Piles - World Class Holistic Homeopathy Treatment
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS - Piles
“Piles” is often feared as the tumor of the anus. Actually, piles is not
tumorous and not dangerous. It is a simple enlarged / engorged blood vessel(s)
of the anus. It is also called haemorrhoids in medical terminology. It is the
dilatation (varicosity) of the haemorrhoidal plexus (veins of anus). It appears
as bluish or purple colored swellings due to stagnated blood. Piles may cause
symptoms like bleeding, itching, pain and lump feeling in the anus.
Blood vessels are supposed to suffer with varicosity, when there is
obstruction or resistance/ sluggish or reduced or back flow of blood /
valvelessness, etc. Varicosity is often noticed in the legs of pregnant women
or policemen or in persons whose job/habit is to stand continuously for a
prolonged period. Veins of the legs are most commonly affected with varicosity,
since it is the most dependent part of the body, where the gravitational force
constantly gives pressure with stagnation. Other than varicosity of legs, the
next commonest spot of varicosity is the anus since it has a cluster of loosely
supported blood vessels anastamosing (joining) systemic & portal (liver)
circulation. These blood vessels have no valves to avoid back flow and is more
prone to varicosity.
Piles patients mostly suffer silently with their complaints due to shyness
to explain or show the thing to the doctor. They bear the pain and complaints
as far as possible and go for treatment only in unbearable conditions, which
usually leads them directly to the surgeon’s table. Every complaint should be
treated then and there, for easy cure and to avoid progress of the disease into
complications. Also, nowadays piles is often misspelled for all anal complaints
(fissures, fistulas, rectal tumors, prolapsed anus, etc.) Every complaint
should be clearly analysed by examination and investigation before being
diagnosed and treated.
Incidences
Piles is very commonly seen nowadays. Women have higher incidence than men.
The reason behind it is not clearly known. It is more commonly seen in
adolescent age group and aged persons who all seem to be more tensed. There
must be a relation between piles and tension/psychological factors. Its incidences
is more common in persons who deviate more from nature in diet, living style
and sitting habits. Sufferers are mostly
·
Long sitting travelers
·
Sedentary workers
·
Alcoholics and those who suffer from liver disorders
·
One who suffers often from constipation or diarrhea
Anal architecture
It is designed in such a manner to control even the release of air (flatus)
and watery stools i.e., airtight and leak-proof. It is well-formed with
internal sphincter and external sphincter muscles. Anal canal is anatomically
divided into two parts (namely upper part and lower part) by Hilton’s line
(bluish pink ring). This upper anal part originates from the endoderm and is
covered with mucous membranes. The nerve supply of the upper part is supplied
from the autonomic nervous system which doesn’t have any pain sensitive nerve
fibers. The lower part of the anal canal originates from ectoderm and is
covered by skin. Unlike the upper part, it is supplied by spinal nerves which
have pain sensitive nerve fibers. The blood supply to upper part of the anus is
supplied by superior haemorrhoidal plexus and the lower part is supplied with
inferior haemorrhoidal plexus. The occurrence of swelling/varicosity in the
anus (piles) is more common in 3 O’, 7 O’ & 11 O’ clock position of anus
which are all supposed to be weak points of the anus.
Types – Piles is classified in two ways.
Internal piles – lies inside the anus. Usually internal piles
originates from superior haemorrhoidal plexus of the upper part of anal
canal and lies above the Hilton’s line. This type usually will not be painful,
since it lies in the upper part of anal canal, which lacks pain-sensitive nerve
innervation.
External piles – lies outside the anus. External piles originates
from inferior haemorrhoidal plexus of the lower part of the anal canal i.e. it
lies lower to the Hilton’s line. This type of external piles is most painful,
since the lower part of the anal canal has pain-sensitive nerve
fibers. Some piles patients may have both types. Piles can also be
classified as
Primary piles – occurs due to hereditary reason without any
causative factor or obstruction
Secondary piles – occurs in continuation with other diseases or
obstruction to portal circulation like liver disorders, portal hypertension due
to obstruction, rectal or pelvic tumors, cancer, spleenomegally, etc.
