Hemorrhoids... help

[Erika]

I know it's been awhile since I've been on the site but I had to come back to the place where I know I can get some good advice.

Does anyone know a good remedy for hemorrhoids?

Let me add that the reason the hemorrhoid got there to start with is because a few days ago I was really constipated. Then last night at work I had a lot to drink which caused me to have diarrhea all day long (about 7 times) and now the little hemorrhoid has turned into something much worse. I got some Prep H cooling gel for now and it's helping but I can barely wipe or wash myself because I'm in so much pain. Hey lessen learned from this... I'm not drinking anymore!

I will try any suggestions though and thank you in advance.

Thanks,
Erika

[Colorawdo girl]

Stuff happens. I might eat a lot of fiber and make sure I eat nothing binding.That area needs to rest and not be taxed os trained to heal.

Tumeric is anti inflammatory and I would also make a suppository type thing out of coconut oil(in solid form) or insert the liquid oil regularly.

This will pass. Sorry for you in meantime..eeeek n ouch!

[Erika]

Thanks for the advice. I'm feeling much better today so I'm hoping that it will go away soon.

Thanks again,
Erika

[pixie_333]

you should squat rather than sit. it will prevent hemmorrhoids and also heal them.
when you sit you choke the rectrum... when you squat it straightens the rectrum. and also by squating you get more out and use less to no need for toliet paper. also best to use water to risne the anal area rather than toliet paper.

you see mostly asians squating. it isn't popular in america. sometimes i pee standing more upright over the toliet than sitting and it comes out faster and feel more freedom like less strain. i don't need to use my muscles so much to get it all out.

unfortunely american tolets are not safe to squat... so perhaps use your imagination until you can heal the hemmorrhoids like getting an elders pot they put in beds at nursing homes etc. and put that on the floor and squat over it.

[pixie_333]

ps

also by squating you can dramaticaly help prevent colon cancer. it also helps rid more toxins in the body....

another idea if you don't want a bed pan just go out in the woods or use a grocery bag.

[pixie_333]

oh and i've heard putting vitamin e on it can offer a lot of relief. get a cap and puncture the tip.. insert and squeeze the juice into your anus.

i've never had hemmorhoids before... but i've heard about these things i've shared with you that apparently are successful.

[shourovfoisal]

Hemorrhoids is a very much serious disease which took 3 years away from my life. My life had become worse but I had nothing to do except of waiting. So, I will always tell people that 'Prevention is better than cure'. That is why, if you are caught by hemorrhoids anyway, it will take years to cure. So, please everyone beware of this and try to prevent this disease. Further, if you are caught by hemorrhoids, please choose the right medicine/treatment for getting cured. It's an friendly suggestion.
Thank you all...........

[Arky]

I see this is another resurrected ancient thread, but, FWIW, I'll go ahead and post some suggestions in the hope that they may serve as a springboard for someone's research efforts at some point in the future.




As with virtually any health issue, there tends to me more than one possible path towards developing the condition, but there are patterns which can be useful to observe in designing an approach for treatment.

For example, where the topic of hemorrhoids is concerned, I've noticed, over many years of reading, that there appears to be quite a close relationship between liver health and hemorrhoids. It appears to be quite common for people who've undergone chemotherapy, for example (chemo is extraordinarily toxic and punishing to the liver), to also experience hemorrhoids. Portal hypertension arising from cirrhosis may, in some cases, be a factor. Of course, there may be an element of 'chicken-&-egg' here (yes, even for vegans! ;) ), in so much as cancer often co-occurs with systemic inflammation, and inflammation is undoubtedly an issue where hemorrhoids are concerned.

