Hemorrhoids medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [2]
Overview
There is no medical treatment for hemorrhoids. The mainstay of therapy is local treatments such as warm sitz baths, using a bidet, extendable showerhead, cold compress, or topical analgesic (such as Nupercainal), can provide temporary relief.
Medical Therapy
- There is no medical therapy recommended for the treatment of hemorrhoids, but local treatments such as warm sitz baths, using a bidet, extendable showerhead, cold compress, or topical analgesic (such as Nupercainal), can provide temporary relief.
- Consistent use of medicated creams during the early stages of a hemorrhoid flare-up will also provide relief and may stave off further development and irritation.
- However, creams containing steroid preparations weaken the skin and may contribute to further flare-ups. [1][2]
Natural treatments
- Reducing regional pressure in such ways as improving posture and muscle tone, or in severe cases, undergoing a profound psychophysical re-education, by a method such as the Alexander Technique.
- Taking herbs and dietary supplements that strengthen vein walls, such as butcher's broom, horse chestnut, bromelain, and Japanese pagoda tree extracts. Drinking 99% pure aloe juice can also relieve itching and swelling.
- Topical application of natural astringents and soothing agents, such as Witch hazel (astringent), cranesbill, aloe vera, and honey
- Drinking chamomile tea several times a day
- Eating fiber-rich bulking agents such as plantain and Psyllium seed husks to help create a soft stool that is easy to pass to lessen the irritation of existing hemorrhoids.
- Using the squatting position for bowel movements.[3]
The combination of internal and external remedies is particularly recommended, e.g. witch-hazel suppositories combined with frequent cups of strong chamomile tea.[4]
Oral dietary supplementation can help to treat and prevent many complications of hemorrhoids, and natural botanicals such as Butchers Broom, Horse Chestnut, and bioflavonoids can be an effective addition to hemorrhoid treatment.[5]
Butcher's Broom
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- Butcher’s broom extract, or Ruscus aculeatus, contains ruscogenins that have anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictor effects.
- Supplementation with Butcher’s Broom helps tighten and strengthen veins. Butcher’s broom has traditionally been used to treat venous problems including hemorrhoids and varicose veins.[6][7][8][9]
Horse Chestnut
- Horse chestnut extract, or Aesculus hippocastanum, contains a saponin known as aescin, that has anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, and venotonic actions.
- Aescin improves tone in vein walls, thereby strengthening the support structure of the vein.
- Double blind studies have shown that supplementation with horse chestnut helps relieve the pain and swelling associated with chronic venous insufficiency.[10][11]
Bilberry Bioflavonoid
- Bilberry extract, or Vaccinium myrtillus, is an anthocyanoside bioflavonoid.
- Supplementation with this potent flavonoid protects and maintains venous strength and function.[6][12]
Enema
- This Practice is used to clean the rectum.
- While it is a simple procedure, it can be complicated by hemorrhoids, so in such cases, it should be done by a doctor.
- In an enema, water is injected into the rectum and then flushed out, cleaning the area.
Medical therapy
High fiber diet
- Eating a high-fiber diet can make stools softer and easier to pass, reducing the pressure on hemorrhoids caused by straining.
- The human body cannot digest fiber, but fiber helps improve digestion and prevent constipation.
- Good sources of dietary fiber are fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- On average, Americans eat about 15 grams of fiber each day while the American Dietetic Association recommends 25 grams of fiber per day for women and 38 grams of fiber per day for men.3
- Bulk stool softener or a fiber supplement such as psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel) may be useful in the management.
High fiber diet
- Eating a high-fiber diet can make stools softer and easier to pass, reducing the pressure on hemorrhoids caused by straining.
- Fiber is not digested in the GIT, but it helps improving digestion and preventing constipation.
- Good sources of dietary fiber are fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- On average, Americans eat about 15 grams of fiber each day while the American Dietetic Association recommends 25 grams of fiber per day for women and 38 grams of fiber per day for men.3
- Bulk stool softener or a fiber supplement such as psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel) may be useful in the management.
Topical analgesics
- Lidocaine ointment 5% is used to relieve pain associated with complicated hemorrhoids.
- Lidocaine relieves pain through blocking Na channels in the sensory nerve endings thus inhibiting the propagation of the pain impulse.
Topical anti-inflammatory
- Topical anti inflammatory agents mixed with cortisone may be used to relieve inflammation and shrink the size of the hemorrhoids.
- Cortisone containing agents should not be used more than one month as prolonged use may be associated with depressed local immunity and the development of skin tags.
Sitz baths
- Sitz baths can be helpful in alleviating pruritus
Hydroxyethylrutoside
- Hydroxyethylrutoside is a venotonic agent that increases the tone in the rectal veins, improves the venous and lymphatic flow and thus improves the symptoms and decreases the incidence of bleeding.
Antispasmodics
- Local nitroglycerin can be used to alleviate the spasm associated with the pain
References
- ↑ http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100002157.html
- ↑ http://www.medbroadcast.com/drug_info_details.asp?brand_name_id=946
- ↑ Christine Dimmer, Brian Martin, Noeline Reeves and Frances Sullivan (1996). "Squatting for the Prevention of Hemorrhoids". Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients (159): 66–70. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ K. Kraft and C. Hobbs, Pocket Guide to Herbal Medicine. New York: Thieme.
- ↑ MacKay D (2001). "Hemorrhoids and varicose veins: a review of treatment options" (PDF). Altern Med Rev. 6 (2): 126–40. PMID 11302778.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Pizzorno JE and Murray MT, eds., ed. (1998). Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (revised 2nd edition ed.). CA: Prima Publishing. p. 829.
- ↑ Rudofsky G (1989). "[Improving venous tone and capillary sealing. Effect of a combination of Ruscus extract and hesperidine methyl chalcone in healthy probands in heat stress]". Fortschr. Med. (in German). 107 (19): 52, 55–8. PMID 2668140.
- ↑ Cappelli R, Nicora M, Di Perri T (1988). "Use of extract of Ruscus aculeatus in venous disease in the lower limbs". Drugs Exp Clin Res. 14 (4): 277–83. PMID 3048951.
- ↑ Greenspon J, Williams SB, Young HA, Orkin BA (2004). "Thrombosed external hemorrhoids: outcome after conservative or surgical management". Dis. Colon Rectum. 47 (9): 1493–8. doi:10.1007/s10350-004-0607-y. PMID 15486746.
- ↑ Pittler MH, Ernst E (1998). "Horse-chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency. A criteria-based systematic review". Arch Dermatol. 134 (11): 1356–60. PMID 9828868.
- ↑ Diehm C, Trampisch HJ, Lange S, Schmidt C (1996). "Comparison of leg compression stocking and oral horse-chestnut seed extract therapy in patients with chronic venous insufficiency". Lancet. 347 (8997): 292–4. PMID 8569363.
- ↑ Murray MT. (1996). Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. NY: Three Rivers Press. p. 326.