Holistic Healing: Ayurvedic Approaches for Piles and Fissures

Hemorrhoids, commonly known as piles, are an uncomfortable condition marked by inflammation in the lower rectum. Typical symptoms include the presence of blood in stools, itching in the anal area, continuous pain, and a general sense of discomfort.

Piles may occur intermittently or persist over time, affecting almost everyone at some juncture in their life, be it briefly or for an extended period. The likelihood of developing piles rises with age due to the weakening of the tissues supporting the rectum and anus. It is advisable to promptly seek medical attention, particularly for individuals aged 60 or older.

If you think you might be dealing with piles, it's crucial to identify the type you have and learn how to manage them. Treating piles in the early stages is usually straightforward and affordable. However, severe cases may demand professional intervention, including medications and potentially invasive surgeries.

Causes of Piles

Piles can be attributed to various factors, including but not limited to:

Excessive Straining During Bowel Movements

Putting too much pressure while emptying the bowels can result in swollen and inflamed veins around the anus, causing pain and bleeding during stool passage.

Persistent Constipation

Chronic constipation plays a significant role in the development of piles and fissures. Struggling with constipation often leads to strenuous efforts during bowel movements.

Obesity

Being overweight brings its own set of health challenges. Obesity, particularly in individuals dealing with constipation, increases the likelihood of developing piles over time.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can contribute to chronic constipation and pelvic complications, making bowel movements a strained process and potentially leading to piles.

Regular Heavy Lifting

Frequent lifting of heavy objects puts direct strain on the pelvic and anal regions, causing swelling of the veins around the anus. This not only triggers piles but may also result in bowel incontinence.

Low-Fibre Diet

A diet lacking in fiber can result in a dry and hardened intestinal lining. Insufficient lubrication in the intestines makes passing stools without straining difficult, contributing to the development of piles and fissures.

Excessive Spice Consumption

While not a direct cause of piles, consuming an abundance of spicy foods can exacerbate existing conditions. The irritation caused by excessive spice intake during bowel movements can lead to intense pain and discomfort.

How to Effectively Manage and Prevent Hemorrhoids Naturally?

Discover practical and natural tips to manage piles and fistula for a healthier lifestyle.

Prioritize Urges

Resist the urge to ignore natural bodily cues. Despite hectic schedules, ignoring the urge to pass stool can result in dry and hardened bowel movements, increasing the risk of developing hemorrhoids. Straining the body to evacuate stool without the natural urge can elevate pressure on the venous cushion, potentially leading to hemorrhoids.

Optimize Your Diet

A well-balanced diet is integral to maintaining a healthy digestive system. To prevent or manage hemorrhoids, consider these dietary adjustments:

Avoid fried, salty, and processed foods, full-fat dairy, red meat, chocolates, candies, coffee with added sugar or milk, alcohol, soda, and sports drinks.

Boost fiber intake with pulses, beans, lentils, chickpeas, whole fruits, and fresh vegetables.

Stay hydrated by drinking ample water, preventing stool from drying out quickly, and naturally treating piles.

Embrace Regular Exercise

Incorporating regular exercise into your routine can prevent various digestive concerns, including hemorrhoids. A sedentary lifestyle may impede natural bowel movements, contributing to conditions like hemorrhoids.

Engaging in moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, sprinting, cycling, or yoga, promotes an active body, facilitating smooth bowel movements. However, individuals with existing hemorrhoid conditions should avoid exercises like heavy weight-lifting or intense abdominal pressure. 

How Ayurvedic Remedies Aid in Piles and Fistula Treatment

Ayurveda adopts a holistic strategy to address and alleviate piles and fissures, aiming to restore and sustain the equilibrium of the three Doshas for overall health benefits.

Additionally, certain beneficial herbs serve as potent components in effective Ayurvedic treatments for hemorrhoids.

Touch-me-not plant

The Touch-Me-Not herb has garnered recognition for its therapeutic properties in addressing bleeding piles. This plant contains an alkaloid called mimosine, known for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory attributes.

Triphala

Triphala, a blend of three powerful herbs—Amalaki, Bibhitaki, and Haritaki—provides enduring relief for piles. Its unique composition makes it an excellent remedy for constipation, promoting smooth bowel movements and significantly reducing the likelihood of straining and piles.

Guggul for piles

Renowned as Balsamodendron Mukul, Guggul stands out as one of Ayurveda's most potent anti-inflammatory herbs. Its effectiveness extends to reducing inflammation, addressing hemorrhoidal concerns, and offering both rapid and enduring relief from piles.

Functioning as both a laxative and an astringent agent, Guggul aids in metabolizing the bioactive etiologic components of hemorrhoids. This action facilitates the elimination of toxins (Ama) and enhances digestive health.

Key Insights

Whether it's the distress of seeing blood after a visit to the toilet or the daily discomfort, hemorrhoids can indeed be a challenging health issue. Effectively managing it involves making essential lifestyle adjustments and adopting a healthier diet. In this blog, we explored natural and Ayurvedic recommendations for handling piles and fissures. Let's recap the key takeaways.

Piles can arise from factors such as bowel strain, chronic constipation, obesity, pregnancy, a low-fiber diet, and excessive spice consumption.

Ayurveda attributes the development of piles to an imbalance in the three Doshas.

Implementing certain natural practices can aid in managing and preventing hemorrhoids.

Several Ayurvedic herbs are recognized for their efficacy in addressing piles and fissures.