Hemmroid Relief- Know about Internal and External Hemorroids

Signs and Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are enlarged, swollen veins that can occur either inside (internal hemorrhoids), outside (external hemorrhoids), or around the anus. External hemorrhoids are often the most painful.

Internal hemorrhoids are not as painful as external hemorrhoids and can range in size from a slight swelling to large, sagging veins that stick out. Internal hemorrhoids may cause painless bleeding during a bowel movement. If you notice blood covering the stool, in the toilet bowl, or on the toilet paper, which is common with internal hemorrhoids, make sure to contact your doctor as soon as possible. A person may have both internal and external hemorrhoids.

Symptoms of hemorrhoids include occasional throbbing pain, itching, burning sensation, bright red blood on toilet paper or stool, or a lump of soft tissue protruding outside of the anus.

Causes of Hemorrhoids

Common causes of hemorrhoids are constipation, straining during bowel movements and pregnancy. Constipation is often the culprit if an individual tries too hard to have a bowel movement, which causes the veins to pop out. Hemorrhoids do tend to shrink when pressure is off, but daily straining can make them continually protrude, bleed and hurt. Constipation should always be taken seriously and be treated right away.

While home treatment may be all that is needed to relieve the discomfort of minor hemorrhoids, any rectal bleeding needs to be evaluated by a health professional. In some serious cases, surgery may be needed.

Hemorrhoids Home Treatment Using Psyllium Seeds

The most common cause of hemorrhoids is a low-fiber diet, which causes constipation and leads to small and hard stools that are difficult to pass. Psyllium seeds are high in fiber and help make the stool softer and easier to pass. Psyllium seeds help prevent hemorrhoids and also make bowel movement less painful. It is recommended to make Psyllium fiber part of your diet. It can easily be found at most herbal nutrition stores.

• Start taking one teaspoon of Psyllium seeds in an 8 ounce glass of water in the morning as part of your breakfast for a week.
• In the second week add another glass with your lunch.
• Slowly during your third week make it a habit of drinking psyllium seeds three times daily.

When you are taking psyllium seeds 3 times daily, you don't need to take any other fiber supplement. Make sure you drink lots of water when taking psyllium or any other type of fiber or fiber supplements because fiber creates large, soft stools by absorbing water. It is recommended to drink 1/2 ounce of water for each pound you weigh.

Home Treatment for Hemorrhoids

This is the treatment I use for hemorrhoids.

1. I bathe 2-3 times per day in a hot bath with 5 drops of pure Lavender essential oil and 5 drops of pure Eucalyptus oil and some epsom salts. (Use no more than 10 drops of oil in a bath as it can irritate the skin if used in excess, after a good soak (about 10 to 15 mins) I gently massage the hemorrhoids for a couple of minutes.

2. After bathing I pat the area dry and apply witch hazel and then Germaloids cream (which has zinc oxide and Lidocaine in it, ahhhhhhhhh sweet relief)

3. Take Ibuprofen for pain and to reduce swelling.

Hemorrhoids are usually gone withing a few days and the treatments ensure that while I have them, I'm not in too much pain.

An earlier post asks what to do about the little flaps of skin that can be left behind. As a 34 yr old woman who has these ugly flaps of skin this is n important thing to me. I recently read something (which I now cannot find) that was a cure for this. It's called the '3 fingers for 3 minutes method'. Basically you use a lubricant (I'll use my Germaloids as it has the Lidocaine in it) on your anus and one by one insert 3 fingers as far as you can into your rectum and when they are all in leave them in place for 3 minutes. This has the effect of stretching out the anal tissue so that the flaps of skin go back to how they should be. I experimented with this and inserted the 3 for 1 minute and it had a great effect, I had anal tissue that prolapsed every time I passed a stool (even a soft one) and this stopped after doing this. I fell after even one proper go of this the skin flaps will be much improved and certainly after several goes combined with some anal muscle strengthening exercises.

I've also started taking odourless garlic capsules so hopefully this will help strengthen the veins to prevent further out breaks. I've heard that Rutin (High grade vitamin C) is also really good at preventing them.

Hope some of this helps someone. Posted by Liz.