It’s no fun to experience discomfort when going to the bathroom, especially when you are dealing with a bad case of hemorrhoids. Luckily, the condition is not dangerous or life threatening, and your symptoms will usually fade within a couple of days. However, if you’d like to assist the healing process, hemorrhoid home remedies can surely help.
22 Hemorrhoid Home Remedies
What are Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins that develop around the anus or in the lower rectum – the last part of the large intestine that leads to the anus (which is the opening at the end of the digestive tract where bowel movements exit). There are two different kinds of hemorrhoids – external and internal. External hemorrhoids are found under the skin around the anus. Internal hemorrhoids plague the lower rectum and can protrude (or prolapse) through the anus. The majority of prolapsed hemorrhoids will shrink back into the rectum on their own.
Causes and Symptoms
Swelling in the anal or rectal veins is the cause of hemorrhoids, and there are a handful of factors that can lead to this condition, such as chronic constipation or diarrhea, straining during bowel movements, sitting on the toilet for long periods of time, and not getting enough fiber in the diet. Some people develop hemorrhoids because they’ve experienced a weakening of the connective tissue in the rectum and anus – a factor associated with getting older.
Pregnant women often suffer hemorrhoids because of the increasing pressure in the stomach region. This can cause the veins in the lower rectum and anus to get bigger. For most females, their hemorrhoids will vanish after giving birth.
Common symptoms of internal hemorrhoids include the presence of bright red blood in stools, on toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl after having a bowel movement. There is usually no pain with internal hemorrhoids that have not prolapsed. However, prolapsed hemorrhoids will cause discomfort, pain and itching in the anal region.
External hemorrhoids may cause blood clots, which can lead to bleeding, painful swelling, or the formation of a hard lump around the anus. As the blood clot gets smaller, extra skin is left behind, which can become itchy or irritated. If you constantly strain, rub or clean around the anus, your symptoms will worsen.
Home Remedies for Hemorrhoids
According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, about 75% of people will experience hemorrhoids at some point in their lives. The symptoms of hemorrhoids typically go away within a few days and some lucky few never get symptoms at all. But, if you’d like to gain immediate relief, you should consider the following hemorrhoid home remedies:
Baking Soda:
To relieve the itch of hemorrhoids, apply a small amount of baking soda to the irritation.
Eat More Fiber:
Just the simplest diet and lifestyle changes can help lessen the swelling and symptoms of hemorrhoids. A high-fiber diet can soften stools and make them easier to pass. Fiber also helps reduce the pressure that straining causes on hemorrhoids. It is recommended to increase your intake of dietary fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Witch Hazel:
Many households have a bottle of witch hazel in their bathroom cabinet. As a natural astringent, the product has the ability to reduce the swelling of your hemorrhoids. Pour a small amount of witch hazel on a few sheets of toilet paper or cotton balls to create a soothing wipe that you can hold over hemorrhoids. Leave on for two or three minutes. Repeat this procedure every time you have a bowel movement or until your hemorrhoids have disappeared. For the best results, chill a bottle of witch hazel in the refrigerator or freezer before using.
Fill Up Your Water Glass:
Drinking at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water on a daily basis can help relieve the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Other nonalcoholic beverages will also count towards your daily intake.
Potato:
Get out your knife and prepare to carve your very own suppository made out of a peeled, raw potato. Shape a piece of potato to resemble a bullet, which you will insert into your rectum.
Figs:
Some people have reported relief from hemorrhoids by soaking three to four figs in a bowl of water overnight. In the morning, they eat the figs and drink the water. The best results come when the treatment is followed for three to four weeks.
Vitamin E:
To encourage faster healing of hemorrhoids, apply vitamin E oil to swollen tissue.
Aloe Vera:
To treat the itching and burning sensation associated with hemorrhoids, apply aloe vera gel to affected skin, which will help speed up the overall healing process.
Aloe Vera Gel and Turmeric:
You can also make an ointment out of turmeric and aloe vera gel to treat hemorrhoids. Add ½ teaspoon of turmeric to 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel. Mix the ingredients together, and then apply to the anus before retiring for the night. The turmeric works towards healing fissures and reducing inflammation, while the aloe vera gel soothes inflamed tissues.
Tea Bag:
When hemorrhoids start to bleed, turn to one of the most popular drinks in the world. Position a used warm tea bag on the outside of the anus. For 10 to 15 minutes twice per day, firmly press the tea bag against the anus. The tannic acid found in the tea will help shrink swollen blood vessels, as well as treat the bleeding and itching of swollen tissue.
Baby Wipes:
After going to the bathroom, you can lessen the irritation of hemorrhoids by cleaning the anus with pre-moistened wipes. Baby wipes are a gentler choice.
Ginger, Lime, Mint & Honey:
An internal treatment for hemorrhoids may come when you combine ½ teaspoon of fresh ginger juice, one teaspoon of fresh lime juice, and one teaspoon of fresh mint juice. Add one teaspoon of honey to the mix, and drink once daily.
Leek:
Some people will tell you that eating a large boiled leek every day in the afternoon or with dinner can help tame hemorrhoid symptoms.
Turmeric:
The anti-inflammatory properties found in turmeric can be used to treat the inflamed veins associated with hemorrhoids that are around the anus and inside the rectum. Combine one teaspoon of turmeric and one tablespoon of petroleum jelly. Apply the homemade ointment to your hemorrhoids before going to the bathroom. The turmeric will help heal any fissures, while the petroleum jelly lubricates the rectum and anus that encourages stools to pass with less irritation.
Type of Toilet Paper:
When wiping your bottom after a bowel movement, choose white, unscented toilet paper that has been dampened by water to avoid irritating your hemorrhoids.
Take a Shower:
After each bowel movement, showering your anal region can help calm irritation.
Warm Water:
To enjoy relief from your hemorrhoids, it is suggested to sit in a tub filled with warm water for 10 minutes. Repeat this method several times a day.
Exercise:
Exercising gets your body moving in the right direction and can help prevent constipation, which can irritate hemorrhoids.
Don’t Strain:
During bowel movements, do not strain to prevent worsening the state of your hemorrhoids.
Do Not Scratch:
Some people give into the urge to scratch their hemorrhoids, which will only lead to damage of the anal walls.
Almonds:
There are some that will tell you to eat three raw unprocessed almonds every day to prevent and treat hemorrhoids – chew each of the almonds about 50 times.
Diaper Cream:
The diaper cream that you put on a child can also soothe the irritation of hemorrhoids, as well as protect your skin during bowel movements.
