Piles are painful, swollen veins in
the lower portion of the rectum or anus. This condition is very common,
especially during pregnancy and after childbirth. Piles results from increased
pressure in the veins of the anus. The pressure causes the veins to bulge and
expand, making them painful, especially while sitting.
The most common cause is straining
during bowel movements. Hemorrhoids may results from constipation, sitting for
long periods of time, and anal infections. In some cases they may be caused by
other disease such as liver cirrhosis.
Classification
Piles are classified mainly in to:
Internal piles – occur just inside the anus, at the beginning of the
rectum.
External piles – occur at the anal opening and may hang outside the anus.
Causes of piles
Repeated pressure on the anal or
rectal veins, which causes them to stretch.
Risk factors involved
- A diet lacks fiber
- Prolonged sitting or standing
- Overweight people
- Pregnancy
- Chronic constipation
- Chronic diarrhoea
- Loss of muscle tone in older adults
- Rectal surgery or episiotomy
- Liver disease
- Anal intercourse
- Colon cancer
Sign and symptoms
Although piles may be asymptomatic,
they characteristically cause painless, intermittent bleeding, which occurs on
defecation. Bright red blood appears on stool. These first degree piles may
itch because of poor anal hygiene. When second degree piles prolapse, they are
usually painless and spontaneously return to the anal canal following
defecation.
Third degree piles cause constant
discomfort and propalse in response to any increase in intra-abdominal
pressure. They must be manually reduced. Thrombosis of external piles produces
sudden rectal pain and a subcutaneous, large, firm lump that the patient can
feel. If piles cause severe or recurrent bleeding, they may lead to secondary
anemia with significant pallor, fatigue, and weakness; however, such systemic
complications are rare.
Diagnosis of piles
Diagnosis mainly include physical
examination which confirm external piles. Proctoscopy is mainly done in case of
suspected internal piles and rectal polyps.
Homeopathic treatment of piles
Homeopathy is one of the most
popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the
theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach.
This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained
by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The
aim of homeopathy is not only to treat piles but to address its underlying
cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is
concerned, several remedies are available to treat piles that can be selected
on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints. For
individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a
qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following remedies which are
helpful in the treatment of piles:
Aesculus Hip. – abdominal plethora; throbbing deep in abdomen,
particularly in hypogastric region; piles, bleeding or not, with feeling of
dryness in rectum; as though little sticks or splinters were pricking the folds
of the mucus membrane; weak feeling at sacro-iliac symphysis; though the legs
were about to give out, worse by stooping forward and when walking; aching
between shoulders; desire to strain at stool for a long time, pain shoot up the
rectum; from the tumors, with lameness and aching in back, purple piles;
depressed and irritable. Dark red congestion of fauces, with dryness and
soreness, from abdominal plethora.
Collinsonia – excellent remedy for piles; obstinate cases of piles;
specially used in females with inertia of the rectum and a congestive
tendency to the pelvic organs; it suits a pregnant women who suffer from piles,
and pruritus may be a marked symptom. The indicating symptoms are chiefly
a sensation of sticks in the rectum, with constipation from inertia of the
lower bowel. It is specially applicable to heart pains resulting from a
suppression of a habitual haemorrhoidal flow.
Hamamelis – one of the best remedies for piles; bleeding piles; flow
of blood is quite copious, and the great characterized indication is excessive
soreness.
Aloes – one of the most useful remedies for piles; indicated
where the piles protrude like a bunch of grapes, bleeding often and profusely,
and are greatly relieved by the application of cold water. There is a very
marked burning in the anus, the bowels feel as if scraped. There is a tendency
to diarrhea, with the well known uncertain feeling in the lower bowel.
Nux Vomica – if the piles be large and blind, with a burning, stinging
and constricted feeling in the rectum and a bruised pain in the small of back,
and especially if excited by sedentary habits or abuse of stimulants, than Nux
Vomica may be prescribed.
Itching piles keeping the sufferer
awake at night, relieved by cold water, or bleeding piles with constant urging
to stool. And a feeling as if the bowel would not empty itself are further
indications.
Capsicum – bleeding or blind piles, protruding swollen, itching,
throbbing and burning as if pepper were sprinkled on them. Sore feeling in the
anus. Piles with mucus discharges, bloody mucus stool. Great thirst followed by
shuddering after stool.
Associated symptoms are persistent
thoughts of suicide, lack of vital heat, craving for warm things, stimulants
and pungent things.
Muriatic acid – piles large, swollen, dark purple or blue haemorrhoides
which are extremely sensitive and pains to touch. Inflamed piles, hot and
pulsating, must lie with limbs wide apart, too sore, to bear least touch even
the bed sheet is uncomfortable.
Piles while urinating or with stool,
bleeding piles with burning and cutting during and after stool.
Ameliorated by warm application; aggravation by cold application.
Sulphur – sulphur is a very good remedy for piles, when the
constitutional symptoms are there. External and internal piles, great bunches
that are sore and raw, burning and tender, and bleed and smart with loose
stool, complaints aggravate when standing, when washing and from warmth of bed.
Ammonium carb – piles protrude, independent of stool; protrusion of piles
after stool with long lasting pains; cannot walk, or the piles protrude during
a stool, and recede when lying down; they are usually moist and pain as if
excoriated; bloody discharge during and after stool.
Arsenic album – piles bluish, swollen, inflamed, protruding and bunched,
bleeding from least touch, with stitching, burning pains when walking or
standing, but not at stool; burning and soreness in rectum and anus,
aggravation at night; strangulated piles. Amelioration from warmth.
Kali carb – stool dry, too large in size, rectum inactive, feels
distressed an hour or two before stool; sensation as if a red hot poker were
being thrust up the rectum, relieved by sitting in cold water; stinging,
burning tearing, itching pain, even after a natural stool.
Lycopodium – piles, painful while sitting; discharge of blood even
with soft stool; itching eruption at the anus, painful to touch; burning and
stitching pain in the rectum; pain in the sacral region, extending to the
thighs.
Nitric acid – long lasting cutting pain in the rectum after loose
stool, with piles; hemorrhage bright red, not clotted, spasmodic tearing during
stool from fissures in rectum.
Silicea – piles intensely painful; boring, cramping from anus to
rectum and testicles; piles protrude with stool and discharge bloody mucus.
