Ayurvedic Treatment for Piles in Kerala
Piles, or hemorrhoids is a commonly occurring problem and it’s easy to find ayurvedic treatment for piles in Kerala. The Sanjeevanam Ayurveda Hospital offers one of the best piles treatments in Kochi, providing natural remedies in a holistic manner. Some of the best ayurvedic treatments for piles in Kerala include kshara sutra or cutting off the blood supply to the pile, use of special ayurvedic formulations, warm medicated water baths and dietary and lifestyle changes.
What are Piles (Hemorrhoids)
Also known as hemorrhoids, piles are swollen veins present in the lower rectum and anal area. Piles can be internal or external and can cause pain, itching, bleeding and discomfort, especially during bowel movements. Internal piles are generally painless and tend to bleed only during bowel movements, showing up as bright red blood on the stool or on the toilet paper. External piles on the other hand, tend to be itchy, painful and can bleed too.
Piles or hemorrhoids can arise as a result of sedentary lifestyles, obesity, pregnancy, chronic constipation or diarrhea and straining during bowel movements. Piles can end up preventing you from engaging in certain activities, including sitting on hard surfaces for prolonged periods of times. Treatment for hemorrhoids is inclusive of lifestyle changes such as drinking sufficient amounts of water, indulging in a high-fiber diet and getting sufficient exercise. As far as allopathy medications go, steroid creams and anal suppositories may provide some level of relief from the pain and inflammation. Eventually, surgery is the best way to get rid of piles in modern medical practices. However, there are a number of holistic, ayurvedic treatments available for treatment of piles – and they are completely free of side-effects too!
Signs & Symptoms of Piles
The signs and symptoms of piles depend on their location (internal or external) and severity (inflammation) of the condition. Some general signs and symptoms include:
- 01 Bleeding – Fresh blood is visible in the toilet bowl or toilet paper after bowel movement.
- 02 Pain – Piles can cause pain on bowel movement. In some cases, prolonged sitting on hard surfaces can also aggravate piles and cause pain.
- 03 Swelling – External piles can present as swellings or lumps around the anal area.
- 04 Itching – Sometimes piles can lead to itching in the anal region, causing great discomfort too.
- 05 Fecal leakage – In some cases, a bunch of large internal piles or external piles may weaken the anal sphincter muscle from closing properly – leading to fecal leakage.
- 06 Prolapsed piles – In certain severe and chronic cases, the internal piles may prolapse and protrude out of the anus. This can produce very distressing symptoms.
- 07 Anemia – Chronic pile bleeding can lead to anemia. Consult a doctor.
Causes of Piles
Piles, or hemorrhoids can arise due to a number of factors, including:
- 01 Chronic constipation or diarrhea – These lead to pressure on the rectal area, causing the veins to swell up.
- 02 Straining – A well-known cause is straining during bowel movement.
- 03 Sitting – Sitting for long periods of time on hard surfaces creates pressure on the rectal area and development of piles.
- 04 Age – Chances of developing piles increases with age.
- 05 Obesity & pregnancy – Excess weight can create pressure on the rectal region, leading to piles development.
- 06 Poor diet – A low-fiber diet can cause constipation and increase risk of developing piles.
- 07 Family history – Those with a family history have greater tendency to develop piles too.
To reduce chances of developing piles, adopt a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and better bowel habits
Types of Piles
Hemorrhoids or piles fall into two categories:
Internal piles
Located within the rectal region, they aren’t visible unless they become enlarged and protrude out from the anus. Internal piles tend to bleed during bowel movements.
External piles
These are located outside the anus and can be felt as a lump. They can be painful, itchy or bleed.
Thrombosed piles
These can be either internal or external piles in which a blood clot, or thrombus has formed. It causes severe symptoms and requires immediate thrombectomy.
Based on their location and severity, internal piles can be further classified as:
First-degree piles
Small piles located within the rectum that may cause bleeding on bowel movement.
Second-degree piles
These are larger, swollen hemorrhoids that can protrude out of the anus during bowel movement, but retract back on their own.
Third-degree piles
These are even larger prolapsed piles that need to be manually pushed inside after bowel movement.
Fourth-degree piles
These require immediate medical attention as they can’t be repositioned into the rectum and risk getting their blood supply strangulated resulting in vascular tissue death.
Manage Piles Naturally
Here are some ways to manage piles or hemorrhoids naturally:
High-fiber diet
A diet rich in fiber or fiber supplements ensure good bowel movement and lower chances of developing piles.
Hydration
Drinking sufficient water keeps the stool soft.
Active lifestyle
Regular exercise encourages healthy bowel movements and reduces chances of developing piles.
Aloe vera
Apply aloe vera gel to the anal area to soothe itching.
Sitz baths
Sit inside a medicated warm water bath several times a day to relieve itching and pain.
Witch hazel
This is a natural astringent which helps reduce swelling and inflammation.