But since the liver is so integral to the synthesis of physiologically-necessary compounds and is so utterly vital for the detoxification and elimination of toxic substances, the link I notice between liver health and hemorrhoids is not without logical basis, and, following this logic, I postulate that this may directly coincide with an inflammatory response, thus:

Certain toxins and free radicals can damage vascular tissue and the body often responds to tissue damage with an inflammatory response (and in the case of atherosclerosis, the body can be seen to have responded to continual tissue damage with the use of cholesterol as a repair agent/'band-aid' for the afflicted areas). If one's liver is compromised by physical obstruction (e.g gallstones / biliary sludge) or is overwhelmed at some point by an acute (e.g. chemotherapy, multiple ethylmercury-containing vaccinations etc.), or a cumulative (e.g. dental amalgam vapour, copper or lead pipes leeching into domestic drinking water, occupational/industrial exposure), toxic exposure, then damaging toxins may run riot in the body, including the vascular system.

None of the above is intended to imply that someone with hemorrhoids is likely to get/have cancer or heart disease; there are numerous ways in which hemorrhoids may arise (pregnancy/childbirth, heavy lifting, straining during BMs etc. also stress the body a great deal and can co-occur with hemorrhoids etc., since these lead to increased pressure within the abdomen and increased pressure upon the veins, potentially obstructing venous blood flow); I'm simply mentioning the above because it can offer clues regarding physiological mechanisms at play with, and possible ways to approach, the issue of hemorrhoids. Fundamentally, hemorrhoids are a clue that all is not well with the vascular system and one should not seek merely to suppress symptoms (though this may provide some relief), but should also consider deeper aspects of what may be occurring on a physiological level.

Also, please note that there is a great deal of overlap between the treatment needs and approaches where both hemorrhoids and varicose veins are concerned. Both relate to the integrity of the vascular system. Whilst there may sometimes be a genetic component involved in weakness of the vascular system, if your symptoms have arisen out of the blue (you don't say how old you are), then I'd certainly be at least looking for a cause other than genetics.



In light of the above discussion, things which can be considered (and which overlap with each other) in treating hemorrhoids include:


POTENTIAL TOXICITY WHICH MIGHT BE CAUSING VASCULAR DAMAGE:

Sources of toxic exposure - smoking, heavy metals, environmental exposure (huge topic, encompassing industrial, environmental, occupational, dietary, cosmetics chemicals, etc.).

Possible impaired functioning of detoxification pathways:
Major detoxification organs:

Skin - Perspiration is important and requires sufficient regular exercise/exertion, sauna etc. Perspiration may also be compromised if the endocrine system is being disrupted by, for example, heavy metal intoxication. Interestingly, heavy metals are also profoundly pro-oxidative in the body so cause enormous damage to cells and tissues, system-wide, and can additionally compromise liver detoxification pathways by displacing trace minerals vital for the correct function of detoxification enzymes. Remember that a certain type of chelation therapy is quite successful in treating some forms of heart/vascular disease and this isn't a mere coincidence.

Liver/gallbladder - milk thistle, turmeric (contraindicated if one has dental amalgams or other heavy metals exposure), taurine, glycine, lecithin are all supportive of good bile solubility and flow, thus aiding both purging of toxins and decongestion of the liver. Physical obstruction of hepato-biliary function can also be a potential issue for some people and this is discussed in some detail here: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?48992-Question-about-wrinkles&p=663109&highlight=#post663109. Parasites (liver flukes) may also be an issue and if suspected, I recommend looking into the work of Doc Sutter, whose approach is partly based upon the foundations of Hulda Clarke's herbal research re' parasites. Specific Doc Sutter and Hulda Clarke forums available on Curezone.com

Bowel - Consume plenty of natural plant fibre (primarily from leafy greens, not cereal grains!), as fibre aids in excretion of not only general bowel detritus but also, particularly, excretion of toxin-laden bile (the liver detoxifies the body of many substances not by enzymatic pathways but by simply purging such undetoxifiable substances into the bowel, using bile as the courier). In the absence of sufficient daily fibre intake, too much toxin-laden bile is reabsorbed in the bowel (e.g. hepatic portal vein). Bowel reabsorption is appropriate, to a degree, since bile is recycled, but it's a balancing act given bile's use as a courier for many toxins. In terms of bowel cleansing, good practitioners to learn from include Bernard Jensen and Richard Schulze, and there are, of course, others.


