or Grades 3 or 4 hemorrhoids. Generally, surgery is used if other procedures were not effective. Sometimes surgery is done on an outpatient basis - the patient goes home after the procedure, or he/she may have to spend the night in hospital.

Hemorrhoidectomy - the excess tissue that is causing the bleeding is surgically removed. This can be done in various ways. It may involve a combination of a local anesthetic and sedation, a spinal anesthetic, or a general anesthetic. This type of surgery is the most effective in completely removing piles, but there is a risk of complications, which can include difficulties passing stools, as well as urinary tract infections.
Hemorrhoid stapling - blood flow is blocked to the tissue of the hemorrhoid. This procedure is usually less painful than hemorrhoidectomy. However, there is a greater risk of hemorrhoid recurrence and rectal prolapse (part of the rectum sticks out of the anus).

Complications linked to piles

Anemia - hemorrhoids can sometimes cause long-term blood loss, which may lead to anemia.

Stangulated hemorrhoid - the blood supply to an internal hemorrhoid is cut off, causing severe pain, and even gangrene (death of tissue).

Written by Christian Nordqvist

Original article date: 20th December 2011. Article updated: 31st October 2012.
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today