Prolapsed piles –is the piles which gets descend from the place of
origin, i.e. internal piles descends to get visualized as external piles. This
prolapsed piles should be cared for in the initial period itself or otherwise
it may get strangulated and develop into gangrene. In the initial period, the
protrusion gets inside or recedes without any assistance after passing stool,
but in due course, the protruded mass will not recede even with the assistance
of fingers.
Commonly suspected causes for development of pilesPressure in the blood
vessels may be due to
Obstruction
·
Physiological – Pregnancy and delivery can cause
temporary increase of venous pressure and thus piles can occur.
·
Pathological – Liver and portal vein disorders, pelvic or
rectal tumors, cancer, etc., can cause obstruction and lead to piles.
·
Erect postures of man – Animals are flat, but humans had
become erect by evolution. This has been considered a major factor for
development of piles.
·
Hereditary – piles is often found to run in families
·
Physical strain – pressure exerted while passing stool,
coughing continuously for a prolonged time, weight lifting, etc., can also
cause piles & tendency to prolapse and relapse
·
Foods – Low fibre diet, more Spices, alcohol, lesser
intake of water can produce hard stool, which may need of more strain in
defecation and thus lead to piles
·
Defecation – Both constipation and diarrhoea can cause
piles. The strain for passing the stool is the main reason for the development
of piles in both cases.
·
Habits of alcohol, sedentary life and drugs can also
cause piles
·
Worries and mental strain can also cause havoc to the
intestines and anus.
Symptoms
Symptoms of piles usually vary according to the type and place of origin.
Piles in its initial stages is most commonly found to be without any
symptoms. It is often noticed after constipation and abrasions. As said earlier
internal piles are usually silent except rarely bleeding, but the external
piles mostly produce a lot of suffering/symptoms. Internal piles, when get
prolapsed or protruded, produce symptoms like external piles.
The most common symptoms of piles are
·
Feeling a lump or discomfort in anus
·
Frequent ineffectual urge for stool without passing stool
or without satisfaction of complete evacuation. Even after passing stool, they
will not feel any satisfaction, since the bulge of the blood vessels (pile
mass) give the sensation of impacted faecal matter in anus.
·
Bleeding from anus – Mostly pile mass bleed as bright red
blood in drops just after defecation, but sometimes blood may splash over the
toilet pan making the sufferer panic about the loss of blood. Sometimes it may
just stain undergarments.
·
Pinkish or bluish colour swellings protrudes from anus
like bunch of grapes
·
Pain – Piles mass will usually have a burning or stabbing
or throbbing type of pain which often makes the person restless and doesn’t
allow them to sit and relax. They may also have a sensation of having thorns or
glass pieces in anus while sitting.
·
Itching of anus.
·
Mucus discharge or oozing/leakage of faecal matter from
anus, since anus could not be able to close so tightly due to pain.
·
Strained and frequent urination due to irritability of
anus with the contact of expanding, filling bladder.
·
Prolapsed or protruded piles often become thrombosed and
become hard tender external mass.
Diagnosis
Piles can be easily diagnosed by examination of the anus with finger
palpation and proctoscope. The prolapsed internal piles and external piles are
easily visible and can be diagnosed on the spot. Sentinal piles – a natural
skin tag/knot which guards the extension of fissure – is often misunderstood as
pile mass by many patients.
Complications of untreated piles
Bleeding, infection, prolapse,
strangulation, necrosis and gangrene. Painful bleeding usually indicates
startup of complications.
MANAGEMENT
·
Take rest and avoid long walks, long distance travelling
and cycling
·
Take plenty of water and follow regular bowel habits to
avoid constipation and strain
·
Use Indian style toilets since squatting position will be
a better position for pain and natural defecation
·
Follow hygienic measures in cleaning and caring
·
Pass stool twice a day to avoid dry hard stool and strain
to rectum and anus
·
Never suppress an urge. Go for stool whenever there is a
call since it is passed on easily
·
Don’t strain to evacuate hard faecal matter. Take time in
toilet for a natural descend or try enema or stool liquefiers. It is better to
have semisolid stool for easy defecation
·
Take proper treatment for cause of pile mass, if it is of
secondary to any other disease
·
Sitz bath – Before passing stool, sit in a shallow bath
tub of warm water for 10-15 minutes to relieve the anal spasm and relaxation of
anal sphincter. This method also pacifies all painful anal conditions
·
Ice application is advised, when there is constant
bleeding
·
Take easily digestible, simple cooked foods. Avoid spices
and chillies
·
Take foods containing greens, ginger, onion, garlic,
radish, berries, beet root, bitter gourd which helps in healing piles.
