PILES

The term Piles (Hemorrhoids) refer to a condition of small blood-filled swellings, caused by dilated (varicose) veins of the rectum or anus, that causes anal bleeding, itching and discomfort. They may be located at the beginning of the anal canal (internal hemorrhoids) or at the anal opening (external hemorrhoids) and may be present for years, but go undetected until bleeding occurs.

SYMPTOMS

• Small, round lump either on the anus or inside the anal canal.
• Pain in anal region.
• Itching and soreness around the anus.
• A mucous anal discharge.
• Blood stained stools or bleeding during passing stools.
• In certain conditions, a pile mass may come out while passing stools and then retract back into the anal canal.
• Secondary anaemia due to loss of blood during passing stool.

CAUSES

• Sitting for long period on a hard surface.
• Increased straining during bowel movements caused by constipation or diarrhea may lead to haemorrhoids
• Hypertension can also cause hemorrhoids.
• Obesity can increase rectal vein pressure, which may lead to hemorrhoids.
• Poor muscle tone or poor posture can result in too much pressure on the rectal veins, which may also cause hemorrhoids.
• Cigarette smoking during bowel movements, may worsen hemorrhoids and may lead to severe internal bleeding of veins inside rectum area
• Pregnancy may lead to hypertension and increase strain during bowel movements, so hemorrhoids are often associated with pregnancy.
• Dietary habits: elimination of cereal fibres from the diet results considerably in the high incidence of chronic constipation and ultimately hemorrhoids.
• Hereditary : Some defect in the venous structure has been held responsible. e.g. congenital weakness of the walls of vein.
• Other causes : Excessive consumption of alcohol, long journeys, non-vegetarian food, and spicy foods.

AYURVEDIC OVERVIEW OF PILES / HEMORRHOIDS

In Ayurveda piles are described as ARSHA, caused due to simultaneous vitiation of all the three doshas i.e. Vatta, Pitta and Kapha, predominantly by the Vata dosha. Unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle suppress the digestive fire, which means digestive system is not able to digest food material in proper way and time. It results in accumulation of toxins or ama in the digestive gut in the form of half digested food material, which impair the function of the digestive gut causing irregular movement of intestine, which leads to aggravation of Apana vata ( sub-category of Vata Dosha). Due to dry nature of Vata, it absorbs moisture from the digestive gut causing constipation, which further leads to formation of piles.

HEMORRHOIDS DIET & LIFESTYLE

• Eat fresh green vegetables such as spinach, bottle gourd (louki), carrot, cucumber, radish, lemon.
• Eat fresh fruits such as oranges, bananas, papayas, apples, grapes, and mangoes.
• Avoid all root vegetables such as potatoes (except radish and carrot).
• Avoid Tea, Coffee, Caffeine, Alcohol, processed food, Chocolate, Fast Food, Pickles etc.
• Chew your food properly and avoid overeating.
• Drink plenty of water and other fluids such as soup, juice, buttermilk, etc. try to drink at least 8-10 glass of water daily.
• Do regular exercise.
• Don’t sit too much on a hard surface because it can restrict blood flow around the anal area.
• Do not control your natural urge to defecation or urination.
• Avoid sleeping during the daytime.
• Don’t sit in the toilet for long periods. This position causes extra pressure around the anal region.

HOME REMEDIES

• Mix ½ teaspoon of carom seeds powder and ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds powder. Take this mixture with glassful of buttermilk, daily.
• Take 20ml radish juice, twice a day.
• Mix an equal amount of powdered long pepper and turmeric with few drops of milk (preferably cow’s milk). Apply this on the external piles.
• Apply sesame oil on external dry piles followed by warm fomentation through sitz bath. Sitz bath is a warm water bath used for healing Piles / Hemorrhoids, fissure and fistula. During sitz bath, water covers only your hips and buttocks.