Remedies for Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids, more commonly called piles, is a condition of the anus and rectum. The anus is at the end of the digestive tract and is made up of mucous lining and a ringed sphincter muscle. Many blood vessels and lymph vessels end here. The blood vessels are linked to the portal vein and return to the liver and then into general circulation. The lymph vessels drain into the nodes in the lower abdomen and groin.

Hemorrhoids occur when the veins in the rectum and anus become enlarged and varicose. When this occurs they may bleed, become infected, become clotted, or protrude from the anus. Those hemorrhoids forming above the boundary between the anus and rectum are called internal hemorrhoids. Those below this boundary are called external hemorrhoids. Both of these types of hemorrhoids may protrude.

Increased pressure in the anorectal veins causes hemorrhoids. The predisposition to hemorrhoids can be caused by general blood stasis in the region. This can be due to sitting or inactivity. Then any strain, either from lifting,  passing stool, or pregnancy can cause the veins to varicose.

Hemorrhoids can become swollen and bleed. This is usually noticed when wiping after a stool. This rarely leads to severe blood loss. The hemorrhoids can also protrude from the anus causing pain or discomfort. They can usually be pushed back into the anus with a gloved finger. Often, they will retract on their own. Common sensations of pain are burning and stitching.

Treatment is usually with a stool softener to reduce friction and straining with passing a stool. A sitz bath can be comforting. This is a bath of warm water that the person sits in. Sometimes Epsom salts can be added for additional relief. Bleeding hemorrhoids can be injected with a scaring agent causing the blood to clot. Larger hemorrhoids can be fitted with a rubber band to form a ligation causing then hemorrhoids to shrink and fall off. In severe cases, surgery may be needed.

Homeopathy can offer many great remedies for hemorrhoids. As in all homeopathic cases, it is necessary to do good repertization. With 345 remedies covering hemorrhoids, we must be more specific to determine the correct remedy. The sensations the person is experiencing will be one of the biggest helps in choosing the remedy. Some remedies also have affinities to particular aspects of hemorrhoids.  Below are a few rubrics from the Complete 2009 Repertory.

• Rectum; HEMORRHOIDS (345): 4ABROT., acal., acet-ac., 4ACON., adam., aegle., 4AESC., 4AESC-G., aeth., 4AGAR., 2agav-a., agki-p., agn., ail., 4ALCO-S., all-c., 3All-s., 4ALOE, 4ALUM., alum-p., alum-sil., alumn., am-br., 4AM-C., 4AM-M., 3Ambr., 4ANAC., 2anag., anan., 3Androc., 3Ang., 4ANT-C., ant-t., 4APIS, apoc., 2arg-n., arist-cl., 4ARN., 4ARS., 3Ars-i., 3Ars-s-f., arum-t., arund., asc-t., aster., atro., aur., aur-ar., aur-i., 3Aur-m., aur-m-n., aur-s., ba-sv., 3Bac., bacch-a., bad., bapt., 4BAR-C., bar-i., 3Bar-m., 3Bar-s., 4BELL., 3Berb., blum-o., 2bor., bov., 4BROM., 2brucel., bry., 3Bufo, 2buni-o., 3Cact., 2cadm., 4CALC., 3Calc-f., calc-i., 4CALC-P., 3Calc-s., 3Calc-sil., cand-a., cann-s., 3Canth., 4CAPS., 3Carb-ac., 4CARB-AN., 4CARB-V., carc., 2card-b., 3Card-m., carl., casc., catha-e., 4CAUST., cench., 2cent-u., 4CHAM., 3Chel., chim., 3Chin., chin-ar., chin-s., chr-ac., cic., 2cich., cimic., 3Cimx., cina, cinnb., 3Clem., 3Coca, cocc., 3Coff., colch., 4COLL., 4COLOC., con., cop., 2crat., croc., crot-h., 3Cub., culx-p., cupr., cupr-acet., cupr-ar., cur., 3Cycl., cyg-c., cyn-d., cyt-l., dig., 4DIOS., dol., dulc., echi., elaps, 2elat., elmen, 3Erig., ery-a., 3Eug., euon., euph-pu., 4EUPHR., 4FERR., 3Ferr-ar., ferr-i., ferr-m., ferr-p., ferul., fic., fic-i., 2fil., 4FL-AC., gall-ac., gels., 2genist., 2geum, gins., glon., 3Gran., 4GRAPH., grat., gua., haliae-lc., 4HAM., 3Hell., helo., helod-c., 4HEP., 4HYDR., hydro-c., 3Hyos., 3Hyper., 4IGN., 2inul., 4IOD., 3Ip., iris, joan., junc., 4KALI-AR., 3Kali-bi., 3Kali-br., 4KALI-C., 4KALI-CHL., 3Kali-m., 4KALI-N., kali-p., 4KALI-S., kali-sil., 3Kalm., kiss., kreos., lac-del., 4LACH., lact., lam., 2lap-be-e., lap-laz., laps., latex, 3Lept., 4LIL-T., 2lina., 2linu-c., 2linu-u., lith-c., 3Lob., luf-b., 4LYC., lycpr., lycps., lyss., 4M-ART., m-aust., mag-c., 3Mag-m., mag-p., 3Manc., marien., med., mel-alt., meny., 4MERC., merc-c., merc-cy., 4MERC-I-R., meteo., mez., 3Mill., morg., morg-g., mosch., 3Muc-u., 4MUR-AC., 2myrrh., 3Nat-c., 4NAT-M., 3Nat-s., 3Neg., nelu., neon, 4NIT-AC., nux-m., 4NUX-V., op., 3Ozone, 4PAEON., paraf., passi., pen., 4PETR., 3Petros., 4PH-AC., phasc-c., 4PHOS., 4PHYS., 3Phyt., pin-s., 3Pitu-a., 3Plan., 2plan-m., 3Plat., plb., 2plumbg-eu., 4PODO., 3Polyg., polyp-p., prot., 3Psor., 4PULS., 2querc-r., rad-br., ran-b., ran-s., 4RAT., ratt-n., 4RHAM-F., 2rheum, rhod., rhodi., rhodi-o-n., rhus-g., 4RHUS-T., rhus-v., 4RUMX., 3Ruta, 3Sabin., 3Sac-alb., 3Sang., sarcol-ac., sars., schran-u., scorp., 2scroph-n., sec., 3Sed-ac., sed-t., sel., 3Semp., 2senn., 4SEP., sid-al., 4SIL., slag, spig., 3Stann., 3Staph., 4STRAM., stront-c., 4SUL-AC., sul-i., 4SULPH., sumb., symph., syph., 2tama., 3Tarax., 3Ter., tere-ch., 2teucr-s., 2teucr-sc., ther., thlaspi, 4THUJ., torul., toxop-p., 3Tril., trom., 4TUB., unc-t., uran-n., urt-u., vac., verat., verat-v., 4VERB., vine-v., wies., 3Wye., yohim., 4ZINC., zinc-p., 3Zing.

