Top Health Tips on Treating Piles

Are you feeling an excruciating pain in the anal region? Is there a lump around the area that you can feel? Commonly called Piles, hemorrhoids, is a phenomenon where the blood vessels are inflamed or expanded in the anal canal. Veins in and around the anus and rectum are comparatively weak than the arteries which are quiet intense. This is because the walls of the veins are pretty thin and pain or discomfort arises when there is too much pressure on the walls. There are two kinds of Piles the internal piles and the external piles; the discomfort and severity depend on the kind of piles you are suffering from.

Causes behind it:

The causes of hemorrhoids are not certain and anyone can get affected by the condition. It is more prevalent in elderly people and pregnant women. Sometimes, the condition is also hereditary, so if your parents or grandparents suffered from piles, there is a possibility that you may develop it too. When the veins in the anal region are subjected to pressure, the veins swell causing painful hemorrhoids.

The common symptoms associated with the condition are:

- Bleeding from the anus
- Painful lump or swell near the anus
- Anal itching
- Tenderness or pain during bowel movements
- Mucus Anal discharge

Treatment options for piles:

In few cases, the Hemorrhoids can be treated with home remedies like a change in diet, warm sitz baths, and avoiding foods that may lead to constipation. For hemorrhoids of the first, second and third-degree, medications, home remedies and manual methods are preferred approaches. However, when the condition persists for an extended period with severe pain it is best to consider your physician.

The piles can be treated with:

- Injection or sclerotherapy: Treats internal hemorrhoids
- Banding: Treatment for prolapsed hemorrhoids
- Coagulation: Treatment using laser
- Surgery: Opted for in severe cases of hemorrhoids

Surgery is suggested when no other remedies for piles have responded. In the case of prolapsed hemorrhoids, or the fourth degree and higher degree, surgical methods need to be implemented. In common, surgery is deemed as the last option for piles treatment. Piles surgery is prescribed particularly by the surgeons in the situation where pain becomes unbearable.

The surgical treatments:

Hemorrhoidectomy: This is the surgery done to remove piles. The physician performs a few minute cuts around the anus to remove them away. The area which is under operation is put under local or general anesthesia. Hemorrhoidectomy is often a procedure for the outpatient case, and you are typically discharged on the same day itself. The patient usually takes about two to three weeks, to recover fully but then it can even take as long as five to six weeks to get back to normal pain-free life again.

PPH: Another surgical method is PPH. It is also known as stapled hemorrhoidectomy. In this surgery, the physician uses a device which looks like a stapler to reposition the pile and struck off their supply of blood so that they eventually shrink and die out. This surgical procedure is less painful than traditional hemorrhoidectomy as it removes hemorrhoid to where there are fewer nerve endings, so it hurts less. There will be faster recovery, few or no complications, minor itching, and bleeding.

Piles or fistula are two very severe problems which men can face at any point in their life. These two medical conditions affect one of the main parts of a men's system, i.e. the anus. But many a time, people confuse one of these disorder with the other one.

What Are Piles?
Piles are the inflamed or swollen set of tissues which are present in the sensitive anal area. These can range from different sizes and can also be present in various areas i.e. internal or external. Internal piles are usually present between 2-4 cms above the anus opening whereas the external piles are present on the outside.

There are different symptoms for Piles

The person can experience severe to moderate pain in the rectum area.
Immense pain can also occur when the person is sitting or moving in a difficult position.
Experiencing discomfort, itchiness, or swelling of the anus is very common in Piles.
The person may see blood in his stool or problems related to digestion.
The causes of Piles can be of different reasons

Chronic constipation
Chronic diarrhea
Lifting heavy weights
Pregnancy
Treatment and Diagnosis

Homeopathy can be effectively used to treat piles. Most of the time, piles are caused due unhealthy lifestyle and food habits. So homeopathy can be easily treated with the help of homeopathic methods which can be used to change one's food habits and keep them healthy.

What is Fistula?

The anus is like an exit point in the body for wastes and semen. Inside this anus, many small glands are present. If due to some reason, these glands or a single gland is blocked, then an abscess is formed which infects the anus and causes severe pain or abnormalities. This condition is known as Anus fistula.

There is no exact cause of fistula. Usually, these are caused due to some severe accident or injury which affects the anus. It can also be caused due to some other disease which affects the anus like STDs, Crohn s Disease, tuberculosis etc.

Here are some important symptoms

Blockage of anal abscesses
Pain and inflammation around the anus
Immense pain with bowel movements
Bleeding from the anus
Bloody or foul-smelling drainage coming out from the anus
Treatment and Diagnosis

Homeopathy can be a very important and efficient way by which fistula can be relieved from. Homeopathy has a very high chance of solving fistula because homeopathic medicines and methods can cure the abscess completely. Due to the complete removal of the abscess, the normal tissues appear once again with time.

Hemorrhoids, popularly called piles , refers to the swollen, inflamed tissue that accumulates in the anal canal. These tissues consist of muscles, elastic fibers, support tissues and blood vessels.

As piles is a disease with conspicuous symptoms (bloody stools, anal rashes and reddening), and extremely common (more than 75% of the population will suffer once in their lifetime), there are numerous myths surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. If you want to separate your facts from the chaff, this article will help you to do just that.

1) Myth: The probability of getting piles increases with age.

Fact: This isn t necessarily the case. Piles is caused due to strain and pressure applied on the area of the anus. This strain can come from a variety of sources, including diseases (diarrhea), physiological conditions (constipation) and unrelated processes (pregnancy).

