Natural Remedies For Hemorrhoids
You know what is a real pain in the butt?
Hemorrhoids!
You might be wondering how the heck you got them in the first place and if it is really possible to get rid of them naturally? In most cases, you can nip it in the butt (pun intended) naturally and we are going to dive into the how to's.
First things first though...
Symptoms
One of the most common concerns is how to know whether you have hemorrhoids and if you should seek medical attention. The thing is, you can never be too safe, so get checked and then you know what you are working with.
Here are the common symptoms associated with hemorrhoids:
Protruding mass from anus (this varies depending on the level of hemorroid)
Mucous discharge
Fecal leakage
painful bowel movements
blood in stool (always seek medical attention if this is occuring)
Itching
What causes hemorrhoids?
Understanding the cause is just as important as knowing a cure. If the cause remains, so too will the problem and in this case, hemorrhoids. Let's chat through some of the causes shall we?
Constipation or chronic diarrhea
Overuse of laxatives
Being overweight
Giving birth
Lifting heavy objects regularily
Aging
How to get rid of hemorroids
Increase fiber
As we chatted about above one of the causes of hemorroids is constipation and/or chronic diarrhea. Fiber is a big part in not only avoiding hard stools, but also helping to bulk the stool, ultimately keeping you regular and the colon clean. Aim for 30 grams of fiber per day through a variety of foods such a ground flax, psyllium husk, chia seeds, fruits, vegetables, lentils and quinoa.
Drink your water
Dehydration is one of the many contributing factors to constipation and as we know the constinual straining and build up of stool can cause hemorroids. To figure out how much water you should be drinking in a day take your body weight, divide it by 2 and that gives you the number of ounces of water you should be drinking in a day.
example. 180lbs ÷ 2 = 90 ounces of water (2661mls or 2.6 L)
Take a probiotic
Studies have shown deficiency in certain strains of bacteria can be a contributing factor in constipation and that probiotics will aid in digestion of nutrients and healthy bowel movements.
Avoid straining
Pushing like you are about to give birth is not a good thing, unless of course you are actually giving birth in that case GO GIRL GO!
Straining doesnt just apply to visiting the leu with constipation, lifting weights and heavy items and straining while doing so will make hemorroids worse. Take time to relax and listen to your body. When it's time to go it is time to go!
Wipe and wash well
It is important to have good bathroom hygiene. Remaining stool can be irritating to the hemorroids and wiping and washing thoroughly will be important to avoid irritation. Having said that be sure not to irritate while cleaning and stick to perfume and chemical free soaps., your bum will thank you.
Sitz Bath
Trying to be discrete with an itchy bum? The sitz bath is a soothing way to relieve hemorroids and some of the symptoms associated such as burning and itching. Simply sit in a warm bath for 15 minutes, twice a day or more.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel water can be applied topically and has been shown to temporarily relieve itching, discomfort, irritation, and burning.
You are likely wondering if your hemorroids will go away and just how long it will take. Your symptoms should clear up within a few days and while your hemorroids can reappear, if symptoms continue for more than one to two weeks after implementing home treatments, it is recommended that you visit your doctor.
