Top Health Tips on Diagnosing Blood in Stool

Dysentery is the inflammation of the intestine that causes appearance of blood and mucous in stool. It is caused by bacteria or parasites. In this condition, the patient passes semi liquid stool many times in a day. It is a contagious disease and is transmitted via the faecal oral route. Thus, a group of people like a family living together or students in a hostel are more prone to picking up the infection. This infection is also transmitted via anal sex.

Ayurveda is a herbal medicinal treatment, originated in India. It is known to have cure for various health problems. Usually Diarrhoea cures itself through diet change, but in case of dysentery, medication is required to combat bacteria and parasites. Some ways to treat Dysentery with Ayurvedic remedies are as follows:

Isabbael for Chronic Amoebiasis: Isabbael is a formulation that treats dysentery caused due to Amoebiasis. When the stool contains mucus and the infected patient feels a cramp before passing stool, it is considered an Amoebiasis infection. Isabbael is very good for bacillary dysentery as well. It is advised to consume 1 teaspoonful twice daily with water for 5 to 7 days for best results.
Ambimap for dysentery: Ambimap herbal formulation possesses a multi-purpose approach to control and cure dysentery (Pravahika). It is known to treat and cure all types of parasitic infection and provides immediate relief. For best results, 1 or 2 tablets should be taken 2 to 3 times a day with water.
Churna for dysentery: Churna is a polyherbal Ayurvedic medicine in powdered form and is high beneficial in treating dysentery.
You can also opt for Ayurvedic remedies that can be formulated at home. They are as follows:

Combine powdered dry ginger root, amla powder, long and black pepper in equal proportions. It is advisable to store this dry mixture in a glass container. For best results, consume one teaspoon of this mixture with lukewarm water two times a day.
Another great way to combat dysentery is to drink buttermilk. Just add a bit of rock salt as well as powdered roasted cumin seeds. Drink this mixture two times a day preferably with breakfast and at lunchtime.

The acronym for 'Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome' is AIDS. In fact, it must be understood that AIDS is not a singular disease, but a syndrome, or rather a set of diseases. People suffering from AIDS suffer from an immensely compromised immune system that makes them vulnerable to a number of diseases. Once infected with HIV, it may take anywhere between 5-10 years to develop AIDS.

Some of the major symptoms of AIDS are:

Lethargy and fatigue
Skin irritation
Drastic loss of weight
Loss of appetite
Bronchial ailments- which often lead to end stage tuberculosis of the lungs
Diarrhea, gastritis and dysentery
Prolonged fever
Sleeplessness and others
How is AIDS treated by Ayurveda?
Tonics, also known as Rasayanas in Ayurveda are administered for stimulating appetite and strengthening immunity. Once enough strength is regained, an elimination technique is administered by incorporating enemas, emesis and purgation in the treatment. This process is known as Sodhana and is carried out to eliminate toxins from the body.

Next the patient s blood is purified with appropriate herbal medications. Apart from this, AIDS patients are advised to perform regular exercise, yoga and pranayama.

In order to spice up their relationship, couples can sometimes consider the option of anal intercourse instead of vaginal intercourse. Some recent studies have suggested that anal sex is actually bad for your health and can also result in severe and life threatening conditions.

Below are a few reasons that will make you aware of the risks of involving in anal sex. They are as follows:

Fissures or piles: The anal tissues are non-stretchable and thereby an insertion of the penis into your partner s anus can lead to tearing of the anus which might make your partner prone to anal fissures or piles. Besides, anal sex can cause severe pain while excretion the morning after, as there can be a significant weakening of the anal muscles.
Increases the chances of anal cancer: If you and your partner frequently engage in anal sex, your partner s chances of getting anal cancer increases as the act can initiate the transmission of the Human Papillomavirus (the virus responsible for anal cancer).
Bacterial infection: Anus is a place designed to hold and facilitate the passing of faeces. This makes it a fertile breeding ground and holding area for bacteria. Through insertion, there is a high chance that you can be infected through your partner s bacteria. Also if vaginal intercourse occurs immediately after anal intercourse, your partner can also get affected by the bacteria that transfer from the anus to the vagina. It can cause UTIs or urinary tract infections at the least and more serious infections as well.
Sexually transmitted diseases: Contrary to popular opinions, having unprotected anal sex can actually increase the chance of getting HIV and other deadly Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD s). As the anal tissues are extremely fragile, the risk of the transmission of sexually transmitted infections in the bloodstream remains quite high for both the partners involved. Even if you re using a condom whilst engaging in the act, the chances of getting STD s looms large as condoms are more prone to breakages during anal sex.
You can still get pregnant: Engaging in unprotected anal sex does not really mean that you cannot actually get pregnant from it. There is a slight chance of semen leakage from the anus which can seep into the vagina and result in pregnancy.

