| About The enlarged veins at the lower end of rectum and anus are termed as hemorrhoids or Piles. Enhanced pressure within the rectum and anus is the prime reason for protrusion of hemorrhoids and for rectal bleeding. The incidence of hemorrhoids is increasing thanks to our the increasing use of and junk food and irregular eating habits. The initial signs of the hemorrhoids should be recognized so that the disease can be brought under control at an early stage with minimum treatment with homeopathy and hence avoid surgery.  Hemorrhoids is a growing problem faced mainly by the people of middle and old age. The two types ‘internal’ and ‘external’ hemorrhoids can be differentiated. The external variety is located under the skin that surrounds the anus. With the bowel movement, these hemorrhoids may swell, be felt, and cause pain and/or bleeding. The internal hemorrhoids however located in the inner lining of the rectum and cannot be felt. These are usually painless and can lead to bleeding per rectum with or without protrusion. Causes of Hemorrhoids The major factor that contributes to hemorrhoids is excessive straining at stool. However, certain causative factors and/or risk factors have been described as below:  Heredity- Our genetic make up is one of the major factors for development and aggravation of hemorrhoids. There has been found familial weakness of blood vessel wall. Large supply of arterial blood to hemorrhoidal plexus is also found in certain families. Pregnancy- Post-partum and/or pregnancy hemorrhoids are found in many women owing to increased tension in rectal wall due to excessive straining during child birth and expansion of uterus during pregnancy. Untreated conditions- Certain conditions like colitis, diarrheas, dysenteries, etc can be the pre-disposing factors for hemorrhoids if left untreated for long. Chronic constipation- Chronic constipation has myriad of causes ranging from unhealthy eating habits to sedentary work-style. But it is by far the commonest cause of hemorrhoids. Sedentary habits- People working in sitting postures for long time have higher risk of developing hemorrhoids. Lack of physical activity or exercise is one of the chief pre-disposing factors. Some serious illnesses- Systemic or portal hypertension, inferior vena-caval congestion, rectal cancer, cardiac or pulmonary diseases can also may lead to hemorrhoids.Symptoms Signs and Complications of Hemorrhoids 1. If the internal hemorrhoid is prolapsed, one can feel it as a lump outside the anus. Sometimes this lump can also be gently pushed inside the anus. But if not, it can lead to enlargement and swelling of the hemorrhoid. Entrapment of hemorrhoid may require immediate intervention. 2. There can be itching at the anus (pruritus ani) and tingling sensation. 3. Increased desire to have repeated bowel movement is also observed in some patients. 4. Thrombosed external hemorrhoid may lead to severe pain that gets aggravated with every bowel movement and prolonged sitting. 5. Bleeding per rectum is one of the commonest symptoms detected first by the patient. 6. Mucus discharge may accompany prolapsed hemorrhoids. 7. Complications like strangulation of piles, profuse hemorrhage, thrombosis, ulceration, and rarely gangrene may occur if hemorrhoids are left untreated for long. Treatment for Hemorrhoids Most cases of hemorrhoids have good prognosis, especially if treated in time. One can diagnose hemorrhoids on clinical findings alone. However, if the hemorrhoids are associated with one or more symptoms like pain in abdomen, strangulation, excessive hemorrhage, etc, some other investigations like sigmoidoscopy, rectoscopy, or colonoscopy may be required to rule out other potential dangers. Conservative hemorrhoid treatment comprises of stool softeners and laxatives. Homeopathic Treatment of Hemorrhoids: Homeopathic medicines can occasionally replace the surgeon’s knife. The homeopathic medicines work on the principle of “like cures like” and many different medicinal substances are used in varied potencies to help cure hemorrhoids (or any other disease for that matter). Homeopathy is a holistic medicine that is based on “Individualistic Approach” to any case. As per this approach, any disease including hemorrhoids is treated individually after carefully considering the physical, mental, and emotional symptomatology of the person. Certain miasmatic dispositions are described in homeopathy and every individual has predominance of some