Piles

Piles, also known as 'haemorrhoids', are small, bluish swellings, comprising of enlarged blood vessels situated either just inside or just outside the anus commonly called internal piles and external piles. In case of bleeding, they are termed as bleeding piles.

Causes

• Persistent constipation due to poor dietary habits.
• Sitting on hard seats for prolonged periods.
• Lack of exercise.

Because of all these factors, straining is needed to pass the small hard stools, which causes congestion in the network of blood vessels located inside the anal cushions. Gradually, these vessels enlarge and form piles. If the constipation further continues, they become large enough to be called second or third degree piles.

Signs & Symptoms

Internal or First-degree Piles:

Many people have these without even being aware of them. These are located just inside the anus, ocassionally causing some discomfort when a motion is passed. Rarely, slight bleeding may also occur during evacuation.

Second-degree Piles:

They usually appear as peasized swellings outside the anus after a bowel motion has been passed. They are usually retained inside the anus and may bleed and cause discomfort during passing stool with some degree of itching.

Third-degree Piles:

The swollen blood vessels are so enlarged that they remain outside the anus permanently. These are known as external piles, and are more troublesome. Soreness and persistent irritation are the common features.

Herbal Medicines

1. The poultice made of sesame (til) seeds can be applied over bleeding piles as an external measure, and internally also ½ teaspoonful of sesame seeds can be taken orally with some butter.
2. A mixture can be made of:
   Ripe bael fruit pulp   = loz
   Sugar                    = 180gms
   Powder of black peppers = 7 in number
   Cardamom powder         = 7gms
   This can be taken twice a day as a good remedy.
3. Radish (Muli) is a useful home remedy for piles.
   * The hot poultice of dry radish (Muli) is a good application in non-bleeding piles.
   * The juice is also useful in piles. 60 to 100 ml of radish juice well mixed with little bit of salt, should be taken twice a day, daily for 40 days.
4. Butter Milk: It is the home remedy of choice in piles. l00ml well mixed with a little bit of black pepper powder, and salt should be taken daily for a few months at least. Ayurveda stresses upon daily intake of butter milk by the piles patients.
5. Hareetaki, popularly known as harad is a good remedy for constipation. The decoction of the fruit peel of harad (Terminal a Chebula) is taken 1 cupful with jaggery at bed-time.
6. Rose petals, 11 in number crushed with 50 ml of water should be taken for 3 days on empty stomach. This is a very good remedy for bleeding piles. Banana fruit should not be taken for 1 year along with this treatment.
7. The decoction of sonth (dried ginger) is very useful in piles. It should be taken in the quantity of 30 to 50ml daily.

Ayurvedic Remedies

1. Triphalachurna: This should be taken regularly to remove the constipation. 2 tsf of powder well mixed in a glass of lukewarm water should be taken orally before retiring to bed. Externally also it is widely used in different methods. One popular method is to take a plastic tub, fill it with warm water to a level where one can sit comfortably. Add 10 teaspoonfuls of Triphalachurna to the water and mix well for some time. Then the patient should sit in the tub, duly immersing the anus in the lukewarm water for 30 minutes. This should be carried out daily. This practice brings in enormous benefits to the piles patient.
2. Abhayarista: As an oral liquid preparation, it is also useful in constipation. 30 ml of the medicine dissolved in equal quantity of lukewarm water should be taken before going to bed.
3. Arsha Harivati is a common herbo-mineral compound prescribed by Ayurveda. 2 pills twice a day with some butter milk or warm water should be taken for 40 days. This gives great relief from piles.
4. Arshony tablet/ointment (Charak) 1-2 tablets thrice daily along with application of ointment before and after defecation.
5. Pilex tablet/ointment (Himalaya Drugs) are equally useful. Dosages are as above.
6. Arshoghnivati tablet (Baidyanath) 1 to 2 tablets with water or butter milk can be taken thrice or four times daily.
7. Kankayan Vati (Baidyanath) is equally good in both types of piles.
8. Pileen, Arshon and Rasanjan Vati tablets (Bhaat Ayurvedic Pharmacy) can cure both types of piles if taken in the dose of 1 to 2 tablets daily for 2 to 3 months.
9. Kasisadi Tailam when applied externally treats external piles completely.