How Ayurveda can treat Piles (Hemorrhoids)
There are a number of holistic ayurvedic treatments for piles/hemorrhoids that provide equally effective improvements in symptoms. Ayurvedic treatment for piles in Kerala include the use of natural herbs, dietary changes, lifestyle changes as well as cauterization of the pile. An ayurvedic practitioner or Vaidya can advise the following ayurvedic treatment for piles:
Kshara karma therapy
It utilizes a natural herbal paste that is caustic and alkaline in nature, and helps to chemically cauterize the hemorrhoid. It’s one of the best treatment options, especially if it’s for an open and bleeding pile.
Kshara sutra therapy
Your Vaidya might recommend surgical intervention or kshara sutra to tie off the pile at its base with a special medicated thread. It cuts off its blood supply, making it shrink and fall off in 7-10 days’ time. This therapy takes your dosha type in consideration for healing, and is only performed when other treatments fail.
Arshoghni vati
This ayurvedic medicine for piles contains ingredients like neem, vidanga and haritaki, which are anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial and relieve itching and pain.
Triphala
This is a combination of three herbs used for promoting regular bowel movements. It can be taken orally or applied topically over the anal area.
When to See a Doctor for Hemorrhoids
It’s always better to see a doctor if you are experiencing:
- 01 Severe anal pain or bleeding after bowel movements
- 02 Bowel movements along with rectal bleeding
- 03 Persistent itching in the anal region
- 04 Prolapsed piles poking out of the anus
- 05 Swelling or lump growth around the anus
It’s essential to see a doctor as these could also indicate serious conditions like thrombosed piles, blood clots, colon cancer signs, etc. Older-age people with a history of rectal piles should look out for changes in bowel habits or changes in stool color and inform their doctor as they could be indicative of other conditions too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Piles curable through Ayurveda?
Piles is a painful condition that can be cured completely by following ayurvedic treatments. Your Vaidya might prescribe ayurvedic medications such as triphala, Arshoghni vati, kshara karma, etc., which help provide relief from pain, irritation and bleeding caused by piles. These medicines work in a holistic way to treat both the symptoms as well as the piles. Kshara sutra therapy is also available for excision of the pile.
Why should I consider ayurveda for Piles treatment?
While allopathy focuses on relieving the symptoms of piles, ayurvedic treatment for piles focuses on treating both the root cause as well as the symptoms. The best part is that only natural products are used for treatment of piles in ayurveda, hence there are no chances of side effects. The treatment process is fast-acting and long lasting too.
Are there conditions that have similar symptoms with hemorrhoids?
Aside from hemorrhoids, other ominous conditions such as intestinal ulcers, colon cancers or anal cancers can also produce similar symptoms. These could include pain and/or fresh rectal bleeding on bowel movement too. Unlike hemorrhoids, other conditions may be life-threatening, so it’s always important to show an experienced doctor, instead of trying to treat it by yourself at home.
Are hemorrhoids a serious condition?
While internal or external hemorrhoids or piles are not a life-threatening condition, they do impact the quality of life of the person. You might not be able to partake in all types of activities, sit for long periods of time or consume spicey or peppery foods – without feeling the repercussions. When inflamed or infected, hemorrhoids cause discomfort, pain, and itching.
Can hemorrhoids be prevented?
You can avoid developing piles by following healthy lifestyles. This would mean following a fiber-rich healthy diet that is free of processed food, drinking sufficient water and not following a sedentary lifestyle. Frequent consumption of foods that could cause constipation or diarrhea should be avoided too as they can cause straining and irritation of the lower rectum and anal areas.
Best Ayurvedic Treatment for Piles in Kerala
Kerala is known to be the home of ayurveda and offers one of the best ayurvedic treatment centers for piles in Cochin at the Sanjeevanam ayurveda hospital. Piles, also known as hemorrhoids, are a result of swollen veins and can occur in the lower rectum as internal piles or around the anal area as external piles. Ayurvedic treatments include lifestyle changes, herbal remedies and minimally invasive treatment procedures. Treatment depends upon its location and severity. Some of the common ayurvedic treatments for piles in Kerala include the following:
Bhaishajya chikitsa – Minor cases of piles are usually taken care of with only ayurvedic medications. In severe cases, medications may be combined with other treatment modules. Commonly-used herbal remedies include treatment with Triphala (a combination of 3 herbs), Arshoghni vati and kutaj vati root extracts. These ayurvedic medications have anti-inflammatory properties, anti-bacterial properties and also provide relief from the discomfort, pain and itchiness.
Kshara therapy – These herbal applications are alkaline pastes that have a cauterizing effect on the pile. The herbal blend seals off the hemorrhoid chemically and is a popularly used approach in ayurvedic treatment of piles in Kerala.
Sastra chikitsa – Also known as Kshara sutra, your ayurvedic practitioner uses a medicated thread to tie the hemorrhoid at its base. This cuts off its blood supply and it eventually shrinks and falls off.
Sitz baths – This involves sitting in warm water baths infused with ayurvedic herbs to reduce inflammation and pain. Repeating regularly provides great relief.
Additionally, your Vaidya could recommend specific diets, meditation and yoga poses as part of piles treatment.
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