Pains of piles

FM Bureau | 01-May-2014

There are remedies in Ayurveda to prevent and treat piles and they are fairly simple and lifestyle-related.  Future Medicine  lists below the causes, symptoms and some of the Ayurvedic  medicines and practices to treat piles

By FM Bureau

What are piles?

Piles or hemorrhoids are basically enlarged veins at the lower end of the rectum, near the anus. An increased pressure on the rectum and the anus common during constipation is believed to be the prime reason for the development of hemorrhoids which may also sometimes lead to rectal bleeding. Hemorrhoids or piles are often found to be occurring more commonly in middle aged and older individuals.

Basically, there are two different types of hemorrhoids depending on their location-internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids are located in the inner lining of the rectum and cannot be felt. They are usually painless and can also lead to bleeding. External hemorrhoids, however, can be painful and swollen, and are located on the skin around the anus, and can be felt easily.

Causes

It is believed that straining during evacuating the bowels, frequent in individuals suffering from constipation, is the major reason behind development of hemorrhoids and piles.

However, there are many other factors that may increase an individual’s risk of suffering from the condition. Some of them are listed below-

Untreated conditions: Delay in the treatment of certain disorders and ailments of the gastrointestinal system like dysentery, diarrhea, colitis etc, can be linked to the formation of piles.

Pregnancy: Post-partum hemorrhoids and pregnancy hemorrhoids are getting common, and this is mostly due to expansion of the uterus during pregnancy and also possibly due to strain on the rectal wall during childbirth.

Genetic constitution: It is believed that our genetic makeup may also have an impact on the development of piles. A family history of hemorrhoids could put an individual at a greater risk of suffering from the condition.

Sedentary lifestyle: Sitting in a particular posture for long hours without movement can also lead to development of hemorrhoids. In fact, many researchers believe that lack of physical activity may be one of the major reasons for the increase in hemorrhoid-affected people today.

Symptoms

Pain, irritation and a feeling of protrusion and swelling near the anal region is the first sign of development of hemorrhoids. If cleaning and rubbing the area near the swelling tends to aggravate it further, it is a clear indication of formation of hemorrhoids. Bright red coloured stool is the sure shot indication of presence of internal hemorrhoids.

Treatment

Avoid eating foods that are hard to digest: Since hemorrhoids tend to form due to an increased pressure on the rectal walls, eat foods that are light and easy to pass as stools. Consume more raw, fibre-rich fruits and vegetables.

Increase physical activity: If you have been a couch potato for a long time, it’s time to get up and exercise. Moderate exercise doesn’t just help treat hemorrhoids, but also prevents many other lifestyle related disorders. 

Eat foods that improve digestion: If you have a weak digestive system, add probiotic-rich foods to your diet. You could also supplement your diet with probiotic supplements that make digestion easier and soften the stools, putting less pressure on the rectal walls.

Dried figs are yet another amazing Ayurvedic treatment for piles. Soak some dried figs in warm water overnight, and eat them the first thing in the morning.

A mixture of the juice of a lemon, ginger and fresh mint, along with honey, can be effective in treating piles by improving digestion.

Increase water intake: A dehydrated body can cause the stools to become hard, making them difficult to pass; drinking more water can make passing stools easier.

Papaya, mango seeds, sesame seeds, bitter gourd, turnip, rice, wheat, radish, ginger, onion, jambul fruit and other fibre-rich foods should be added more to the diet as a remedy for piles.

Prevention

Taking a few simple steps can help prevent hemorrhoid formation to a good extent. Keeping up your water intake and adding more fibre-rich foods is an easy step to keep away hemorrhoids. Next, drinking a small teaspoon of castor oil mixed with milk will help soften the stool, make it easier to pass, and reduce the pressure on the rectal walls and muscles. Also, massaging the abdomen with rosemary and marjoram oil, or adding a few drops of Juniper or cypress oil to your bath water can act as a wonderful preventive measure against hemorrhoids.

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