HEMORRHOIDS? 6 HOME REMEDIES TO FIGHT OFF THE PAIN

Hemorrhoids have the dubious honor of inflicting two very distinct kinds of pain. There’s the physical pain, of course. After all, hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your anus caused by excessive muscular straining. Going through childbirth or regularly passing hard stools causes blood vessels to bulge out in the walls of the rectum. Once those vessels are out and in the way, they get irritated by your going to the bathroom, walking, or even just sitting down.

But that’s just half of it. The other side of the pain equation is the pain of embarrassment. Nearly half of all people get hemorrhoids by the age of 50, but no one wants to talk about it with their doctor or pharmacist, and so they consign themselves to suffering in silence. Instead, try these 6 techniques, and you may not have to deal with either type of pain.

• Take a sitz bath. This soothing remedy involves nothing more than drawing a 3- to 4-inch-deep warm bath, adding 1 cup of Epsom salts, and sitting in it for 15 to 20 minutes several times per day. When you do sit in it, be sure to raise your knees; this helps the sitz bath do its work more effectively.
  How does it work? The warm water helps dull the pain while also helping to increase the flow of blood to the area, which can help shrink the swollen veins. The salts draw moisture out of the veins, causing them to shrink, which reduces pain. If you have sensitive skin, rinse off with warm water after your sitz bath; otherwise, you don’t have to.
• Work wonders with witch hazel. If you are suffering from acute hemorrhoids, medical practitioners suggest using either cotton balls or toilet paper moistened with the herb witch hazel to clean your anal area after bowel movements.
  How does it work? The witch hazel causes the blood vessels to shrink down and contract, thus easing your pain. You can either buy witch hazel and sprinkle it on to the toilet paper yourself or get prepackaged medicated pads with witch hazel already in them.
• Strive for softer stools. The anal opening isn’t meant to accommodate large, hard stools. In fact, passing rock-hard stools provides just the kind of strain needed to swell the veins in your rectum. The solution is to make sure that your diet is high in fiber and fluids that will produce softer bowel movements.
  What to do? Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and drinking six to eight glasses of water per day is the best at-home remedy for hemorrhoids. Another means of boosting your daily fiber intake is by taking a nonprescription fiber supplement. Follow the label instructions carefully, and be sure to take the supplements with a full 8-ounce glass of water.
• Try a deep freeze. Tie off four fingers of a rubber glove, fill the remaining finger with water, and put the glove in the freezer. Then, use the icicle that forms as an ice suppository.
  What to do? Insert the frozen finger into your rectum as deep as is comfortable, and hold it in place until the coldness becomes uncomfortable – about 5 minutes, or until the ice melts. Healthcare specialists recommend applying gloved frozen fingers directly to the affected area several times per day to help ease pain and swelling that often accompany hemorrhoids.
• Treat yourself to some aloe vera. Frequently apply aloe vera gel to the area to ease the pain of hemorrhoids and to promote healing.
  What to do? You can find pure gel in most health food stores or drugstores, or simply buy an aloe vera plant, break off one of the leaves, squeeze out a dab of gel, and apply it with a clean finger.
• Steer clear of certain foods and drinks. There are some foods that won’t exactly make your hemorrhoids worse but can contribute to your pain by creating further itching or burning as they pass through the bowels.
  What to avoid? Foods that can cause you trouble include strong spices such as red pepper and mustard and drinks like coffee and alcohol.

Don’t go through the caring process alone. Seek for our home care experts to help you heal better. Bayou Home Care in Louisiana is always ready to assist any of your healthcare needs at home. Gives us a call today!