Piles, fistula and fissures are the most common problems affecting the rectum and the anus. Both the rectum as well as the anus has a very rich vascular supply. There could be swelling of these blood vessels or tearing which can lead to the above conditions. Read on to know additional details about each of these conditions. 

Piles: In simple words, swollen blood vessels of the anal region are called piles. It can be internal or external, depending on how far it is from the anal canal. If it is located farther inside the anal canal, it is called internal piles.

Causes:

Chronic constipation, where the person has to strain to pass stools
Smoking and genetics can also lead to piles.
Symptoms: Starts off as painless bleeding, which happens in drops after bowel movement; the swelling happens much later. They can continue to grow and develop blood clots.

Treatment:

In the early stages, once identified, simple topical medications for symptom relief are sufficient.
Diet should be rich in fiber, with fruits and vegetables
Increased water consumption
Surgery if the disease has reached the stage of blood clots
Prevention is advised if there is a family history by consuming a fiber-rich diet and maintaining hydration
Fistula: When an infected anal gland bursts into the anal canal, it constantly discharges pus into the anal canal and becomes a fistula. Hygienic toilet habits can help in preventing fistulas.

Symptoms:

A constant wet feeling in the anal area, due to pus discharge.
This would be intermittent, and there would be periods with no discharge.
There could be a foul smell due to pus discharge.
Diagnosis and Treatment:

Identifying the exact location is important as surgery may be required.
An ultrasound scan or an MRI is usually done.
Newer techniques like Video Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT) are used. This locates the piles accurately and uses electric current to seal it with staples and surgical glue.
Conventional surgery is also used for economic or accessibility reasons.
Fissures: These cracks anywhere in the length of the anal canal are extremely common.
Symptoms

Very painful and the person may not want to go to the toilet
Rarely bleeding is also seen, maybe in very small amounts
Treatment:

Over 90% of the fissures do not require surgery
Switching to a high-fiber diet and improving hydration will help in managing these symptoms.
Topical relief can be provided by medications.
When they are recurrent, a procedure known as lateral sphincterotomy is done. This is an outpatient procedure and provides immediate relief.
Though one condition can lead to another, in most people, there is a strong genetic component, and working towards prevention is highly recommended.

Piles, Fistula and Fissures - Can Ayurveda Help You?

Piles are Haemorrhoids which become inflamed and are accompanied with bleeding. Haemorrhoids can be defined as masses or clumps of tissues developing in the anal canal. Haemorrhoids comprise of blood vessels, support tissues, muscles and elastic fibres.

Bleeding piles can be treated using several methods or forms of surgery. The Ayurvedic form of treatment called agni karma is an effective, natural cure for bleeding piles. On the other hand, a medical procedure known as infra red coagulation therapy can also be executed for the efficient treatment of bleeding piles or haemorrhoids.

Agni karma an Ayurvedic Remedy for Treating Piles
In Sanskrit, the word 'Agni' refers to 'Fire'. Agni karma is an ayurvedic therapy, which involves the use of agni or fire. It is also called cauterization. Agni karma is popularly called Dahan Karma. Agni karma is used in the treatment of many diseases of different type. It is a good method for the treatment of bleeding piles.

In this process, any ailing surface of the body or a tissue, such as haemorrhoids, is destroyed and burnt by using a heated instrument using electric current and by freezing. An acidic agent for cutting like kshar karma is also used in the process of agni karma for the treatment of bleeding piles.

The different types of agni karma include:

uchchh dagdha /scarce agni karma
Durdaghda/ inappropriate burning surgery
Aati dagdha /powerful or excess cauterization
Samyak dagdha / appropriate agni karma
Infra red Coagulation Therapy-

Infra red coagulation therapy or infra red photo coagulation is a medical process which is used to treat bleeding piles or haemorrhoids, and can only cure internal haemorrhoids.

During the process, a device is utilized, which produces a beam of intense, powerful infra red light. The heat released by the infra red light causes scar tissue and blood supply to the haemorrhoids to be cut off. This results in the death of haemorrhoid or piles, and a scar forms on the anal canal wall. The surrounding veins are held together by the scar tissue which avoids them bulging into the anal canal.

