Natural Remedies for Piles/Hemorrhoids:

• Apple Cider Vinegar – Using apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular natural treatments for hemorrhoids. Simply soak a cotton ball or some toilet paper with ACV and apply it to the hemorrhoid area. Repeat this process until the inflammation disappears and symptoms resolve. You should see improvement instantly. Alternatively, add some ACV (half a cup) to a sitz bath.

• Rutin – A health-promoting compound found in numerous plants such as buckwheat, oranges, grapefruit, lemon, cranberries, and asparagus (to name a few), rutin is another home remedy often used for hemorrhoids. Buying it in supplement form may be the best option. One individual on Earthclinic says: “I have had a hemmroid for almost a year now. Just last week I started taking Rutin 500mg twice a day, in the morning and one before going to bed. … taking Rutin for only a week the inflammation has gone down and my hemmroid thankfully is almost gone, it’s less than a size of a pea today.”

• Coconut Oil - Apply coconut oil directly to hemorrhoids, rinse and repeat. In addition to symptoms subsiding, the hemorrhoids should disappear over the course of just a few days.

• Witch Hazel - An astringent and healing tree, witch hazel is one of the oldest known natural remedies for hemorrhoids. Just soak a pad or cotton ball with witch hazel and apply it to the area.

• Aloe Vera – As with the above treatments, simply apply aloe vera to the affected area to relieve symptoms.

• Squat, Don’t Sit – This is actually heavily important and very overlooked. Conventional toilets are highly unnatural, and may be one reason hemorrhoids are rarely seen in less developed countries, where where squatting is done when going to the bathroom. Sitting down to pass a bowel movement puts tremendous strain on the rectum while squatting straightens the rectum and relaxes the puborectalis muscle. This is tip should be done along with any home remedies for hemorrhoids you may use.

Causes and Necessary Prevention Tips – The Best “Treatment”

The most common causes of hemorrhoids are straining during bowel movements and obesity. If you’re straining during bowel movements, there is no doubt that you are suffering from constipation, and obesity only heightens your chance of experiencing these digestive issues. The best solution for hemorrhoids is – you guessed it – to not have them at all!

Follow these essential hemorrhoid prevention tips and you may not even have to delve into any hemorrhoid treatments.

• Exercise and Lose Weight – Being overweight or obese, along with being highly inactive, is the perfect path for a complete decline in health. If you aren’t a healthy weight and aren’t moving, your organs and internal system as a whole becomes sluggish and works at low levels. Start exercising and losing weight to fix the problem and keep your digestive tract working.

• Up Fiber Intake: Eat Plenty of Vegetables, Fruit  - Seeing as hemorrhoids result from constipation and straining, it should be no surprise that upping fiber intake can help mend the issue. Fiber helps soften stools and is essential for colon health and digestive health as a whole. This nutrient helps to clean out the gastrointestinal system, preventing constipation and allowing the colon to work at greater levels of efficiency. Sources of fiber include: vegetables of all kinds, flax seeds, almonds, pecans, pistachios, prunes, pears, and beans. Include these foods in your diet while trying the other home remedies for hemorrhoids.

• Take Probiotics and Consume Probiotic-Rich Foods – Probiotics are essential for balancing the bacteria in your gut, which can prevent constipation and absolutely promotes overall health. Either take a high-quality probiotic supplement, or consume more probiotic-rich foods such as fermented foods like fermented cheese, yogurt, sauerkraut, Korean kimchi, and numerous fermented drinks like kombucha tea.

• Hydrate – Staying hydrated with water seems to be the number one recommendation for almost any health ailment. Water helps cleanse your internal system and hydrates your entire body. Along with fiber, drinking more water will help to soften stools and hopefully reduce the need for straining during a bowel movement.

Other Considerations for Hemorrhoid Treatment

• Soaking the area in warm water a few times a day for 10-15 minute periods can reduce inflammation and help relieve symptoms. You may also take a sitz bath and add a half cup of apple cider vinegar.

• Keep the area clean, bathing daily. Don’t use soap on the area as it will likely just cause irritation. Use moist toilet paper to dab the area after a bowel movement to lessen friction from wiping.

• Apply ice packs or cold compresses to relieve swelling.

As always, be sure to share any home remedies for hemorrhoids that work for you, as well as what hasn’t worked for you. It’s important to help natural treatments live on.