What do you mean by anal fissures?
An anal fissure is a little laceration in the moist tissue that lines the opening of the anus. An anal fissure might develop as a result of a trauma. For example, a person suffering from constipation (or diarrhea) can develop fissure as a result of exerting too much pressure while defecating.

Some of the symptoms of anal fissures include:

Bleeding during defecation
Defecation accompanied by a burning pain
A persistent discomfort around the anus even after bowel movement
Itching sensation
In chronic case a small skin tag may be seen protruding out at Anal verge. Anal fissure causes considerable physical uneasiness and can mar one s mood for days on end if left untreated.
For someone who has recently developed this disorder, home remedies might work.

Sitz Bath: This is a very effective self-care remedy that can ease the pain that anal fissure is characterized with. Here one needs to soak the rectal area in warm water for 10-15 minutes to help improve blood flow and relax the anal sphincter. The routine should be repeated 3 to 4 times for better result.
Fiber-rich diet: Patients suffering from constipation shall consume fiber-rich foods like wheat, whole grain, fruits, oatmeal and cereals.
Fluids: These patients must drink 8 to 9 glasses of water on a daily basis to induce smooth passage of stool. Medicines Medicines are prescribed only if self-care treatment methods do not work.
Here is a list of the medicines that are used to treat anal fissures:

Stool Softeners are advised for easy evacuation for example Haritaki Churna, Triphala Churna etc.
Soothing Ointments: Any soothing ointment like cow s Ghrit, coconut oil or Sushruta Ointment if applied in anal region will ease out the pain.
Kshar Karma: Application of specialized Kshar Compounds under supervision of an Ayurvedic specialist at weekly sittings lead to healing of Anal Fissure.
Surgery -

Most common complication of Surgery is stool incontinence where patient is unable to hold stool due to damage to sphincter muscles. Whereas Ayurvedic Ksharsutra is a completely safe and more effective treatment. In this treatment Ksharsutra is ligated at the root of Sentinel tag. Medicine released from the thread blocks the blood supply of tag and it sheds off in 5-7 days. This combined with Kshar Karma sittings heals the fissure completely without any surgery.

Piles, fistula and fissures are the most common problems affecting the rectum and the anus. Both the rectum as well as the anus has a very rich vascular supply. There could be swelling of these blood vessels or tearing which can lead to the above conditions. Read on to know additional details about each of these conditions.

Piles: In simple words, swollen blood vessels of the anal region are called piles. It can be internal or external, depending on its position inside the rectum or outside the rectum respectively.

Causes:

Chronic constipation, where the person has to strain to pass stools
Increased frequency of motion as seen in dysentery etc.
Increased abdominal pressure like in pregnancy, obesity etc.
Smoking and genetics can also lead to piles.
Symptoms: Starts off as painless bleeding, which happens in the form drops or blood spurts during bowel movement (1st stage); the swelling develops later on. They can continue to grow and may come out of anal canal while passing stool (2nd stage). Later on Pile mass comes out even on sneezing, coughing or standing for prolong time (3rd stage)

Treatment:

In the early stages, once identified, simple Kshar Karma (application of special medicines) is effective..
Diet should be rich in fiber, with fruits and vegetables
Increased water consumption
Ksharsutra Ligation of Pile mass if the disease has reached the 2nd or 3rd stage
Prevention is advised if there is a family history by taking measures like consuming a fiber-rich diet and maintaining hydration, regular exercises. Sphincter exercise etc.
Fistula: When an anal gland gets infected; it may discharge pus around the anal region or inside anal canal. Anal Fistula is characterized by presence of a nodular swelling around anal orifice with on and off discharges. This condition is usually painless however some pain may be noticed in the swelling before the pus discharges. After pus discharge pain and swelling disappears to recur again after some time.