Agni karma, the Ayurvedic treatment, is considered to an effective medical treatment procedure of infra red coagulation therapy. This is because:

Agni karma is a much more natural method of treatment for bleeding piles, and no unnatural substance like infra red light beam is used.
Agni karma provides treatment without failure, and success is guaranteed. 
Besides, guggulu kshar sutra therapy is also one of the best therapies - No side effects & no chances of recurrence, no hospital stay, no pain, join duty immediately. 

Bleeding Piles Treated by Agni Karma and Infra Red Coagulation Therapy

Piles or Haemorrhoids is a disorder characterized by bleeding from anal opening during defecation. This bleeding can be in the form of drops or spurts. If untreated; mass protruding out from rectum is noticed. Initially this Pile mass gets reduced by itself but later on it progresses further so manual reduction of Pile mass becomes necessary. Later on these pile masses come out even on coughing sneezing, walking etc. Depending of their site of origin; these are divided in to internal and external Piles. 

How can you tell if you have Piles? 
Painless bleeding is the first sign of Piles. If it is not treated at this stage Pile mass protrudes out from Anal opening. The symptoms of piles are  

Internal Piles: 

In first stage, painless bleeding is the only symptom of Piles. 
In second stage, pile mass protrudes out from Anus during defecation which gets reduced by itself. In late second stage; Pile mass needs to be reduced manually. 
In third stage; Pile masses again come out after manual reduction. During sneezing coughing and walking also pile mass come out. 
External piles: A solid/ semi-solid lump in the anal region which becomes prominent while passing stools is the external haemorrhoid. When inflamed it constitutes of coagulated blood these are known as external haemorrhoids. 

Why do Piles occur? 
Piles occur when pressure in the lower rectum increases unduly. Due to this undue pressure, the blood vessels in the anus and rectum become swollen and bulge out. The causes behind this undue increase in pressure are  

Chronic diarrhoea 
Chronic constipation 
Pregnancy 
Lifting heavy weights 
Putting too much pressure while passing stool 
The Ayurvedic Approach To Piles Treatment- 
The ayurvedic approach to treating piles is a mix of exercise, lifestyle changes, diet, supplements and medication. The primary cause of piles being constipation, a large portion of the treatment is focused on improving the patient s digestive health and bowel movement. 

Haritaki churna is recommended to soften stool. 
Fibre rich foods like green leafy vegetables salads should be consumed in adequate quantity. 
To soften the stools, foods like papaya, amalaki, and figs are advised. 
A regular ayurvedic colon cleanse is very beneficial to keep the digestive system in good condition. Some other measures you should adopt are  

Take plenty of liquids like water, butter milk fruit juices etc. Butter milk is specially beneficial in Piles. 
Do regular Exercise 
Avoid sedentary lifestyle. 
Along with this Kshar Karma is done at week or 10 days interval. In this treatment specialized Ayurvedic medicine is applied on Pile masses. Kshar Karma stops bleeding and suppresses Pile masses. When these measures do not work and the Pile masses are big enough to remain inside and protrude out often; Ksharsutra ligation of Pile mass is recommended. 

In this treatment; Ksharsutra   a medicated thread is ligated at the root of Pile masses. Medicine released from thread blocks the blood supply of pile mass and Pile mass sheds off within 5-7 days. No hospitalization or bed rest is required in this treatment. Patient can continue his daily routine activities as usual. So Ayurvedic Kshar Karma and Ksharsutra are quite effective in treating Piles in all its stages and Piles can be treated completely without surgery.

An Ayurvedic Approach To Piles Treatment!

Piles are uncomfortable and painful. It can also be embarrassing and for this reason, many people delay their treatment. Piles usually affect middle aged people but at times, it can also affect younger men and women. Chronic constipation is one of the most common factors that can trigger piles. This is a condition where the veins near the anal opening in the rectum get inflamed. Any pressure that is put on the rectum puts pressure on these veins which may lead them pain and bleeding.