SPECIFIC TOXICITY ISSUES - Everyone's life experience is unique; everyone's potential sources and levels of toxic exposure are unique; everyone's personal physiology (and thus sensitivity to toxic exposure) is somewhat unique. I can tell you from personal experience, that I happen to be genetically-predisposed to be both sensitive to heavy metals and to have difficulty with excreting them from my body. I have a sufficient number of symptoms to have been able to gradually put the various clues together and figure this out, and I thus sought appropriate testing, the results of which confirmed my suspicions of mercury toxicity.
In your case, your own symptoms may or may not be related to some form of toxic exposure (be it heavy metals or something entirely different), but I urge you to at least consider toxicity of some form as a possible contributor to your current health status. Something is giving rise to your hemorrhoids symptom, so it's a matter of either going into denial about it and just trying to suppress this symptom(s), or taking a wiser and more constructive approach of trying to ascertain what is occurring on an underlying level. This will be a process of elimination (no pun intended), with you needing to consider each possibility in turn, some possibilities having been suggested in this post.


Protective compounds which help minimise toxic/oxidative load on the detoxification organs and help minimise overall levels of cellular/tissue damage are important and will be considered further down the page


CONT. Below...

[Arky]

(CONT. From Above)




VASCULAR INTEGRITY:

Protective measures:

Regular exercise - encourages healthy blood flow. It's worthwhile understanding that venous blood flow specifically requires movement of the body, in order to 'pump' the blood back to the heart, via contraction of the muscles. Sitting or standing still for long periods of time, therefore, is undesirable for venous flow and thus anyone with hemorrhoids or varicose veins would be wise to deliberately engage in physical movement, periodically, if their occupation requires them to sit or stand for extended periods of time. Yoga would be particularly excellent before or after work.

Supportive and Protective compounds for the vascular system -
Bioflavanoids/OPCs: (Citrus = diosmin, hesperidin, rutin - but be careful not to consume too much fresh grapefruit as this contains naringenin which slows down Phase 1 liver enzyme activity. You can get a good Citrus Bioflavanoids supplement from Twinlab. Also, you can eat the white pith from beneath the skin of various citrus fruits). Others flavanoid and/or OPC sources include pine bark (AKA Pycnogenol), bilberry, blackcurrant, blackberry, hawthorn, cherries (almost all berries are rich in flavonoids and vitamin C), grapeseed, grapeskin, green tea, buckwheat tea (a good source of rutin), red wine, quercetin, resveratrol, ginkgo biloba etc.

Carotenoids: Lycopene, Beta-Carotene, Astaxanthin, Lutein.

Vitamins A, C, E, K etc.

Herbal: Butcher's Broom, stoneroot, horse chestnut, and witch hazel are respected herbs for hemorrhoids (Herb Pharm do a great combination 'Healthy Veins Tonic'). Cayenne is also sometimes used as an adjunct to other treatments for vascular issues because it is considered vasodilative, but it should be used with caution.

I don't know much about them in relation to hemorrhoids, but also apparently helpful are glucosamine and glycosaminoglycan ('GAG').

Trimethylglycine (also known as anhydrous betaine) aids methylation in the liver - basically, it helps the liver detoxify many substances by donating spare methyl groups for the liver to molecularly attach to toxins, thus rendering the toxins relatively harmless. Betaine is also known to encourage glycosaminoglycan synthesis.


