Piles

Hemorrhoids, haemorrhoids, emerods, grapes of wrath, or piles

Haemorrhoids (often known as Piles) are enlarged and engorged blood vessels (varicosities) in or around the anus. These may be associated with pain, bleeding, itching and feeling as if a lump or bump is hanging down.

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

The most common symptom of internal hemorrhoids is painless bright red blood covering the stool, on toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl. However, an internal hemorrhoid may protrude through the anus outside the body, becoming irritated and painful. This is known as a protruding hemorrhoid.

Symptoms of external hemorrhoids may include painful swelling or a hard lump around the anus that results when a blood clot forms. This condition is known as a thrombosed external hemorrhoid.

In addition, excessive straining, rubbing, or cleaning around the anus may cause irritation with bleeding and/or itching, which may produce a vicious cycle of symptoms. Draining mucus may also cause itching.

Causes of Hemorrhoids:

It is a known fact that constipation and prolonged straining at stool are main causes of piles but there are some other important aspects too.

• Low fibre diet causing small caliber stool and straining during defecation.

• Sitting for prolonged period at closet.

• Hypertension mainly in portal vein.

• Obesity.
  

• Sedentary life style.

• Constipation as well as chronic diarrhea.

• Pregnancy causes hypertension and increases strain during bowel movements.

• Increased use of alcohol and caffeine.

• Lack of erect posture.

• Familial tendency.

• Higher socio-economic status.

• Colon malignancy.

• Hepatic disease.

• Spinal cord injury.

• Loss of rectal muscle tone.

• Rectal surgery.

• Episiotomy.

• Ageing – weakened support structures.

Types of hemorrhoids:

1) External hemorrhoids -

occur outside of anal verge (distal end of anal canal)
sometimes painful.
Swelling and irritation present.
Itching present.
Prone to thrombosis, if the veins rupture a blood clot is formed
-- these are called Thrombosed hemorrhoids.

2) Internal hemorrhoids -

occur inside the rectum.
Not painful.
May bleed when irritated.

Two severe forms if not treated properly—

3) Prolapsed hemorrhoids –

Internal hemorrhoids that are much distended and pushed outside anus.

4) Strangulated hemorrhoids –

If anal sphincter muscle goes into spasm and traps a prolapsed hemorrhoid outside the anal opening and supply of blood is cut.

Gradation of Hemorrhoids-

Grade I - Hemorrhoids project into the anal canal and often bleed but do not prolapse.

Grade II - Hemorrhoids may protrude beyond the anal verge with straining or defecating but reduce spontaneously when straining ceases.

Grade III - Hemorrhoids protrude spontaneously or with straining and require manual reduction.

Grade IV - Hemorrhoids chronically prolapsed and cannot be reduced. They usually contain both internal and external components and may present malignancy.

Prevention of Hemorrhoids/Piles–

• Drinking more fluids in routine.

• Eating more dietary fibers.

• Practicing better posture.

• Reducing bowel movement strain and time.

• Avoid wearing tight under clothes.

• Washing the anus with cool water and soap may reduce swelling and increase blood supply for quick healing.

• Exercises.

Using squat toilets may help.

Homeopathic Treatment for Hemorrhoids

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/suceptability) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this condition. None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice.

Homeopathy Remedy According To The Symptoms

• Aesculus hippocastanum – Painful, blind or protruding piles of purplish color which is very sore with aching, burning and itching and a sensation of sticks or splinters in the rectum, rarely bleeding. Hard dry stool passed with difficulty and followed by a feeling of prolapse of rectum. Bleeding gives relief. This remedy is especially suitable to the form of haemorrhoids arising from portal congestion, abdominal plethora. They may or may not bleed, but there is a feeling in the rectum as of splinters or sticks. This remedy actually produced many liver symptoms and haemorrhoids in the provers. Other indicating symptoms are aching in the lumbar region, protruding purple piles with severe pains in the sacrum and small of the back and fullness in the region of the liver. Dryness, burning and itching are good indications. Hughes prefers Nux vomica and Sulphur in haemorrhoids dependent on congestion of the portal system. Pulsatilla is one of the best remedies in haemorrhoids after Aesculus. Passive congestion and dyspeptic troubles are the keynotes; blind haemorrhoids. Haemorrhoids that bleed easily. It acts best in the higher potencies (Dewey). Haemorrhoids from chronic constipation may be cured with Aesculus.
  
  

• Aloe socotrina – When he blood passes like water from hydrant, piles protrude like bunch of grapes. Better by cold water, flatus with faeces. Violent itching and burning in anus. Constantly putting finger in anus. Constant bearing down in anus; bleeding, soreness which gets relieved by cold water. Sense of insecurity in rectum when passing flatus. Lumpy, watery, jelly like stool. Hemorrhoids protruding, very sore and tender. This is also a most useful haemorrhoidal remedy. It is indicated where the piles protrude like a bunch of grapes, bleeding often and profusely, and are greatly relieved by the application of cold water. There is a very marked burning in the anus the bowels feel as if scraped. There is a tendency to diarrhoea, with the well-known uncertain feeling in the lower bowel. This tendency to diarrhoea will distinguish from Collinsonia, which has the tendency to constipation. Ratanhia has burning in the anus, and protrusion of varices after a hard stool. The characteristics of this remedy are burning and fissure of the anus, great painfulness and sensitiveness of rectum (Capsicum).
  
