Top 7 Ayurvedic Remedies To Treat Piles Naturally

Piles are swollen veins in the lower rectum and anus. This condition is similar to varicose veins. Piles occur due to many reasons like - straining during bowel movements, increased pressure on the veins during pregnancy. They may be located inside the rectum (internal haemorrhoids). Or they may develop under the skin around the anus (external haemorrhoids).

Nearly three out of four adults have haemorrhoids from time to time. Sometimes there are no symptoms but at other times they can cause itching, bleeding and discomfort. Rarely, a clot may be formed in a haemorrhoid. These are not dangerous but are extremely painful and sometimes need to be lanced and drained. But, there are many effective options are available to treat piles. Many patients get relief from home remedies and lifestyle modifications.

What are the symptoms of Piles?

• Itching/Irritation in the anal region.
• Painless bleeding during bowel movements
• A lump near the anus which is painful
• Swelling around the anus
• Pain and discomfort

Symptoms of haemorrhoid depend on the location.

• Internal Haemorrhoids - These lie inside the rectum and they rarely cause any discomfort. The straining or irritation during passing of stool can damage hemorrhoid’s surface and cause bleeding.
• External Haemorrhoids -These haemorrhoids lie under the skin around the anus. When irritated, external haemorrhoids can itch or bleed.
• Thrombosed Haemorrhoids -Blood may pool in an external haemorrhoid and form a clot that can result in inflammation, severe pain, swelling and a hard lump near the anus.

What are the causes of Piles?

The veins around the anus tend to stretch under pressure and may bulge or swell. Swollen veins can be due to the increased pressure in the lower rectum due to-

• Straining during bowel movements
• Pregnancy
• Chronic diarrhoea or constipation
• Anal intercourse
• Low fiber diet

Piles according to Ayurveda

Ayurvedic treatment for piles is classified based on the Tri-dosha balance. It starts with a simple complaint of constipation but in quick course of time, piles cause difficulty during defecation. Excess intake of dry, cold, pungent foods, oily and fried foods, repeated intake of food, alcohol, prolonged fasting, excess exercise, grief, hot climate, day sleep etc. are the reasons for piles. Due to these factors, Doshas get aggravated and lodged in the blocked anal region which exerts pressure on the anal region and ultimately the blood vessels supplying blood to the anal region get dilated which results in piles.

Symptoms of Piles due to increase in Pitta Dosha-

• Blue or yellow coloured pile mass
• Thin bleeding associated with foul smell
• Burning/ulceration
• Fever
• Soft and unctuous pile mass
• Thirst/Perspiration

Symptoms of Piles due to Kapha Dosha imbalanc

• Broad base thick soft white coloured pile mass
• Mild pain
• The pile mass is unctuous, oily, stable, large, slimy and associated with itching.
• Pain in the inguinal region, bladder or umbilicus.
• Cough/ breathlessness
• Nausea
• Indigestion/Vomiting

Ayurvedic treatment for piles involves the prescription of laxatives to decrease the pressure over the blood vessels and gradually the symptoms are brought to control. All kinds of cooling treatments are also done to arrest the bleeding. Indigestion is the important characteristic of the disease, measures are also taken to restore good digestive fire and according to Dosha involved, medicines are prescribed to vanish the extra tissues growth also.

Herbs that are useful in the treatment of Piles are -

• Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
• Nagakesara (Mesua ferrea)
• Amla (Indian gooseberry)
• Moolika (Raphanus sativus)
• Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica)
• Kanchnaar (Bauhinia variegata)
• Guggul (Comiphora mukul)

And many more…

Top 7 Ayurvedic Remedies to treat piles naturally

• Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) is administered with buttermilk during night or a teaspoon of Haritaki is made into a paste with a teaspoon of jaggery and is consumed before food once or twice a day.
• Consuming Triphala powder at night with plain water is told as a remedy for piles.
• For piles with Kapha dominance associated with itching, pain and mucous discharge, there is no other medicine better than buttermilk. Take 2-3 pinches of coarse powder of Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica) and add it to 100 ml of buttermilk, keep it for 2-3 hours, then filter it. 10 ml of this buttermilk can be taken 1 or 2 times a day after food but this remedy is not effective for bleeding piles. Chitraka and buttermilk both are hot in nature. They both help to correct the digestive enzymes and also improve liver functions and this remedy is also helpful in reducing the size of pile mass, relieve pain and decrease mucous discharge.
• If there are no secretion from piles, apply sesame oil over the mass. Sesame seeds are taken in a cloth pack and local fomentation is done. This is helpful in relieving pain, swelling and size of the mass. (Charak Samhita Chikitsa Sthana, 14th chapter).
• Buttermilk - Master Charak has mentioned that people with piles should regularly consume buttermilk. The physician acquainted with the strength of the patient as well as the nature of the season should prescribe butter-milk for a week, 10 or 15 days. If the digestive strength of the patient is very weak, then he should only be given buttermilk in morning and evening only.
• Take 2 teaspoons of cow’s ghee and 4 teaspoons of radish juice twice a day is an effective remedy for treating piles. This preparation must be prepared fresh.
• Make paste of elephant foot yam and mix with an equal quantity of curd and take this remedy regularly twice a day is an effective remedy for piles.
• Take plain milk and put 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and drink immediately. This remedy must be taken thrice a day for effective results. This is quite an effective remedy for controlling bleeding piles.
• Grind radish and squeeze the juice. Take 1 cup radish juice regularly for the pain and bleeding associated with piles.

Diet - Horse gram, elephant foot, buttermilk, Indian gooseberry, cucumber, red rice, radish, and cow’s ghee must be included in diet. Avoid fried, dry, spicy, hot foods, pungent foods, bitter gourd, heavy foods, and suppression of the urges.