Many people suffer from hemorrhoids, which can be uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Hemorrhoids usually occur when the veins around the anus become distended due to constipation, childbirth, heavy lifting, or long periods of sitting.
Typical symptoms include itching and irritation around the anus area. In some cases, as the condition becomes progressively worse, there may be bleeding. The good news is that hemorrhoids can be managed and reduced or eliminated without expensive surgery.
There are a number of natural cures for hemorrhoids. One of these is to simply change your diet. Avoid eating fatty foods, like deep fried meats or fast-food hamburgers, and cut down on the heavy use of alcohol. Start eating more fiber to help soften the stool. This will reduce the strain required to evacuate your bowels and reduce the pressure on your internal veins within the anal cavity. Another simple cure is to drink more water. Drinking at least eight glasses of water each day, cleans your intestinal walls and facilitates bowel movements.
Other dietary treatments for hemorrhoids include taking vitamin C, which helps maintain the integrity of your veins, and eating more flavonoids and anthocyanins to strengthen your veins. Sources of flavonoids include lemons, limes, apples, tomatoes, onions and carrots; sources of anthocyanins include dark, red berries, blueberries, cherries, grapes and red cabbage. Another natural food remedy for hemorrhoids is eating a banana on an empty stomach every day. For bleeding hemorrhoids, eat three bananas daily, or try steamed dried persimmons.
A soothing, natural cure for hemorrhoids is taking 15-minute warm baths. This will not only relive some of the pain and irritation but will help shrink hemorrhoids. Be sure to dry the hemorrhoid area to keep moisture from the swollen tissue. A hemorrhoids cream or ointment can reduce the burning sensation on the affected area. Ointments containing aloe vera are recommended. Be sure to gently clean the affected area twice daily with the hemorrhoid cream.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a number of treatments for hemorrhoids without the side effects of Western pharmacological remedies. Among the most popular TCM treatment is Ginkgo. Also known as Ginkgo Biloba, Japanese silver apricot and maidenhair tree, this popular Chinese herbal supplement has been used in China for several thousand years to effectively treat hemorrhoids. Another Chinese medication is Bu Zhon Yi Qi Wan. Taken in pill form--8 to 10 pills three times a day for one month--can offer some relief. Finally, try Fel Ursi Hemorrhoid Ointment (Xiong Dan Zhi Chuang Gao) to shrink hemorrhoids and relieve symptoms.
For bleeding hemorrhoids, TCM also suggests musk hemorrhoids ointment, which should be applied topically to the affected area. Gargelin extra has been shown to work as well, as it serves to strengthen the veins. Three or four tablets three times a day is the recommended dosage.
While some natural methods may reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids, you should consult with your doctor before attempting any natural cure.

Different Treatment of Piles:

Dietary changes

If constipation is the cause of your haemorrhoids, you need to keep your stools soft and regular. This will help you avoid straining to pass stools.
Increase the fibre in your diet and aim to eat 25-30g of insoluble fibre a day, such as wholegrain bread, cereal, and fruit and vegetables.
The body is unable to digest insoluble fibre, so it passes through the bowels and helps other food and waste move through more easily.
Also drink plenty of water. Aim to drink at least six to eight glasses of fluid a day and avoid too much caffeine (found in tea, coffee and cola).

Self care

Follow the advice below when going to the toilet:

• avoid straining to pass stools because it may make your haemorrhoids worse
• after passing a stool, use moist toilet paper rather than dry toilet paper to clean your bottom 
• using baby wipes can help ease any discomfort that you have after passing a stool
• pat the area around your bottom rather than rubbing it

Creams, ointments and suppositories

Creams, ointments and suppositories, available over-the-counter from pharmacies, can be used to relieve any swelling and inflammation that you have around your back passage. However, they will only treat your symptoms and will not cure the haemorrhoids themselves.
These types of medicines should only be used for five to seven days at a time. If you use them for longer than this, they may irritate the sensitive skin around your anus. Any medication you use should be combined with the diet and self care advice above.
There is no evidence to show that one preparation is more effective than another. Ask your pharmacist for advice about which product is most suitable for you. Also, always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine before using it.
Do not use more than one product at the same time because they may contain similar ingredients.

Corticosteroid cream

If you have severe inflammation in and around your back passage, your GP may prescribe corticosteroid cream. This cream contains powerful hormones called steroids.
You should not use corticosteroid cream for more than a week at a time because it can make the skin around your anus thinner.

Painkillers

Painkilling medication, such as paracetamol, can relieve pain caused by haemorrhoids.
Products that contain local anaesthetic (painkilling medication) may also be prescribed to treat painful haemorrhoids. They should only be used for a few days because they can make the skin around your back passage more sensitive.

Laxatives

If you are constipated, your GP may prescribe a laxative. This is a type of medicine that can help you empty your bowels. Laxatives can be:

• bulk-forming – which contain fibre to make your stools heavier and softer
• osmotic – which increases the amount of water in your bowels to make your stools softer

Read more about laxatives.