  

• Arsenic album – Burning pain and restlessness relieved by hot application. Hemorrhoids burn like fire and skin around the anus gets excoriated. Painful spasmodic protrusion of rectum with severe tenesmus.Great exhaustion from least exertion with burning pains. Night aggravation of complains with restlessness and fear and fright.
  
  

• Collinsonia – Hemorrhoids with backache and obstinate constipation. Prolapse of rectum. Piles bleeding or blind and protruding. There may be obstinate constipation and diarrhea.But says that no remedy can equal Collinsonia in obstinate cases of hemorrhoids, which bleed almost incessantly, he recommends the tincture. It is of special use in females with inertia of the rectum and a congestive tendency to the pelvic organs. It suits pregnant women who suffer from piles, and pruritus may be a marked symptom. The indicating symptoms are chiefly a sensation of sticks in the rectum, with constipation from inertia of the lower bowel. It is especially applicable to heart pains resulting from a suppression of a habitual hemorrhoid flow. It is somewhat similar to Nux, but is a far more useful remedy.
  
  

• Hammamelis – Painless bleeding followed by prostration which is out of all proportion to the blood lost. The blood is of dark color. There is anemia, breathlessness and weakness notwithstanding good appetite. Venous congestion and venous stasis are characteristics. Bruised soreness of affected parts. Passive hemorrhage from any part as piles.
  
  

• Muriatic acid – Piles like bunch of grapes which look purple and burn when touched. Piles in children; protruding; reddish blue. Tendency to involuntary evacuation while urinating .Hemorrhoids most sensitive to all touches, even sheet of toilet paper is painful. Anal itching and prolapsus ani while urinating. Hemorrhoids during pregnancy, bluish, hot, with violent stitches.
  
  

• Nitric acid – Hemorrhoids that have ceased to bleed, but very painful and hanging down loosely with sharp pricking pains in rectum. Great straining while passing stool and hemorrhoids that bleed easily. Haemorrhages from bowels and violent cutting pains after stools lasting for an hour after stool. Severe burning and stinging. Rectum feels torn and severe fissures in rectum. Severe exhaustion and irritability after stools.
  
  

• Nux-vomica – One of the main remedy for bleeding or non- bleeding piles to be given when there is burning pain and constipation with ineffectual desire. If the hemorrhoids be large and blind, with a burning, stinging and constricted feeling in the rectum and a bruised pain in the small of the back, and especially if excited by sedentary habits or abuse of stimulants, then Nux may be prescribed with confidence. Itching hemorrhoids keeping the sufferer awake at night, relieved by cold water, or bleeding piles with constant urging to stool, and a feeling as if the bowel would not empty itself are further indications. Great sensitiveness of the anus cannot make use of the softest toilet paper; the piles are so sore and sensitive that the slightest touch is unbreakable.
  
  

• Paenoia – Hemorrhoids with ulceration, the anus and surrounding parts are purple and covered with crusts, ulcers within the anus are very painful. The whole mucus membrane studded with ulcers and cracks. Biting, itching in anus that provokes scratching. Anal orifice swollen and burning in anus after stool then internal chilliness. Fistula ani with painful ulcers. Purple hemorrhoids covered with crusts and severe atrocious pains with and after each stool.
  
  

• Ratanhia - The rectal symptoms are most important. Aching in rectum as if full of broken glass.Anus burns for hours after stool and feels constricted. Dry heat at anus with sudden knife like stitches. Stools must be forced with great effort and thus hemorrhoids too protrude out. Fissures of anus with great constriction and burning like fire. Hemorrhoids too burn and get relieved by cold water.
  
  

• Sulphur –This remedy corresponds to ailments producing hemorrhoids and to the troubles resulting from piles which have stopped bleeding, and as a result fullness in the head and uneasiness in the liver; constipation is present; a desire for stool and itching of the anus.Itching and burning of anus and piles dependent upon abdominal plethora. Frequent unsuccessful desire to go to closet. Stool hard, knotty and insufficient. Redness around anus with hemorrhoids oozing and belching.
  
  

• Ammonium carb – Protrusion of piles after stools with long lasting pains cannot walk. Piles also protrude independent of stool. Burning and itching in anus which prevents sleep. Piles worse at the times of menses.
  
  

• Kali carbonicum – Piles painful, burning like fire and bleed copiously. Great distension and swelling inside. Fistula of the anus. Burning temporarily relieved by sitting in cold water or by cold application.
  
  

• Carbo veg. - Protruding piles, blue, even suppurating, offensive, swelling, burning in the rectum, oozing of fluid from rectum, flatulence; Itching, gnawing and burning in rectum.Soreness, moisture around anus at night. Discharge of blood with stool. White hemorrhoids with excoriation of anus.Bluish burning piles and paining after stool.
  
  

• Millifolium – Hemorrhage from bowels. Bleeding hemorrhoids and stool as well as urine is bloody. Blood is bright red in color.
  
  

• Ficus religiosa – Hemorrhage and hemorrhoids. Bloody hemorrhoids with bright red blood and pain, soreness, burning, itching and aching in rectum.
  
  

• Phosphorus – Known for bleeding hemorrhoids and great weakness after stool. White, hard stool with discharge of blood from rectum each time with and after stool. Painless copious debilitating stools with very fetid stool as well as flatus. Green mucus with long, narrow, hard stool like a dog's. Seems as if anus is open at all times. Blood from hemorrhoids is bright red in color and great debility co-exists.
  
  

• Thuja – Piles swollen and painful while sitting with burning pains in anus. Anus is fissured and painful to touch with many painful warts. Constipation with violent rectal pains causing stool to recede. Distended, indurations in abdomen and chronic diarrhea.