Piles or haemorrhoids are among the most common ailments today, especially in the Western
world. They are a varicose and often inflammed condition of the veins inside or just outside the
rectum. In external
piles there is a lot of pain, but not much bleeding. In case of internal
piles
there is discharge of dark blood. In some cases the veins burst and this results in what is known
as bleeding
piles.
Symptoms
Pain at passing stools, slight bleeding in the case of internal trouble and a feeling of soreness
and irritation after passing a stool are the usual
symptoms of
piles. The patient cannot sit
comfortably due to itching, discomfort and pain in the rectal region.
Causes
The primary cause of
piles is chronic
constipation and other bowel disorders. The pressure
applied to pass a stool to evacuate constipated bowls and the congestion caused by
constipation ultimately lead to
piles. The use of purgatives to relieve
constipation, by their
irritating and weakening effect on the lining of the rectum, also result in enlargement and
inflammation of veins and bleeding of the mucus lining.
Piles are more common during
pregnancy and in conditions affecting the liver and upper bowel. Prolonged periods of standing
or sitting, strenuous work,
obesity and general weakness of the tissues of the body are the other
contributory causes of
piles.
Mental tension is also one of the main causes of harmorrioids. Persons who are always in a
hurry often strain while passing stools. They rush through defecation instead of making it a
relaxed affair. The pressure thus exerted by the anal muscles affect the surrounding tissues. The
extra rectal pressure and the resultant congestion of veins ultimately leads to haemorrhoids.
There is probably a hereditary factor also involved in the development of
piles.
Treatment
The treatment of the basic cause, namely, chronic
constipation, is the only way to get rid of the
trouble. To begin with, the whole digestive tract must be given a complete rest for a few days
and the intestines thoroughly cleansed. For this purpose the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet
for at least seven days. After the all-fruit diet, the patient may adopt a diet of natural foods aimed
at securing soft stools.
The most important food remedy for
piles is dry figs. Three or four figs should be soaked
overnight in water after cleansing them thoroughly in hot water. They should be taken the first
thing in the morning along with water in which they were soaked. They should also be taken in
the evening in a similar manner. This treatment should be continued for three or four weeks. The
tiny seeds of the fruit possess an excellent quality of stimulating peristalic movements of
intestines. This facilitates easy evacuation of faeces and keeps the alimentary canal clean.
The pressure on the anus having thus been relieved, the haemorrhoids also get contracted.
Mango seeds are regarded as an effective remedy for bleeding
piles. The seeds should be
collected during the mango season, dried in the shade and powdered and kept stored for use as
medicine. It should be given in doses of about one and a half gram to two grams with or without
honey.
The jambul fruit is another effective food remedy for bleeding
piles. The fruit should be taken
with salt every morning for two or three months in its season. The use of the fruit in this manner
in every season will effect a radical cure and save the user from bleeding
piles during his / her
entire life.
White radish is considered highly valuable in the treatment of
piles. Grated radish mixed with
honey may be taken in this condition. This vegetable can also be taken in the form of juice mixed
with a pinch of salt. It should be given in doses of 60 to 90 ml. in the morning and evening. White
radish well ground into a paste in milk can also be beneficial applied over inflammed pile masses
to relieve pain and swelling.
The patient should drink atleast six to eight glasses of water a day. He should avoid straining to
pass a stool. Cold water treatment helps the veins to shrink and tones up their walls. The
treatment is done by sitting in a tub filled with cold water for two minutes with knees drawn up to
your chin. The water level should cover the hips. This should be done twice a day. Other water
treatments beneficial in curing
piles include cold perennial douche and cold compress applied to
the rectal area for an hour before bed time.
A patient with
piles must make an all out effort to tone up the entire system. Exercise plays an
important corrective role in this condition. Movements which exercise the abdominal muscles will
improve circulation in the rectal region and relieve congestion. Outdoor exercises such as
walking and swimming are excellent methods of building up general health. Yogic kriyas like
jalneti and vamandhouti and asanas such as sarvangasana,viparit karani, halasana,
gomukhasana are also useful. Sarvangasana is especially beneficial as it drains stagnant blood
from the anus.