Banding

Banding is a procedure that is sometimes used to treat second and third degree haemorrhoids.
Banding involves a very tight elastic band being placed around the base of your haemorrhoids to cut off their blood supply. The haemorrhoids should fall off within seven days of having the treatment.
Banding is usually carried out as a day procedure and you should be able to return to work the following day. However, you may feel some pain or discomfort for a day or so. Normal painkillers are usually effective but, if necessary, your GP may prescribe something stronger.
You may not realise the haemorrhoids have fallen off because they should pass out of your body when you go to the toilet. If you notice some mucus discharge within a week of the procedure, it usually means that the haemorrhoid has fallen off.
Directly after the procedure, you may notice some blood on the toilet paper after going to the toilet. This is normal, but there should not be a lot of bleeding. If you pass a lot of bright red blood or blood clots (solid lumps of blood), go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department immediately.
Infections or ulcers (open sores) can occur at the site of the banding. However, these complications are rare and can be easily treated.

Injections (sclerotherapy)

Sclerotherapy is another common treatment for internal haemorrhoids. It can be used as an alternative to banding.
A chemical solution is injected into the blood vessels in your back passage. This relieves pain by numbing the sensory nerve endings at the site of the injection. It also hardens the tissue of the haemorrhoid so that a scar is formed. After about four to six weeks, the haemorrhoid should decrease in size or shrivel up.
After the injection, avoid strenuous exercise for the rest of the day. You may experience minor pain for a while and may bleed a little. You should be able to resume normal activities, including work, the day after the procedure.

Infrared coagulation

Infrared coagulation, also know as infrared light, can also be used to treat haemorrhoids.
A special device is used to burn the haemorrhoid tissue. One or two bursts of infrared light can cut off the circulation to small internal haemorrhoids, such as grade one or two haemorrhoids.

Surgery

Surgery is sometimes recommended to treat large internal haemorrhoids, or those graded as three or four.

Procedures to treat hemorrhoids

Some hemorrhoids can’t be managed with conservative treatments alone, either because symptoms persist or because an internal hemorrhoid has prolapsed. Fortunately, a number of minimally invasive treatments are available that are less painful than traditional hemorrhoid removal (hemorrhoidectomy) and allow a quicker recovery. These procedures are generally performed in a surgeon’s office or as outpatient surgery in a hospital.

Band it. The most commonly used hemorrhoid procedure in the United States is rubber band ligation, in which a small elastic band is placed around the base of a hemorrhoid (see bow above). The band causes the hemorrhoid to shrink and the surrounding tissue to scar as it heals, holding the hemorrhoid in place. It takes two to four procedures, done six to eight weeks apart, to completely eliminate the hemorrhoid. Complications, which are rare, include mild pain or tightness (usually relieved with a sitz bath), bleeding, and infection. Other office procedures include laser or infrared coagulation, sclerotherapy, and cryosurgery. They all work on the same principle as rubber band ligation but are not quite as effective in preventing recurrence. Side effects and recurrence vary with the procedure, so consult your physician about what’s best for your situation.

Hemorrhoidectomy. You may need surgery if you have large protruding hemorrhoids, persistently symptomatic external hemorrhoids, or internal hemorrhoids that return despite rubber band ligation. In a traditional hemorrhoidectomy, a narrow incision is made around both external and internal hemorrhoid tissue and the offending blood vessels are removed. This procedure cures 95% of cases and has a low complication rate — plus a well-deserved reputation for being painful. The procedure doesn’t involve an overnight hospital stay, but it does require general anesthesia, and most patients need narcotic analgesics afterward. Patients can usually return to work after 7–10 days. Despite the drawbacks, many people are pleased to have a definitive solution to their hemorrhoids.

Staples. A newer alternative to traditional hemorrhoidectomy is called stapled hemorrhoidopexy. This procedure treats bleeding or prolapsed internal hemorrhoids. The surgeon uses a stapling device to anchor the hemorrhoids in their normal position. Like traditional hemorrhoid removal, stapled hemorrhoidopexy is performed under general anesthesia as day surgery, but it’s less painful and recovery is quicker. It’s more painful than rubber band ligation and has more minor side effects, but it only needs to be done once; the hemorrhoids are also much less likely to return. Research is now under way comparing stapled hemorrhoidopexy with rubber band ligation and hemorrhoidectomy as a first-line treatment for internal hemorrhoids.

Diagnosing hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids can usually be diagnosed from a simple medical history and physical exam. External hemorrhoids are generally apparent, especially if a blood clot has formed. Your clinician may perform a digital rectal exam to check for blood in the stool. She or he may also examine the anal canal with an anoscope, a short plastic tube inserted into the rectum with illumination. If there’s evidence of rectal bleeding or microscopic blood in the stool, flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy may be performed to rule out other causes of bleeding, such as colorectal polyps or cancer, especially in women over age 50.

Home treatment

Most hemorrhoid symptoms improve dramatically with simple, at-home measures. To avoid occasional flare-ups, try the following.

