10 Steps in Treating Piles
Treating piles, or hemorrhoids, can be a painful and messy business, but piles are actually one of today's most common ailments. When you have piles, the veins just inside or outside of the rectum become inflamed which can cause pain and bleeding. Luckily, when you go about treating piles effectively, you don't have to deal with this condition for long.
1. Increase your fiber and fluid intake. You need a lot of fiber in your diet to help keep your digestive system functioning properly. Sometimes, people develop piles if they are constipated or feel the need to strain when having a bowel movement. This is particularly true for pregnant women who experience piles. Eating the right amount of fiber and consuming enough fluids can help regulate your system and treat piles.
2. Use radishes. Radish juice can be consumed twice a day to help find relief from piles. You can also blend radishes together with milk in order to form a paste that can be applied directly to the swollen piles for added relief.
3. Eat bananas. Bananas are a natural laxative and eating them can soften stools and make bowel movements less painful when it comes to treating piles. Try eating a banana in the morning in order to help ease your bowel movements later on in the day.
4. Apply Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera lotion can be applied topically to help ease the inflammation that piles bring. It is perfectly safe to apply Aloe on the swollen areas several times a day. While Aloe can be bought in stores, you can also use a fresh Aloe plant and break apart the thick green leaves to access the gel-like substance inside of them. This can also be applied directly to the swollen areas.
5. Use topical creams. If natural remedies do not work in treating piles, then you can also find topical creams that contain cortisone that can be effective in treating them. These are available at most drug store and pharmacies without a prescription.
6. Try witch hazel pads. Witch hazel pads are pads that are soaked in witch hazel, a natural astringent. Applying the pads to the affected areas can bring relief and you can use them whenever you need to. Some people find that wiping with the pads after having a bowel movement provides added relief. They can be found at most pharmacies and drug stores.
7. Surgery. In extreme cases, piles might need to be treated through the use of surgery. However, all other methods of treating them should be utilized first and surgery should only be used as a last resort.
8. Take anti-inflammatory pain pills. If the pain is very bad, you can use anti-inflammatory pain pills such as Aleve or Naproxen to help alleviate the pain. However, these should not be used long-term as they can have adverse effects on your stomach.
9. Take Sitz baths. This basically consists of soaking your bottom in a shallow bath full of warm water 3-4 times per day for 15 minutes at a time. You can buy special Sitz baths at most medical supply stores. You can also add witch hazel to the water for added comfort.
10. Find out the underlying cause. It is important to know what is causing your piles so that you can treat them effectively and prevent them from returning. If you treat them but not the underlying cause, they will probably come back. If they came during pregnancy, then once you are no longer pregnant they will probably go away. However, if they came about because you find yourself straining to have a bowel movement, then you should consider using laxatives, stool softeners, or other means of regulating your digestive system.