Symptoms:

A constant wet feeling in the anal area, due to pus discharge.
This would be intermittent, and there would be periods with no discharge.
There could be a foul smell due to pus discharge.
Diagnosis and Treatment:

Identifying the exact location is important for Ksharsutra ligation or Surgery/ VAAFT.
An ultrasound scan or an MRI is usually done.
Ksharsutra ligation is a better option as compared to surgery/ VAAFT as the chances of recurrence after surgery/ VAAFT are very high.
Ksharsutra being a non surgical procedure; is more convenient and more effective as compared to surgery. This has already been proved by the scientific trials conducted at AIIMS New Delhi, PGI Chandigarh etc. by Indian Council of Medical Research in 1990.

Graded Ksharsutra is the latest development in Ksharsutra Therapy which is available only at Sushruta Ano Rectal Institute, New Delhi.

Fissures: Fissure is a very painful condition produced due to cracks anywhere in the length of the anal canal usually at the anal verge.

Symptoms

Very painful and the person may not want to go to the toilet
Rarely bleeding is also seen, maybe in very small amounts
Treatment:

Over 90% of the fissures do not require surgery and can be easily managed by Kshar Karma sittings.
Switching to a high-fiber diet and improving hydration will help in managing these symptoms.
Topical relief can be provided by application of medicated oils and paste.
When they are recurrent, a procedure known as lateral sphincterotomy is done. However this procedure is known to have a common complication of fecal incontinence. This is usually seen due to damage to sphincter muscles during surgery or over stretching. Patient is not able to control / hold the stools.
Anal fissure whether acute or chronic can be easily managed by Kshar Karma and Ksharsutra ligation. No surgery or hospitalization is required; and above mentioned complications are also not seen with this highly specific treatment of Ayurvedic surgery.
Though one condition can lead to another, in most people, there is a strong family history and working towards prevention is highly recommended.

An essential prerequisite for good health is having regular bowel movements. People all over the world have a misconception about the regularity of bowel movements. Having bowel movements three times a day or three times a week (if that is the routine) is considered regular. Irregularity in bowel movements can often lead to constipation and it is something that should never be ignored. It not only affects our health but also affect our overall being in ways that are unexpected. Let us take a look at some of these unexpected side effects of not pooping regularly:

Constipation can trigger headaches: The cause for a headache can be many things, but the first likely reason is stress. When you do not poop properly, the pain, inconvenience and worry will build up, leading to mental stress. This anxiety can trigger headaches. Also, headache can occur because of dehydration, which is often a result of constipation. By drinking more water, you can get a relief from both constipation and headaches. Moreover, the buildup of toxins in the body also causes a headache. regular is a key channel that releases all the toxins from the body and when that does not work, it is bound to cause problems.
It can cause breakouts: What happens in and out the gut shows up on the skin. Skin conditions like acne, pimple, dark circles and even rashes can occur due to internal gut and digestive issues. When the toxins are not eliminated regularly from the body, they tend to accumulate over time leading to major skin breakouts.
It carries a risk of anal fissures: Due to hardened stool, there is not enough lubrication and this can lead to a tear of the skin. This is called an anal fissure and the prime symptom of this condition is the presence of blood in your stool. So, if you feel pain or see blood while pooping, you need to contact your healthcare provider and relieve your condition.
It may cause Diverticula or Heamerhoids: Long term constipation can lead to certain ailments which tend to form because of the pressure of straining to pass your poop. You can be affected with diverticula which result in bulges or pouches on the lining of the colon area. Or it can also cause a strain in the veins along the rectum and lead to
Hemorrhoids.
It affects your Bladder control: The colon and the bladder share a close relationship with each other. If there is too much pressure on the bladder because of a full colon, it can lead to decreased control of the bladder. Your bladder will not fill all the way, empty badly or cause unexpected leakages. So, chronic constipation can cause apparent leakage problems too.
It can make you lose appetite: Eating food can be a major turn off for people with constipation. Appetite loss is not just an enjoyable form of hunger suppression, but a big inconvenience.

What do you mean by anal fissures?
An anal fissure is a little laceration in the moist tissue that lines the opening of the anus. An anal fissure might develop as a result of a trauma. For example, a person suffering from constipation (or diarrhea) can develop fissure as a result of exerting too much pressure while defecating.