• Rectum; HEMORRHAGE (245): abrot., acal., acet-ac., 4ACON., 3Aesc., 3Agar., aids, 3Alco-s., all-c., 4ALOE, alte-r., 4ALUM., alum-p., alum-sil., 3Alumn., 4AM-C., 3Am-m., 3Ambr., 2anac., 3Ant-c., anthr., 3Apis, aq-mar., arist-cl., arn., 4ARS., ars-met., 3Asar., aur., aur-ar., aur-m., aur-s., 3Bac., bacch-a., 3Bamb-a., bapt., 4BAR-C., bar-m., bar-s., 3Bell., berb., 3Bism., 3Bor., bufo, 4CACT., cadm., cadm-s., calad., 4CALC., calc-f., calc-hp., 3Calc-p., 3Calc-s., calc-sil., calen., camph., 3Canth., 4CAPS., carb-ac., 3Carb-an., 3Carb-v., carc., card-m., 2carl., 4CASC., cast., catha-e., caul., 2caust., 3Cham., chel., 4CHIN., chin-ar., chin-s., chlor., chr-ac., cinnam., cob., 3Cocain., 3Cocc., coff., colch., 4COLL., 2coloc., con., croc., 4CROT-H., culx-p., 3Cupr., 3Cycl., cymbo-ci., dios., diox., echi., elaps, elat., erech., 3Erig., eucal., 3Eug., eupi., 4FERR., ferr-ar., ferr-m., ferr-p., 3Fic., fic-i., fic-v., 3Fl-ac., flag-l., gamb., 3Graph., grat., 4HAM., helod-c., 3Hep., hydr., 3Hyos., 3Ign., iod., 3Ip., 3Kali-ar., 3Kali-bi., 3Kali-c., 3Kali-chl., kali-i., kali-m., kali-n., kali-p., 3Kali-s., kali-sil., kola., kreos., lac-d., 4LACH., lam., lap-be-e., lap-laz., latex, led., 3Lept., 2linu-u., lipp., lob., loxo-r., 3Lsd, 4LYC., lycps., lyss., m-art., manc., mand., mangi., med., mel-alt., meny., 4MERC., 3Merc-c., merc-cy., meteo., mez., 3Mill., mobil-ph., morg., morg-g., morph., 3Mur-ac., 3Nat-c., 4NAT-M., 3Nat-s., neon, 4NIT-AC., 3Nux-m., 4NUX-V., onc-t., op., oper., ozone, paeon., 2petr., 3Ph-ac., 4PHOS., 3Phyt., pier-b., 3Pitu-a., plan., plat., 3Podo., 3Polyg., 2polyg-a., 2posit., 2pot-a., 4POT-T., prot., prun., 4PSOR., 4PULS., pyrog., 3Querc-r., 3Rat., ratt-n., rheum, rhus-g., rhus-t., rhus-v., 3Ruta, 4SABIN., sac-alb., sang., sanguis., sanic., sars., 3Sec., sel., 4SEP., 2sica-a., sica-t., sil., spig., spong., 3Stram., 3Sul-ac., 4SULPH., syph., 3Tama., tarax., tela, 4TER., 3Teucr., thlaspi, 4THUJ., tity-t., trif-p., tril., 3Tub., unc-t., 4URT-U., ust., valer., verat., vib., visc., yohim., 2zinc., zinc-p.