miasm. They can also be called as pre-dispositions or susceptibilities of an individual suffering from certain disease traits. With aptly chosen constitutional homeopathic medicines, these traits can be modified positively to obtain cure from the existing problem and an overall health is achieved. Also homeopathic medicines are extremely useful for acute symptoms of hemorrhoids. The pain, inflammation, itching, bleeding per rectum, etc can be effectively tackled with accurate simillimum chosen homeopathically. Homeopathic Medicines for Piles or Hemorrhoids: The homeopathic medicines like Aloe soc, Collinsonia, Hamamelis, Muriatic acid, Thuja, Aesculus, Ratanhia, Nux vomica, Kali carb, Ammonium carb, Kali carb, Phosphorus, etc work well in some case of hemorrhoids. However, one should refrain from self treatment on the basis of elementary knowledge of homeopathy. Expert homeopathic intervention is a must, as deriving the constitutional prescription is more of an art that needs to be mastered and without the constitutional approach, it is hard to find perfect cure from hemorrhoids. If homeopathy fails surgery is required and there are many options like rubber-band ligation, sclerotherapy, laser therapy and/or open hemorrhoidectomy. Prevention of Hemorrhoids The modifiable factors or risk factors of hemorrhoid can be prevented by following these things: 1. Increase the water intake. One must drink at least 10 glasses of water per day that helps keep our stools soft and improve bowel activity 2. Increase dietary fiber and it will add roughage to your food. It certainly enhances regular bowel movements 3. Avoid junk food devoid of fiber that just adds empty calories. This kind of food also adds extra pounds leading to obesity, which is another pre-disposing factors for hemorrhoids 4. Boost up your physical activity level. Especially the people with sedentary working habits have to get moving, as lack of physical movement is one of the chief factors contributing to increased incidence of hemorrhoids these days. Exercise also helps to get rid of hemorrhoids faster by reducing the tendency to constipation and pressure on hemorrhoidal veins. So keep active to prevent piles. 5. Also one should not suppress the urge for stools for long time. This step helps a great deal in hemorrhoid prevention. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Can homeopathic medicines cure hemorrhoids completely? Yes, the aptly selected homeopathic medicines can help one get rid of hemorrhoids completely. However, the treatment must be sought from an expert and one should not try to self-medicate. 2. How long homeopathic treatment should be taken for hemorrhoids? The duration of treatment depends upon the stage of hemorrhoids and the existing signs and symptoms. Also it varies from person to person depending upon his level of remedy-compliance. However, tentatively, one should follow the homeopathic regime at least for two consecutive months to be able to find relief from the existing symptoms. Follow-up later with the homeopathic expert is important too. 3. Can homeopathy deal with complications of hemorrhoids like gangrene, ulceration, etc? Treating the complications of hemorrhoids is certainly an expert’s domain. However, one must make sure to undergo all the depicted investigations and follow all the guidelines laid by the expert homeopathic physician. In emergencies like strangulation and gangrene however, one should weigh the pros and cons of medicinal treatment and the expert will decide whether surgery will be needed. 4. Can one take homeopathic and conventional medicines for hemorrhoids simultaneously? Usually this is not recommended by the homeopaths. It is better to follow a single regimen in any given case. However, if the person is already on some other regimen, homeopathic expert usually consults the concerned physician and later decides the path of course, whether to stop the earlier medication or taper the dose slowly. References: 1. Organon of Medicine, Dr Samuel Hahnemann, 6th edition 2. A Short Practice of Surgery, Love and Baily, tenth edition 3. Clinical Methods in Surgery, K. Das, eleventh edition Author: Dr. Shreya Deshpande Editor: Dr. Shroff Technical: Lingaraj References: 1. Organon of Medicine, Dr Samuel Hahnemann, 6th edition 2. A Short Practice of Surgery, Love and Baily, tenth edition 3. Clinical Methods in Surgery, K. Das, eleventh edition Author: Dr. Shreya Deshpande Editor: Dr. Shroff Technical: Lingaraj |