2) Myth: Eating hot, spicy things like green chili will increase your chances of piles or exacerbate its symptoms.

Fact: Piles occurs due to strain on the anus, more specifically on the blood vessels near that area. This happens due to the body s blood pressure (BP) being unusually high, and not due to digestion/diet specialties.

3) Myth: Your diet has absolutely nothing to do with your piles risk.

Fact: Piles has many factors that are either directly causal or increase the risk of it substantially in a person. Among them, constipation is an ever-present entity. Therefore, a diet rich in food that fights constipation is beneficial in combating/reducing risk for piles. Such a diet comprises high fiber (skins of fruits etc.) content, high levels of hydration and low calorie/fat intake.

4) Myth: You are more likely to have piles if you are exposed to the cold.

Fact: There is no scientific evidence to support this claim, even though it has gained popularity with time. To the contrary, application of cold materials on the surface can help relieve pain and irritation related to piles. You can apply cold compresses on the surface of the buttocks to relieve itch, pain and burning sensations from the piles rashes.

5) Myth: You should not work out when you have been diagnosed with piles.

Fact: This claim is also an unfounded one, and you definitely shouldn t freak out if you re a fitness freak. There are only some variants of exercise that can exacerbate your piles like if you re lifting too-heavy weights, twisting your body, or are holding your breath while lifting weights. Apart from that, exercise also helps reduce the risk of piles by help you lose weight and facilitating smooth bowel movement.

6) Myth: Piles is a recurrent disease. Recurrence of piles is known to happen but now good painless treatment options are available.

Piles or hemorrhoids are the formation of dense tissue in the anal canal, which causes obvious and painful symptoms. However, you should not lose your sleep over piles it is treatable and easily diagnosable.

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.

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.

Piles or haemorrhoids is a condition in which the rectal veins become inflamed, thus causing bleeding and swelling. Hemorrhoids are clumps or cushions of tissue which get aggregated around the anal canal and are full of blood vessels, muscles and elastic fibres. Piles can be of various sizes and are found inside the anus or around the anal region. However, piles found inside the anal canal are way more common than the external ones.

In most cases, this condition can be treated by taking required medicines along with following a high-fibre diet. However, in some cases, the piles might be severe and need to be removed surgically. The common symptoms of piles are blood discharge while eliminating faeces and abnormal enlargements around the anal region. Piles might also be characterised by excessive itching of the anal region and pain during defecating.

In Ayurvedic terms, piles are called ArshaShoola which translates to extremely painful conditions akin to the piercing of needles. This condition can be gotten rid of by availing of various Ayurvedic remedies.

Treatment-

Surgical treatment of piles is not necessary; rather it has been observed that recurrence of the condition is experienced by people who usually undertake surgery. Treatment of piles using Ayurveda usually includes dietary and lifestyle changes; making most of the remedies easily implementable. Listed below are some Ayurvedic remedies:



Herbs: Herbs used for ayurvedic treatment of piles include Haritaki and jimikand.
Diet: Permanent moderation of diet is needed for the treatment of piles. Some dietary changes include:
Starchy foods such as yellow pumpkin and potato should be avoided and replaced with fibrous foods.
Inclusion of mango and sesame seeds adds bulk to the diet and helps in preventing constipation.
Natural food softeners such as jambul , amalaki , dried figs and papayaare also recommended.
Vegetables having larger amounts of roughage, such as turnip, onions, radish, ginger and bitter gourd should be added to the diet.
Lifestyle Changes: Some of the basic lifestyle changes include:
Regular cleansing of the colon.
Regular exercise is mandatory.
A normal and healthy sex life should be followed. Aggravation of symptoms of piles is caused due to abnormal or excess sex.
Avoiding sitting for long periods.
Consume enough water in a day (about 2-3 liters). If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an ayurveda.

Piles or haemorrhoids refer to a condition when the veins of the rectum or the anus get abnormally enlarged and causing significant bleeding and inflammation. Generally, there are two types of piles that are found in the human body. One is internal haemorrhoid which is generally painless and occurs in the inner layer of the anal region. The other is external haemorrhoid which occurs in the external layers of the rectum making it easily visible and extremely painful.

The causes of Haemorrhoids are obesity, a desk-bound lifestyle, untreated chronic gastric conditions like dysentery, diarrhoea, constipation, hereditary factors, pelvic tumours and significant increase in the weight of the uterus at the time of pregnancy.

The symptoms of piles include severe pain in the anal region followed by blood discharge with the faecal materials along with extreme irritability in the particular region and abnormal enlargement around the anal region.
In Ayurvedic treatments, piles are referred to as Arsha Shoola which means extreme painful conditions that resemble needle piercing. However, this intense sensation of pain can be eradicated by Ayurvedic treatments as it concentrates on the elimination of the symptoms.

Some essential Ayurvedic remedies for piles are as follows:

Haemorrhoid is a medical condition that largely occurs due to a bad digestive system. A prescribed dosage of haritaki and jimikand might help in the overall improvement of your digestive system.
According to the Ayurvedic scriptures, piles can be treated, if you can maintain a healthy dietary regime that should include amalaki, papaya and jamrul, but not excessive starch-containing foods like potato and pumpkin.
A mixture containing radish and milk can be applied in the entrance of the anus twice a day to cure piles.
A juicy extract of mint leaves and ginger along with a pinch of lemon juice and honey can be consumed twice a day to get rid of piles.
If the bleeding is continuous a prescribed dosage of the herb nagakesara might provide adequate relief.