Luckily this is not a condition you need to live with and it can easily be treated with Ayurveda. Ayurveda approaches the treatment of this disease in multiple ways through dietary and lifestyle changes, medication, exercises and even massage therapy. It has negligible side effects and the potential to greatly improve the quality of your life even if you already have painful piles.

Dietary changes: Preventing constipation can prevent the development of piles. Hence, include plenty of fiber in your daily meals and cut down on starchy food. Adding sesame and mango seeds can also help prevent constipation. Fruits like jambul, papaya and dried figs are natural stool softners and should be eaten regularly.
Lifestyle changes: Along with eating the right food it is also essential to drink plenty of water. This helps the digestive system work smoothly. Avoid sitting in the same position for extended periods of time and only use soft, cushioned seats. Set aside at least an hour every morning for regular exercise such as walking, swimming, cycling or yoga. Certain yoga positions such as the downward facing dog and seated twist can make the process of eliminating waste easier. Scheduling a colon cleanse once in a while can also help treat piles.
Medication: Ayurvedic medication is based on herbs which have negligible side effects. Nagakesara is one such herb that is used to treat piles associated with bleeding. Haritaki and jimikand are two Ayurvedic herbs that can also help regulate your digestive system and treat piles. Abhayarishta is another herb that is often prescribed to treat piles. Kasiaditaila is an Ayurvedic medication that can be applied externally to help shrink piles and manage itching. It can also help relieve pain and bleeding. 
Though they have no major side effects, Ayurvedic medication should never be self-prescribed. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic doctor who will be able to prescribe the right medication in the right dosage for your problem.

How Ayurvedic Remedies Are Good For Piles?

Piles can be really painful and embarrassing but fairly common at the same time. it should not be taken as a social stigma as with awareness and proper treatment, the condition can be managed and treated well. If overlooked then it may lead to many complications which are difficult to manage.

In Ayurveda, a complete cure to haemorrhoids is possible, so seeking medical attention can be of great help to relieve you from this condition. Piles, also known as Haemorrhoids is a condition in which veins at the lower end of rectum get inflamed and enlarged. When pressure on the rectum and anus increases, it causes added pressure to these veins, resulting in formation of haemorrhoids. They may burst and cause rectal bleeding. Haemorrhoids are most commonly found in middle-aged and old people while also in people who suffer from regular constipation. 

Types of Piles -

Haemorrhoids are of two kinds, internal and external based on their location. Internal haemorrhoids are located in the inner lining of the anal tract. These veins within the rectum are concealed and cannot be felt so they are painless but when ruptured can lead to bleeding. External haemorrhoids are located on the outer surface of the rectum and can be seen, felt and when inflamed become painful. These are the more troubling type of piles. 

Causes and Symptoms of Piles 

Piles are caused mostly by constipation, but other causes may include untreated gastric conditions such as dysentery, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, genetic constitution and weight of increasing uterus during pregnancy. 
If you are experiencing bleeding in anal region during defecation without any pain; you are suffering from 1st stage of Piles. If problem is not treated at this stage; Pile masses start progressing. 
In starting, Pile mass come out during passing stool and go inside by itself (2nd stage). Later on these pile masses need to be reduced manually. If still Piles is not treated; Pile mass comes out again even after manual reduction while coughing, sneezing etc. (3rd stage). While piles may be an embarrassing issue to talk about, it should not be ignored either. It can be easily dealt with simple ways, and in most cases, all it takes is some lifestyle changes to get rid of the problem. 
However, if left untreated, there could lead to severe complications. Some of them have been listed below. 

