HEMERRHOIDS

FOUR OUT OF FIVE Americans will develop hemorrhoids at some point, so if you’re a victim you’re certainly not alone. Hemorrhoids, similar to varicose veins, are simply veins located in the anus that have become stretched and weakened. Many people find the problem is exacerbated by long hours of sitting, heavy lifting, or pregnancy and childbirth.

Most of my patients who complain of hemorrhoids first report them when they notice bright blood in their stool. While alarming, this symptom is usually just an indication that the pressure of defecation has abraded the hemorrhoid and caused it to bleed. On the other hand, rectal bleeding can be a symptom of a serious disease-colon cancer or colitis. If you have doubts as to the source of the bleeding, it’s best to have a doctor check it out.

Many people rightly connect hemorrhoids with constipation: Straining on the toilet causes pressure that can create hemorrhoids. Unfortunately, some people think that the remedy is laxatives. This approach can exacerbate the problem by ignoring its real cause. Natural remedies can eliminate most cases of hemorrhoids and simple lifestyle changes that also promote better overall health, I’ve had great success with patients who have been plagued by hemorrhoids. The simple steps I recommend wilt also help you avoid diverticular disease, constipation, and other health problems.

It’s interesting to note that hemorrhoids are virtually unknown in undeveloped countries, because the diet of those people is bulky and fibrous. Our Western diet is usually so limited in fiber that the resulting stools are small, hard, and dry. Year after year of straining to eliminate, coupled with too much sitting and too little exercise, results in rectal tissue that is severely strained and ultimately weakened so that hemorrhoids are inevitable.

If you’re suffering from hemorrhoids right now, you want immediate relief. What about all those over-the-counter remedies? Just last year the FDA clamped down on the manufacturers of these products, and some of them are being removed from the market because they’ve never been proven to be effective. Others must limit their claims. Those that claim to shrink tissues must carry a warning because people with diabetes or heart disease, for example, shouldn’t use them. In the final analysis, while you may get some temporary relief from these products, you could do as well by applying zinc oxide, petroleum jelly, or witch hazel, which are just as effective and far cheaper.

In addition to applying a topical ointment, a sitz bath (soaking in a warm bath in three or four inches of water with your knees raised) can give relief by drawing blood to the area and helping to shrink the swollen veins. If you do a lot of sitting on the job, an inflatable “doughnut,” which you can buy at a pharmacy, will give you relief from pressure.

Many people aren’t aware that wiping themselves with harsh tissue paper can aggravate their problem. Use premoistened towelettes-make sure they’re the kind with no added ingredients that can irritate-to soothe and help avoid further irritation.

The most important step you can take to avoid and cure hemorrhoids, as opposed to just relieving symptoms, is to improve your diet. A high fiber diet will create a stool that is soft and bulky and therefore much easier to eliminate. A high-fiber diet simply means an emphasis on fruits, whole grains, and vegetables. Don’t immediately switch your diet to one consisting largely of roughage; this could cause diarrhea and worsen the problem. Make gradual changes: Over a week or two, increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat and start eliminating some of the refined, processed foods. I advise my patients not to rely on bran supplements-they can become irritating. And it’s important to increase your liquid consumption. Eight glasses of water a day should be your goal. Start the day with eight pennies in your right pocket; each time you drink a glass of water, put a penny into your left pocket. Alcohol, coffee, and nuts can aggravate hemorrhoids for some people. If you notice worsening symptoms after consuming them, avoid them completely.

My patients often ask me about stool softeners or bulking agents like psyllium. These substances act as natural laxatives by attracting water and creating a larger, softer stool. I think that they’re fine to take when you first notice symptoms and if dietary changes do not produce soft, non-constipated stool.

There is one nutritional supplement that has been of’ great help to my patients. Rutin, part of the C complex, is a bioflavonoid that is thought to help strengthen the capillary system.

NATURAL PRESCRIPTION FOR HEMORRHOIDS

• For immediate relief, apply a topical over-the-counter ointment or use zinc oxide, petroleum jelly, or witch hazel.
• Take two or three sitz baths daily: Sit in a warm bath with your knees raised for five to fifteen minutes.
• If you must sit for long periods of time, or if you simply need immediate relief from painful hemorrhoids, buy a “doughnut” to relieve the pressure of sitting.
• Shift the emphasis of your diet to high-fiber, complex-carbohydrate foods. Gradually increase the amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, beans, and other high-fiber foods. Gradually eliminate highly refined foods.
• Use a stool softener or psyllium powder-1 teaspoon in water once or twice daily-when you first notice symptoms or if hard stool is not relieved by diet.
• Improve your bowel habits: Don’t strain; move your bowels only when you feel the urge. Limit the time you spend on the toilet-don’t use the bathroom as a library!
  Don’t use harsh toilet paper. Use premoistened towelettes and wipe gently.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects, as this puts a stress on your circulatory system.
• If you are pregnant, it can help to lie down on your left side and rest for about a half hour two or three times a day. It also helps to lie on your left side at night, if you’re comfortable in that position, to relieve the pressure of the fetus on the veins serving the lower half of the body.

IN ADDITION TO YOUR DAILY SUPPLEMENTS, TAKE:

• Rutin: 100 mg. three times daily.