What's In Your Natural Hemorrhoid Remedy?

When an attack of hemorrhoids stops you from enjoying life, it's nice to know that you have natural alternatives to relieve your pain. The plant-based ingredients listed below are found in several over-the-counter alternative hemorrhoid remedies. More people are finding that these gentle natural herbs give effective relief, with few to no side effects. As always, ask your doctor before purchasing hemorrhoid products online.

Herbals Available In External Hemorrhoid Treatments

-Witch hazel, an astringent herb, is the old stand-by treatment for hemorrhoids. Apply with a cotton ball a few times a day to help shrink inflamed anal tissues. You can also buy processed witch hazel powder at health food stores and make your own cooling compress.

-Yarrow, another herb with astringent properties, can be boiled into a tea and applied with a cotton ball several times a day to help stop hemorrhoidal bleeding.

-Processed comfrey root, available from health food and vitamin shops, can be made into a paste and used as a compress to heal bleeding hemorrhoids. In fact, comfrey extracts have been approved for medicinal use in Germany to treat severe bruises and sprains. Don't use raw comfrey from the wild; it may contain toxins that can irritate your skin.

-Chamomile contains oily substances known as bisabolols and chamazulenes, which are proven to soothe irritated tissues. Many top-of-the-line skin care products contain these extracts. The effectiveness of chamomile extracts in hemorrhoid healing was demonstrated recently: hemorrhoid surgery patients given a chamomile-based ointment during recovery healed faster.

-Mullein oil, also available from health food stores, can be applied directly. Mullein is an herb that has been proven in laboratory research to help relieve localized pain such as earache.

-Extracts of resins from cypress and frankincense trees have been used throughout history as antiseptics and anti-inflammatories. Traditional Chinese hemorrhoid remedies often contain these healing botanicals.

-Geranium extracts called geraniols are now showing promise as hemorrhoid remedies. Geraniols appear to be able to stop bleeding, and have antiseptic and pain-relieving properties as well.

-Did you know that you can freeze a sliver of aloe vera plant and insert it as a soothing suppository? Aloe, the age-old burn remedy, relieves hemorrhoid pain and swelling too, with no side effects.

-Common kitchen items that have been proven to help some people escape hemorrhoid pain are: peeled garlic cloves; peeled onion slivers; a small, smooth piece of raw potato; even a cayenne and garlic enema (the cayenne is similar to chili peppers and ginger, in that the "hot" chemical components of these plants are proven pain relievers).

Herbals Available In Dietary Supplements

The herbs listed below are commonly included in several popular capsules that can be consumed daily to decrease hemorrhoid swelling and prevent flare-ups.

-Horse Chestnut contains chemicals that are now approved for medicinal use in parts of Europe as a treatment for venous insufficiency, a condition in which circulation to the legs is impaired. In the U.S., the Natural Standard Research Collaboration, an independent council that evaluates alternative therapies, gives horse chestnut an "A" grade for the treatment of venous insufficiency because of the breadth of documented evidence. Since hemorrhoids can be aggravated by circulatory problems, it is thought that an increase in circulatory capacity can help hemorrhoids to heal.

-Butcher's Broom contains an active compound called ruscogen, which can shrink and heal swollen hemorrhoidal tissues.

-Bioflavonoids (plant metabolites) such as diosmin, hesperidin and rutin are becoming more widely used as dietary supplements to treat hemorrhoids and circulatory ailments. Dietary products containing extracts of bilberry or citrus fruits will promote vein strength and tone. Bioflavonoids also help reduce inflammation and swelling, and are potent anti-oxidants too - promoting tissue repair throughout the body.

Of course, the gentle laxative effect of psyllium seed makes it a good choice for dietary supplements aimed at easing chronic constipation. Psyllium is recommended as a general stool softener. It can ease the pain of bowel movements after hemorrhoidectomy or fissure repair. Try a laxative formula containing a blend of psyllium and nutritive algaes such as spirulina (which help make a good home for lactobacilli and other beneficial intestinal bacteria) and chlorella (rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants) for maximum colon and rectal health.