End Alimentary Dropout
Hemorrhoids are painful. But the painful condition can be prevented and treated to offer relief when doing bathroom business, sleeping, or sitting for long periods of time. Hemorrhoids occur when pressure in the bowel causes veins in the very end of the alimentary canal (anus) to swell, resulting in a throbbing, burning, itching, and overall painful condition. Those veins can be located internally in the bowel, or externally, outside the back door, if you will.
There are many causes for the “piles” as they are sometimes called. The most common cause is a diet low in dietary fiber. Consuming enough fiber puts bulk in the gut. That bulk reduces the pressure in the gut and thereby prevents hemorrhoids. Oatmeal is loaded with the kind of gluten-free fiber that can help alleviate hemorrhoids and reduce the pain associated. Making sure one does not strain while seated on the toilet is another way to prevent flare-ups.
The go-to medicine for acute flare-ups of hemorrhoids is hydrocortisone cream. Cortisone suppositories are available over the counter but taking any pharmaceutical medicine comes with side effects. So those over the counter preparations should only be used when flare-ups occur. Advances in surgery for the painful condition have made surgical treatment an option but should be used as a last resort. Natural anti-inflammatories can help. Turmeric supplements can be used to reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain associated with hemorrhoids.
One home remedy that might work is to take an old washcloth, roll it into a small cylinder, and keep it in the freezer for the next hemorrhoid attack. Don’t soak it in water as ice applied directly to an external hemorrhoid may be too shocking. Place the cold and frozen washcloth outside the undergarments and sit softly on the cold washcloth. The cool cloth will immediately soothe external hemorrhoids. Be sure to sanitize after each use. Another home remedy includes sitting in an Epsom salt bath, often called a “sitz bath”. Epsom is magnesium salts which helps draw out inflammation and relieves pain when mixed with warm water.
Some people have found relief for their hemorrhoids by buying a donut shaped cushion to sit on, instead of sitting directly on one’s external hemorrhoids. Also, baby wipes should be used at every visit to the bathroom. Using dry toilet paper on hemorrhoids feels like someone’s using sandpaper on a very sensitive area. But be careful when choosing baby wipes. Baby wipes or sanitary wipes that have fragrance can aggravate the condition. Use unscented wipes.
Avoid putting lotion containing fragrance on the affected area. Aloe Vera gel can also provide relief but be sure not to get an Aloe Vera gel which contains menthol or you’ll wish you hadn’t. The Aloe Vera plant is easy to grow in your home which will provide you and your family with a 100% natural skin protectant. Aloe is nature’s healing substance.
Lastly, avoid foods which give you very loose stools with no bulk. Soft, bulky stools are great when you suffer from hemorrhoids. Hard stools and constipation aggravate hemorrhoids. Regular bowel movements are necessary to prevent constipation. And guess what fiber does? That’s right, it gives you regular movements, builds bulk, and prevents hemorrhoids.
