All about Piles

Piles or Haemorrhoids are abnormally inflamed or engorged blood vessels in the anus. It causes great pain and discomfort to the sufferer.

How and Why?

• Bad lifestyle habits like Alcohol Intake, Spicy food, High blood pressure, strenuous exercise, prolonged sitting or traveling, less fluid intake are the most common causes of piles.
• Other causes include stress, bad bowel habits, pregnancy and childbirth
• When an individual suffering from piles ignores the symptoms, it can lead to bleeding and prolapse of the engorged veins
• When piles are retracted, bleeding can be dangerous situation, leading to shock
• Sometimes, strangulation of piles can also occur. This is associated with severe pain. Other notable complications include blood clot, ulceration and uncommonly gangrene, or tissue death, or necrosis. There may also be fibrosis (excess tissue) as well as discharge of pus.

Types of Piles:

1. Internal Piles: It cannot be felt as it occurs in the anal canal. When the disorder progresses, the piles protrude
2. External piles: The swelling can be felt around the anal canal

Grades of Piles

1. First grade piles develops inside the anal canal or the rectum
2. Second grade piles are protrusions from the anus, they return inwards on their own
3. Third grade piles is similar to second grade piles, but protrusion needs to be pushed back manually
4. Fourth grade piles is protrusion that hangs outside of the anal canal

Symptoms

• Pain is the most common symptom in external piles. This can get worse while straining to pass stools. Pain can be accompanies with burning before, during or after passing stools in some cases.
• There may also be discharge of mucous with itching around the anal orifice.
• Chronic Constipation: when one is constipated, one tends to exert pressure to empty the bowels. Slowly, the pressure affects the blood vessels in and around the anus. This may lead to piles.
• Bleeding: Fresh blood from the anus is one of the earliest symptoms of piles. Bleeding can occur during, before or after passing stools.
• Unsatisfactory Evacuation: Individuals, who suffer from piles, often feel that they have not been able to evacuate their bowels completely.

Healing with Homoeopathy

• Homoeopathy is a holistic approach
• Homoeopathic medicine help to reduce intensity and frequency of the complaints
• Homoeopathy increases disease free period
• Homoeopathy helps to reduce intake of conventional medicines
• It is a natural medicines to: Reduce pain Bleeding • Infection
• Homoeopathy could also help to treat underlying diseases such as constipation, fissure and fistula
• Homoeopathy helps to decrease recurrence of piles
• Homoeopathy is non invasive and painless way of treating piles
• Grade 1 and 2 can be significantly helped with homoeopathy. In Grade 3 piles, symptoms can be relieved by homoeopathy but cannot be completely treated. In Grade 4 piles. There would be symptomatic relief with homoeopathy. Surgery may be considered, if symptoms are unbearable and persistent.

Do It Yourself

• A high fiber diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains (or fiber supplements) can prevent constipation and thus also hemorrhoids to develop. The fiber will help keep the bowel movements regular and the fluid will keep them softer so they are easier to pass without straining. Foods rich in fiber are whole grains breads and cereals, beans, brown rice and other grains, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables fresh or lightly cooked.
• Flax seeds are rich in Omega 3 and easy to add to your daily food.
• Be sure to increase your dietary fiber slowly. Sudden increase in fiber may cause diarrhea, bloating, intestinal gas, or other discomfort. So if you are frequently constipated, have a high fiber diet and plenty of fluids.
• Drink lots of fluid, at least 8 glasses each day. Drinking fluids results in softer, bulkier stools. A softer stool makes emptying the bowels easier and lessens the pressure on hemorrhoids caused by straining. Eliminating straining also helps prevent the hemorrhoids from protruding.
• Avoid highly refined foods like white rice, white bread, pastries, cakes, etc.
• Alcohol should also be avoided as it can contribute to small, dry stools.
• Avoid acid forming foods such as sugar, animal protein, dairy, and caffeine-containing food and beverages.