Is Constipation the Only Cause of Piles? + It's Symptoms

Piles, which are also called hemorrhoids, refer to the swelling of the veins near the anus and rectum, which get irritated during bowel movements, causing pain and bleeding during stool motions. The veins near the rectum or the anus may rupture during strained bowel movements and thus, cause the blood to come out with the stool. This can be very painful for the patient and has a very disruptive effect on their lives.

Causes of Piles

There may be many causes for piles or hemorrhoids and the cause may vary from patient to patient. Let's have a look at a few of them.

Straining when passing a stool - This is by far the most common reason for piles and this is what causes the irritation on the veins or causes them to rupture

Chronic Constipation: People suffering from chronic constipation due to gastrointestinal problems may also suffer from piles due to putting pressure constantly to relieve themselves.

Lifting a heavy weight or doing strenuous work: This can also put physical stress on the anus or rectum and cause swollen veins, which may then rupture during the passage of stool.

Pregnancy - Pregnancy causes many hormonal changes in the body and the strain may also result in piles.

Symptoms of Piles

Some of the symptoms of piles or hemorrhoids are:

- Painful bowel movements, which hurt the rectum or the anus, accompanied by general tenderness within the region
- Bleeding or seeping of a bright red color blood onto the stool on the toilet or even on toilet paper
- Itching in the anal areas, which may be continuous or intermittent
- A swelling or lump near the anus, which is painful
- A mucus-like discharge from the anus

There may be one or more factors present in particular cases and if there is a pain in the rectal area, it is best to get it checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.

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Is Constipation the Only Cause of Piles? + It's Symptoms

How to Manage Piles at Home and with Medication

Piles or hemorrhoids can be a debilitating disorder of the rectum and anus where passing stool becomes painful. It is the swelling of the veins in the anus and the rectum, which may then be bruised by hard stool passing through it or due to excessive pressure being put on it. This can be a very painful and embarrassing condition for many people to go through.

Remedies for piles at home

There are many remedies that you can try at home to reduce the pain and swelling and even reduce the hemorrhoids themselves over time. Let's look at a few of the options.

Radish for treatment: In this treatment, a radish should be crushed and mixed with appropriate amounts of milk to form a thick paste, which is to be applied on the anus twice daily, and washed off after 15 minutes. This should relieve the symptoms in a few days.

Cumin seeds paste: You can take a tablespoon of cumin seed powder, make it into a paste after adding water and then put it on the affected area. After leaving it for 15 minutes or so, it should be washed away with water. Repeating this twice daily will help with the symptoms and reduce pain.

Diet: Lack of a balanced diet can be problematic for those with piles, and thus, it is recommended that enough roughage such as green leafy vegetables and fruits are included in the diet as well.

Figs: Dried figs are also another great weapon against piles. Soaking some dried figs in warm water overnight and then having them in the morning is known to be good for smooth bowel movements, thus, relieving pressure on the rectal veins.

Some Ayurvedic Medications that May Prove Effective with Piles:

Some of the specific ayurvedic medication that are known to be helpful in treating piles are:

Hareetaki: This is the fruit peel of Harad and if taken with 1 cupful of jaggery, it can reduce the symptoms of constipation as reported by many patients.

Castor oil: Mixing a small teaspoon of castor oil with a glass of milk can also help soften the stool and reduce the stress on the rectal walls.

Nagakesara: This is also an ayurvedic medicine, which is usually prescribed as oral medication three times daily and has proven its effectiveness many times over.

Abhayarishta: 30 ml of this ayurvedic herb is also given to patients after food with equal parts water and has been known to be very effective.

Kasiaditaila: This is an oil, which should be applied externally and it can help reduce the inflammation and itching caused by piles.

10 Best Home Remedies to Treat Piles  - Natural Treatment

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 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 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!

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen veins or blood vessels, which can be internal (located inside rectum) or external (located outside rectum). They might be managed by increasing fluid intake and a high-fiber diet. Sometimes, Hemorrhoids might get infected and irritated to an extent that they require surgical removal.

Causes of Hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoids are caused by increased pressure in blood vessels around the anus, causing them to swell and inflame which might be caused by a number of reasons.

Prolonged constipation

Chronic diarrhoea

Obesity

Aging

Pregnancy as it increases pressure on pelvic blood vessels

Weight lifting

Family history of Hemorrhoids

Persistent cough

Vomiting repeatedly

Sitting continuously for a very long period of time.

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids:

Some of the common symptoms of Hemorrhoids are:

Internal Hemorrhoids might bleed painlessly after bowel movement, but are problematic if they bleed too heavily.

External Hemorrhoids might also bleed after bowel movement, but often become irritating and painful.

External Hemorrhoids can lead to blood clots inside the vessel, which can cause severe pain. Proper treatment for such Hemorrhoids involves  incision and drainage  procedure.

Itchy and sore bottom.

A lump hanging off the anus.

Types of Hemorrhoids:

The type of Hemorrhoids decides the course of action for treatment.

First degree Hemorrhoids are small swellings which develop on inner lining of anus, being invisible from outside.

Second degree Hemorrhoids are larger swellings which might come out of the anus during bowel movement before disappearing inside again.

Third degree Hemorrhoids are lumps hanging off the anus which can be pushed back inside.

Fourth degree Hemorrhoids are larger lumps hanging down from the anus but cannot be pushed back inside.

Surgeries without Anesthesia:

Banding or rubber band ligation involves using a tight band around the base of Hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply. It takes two or more procedures to be performed about two months apart.

Having the best success rate for small and internal Hemorrhoids, sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical into Hemorrhoids, causing them to shrink and stop bleeding.

Coagulation therapy or infrared photocoagulation uses infrared light (heat or extreme cold) to retract and shrink the Hemorrhoid and is usually performed along with an anoscopy.

Hemorrhoidal artery ligation (HAL) or transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) locates blood vessels causing Hemorrhoids to close them off.

Surgeries with Anesthesia:

Hemorrhoidectomy is used for large and external Hemorrhoids which do not respond to non- surgical intervention. So, they are cut out. Anesthesia can be general, regional, or local in this procedure. It takes longer time to recover completely.

Hemorrhoidopexy or stapling requires general, regional, or local anesthesia, and is used to treat prolapsed Hemorrhoids. A surgical staple cuts off the blood supply to Hemorrhoids to make the tissue shrink and reabsorb. It takes relatively less time for a full recovery.

Post- Surgical Care:

Some of the post care instructions are as follows

Painkillers might be prescribed for rectal and anal pain.

Consumption of a high-fiber diet prevents constipation and recurrence of Hemorrhoids.

Staying hydrated helps a lot.

Avoid heavy weight lifting and pulling.

Sitz bath helps to deal with post- surgical discomfort.

Seek medical help if having painful urination, fever, or dizziness.

Non-surgical Management of Hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoids can be managed non-surgically by reducing strain in and around the anus.

Consuming a high fiber diet including cereals, fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds, etc.

Consuming healthy fluids like water but avoiding alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

No delaying the emptying of the bowels.

Preventing constipation.

Weight management to lose excess body weight.

Regular exercise.

Take Away:

Hemorrhoids, if not severe, can be managed non- surgically. But if they get very painful and severe, surgical intervention through a number of techniques might be required; each one of them being safe, depending upon the severity of the situation.

Surgery For Hemorrhoids - What Should You Know?

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