Hemorrhoids are inflamed veins in or around the anus or lower rectum. If they are projecting into the rectum, they are considered internal and if they protrude out of the body or are in the skin of the external anal sphincter, they are external hemorrhoids, according to the definitions supplied by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Hemorrhoids are not dangerous, but they are uncomfortable. Treatment at home is safe and often effective, according to the National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse, though ultimately, medical or surgical treatment may be required to end the problem.
Step 1
Pour witch hazel, available at grocery stores and pharmacies, over a small stack of 4 X 4 gauze pads and wring out the excess. Place in single layers, on sheets of wax paper, finishing with a layer of the paper and place in the freezer for one hour. Remove a few of the gauze pads and apply them directly to the inflamed hemorrhoidal tissue. Leave them in place for three hours. The cold will feel good and reduce the swelling.
Witch hazel has been approved for use as a medicinal product by the European Medicines Agency because it decreases inflammation in mucous membranes and stops minor bleeding. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved medicated ointments containing hamamelis virginiana, the botanical name for witch hazel, and as with most herbal products, the efficacy of the bark, leaves and root has been proven through tradition way before any scientific review.
As with the use of any herb or medication witch hazel can cause side effects. Do not use this herb if your hemorrhoids are hemorrhaging or if the skin reacts with increased itching or burning. And do not replace medical care with the use of herbs or at-home remedies.
Step 2
Cool internal hemorrhoids with a specially prepared medical exam glove. Fill two of the fingers of the glove with water and place the glove, wrapped in wax paper, in the freezer for two hours. Cover these gloved ice fingers with a medical lubricant or an over-the-counter ointment prepared for hemorrhoid treatment. Insert one of these ice-fingers into the rectum and place the other on the area just outside the anus. Cover the site with 4 x 4 pads and let this stay in place until it melts. Repeat several times each day if needed.
Step 3
Use over-the-counter hemorrhoid ointments, available in brand-name and cheaper, generic versions, for overnight or when witch hazel is not convenient. To keep the ointment from staining clothing, place a folded 4 x 4 gauze over the site. Internal hemorrhoids are difficult to treat with ointments. Buy a small syringe, without a needle, from your local pharmacist. Squeeze a small amount of hemorrhoid ointment on a dish and pull it up into the syringe. Cover the outside of the syringe with a small amount of the hemorrhoid ointment and insert the ointment into the rectum. Treating internal hemorrhoids in this manner right before retiring for the night allows the medication to stay in place.
Step 4
Seek medical treatment for hemorrhoids if they hemorrhage, show signs of infection such as hardness, are painful to the touch, drain anything other than a small amount of blood, or if they do not resolve themselves after a month of home treatment.
Medical treatment of hemorrhoids is done by injecting each area with a chemical solution designed to shrink the tissues. This process is called sclerotherapy. In addition, three surgical treatment options are outlined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They include the placement of rubber bands at the base of each hemorrhoid, coagulation of the tissue with infrared heat or a complete removal of these veins in a hemorrhoidectomy.
Things You'll Need
- 4X4 gauze pads
- 1 pint witch hazel
- Wax paper
- Medical gloves
- Medical lubricant
- Water