• Rectum; HEMORRHOIDS; Constipation; with (23) : 3Aesc., aesc-g., alum., am-m., anac., ant-c., bac., cadm., carb-v., caust., 3Coll., euon., hydr., kali-s., lach., lyc., 3Nux-v., paraf., pitu-a., sil., sul-ac., sulph., verb.

• Rectum; HEMORRHOIDS; Delivery, parturition; during (10) : apis, ham., 3Ign., 4KALI-C., 3Lil-t., 3Mur-ac., 3Podo., 3Puls., sep., 3Sulph.

• Rectum; HEMORRHOIDS; Delivery, parturition; after, puerperal (11) : acon., 3Aloe, apis, bell., ham., ign., kali-c., phys., podo., puls., sulph.

• Rectum; HEMORRHOIDS; Fissures, soreness of anus, with (19) : aloe, ars., calc., caps., caust., cham., graph., ham., hydr., ign., 3Nit-ac., nux-v., petr., phos., podo., rat., sed-ac., sep., sulph.

• Rectum; HEMORRHOIDS; Grapes, like bunches of (8) : aesc., 3All-s., 4ALOE, ars., 3Calc., culx-p., 3Dios., mur-ac.

• Rectum; HEMORRHOIDS; Large, swollen (57) : 4AESC., agar., 3Alco-s., 4ALOE, alum., ang., arn., ars., ars-s-f., bar-c., bell., bry., 3Cact., 3Calc., caps., 4CARB-AN., 3Carb-v., 2carl., 4CAUST., clem., 3Coloc., culx-p., cycl., 3Dios., euphr., 3Ferr., ferr-ar., gall-ac., 3Graph., 4HAM., hydro-c., kali-ar., 4KALI-C., kali-chl., kali-n., kali-s., kalm., 3Lach., lyc., manc., 3Merc., 4MUR-AC., nat-m., 4NIT-AC., 4NUX-V., ozone, paeon., 3Ph-ac., 3Podo., 3Puls., sep., spig., sul-ac., 4SULPH., 3Thuj., 3Tub., unc-t.

• Rectum; HEMORRHOIDS; Painful (124) : abrot., 3Acon., 4AESC., aesc-g., agn., 3Alco-s., 3Aloe, alum., alum-p., am-c., am-m., 3Anac., androc., ang., ant-c., 3Apis, arn., 3Ars., ars-s-f., aur-m-n., bac., 3Bar-c., 4BELL., berb., 3Brom., bufo, cact., 4CALC., calc-sil., 3Caps., 3Carb-an., 4CARB-V., carc., carl., 3Caust., cham., chin., 4COLL., 3Coloc., 3Cub., culx-p., cycl., 3Dios., elmen, erig., euph-pu., euphr., ferr., ferr-p., 3Fl-ac., 4GRAPH., grat., 3Ham., helod-c., hep., hydro-c., 3Hyper., 4IGN., iod., joan., kali-ar., 3Kali-c., 4KALI-CHL., kali-n., 3Lach., lil-t., 4LYC., m-art., mag-c., mag-m., merc., meteo., morg., morg-g., 3Muc-u., 4MUR-AC., 3Nat-m., neg., nelu., neon, 4NIT-AC., 3Nux-v., ozone, 4PAEON., petr., 3Ph-ac., phasc-c., 3Phos., phys., plan., 2plan-m., podo., psor., 4PULS., 3Rat., rhus-t., rumx., ruta, sabin., sac-alb., sarcol-ac., scorp., 3Scroph-n., 3Sed-ac., sed-t., 3Sep., sid-al., 4SIL., stann., staph., stront-c., sul-ac., 4SULPH., sumb., syph., 3Ter., ther., 3Thuj., toxop-p., tub., unc-t., verb., zinc., zing.