Some of the symptoms of anal fissures include:

Bleeding during defecation
Defecation accompanied by a burning pain
A persistent discomfort around the anus even after a bowel movement
Itching sensation
In chronic case, a small skin tag may be seen protruding out at the Anal verge. An anal fissure causes considerable physical uneasiness and can mar one s mood for days on end if left untreated.
For someone who has recently developed this disorder, home remedies might work.

Sitz Bath: This is a very effective self-care remedy that can ease the pain that anal fissure is characterized by. Here one needs to soak the rectal area in warm water for 10-15 minutes to help improve blood flow and relax the anal sphincter. The routine should be repeated 3 to 4 times for better result.
Fibre-rich diet: Patients suffering from constipation shall consume fibre-rich foods like wheat, whole grain, fruits, oatmeal and cereals.
Fluids: These patients must drink 8 to 9 glasses of water on a daily basis to induce smooth passage of stool.
Medicines: Medicines are prescribed only if self-care treatment methods do not work.
Here is a list of the medicines that are used to treat anal fissures:

Stool Softeners are advised for easy evacuation, for example, Haritaki Churna, Triphala Churna etc.
Soothing Ointments: Any soothing ointment like cow s Ghrit, coconut oil or Sushruta Ointment if applied in the anal region will ease out the pain.
Kshar Karma: Application of specialized Kshar Compounds under the supervision of an Ayurvedic specialist at weekly sittings lead to healing of Anal Fissure.
Surgery -

Most common complication of Surgery is stool incontinence where a patient is unable to hold stool due to damage to sphincter muscles. Whereas Ayurvedic Ksharsutra is a completely safe and more effective treatment. In this treatment, Ksharsutra is ligated at the root of Sentinel tag. Medicine released from the thread blocks the blood supply of tag and it sheds off in 5-7 days. This combined with Kshar Karma sittings heals the fissure completely without any surgery.

An anal fissure is a condition that is caused when the skin surrounding the anus tears due to excessive strain. Generally, constipation causes the condition, as people have to put a lot of strain during bowel movements. Here is a look at some simple ways to prevent anal fissure.

Natural Ways to Prevent Anal Fissure-
Since the primary cause for anal fissure is constipation, the preventative methods involve reducing constipation.

Increasing fiber content in the diet, with the help of fruits and vegetables can help against constipation.
Staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day, can also ease stool passage and make it softer.
Avoid straining excessively during bowel movement.
Avoiding spicy foods and chillies in the diet is vital, as such foods can aggravate the difficulty during defecation.
Avoid eating excessive meat and non-vegetarian products.
Drinking buttermilk can also provide relief from constipation.
Ayurvedic Remedy for Anal Fissure-
Medications for the condition include both oral remedies, which deal with underlying constipation, as well as topical medicines that can be applied at the site of the problem. Two main Ayurvedic treatment for anal fissure include - 1. Ayurvedic Medicines 2. Kshar Sutra Therapy.

1. Ayurvedic medicines - Ayurvedic medicines are highly effective in treating acute and chronic fissures. Good improvement can be achieved within 7-10 days. Usually 6-8 weeks of medicinal treatment is enough for good recovery from fissure.

2. Kshar Sutra therapy: It is reserved for stubborn cases who are not responding well to the medicinal treatment. You may get rid of sentinel pile masses very easily by using Kshar Sutra Therapy. Minimum bed rest is required and most of the patients may resume their work within 3-4 days with certain precautions.

Other things to keep in mind -

Avoid constipation
Maintain a healthy digestion
Maintain good private hygiene
Sitz bath

Anal fistula is an anorectal disorder for which different treatment methods have been advocated from time to time. Certain conventional surgical methods like Fistulotomy and Fistulectomy have been used but they are associated with complications like delayed healing, the risk of stenosis (abnormal narrowing of the blood vessels or other tubular organs) etc.

Modern techniques of surgery like the lay-open' method and anorectal pathology' come with a similar number of intricacies like high rates of recurrence and anal incontinence, prolonged hospitalization etc. Therefore, even today this particular disease has no satisfactory method of treatments in modern surgery.