·
Take plenty of fruits and juices especially papaya,
mango, lime, jambul, cherry, figs, etc.
·
Vitamin E and zinc supplementation can be taken for
better healing.
·
Avoid sedentary habits, alcohol, smoking and unnecessary
drugs like pain-killers.
General treatment
Mostly, piles becomes better with water, dietary regimen and correcting the
constipation. Anyway, care for blood loss should also be taken to avoid
anaemia.
Haemorrhoidectomy
Removal of pile mass by surgery. Allopathy usually considers piles as a
surgical complaint and treats it mostly with surgery even for painless piles.
Patients, also with the fear of getting cancer or tumors, opt for removal.
Also, in this advanced laser treatment, most of the surgeries are performed
with laser which reduces the duration of hospital stay and blood loss. But in
course of time, the recurrence of piles even after surgery will usually make
the patient more frustrated and depressed.
Complications of surgery
·
Anal stricture
·
Leakage of faecal matter due to injured sphincters
·
Constipation
The other techniques often followed are:
Creams & ointments – commonly
advised as local anaesthetic and moisturizer. It soothes, but it has very
little value in treatment.
Sclerotherapy – Scelorising chemicals are injected
into the pile mass to make them shrink. This method is helpful only in the case
of internal piles.
Banding – The base of pile mass will be banded to
get auto slough off due to lack of blood supply.
Cryosurgery – Freezing the pile mass by liquid nitrogen.
Homeopathic approach
Piles usually tend to get worse over time and become more persistent.
“Best of all the medicines” is rest, water and diet without which no treatment
will be helpful. Treatment of piles often has hindrances since it is often
exposed to irritants or frictions of stool. Usually, external treatment such as
pain relieving creams and ointments containing anaesthetic agents and
moisturizers can help only to pacify the discomfort, but it has very little or
no value in treatment of piles. This way of localized approach or treatment
will usually suppress/mask the complaint for the time being only. Also, one
should be aware of recurrence of piles even after surgical intervention. This
confirms that the cause is not localized and it is the effect of internal
circulatory or other systemic diseases. So the suppression of the piles mass
will leave the internal disease untreated. So this will usually lead to serious
progressive internal diseases, since piles occurred as an outlet, to avoid the
internal burst.
In Homeopathy, the pile mass is not considered a pure surgical disease. It
considers piles as the outburst of an internal disease, which should be treated
internally only. The internal Homeopathy medicines usually strengthen the blood
vessels and raise the resistance forces without any side-effects. It can also
stop the recurrence of piles. Homeopathy medicines are very effective in the
management of piles without any surgical intervention.
Will the pile mass disappear completely with Homeopathy treatment? You
should understand one thing: that a blown balloon will never return to its
original size, i.e. a deviation from nature will never track back in perfection
or to its complete normal anatomy. It will always have its traces of incidences
as history. If Homeopathy treatment is opted in the initial disfiguring period,
we can surely aim for total cure or complete disappearance of the pile mass.
Otherwise, the size of the piles will get reduced to have traces even without
any sufferings.
Homeopathic medicines commonly used in case of piles are Acid Nit, Aconite,
Aesculus Hip, Aloes, Apis mel, Bryonia, Calc carb, Calc Phos, Capsicum,
Carboveg, Causticum, Chamomilla, Collinsonia, Graphites, Hamemelis, Hepasulf,
Hypericum, Ficus.R, Ignatia, kali carb, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Mag Phos, Mer
cor, Millefolium, Muriatic acid, Nat Sulp, Nux Vom, Paeonia, Phosphorus,
Podophyllum, Ratahnia, Silicea, Sulphur, Thuja, etc. These Medicines should be
taken under the advice and diagnosis of a qualified Homeopath.
for
new hope
Dr. S. Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo)
Laxmi Homeo Clinic
24 E. New Mahalipatti Road
Madurai, TN 625 001
India
Tel: +91-984-319-1011 (Mob /
Whatsapp)
Clinic : +91-452-233-8833 |
E-mail: drcheena@gmail.com
(Disclaimer
- The contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The content
is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice,
diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for
any health problem or medical condition.)