General dietary nutrients - Potassium and magnesium are essential for healthy elasticity of blood vessels - it is no coincidence that Apple Cider Vinegar is recommended for topical use in varicose veins patients, since ACV is very high in potassium. Calcium is also important, as is silicon. Calcium and magnesium are abundant in dark leafy greens and nuts such as almonds. Potassium is abundant in various fruits including kiwis, apples, bananas, apricots etc. Silicon is available from many sources including shiny skins of fruits and leafy vegetables and root vegetables (radishes, apples, tomatoes, strawberries, carrots, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, etc.) and herbs such as oat-straw tea and horsetail/shavegrass. There is also a particularly effective (very absorbable) supplemental form of silicon known as OrthoSilicic Acid (trade name 'BioSil').
Minimise dairy (personally, I'm not against dairy if it is raw/unpasteurised, but since this is a vegan forum, you may already be avoiding dairy completely anyway). I only mention dairy because some natural health practitioners claim there is a link between heavy dairy consumption and hemorrhoids (perhaps due to dairy being calcium-rich which can lead to constipation, since calcium needs to exist in balance with magnesium in the body - too much calcium intake without sufficient magnesium intake means magnesium may be drawn from the body, and magnesium deficiency commonly promotes constipation; constipation often leading to excessive straining during evacuation on WC; excessive straining presumably increasing likelihood of hemorrhoids). Dairy or no dairy, this still points to the importance of ensuring good magnesium intake, both for vascular elasticity and for no straining during BMs (bile is also important for smooth BMs, since it stimulates bowel peristalsis, so this ties in with the already-stated importance to ensure good bile flow for toxin excretion purposes.



INFLAMMATION:

Try to identify and eliminate inflammatory triggers - food sensitivities, allergies etc. This is a major one because if you are consuming certain foods to which your bowel and your immune system are sensitive, then the net result will be inflammation of the bowel tissues. If you do know yourself to be sensitive to certain foods (e.g. do you suffer with IBS, perhaps?), then it'd be wise to consider what has given rise to the food sensitivity in the first place - e.g has something led to one or more of your liver enzyme pathways being compromised in its ability to detoxify food chemicals (e.g. tryptophan, certain amines, etc.) which ordinarily pose no challenge to a healthy human body. Or have you been on one or more courses of antibiotics in your lifetime which may have contributed to a degree of dysbiosis in the bowel, which can lead to bowel inflammation and inability to handle food substances such as lactose.


Regularly consume a variety of anti-inflammatory compounds:

Turmeric, ginger, bilberry (contains anthocyanins which are anti-inflammatory and are vasoprotective), astaxanthin (I've been particularly impressed with 4mg astaxanthin recently; very impressive as both an antioxidant and as an anti-inflammatory, and it's generally considered to be very safe. Works wonders for the skin, too).

There are certain herbal compounds which are very powerful anti-inflammatories but should be used only with caution. These include the likes of Boswellic Acid (frankincense), and Holy Basil, but I would personally suggest these are not ideal if you have any potential heavy metals exposure.

Proteolytic/fibrinolytic enzymes: bromelain, nattokinase, serrapeptase (N.B.! Unless your doctor specifically overrules this advice, avoid proteolytic/systemic enzymes if you have blood viscosity issues and/or you are prescribed blood-thinners, because proteolytic enzymes break down fibrin in the bloodstream, the net result being that the overall viscosity of the blood is reduced).




Lastly, if one is overweight, this does not help venous/vascular integrity or blood flow. Just something to consider.







I can't cover everything in one post, and that's about as much as springs to my mind at this point in time, though doubtless other things will occur to me afterwards - that's just the nature of human memory, unfortunately!


In addition to considering the above options, I also strongly encourage you to thoroughly consider if you have any other symptoms which tally with any of what I've discussed. If you do, this may help you further in establishing an underlying cause for your own case of hemorrhoids; again, your 'rrhoids are ​not the whole story here - they are a symptom of something deeper going on in your body.

That's not to worry you, it's to empower you to use this valuable symptom to address something which you may otherwise have been unaware of and thus unable to address. You would be wise to consult with a qualified doctor/practitioner to help you figure this out and treat it.

Of course, it might simply be that you are distinctly deficient in certain nutrients but that seems unlikely if you are consuming a diet rich in raw vegetables, fruits, nuts. seeds etc. Therefore, as I said, I recommend digging deeper with what clues you have, and preferably with the assistance of someone qualified and experienced in such matters - preferably a naturopath rather than a conventional doctor, since naturopaths tend to be more familiar with an approach geared towards identifying underlying causes, rather than the modern approach which (I wish it wasn't the case) tends to be more inclined to stifle symptoms with 'pharmaceutical magic bullets'. Obviously, this isn't the case with all conventional doctors - if you can find a good one then I'm sure he/she will be very capable and helpful to you.