However, in Ayurveda, about 2000 years ago, the great Indian Surgeon Acharya Sushrata first narrated about the Kshara', which was later, compiled into the work Sushrat Samhita'. Kshara Sutra is a minimal invasive ayurvedic parasurgical technique, effective for the treatment of anorectal disorders like hemorrhoids, fistula-in-ano, Anal fissure and pilonidal sinus.

Why is it used to treat Fistula-In-Ano?
In this technique of surgery, a thread also called a Kshar Sutra thread is specially prepared which acts by herbal chemical cauterization (the medical practice of burning a part of the body to remove or close off a part) and cures diseases. Hence, this is the safest and cost-effective method to treat Fistula-In-Ano.

Procedure-
The Kshar Sutra is a surgical linen thread of size 20 is coated with ayurvedic herbs with no side effects. There are three types of Kshar Sutra based on the number of coatings and the quality of materials used. Each patient gets customized treatment as per his or her own requirements.

First, a malleable probe is made to pass through the external opening of the fistula to the internal aperture in the anal canal. It is then taken out gently through the anal opening along with the Kshar. Later both the ends are tied together.

A cumulative effect of the drugs coated on the Kshar exerts a powerful debridement effect on the fistula tract & prompts healing by new & healthy granulation tissues. Thus, this mechanism of drug delivery directly heals the tissues involved in an optimal time period.

The thread is changed once every week that gradually helps heal the infected tract. As the result, the chances of recurrence are minimal.

Benefits of Kshar Sutra over modern surgery techniques-

An out-patient treatment, it is mostly conducted under local anesthesia
The most significant benefit of Kshar Sutra therapy over conventional modern surgeries is that the muscles that support the anus and controls bowel movements are not dissected and hence the chances of anal inconsistency are lowered.
The probability of anal stenosis (narrowing of the anal canal after treatment) are almost nil
There is no damage done to Anal Sphincter
Minimal chances of recurrence and bleeding
Hospital stay is only for 4-5 hours
There is no need for antibiotic coverage.
The patient can get back to routine life after 3-5 days of the surgery
Post-treatment recovery is speedy and without any complications

Anal Fistula - What Causes It?
An anal fistula refers to a small infected tunnel connecting the anus to the outer skin. Your body eliminates solid waste products or feces through the anus. When any of the glands inside the anus becomes infected or blocked, an abscess may form, which in turn results in formation of anal fistula. In about 50% of the cases, abscesses develop into fistulae. What are the causes for anal fistula? Anal fistulae occur primarily due to the formation of an abscess or infection in the anus. If the abscess does not heal completely after the pus has been drained away, a fistula can develop.

Other factors responsible for the occurrence of anal fistulae are-

Crohn s disease- a chronic condition where the digestive system becomes inflamed.
Diverticulitis- an inflammation of the small pouches that develop along the intestinal walls.
Hidradenitis suppurativa- a chronic painful skin condition which causes scarring and abscesses on the skin. Apart from these, people with HIV or infected with Tuberculosis disease also develop anal fistulae. If you ve had a surgery around the anus, then post-surgery complications may lead to infection or abscess on the skin.
What are the symptoms to watch out for?
The commonly observed signs and symptoms of anal fistulae include-

Irritation or discomfort on the skin around the anus
Occasional throbbing pain, especially while seated, moving around or having a bowel movement
Nodular swelling around anal region
Intermittent Discharge of blood or pus from an opening near anal orifice.
How does Ayurveda treat anal fistulae?
Ayurveda recommends Ksharsutra treatment for complete healing of Anal Fistula.

In this procedure; Ksharsutra a medicated thread is placed in Fistula tract. Medicine released from Ksharsutra debrides the fistula tract and induces healing. This medicine remains active for about 5-7 days so this thread needs to be changed with a new thread at weekly interval. No. of Ksharsutra changes required for complete healing of Fistula depends on length depth and branching pattern of fistula. It has been observed that Fistula heals at the rate of 0.5 to 1 cm per Ksharsutra changes so for a fistula tract of 3 cm length about 4-5 weekly thread changes are necessary for complete healing. Clinical trials conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research at AIIMS New Delhi have proved that Ksharsutra treatment is more convenient and more effective than Surgery in case of Anal Fistula. In this way Ksharsutra is the best way to treat Anal Fistula without Surgery.