The Health Biz

Alternative Treatment vs Traditional Treatment

The 3 established medical management goals of hemorrhoid treatment include relieving the symptoms, arresting the worsening of the condition and preventing the recurrence of the condition. In addition to these goals, we would add pre-emptive prevention of the onset of hemorrhoids.

Conventional medicine dictates 4 stages of prognosis; immediate admittance to hospital where cancer is suspected, possible admittance where there is intense discomfort (e.g. thrombosed external hemorrhoids and internal but thrombosed and prolapsed hemorrhoids), outpatient treatment (e.g. grade 1 or 2 hemorrhoids); intensive investigation (e.g. where more than the typical symptoms of hemorrhoids are evident).

Many people are comfortable going along this conventional path of hemorrhoid treatment. Well and good, if it helps them. As we believe that they typically do provide good medical solutions, we are not total skeptics of big pharmaceutical companies and hospitals. Having said that, many customary drugs do have side effects, some of which are not made known to us on the basis that they are statistically acceptable.

Consequently, our approach has always been to examine alternative treatment together with conventional medicine. This is even more so if the alternative method has these characteristics; is natural, has been tried and tested by fellow sufferers and works even for those who have undergone conventional healthcare treatment. The H Miracle is one such alternative to piles treatment.

Mainstream and alternative treatments aside, there are a variety of DIY routines that you can practise to prevent hemroid affliction. These same steps become even more important if you are already suffering from it. They will reduce your discomfort and prevent deterioration of the condition.

Healthy Lifestyle as a Habit

Foster this uncomplicated way of life – the balanced diet! An undeniable truth, though clichéd it may sound.

A major cause of hemorrhoids is excessive straining due to constant bouts of constipation. Accordingly, a major lifestyle objective should then be to ensure regular bowel movements comprising soft but bulky stools. This is easily achieved. Just include in our daily diet at least 30 gm of insoluble fiber found in fruits and leafy vegetables and by drinking 8 glasses of fluid. Fluids that are effective, unfortunately, do not include those with alcohol and caffeine content!

Should the balanced diet not produce fairly immediate results, you may try out plant-based fiber supplements. These include methyl cellulose (sold under trade names like Citrucel or WillPowder) which passes through the intestines undigested and absorbs large amounts of water to produce a softer and bulkier stool. The brands Metamucil and Fybogel (both containing psyllium) are effective vegetable-based supplements which act similarly to smoothen bowel motion.

Regardless of whether you are already afflicted with hemorrhoids or is recovering from hemorrhoids after customary medical procedures, the daily objective of a well-balanced diet is an important step in your hemorrhoid treatment and recovery.

Helping Yourself at Home

For the hemorrhoid sufferer, the next major routine that should become a personal habit is perianal hygiene. Perianal is associated with the tissues in the area of the anus. After passing motion, these are essential steps to note:

• Avoid soaps with perfumes or dyes

• Do not rub the anal region

– use the shower or bidet to clean

– gently pat dry with a towel

• Blot dry the anus with

– damp toilet paper

– baby wipes

– moistened mini-towels e.g. TUCKS Medicated Pads

– cleansing agents e.g. Balneol Hygienic Cleansing Lotion.

For discomfort relief in hemorrhoid treatment, try one or all of the following:

• Apply ice (10-minute duration) several times a day

• Alternately apply a warm compress (10-20 minute duration)

• Apply moist heat (using warm towels – tip: use a microwave) several times a day

• Soak the anal area in warm water (15 minute duration) a few times a day

• Take a sitz bath (i.e. warm salted water)

• Apply hemorrhoidal creams or petroleum jelly (e.g. Preparation H)

Other relief methods:

• Lie down in bed – relieves pressure on the inflamed hemorrhoids

• Refrain standing or sitting for prolonged periods

• Minimise lifting heavy objects

• Wear loose cotton underwear to prevent moisture formation

• NEVER use the famed doughnut tire cushion – by restricting blood flow, it magnifies swelling!

• Exercise regularly – if nothing else, just brisk walking

• However busy you are, empty your bowels as soon as the urge occurs.

Self-help is an unavoidable part of hemorrhoid treatment. However, this is an IMPORTANT NOTE. Whenever any of the medicinal products mentioned above are used for piles relief, you should seek the advice of the pharmacist at the drugstore where you make your purchase or your personal doctor. This is particularly critical if you have a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, urination difficulties caused by prostate gland enlargement or you are currently taking any prescribed drugs.

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