Pain, burning, rectal bleeding: many people suffer from hemorrhoids (up to 75% of those over 45). The good news is that natural remedies can help. Discover which of them are most effective .....
Like the rest of the body, the rectum has a network of blood vessels. These are called rectal veins , though in the past, they were referred to as hemorrhoidal veins. These crucial blood vessels play a role in continence - the ability to control when you empty your bowels (1).
When we refer to ‘hemorrhoids’ nowadays, we’re actually talking about a problem of the hemorrhoidal veins in which they become inflamed and over-dilated – a kind of anal varicose veins.
Once they are swollen and inflamed, hemorrhoids may itch, burn and even bleed, and above all, become painful. Even if flare-ups generally only last a few days, hemorrhoids can thus cause considerable discomfort.
Those most at risk of hemorrhoids are pregnant women (due to excessive pressure by the uterus which prevents venous return) (2), new mothers who have had vaginal deliveries, and those who suffer from constipation (3).
In fact constipation is the leading cause of hemorrhoids (4): difficulty in passing stools leads to excessive straining, which in turn results in too much pressure in the hemorrhoidal veins which then become swollen. Blockages which may be caused by constipation exacerbate the problem by impeding venous return. It’s a vicious circle.
That’s why the first step in treating hemorrhoids is to prevent constipation, primarily by adopting the right diet (see our article on dietary fibre).
It’s probably the best-known natural remedy for hemorrhoids (5), the one used by our grandmothers – and theirs before them: the sitz bath. There are different schools of thought on this option:
Whichever you choose, the sitz bath should be used at least once a day for 10-15 minutes. Bicarbonate of soda can also be added to the water to help disinfect inflamed veins.
With decongestant and anti-inflammatory effects (6),essential oil of patchouli can be gently massaged for a minute or two into the area affected by hemorrhoids. A few drops (4-6) is enough, once or twice a day.
Take care though: essential oil of patchouli has a similar effect to estrogens which means it should not be used by pregnant women, children and those suffering from hormone-dependent cancers.
Horse chestnut is known to be one of the most powerful natural venotonics (7). In other words, it promotes venous return: it enables the flow of blood back from lower to upper parts of the body, thus helping to ‘disgorge’ hemorrhoids. It is its high content of aescin, a mixture of saponins, which is responsible for this effect.
In this case, it works from the inside out so choose the oral option, with a supplement rich in horse chestnut extract. There are actually synergistic formulations (such as Hemo Comfort, which in addition to horse chestnut, also contains diosmin, a flavone extracted from the fruit of Citrus aurantium, hesperidin, an exceptional citrus flavonoid, and troxerutin, extracted from the flowers of Sophora japonica).
An attractive shrub popular for its winter blossom, witch hazel is also widely used in phytotherapy for treating a number of circulation-related problems. Its bark and leaves contain tannins and flavonoids which are thought to protect blood vessels (8).
You can either:
Containing less acetic acid but more minerals, essential acids and enzymes than other vinegars, cider vinegar is thought to protect against inflammation. As such, it can be applied to hemorrhoids, two or three times a day. It can also be added to the water in a sitz bath (9).
Note: if you find that applying cider vinegar to your hemorrhoids produces an adverse reaction (the acidity may cause a burning sensation), stop and use an alternative natural method.
Green clay is recognized for cleansing, disinfecting and helping to heal skin tissue. With remineralising properties, it may also be a powerful anti-bacterial. With all these benefits, it makes another excellent traditional hemorrhoid home remedy, in the form of a a green clay poultice (10).
Simply mix powdered green clay with water to obtain a toothpaste-like consistency, and apply this to your hemorrhoids, covering them with a compress for a good 30 minutes. Repeat two to three times a day until you obtain relief.
References
Keywords
6 Hours
The associate who helped me was very polite and hekpful.
Wendell
3 Days
Great product. Very fast delivery.
SILVA SANTOS Alice
4 Days
Ordering from Supersmart was easy to understand and navigate. The wait time was surprisingly short and exactly what I wanted. Thank you very much.
RAYFORD Linda
5 Days
Product quality, availability, excellent packaging and timely shipping!
Mohamad Hussein
6 Days
I’ve been buying from here for years. The products have been great and the customer service very helpful.
CORENEVSKY Albert
18 Days
The address correction app put in the incorrect address and I missed it when I hit the accept option. I noticed it when the order was already in route and called customer service to request that they change it to the correct address as the shipper and they were right on top of it. They called me back right away and changed the address. They sent a new email with the tracking information and called me to let me know it was all taken care of. Really happy with the product and customer service.
B Ball
19 Days
Fast service good products.
PERCY
25 Days
GREAT HONEST COMPANY!! FAST SERVICE!
HENDERSON B.
26 Days
EVERYTHING!! NO ISSUES!
DOMINIC
27 Days
The service has been good. However, the telephone and email responses were better before. Most of the products are great. Returns are processed promptly, and I do believe this is an honest and caring company. I plan to continue to buy your products.
DANIEL FORD
30 Days
My order arrived when promised in the condition described
Lisa
39 Days
10/13/24 Y ou were a bit slow to respond, but still helpful.
David Rolston
44 Days
I received wehat I ordered in a tiomely fashion. Great job to the whole staff 👏
Monica P
45 Days
Pomises products that work.Fast shipping. Will recommend to family and friends.
NEW Virginia
46 Days
Excellent product. Timely delivery. Only had one issue over the last few years. Great. Thanks
LEGG Jennifer