Bleeding: In patients who have chronic bleeding, it could lead to chronic blood loss. Patient can develop anaemia because of this regular bleeding. 
Mass protruding out from anal opening: If Piles are not treated at 1st stage; it can lead to development of pile mass which protrudes out from anal opening while passing stool and go inside. In later stages; this pile mass come out even on sneezing and coughing. At this stage they are prone to get infected as most of the time Piles are outside the anal opening. 
Hygiene issues: The itching and discharges can lead to the patient having poor hygiene around the anal area. This further can lead to complications like infections. The area around the anus also becomes difficult to clean if the masses are more in number and size. 
Surgical correction may be attempted in severe cases, but this also can lead complications in some people. These include: 
Excessive bleeding which does not stop after the surgery. 
Postsurgical infection 
Anal fistula, which is a connection between the area of piles and the anal canal. 
Damage to sphincter muscles leads to faecal incontinence, which is a loss of control over passing stool.
Ayurveda Treatment of Piles 
Ayurveda has various approaches to the treatment of piles. Piles can be treated by diet, lifestyle, herbal supplements, Ayurvedic medication, and exercise. Ensuring good digestive health helps with piles if constipation is the cause of it. 

Vegetables such as onion, bitter gourd, radish, and turnip are high on roughage and are a must to add to your diet as well. 
Other than the diet you need to introduce specific lifestyle changes such as a colon cleanse every once in a while, and regular exercise. 
Increase water intake, up to 8 glasses per day. 
Keep away from processed foods 
Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables 
Do not sit for more than an hour in one position 
Stick to stool timings and develop good stool habits 
Do not suppress the urge to pass stools for too long and for too often 
So, follow the instructions of your Ayurveda doctor to embark on the road to cure. If these measurements are not successful; kshar karma or Ksharsutra ligation of Pile mass is necessary. In the ligation procedure; Ksharsutra   medicated thread is legated at the root of Pile mass. 

Medicine released from Ksharsutra blocks the blood supply to pile mass and Pile mass sheds off in 7   10 days. Ksharsutra ligation is a para surgical procedure done under local anaesthesia. No hospitalization or bed rest is necessary in Ksharsutra Treatment for Piles. Daily routine activities along with office work can be done during Ksharsutra Treatment. So Piles can be treated completely in all its stages with Ayurvedic treatment. However, this procedure is to be performed only by a surgical specialist of Ayurveda..

Painful Piles - Why You Should Not Ignore Hemorrhoids

Piles or haemorrhoids are one of the most common health issues associated with ageing. It can be described as the swelling of veins in the rectum, just above the anus. When irritated by stool movements, piles can be extremely painful. Thankfully there are a number of effective home remedies that can be used to manage and treat this problem. Here are the top 5 ways to treat piles naturally.

Psyllium husk: Constipation of passing hard stools can aggravate piles and the pain associated with it. One of the most common causes of hard stools is a lack of fibre in the diet. Psyllium husk is rich in fibre and makes stools softer. Ideally, if you suffer from piles, try consuming one tablespoon of psyllium husk with a glass of water every night before going to bed.
Sitz bath: Heat therapy can be very efficient in relieving pain associated with piles. Heat increases circulation and helps the damaged veins heal faster and also stimulates thermo receptors that block the body s pain transmitters from signalling the brain. Fill a bucket or bath with warm water and soak the inflamed area in it for 15-20 minutes. This warm water wil also help relieve itchiness help the blood vessels relax.
Aloe Vera: Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties that aid in the healing of haemorrhoids. Applying the gel extracted from aloe vera leaves on the inflamed veins can help soothe and hydrate external haemorrhoids. For internal haemorrhoids discard the thorns and freeze strips of aloe vera leaves before applying over the anus in the form of a cold compress.
Essential oils: Essential oils such as tea tree oil have the ability to reduce inflammation and can be very beneficial in curing haemorrhoids naturally. Dilute tea tree oil with a carrier oil such as castor oil or almond oil and apply directly over the inflamed area. Do not use the oils without dilution as they can be very strong. Other essential oils that can be used to treat piles are lavender oil and rosemary oil.
Olive oil: Consumption of olive oil makes the blood vessels more elastic and thus reduces the discomfort of passing hard stools. In this way, olive oil can even prevent the formation of piles to an extent. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce discomfort and soothe the inflamed veins. The monosaturated fatty acids in olive oil can also help regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation.

Treating Piles With Ayurveda!

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