• Rectum; HEMORRHOIDS; Protruding, prolapsed (66) : abrot., aesc., agar., 3Aloe, alum., alum-p., alumn., am-c., ang., ars., aur-m-n., 4BAR-C., 3Bar-m., brom., 4CALC., calc-p., calc-sil., canth., caps., 3Carb-v., 3Caust., 3Coll., culx-p., cyg-c., 3Dios., 3Ferr., fl-ac., 3Graph., 4HAM., hell., 3Hep., ign., kali-bi., 3Kali-c., lach., lept., lil-t., 3Lyc., mel-alt., 3Merc., 3Mur-ac., nat-c., 3Nit-ac., nux-m., 3Nux-v., ph-ac., 3Phos., phys., plat., podo., 4PULS., 3Rat., rhus-t., schran-u., scroph-n., 3Sep., sid-al., 3Sil., sul-ac., 3Sulph., symph., thlaspi, thuj., trom., verb., zinc.

• Rectum; HEMORRHOIDS; Strangulated (20) : acon., 3Aesc., 4ALOE, ars., 3Bell., 3Canth., 3Caps., colch., 3Coloc., 3Ign., 4LACH., lob., 3Merc., mez., 3Nux-v., 4PAEON., rat., sep., 3Sil., 3Sulph.

Remedies that have great usefulness for treating hemorrhoids are:

• Aesculus Hippocastanum – General venous stasis. Varicose veins. Hemorrhoidal veins. Walking aggravates. Gloomy, irritable. Burning pain in the anus. Anus feels full of small sticks. Blind but rarely bleeding hemorrhoids.
• Aloe Socotrina – Anus weak, oozing. Effects abdominal veins. Hemorrhoids like a bunch of grapes. Better for cold. A sense of insecurity about the bowels. Burning and pulsations in the anus. Jelly like stools. Irritable and hateful. Thinks will die in one week.
• Arsenicum Album – Blind burning but not bleeding hemorrhoids. Burn like fire. Worse after midnight.
• Collinsonia – Hemorrhoids and constipation. Painful, bleeding. Sense of constriction in anus. Feels like sharp sticks in the rectum. Obstinate constipation. Constipation alternating with diarrhea. Prolapse anus.
• Hamemelis Virginica –  Venous congestion. Hemorrhoids and hemorrhages. Profuse bleeding and marked soreness. Tarry black blood. Feels as if back would break. Feels unappreciated, wants respect.
• Ignatia Amara – Pain and bleeding worse when having a loose stool. Protruding hemorrhoid from slight exertion at stool. Sharp stitches deep into rectum. Pain continues long after stool.
• Lachesis – Protruding hemorrhoids with stitching pain. Blue color. Sensation of little hammers beating in the rectum. Couch or sneeze aggravates. Jealousy. Suspicious. Loquacious.
• Muriatic Acid – Hemorrhoids inflamed and swollen. Bluish color. Violent stitching pains. Hemorrhoids appearing suddenly in children.
• Nux Vomica – Blind or bleeding hemorrhoids. Stitching or burning pains. Itching. Frequent ineffectual urging at stool.
• Phosphorus – Bleeding hemorrhoids. Severe lancinating pains. Profuse bleeding with every stool.
• Podophyllum – Profuse diarrhea. Prolapse of rectum. Internal and external hemorrhoids. Worse from least motion.
• Ratanhia – Protruding hemorrhoids. Straining at stool causes the person to cry out. Burning pains long after stool. Feels like shards of broken glass in rectum and anus.
• Sulphur – Blind, bleeding, or moist hemorrhoids. Burning pains. A sensation as if the anus were tingling. Constipation and soreness.

These remedies will often prove to be helpful in many cases of hemorrhoids. They are by no means a complete list. In the acute condition, giving the remedy in the 30C or 200c potency every few hours will often be necessary. In the chronic case of hemorrhoids, it is best to take the person's case. Usually, there will be a story that will connect the hemorrhoids to other aspects of life. Giving a more constitutional remedy will lessen the susceptibility. Remember the person is not their dis-ease. The symptom they complain of is only a part of them. Prescribing for the whole person will often address the more acute expressions as well.

Keep the conversation going! I would love to hear your questions and thoughts below!