Get more fiber. Add more fiber to your diet from food, a fiber supplement (such as Metamucil, Citrucel, or Fiber Con), or both. Along with adequate fluid, fiber softens stools and makes them easier to pass, reducing pressure on hemorrhoids. High-fiber foods include broccoli, beans, wheat and oat bran, whole-grain foods, and fresh fruit. Fiber supplements help decrease hemorrhoidal bleeding, inflammation, and enlargement. They may also reduce irritation from small bits of stool that are trapped around the blood vessels. Some women find that boosting fiber causes bloating or gas. Start slowly, and gradually increase your intake to 25–30 grams of fiber per day. Also, increase your fluid intake.

Exercise. Moderate aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking 20–30 minutes a day, can help stimulate bowel function.

Take time. When you feel the urge to defecate, go to the bathroom immediately; don’t wait until a more convenient time. Stool can back up, leading to increased pressure and straining. Also, schedule a set time each day, such as after a meal, to sit on the toilet for a few minutes. This can help you establish a regular bowel habit.

Sitz. A sitz bath is a warm water bath for the buttocks and hips (the name comes from the German “sitzen,” meaning “to sit”). It can relieve itching, irritation, and spasms of the sphincter muscle. Pharmacies sell small plastic tubs that fit over a toilet seat, or you can sit in a regular bathtub with a few inches of warm water. Most experts recommend a 20-minute sitz bath after each bowel movement and two or three times a day in addition. Take care to gently pat the anal area dry afterward; do not rub or wipe hard. You can also use a hair dryer to dry the area.

Seek topical relief. Over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams containing a local anesthetic can temporarily soothe pain. Creams and suppositories containing hydrocortisone are also effective, but don’t use them for more than a week at a time, because they can cause the skin to atrophy. Witch hazel wipes (Tucks) are soothing and have no harmfu l effects. A small ice pack placed against the anal area for a few minutes can also help reduce pain and swelling. Finally, sitting on a cushion rather than a hard surface helps reduce the swelling of existing hemorrhoids and prevents the formation of new ones.

Treat the clot. When an external hemorrhoid forms a blood clot, the pain can be excruciating. If the clot has been present for longer than two days, apply home treatments for the symptoms while waiting for it to go away on its own. If the clot is more recent, the hemorrhoid can be surgically removed or the clot withdrawn from the vein in a minor office procedure performed by a surgeon.

Initial Treatment

The initial treatment for hemorrhoids involves dietary and lifestyle modifications to help treat the symptoms. Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet helps with the passage of soft stools that do not cause inflammation or bleeding of hemorrhoids. Natural sources of fiber include whole brains and vegetables. Artificial over-the-counter fiber supplements can also help maintain regular bowel habits, decreasing the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Other strategies include increasing the intake of water to about six to eight 8-ounce glasses a day; sitting in the bath tub with warm water for a few minutes at a time; regular exercise to promote regular bowel health; and decreasing the amount of time sitting on the toilet and not straining during bowel movements. Anti-hemorrhoid cream, ointments and suppositories can temporarily relieve symptoms of itching and pain, and steroid suppositories can decrease the inflammation and swelling associated with hemorrhoids.

Correct toilet sitting helps to cure, control and prevent hemorrhoids:

One of the most important treatments / preventatives, relates to how you sit on the toilet when doing your number 2's.

In the good old days, people squatted on the ground - we are designed to do our number 2's squatting. Toilets are designed to be sat on, not squatted on - they were not designed to allow the easy elimination of waste from our body. The more modern toilets, sometimes called squat toilets, are an endeavor to correct this historical mistake in toilet making.

However, the vast majority of us have not even seen a squat toilet. So, when using a normal toilet, the professional medical staff at my local hospital suggest that to prevent, or lessen / cure the effects of hemorrhoids, one should use a different sitting position on the toilet.

These professionals suggest:

First, when you sit on the toilet, have the toes and ball of the foot on the floor, but the heels raised up in the air.

Second, lean forward and rest your arms on your knees.

Third, let nature takes it's course, don't force.

Provided you have kept to a fiber rich diet and or used supplements to keep your bowel motions soft - be careful as certain herbal remedies can damage the bowel - the bowel should evacuate quickly, easily and fully. Remember to drink more water if adding fibre supplements to your diet - the fiber absorbs the moisture to create the soft bulky stool.

This simple strategy helps to avoid straining, which is good, as straining causes hemorrhoids. Straining puts undue pressure on the rectum area, which means the blood vessels are being pumped up with blood. This isn't good, as sooner or later the blood vessels will weaken and some will balloon out under pressure, at which point they are called hemorrhoids.

If you already have them, this approach can help to reduce their aggravation, soreness and swelling and may help prevent them from showing themselves, depending on just how bad they are.

A Little Trick to stop the Pain and Discomfort :

Doctors grade them on the basis of just how often and how much they show themselves, but a little trick to reduce the pain and discomfort is to just push the hemorrhoids gently back inside, where they belong. Most hemorrhoids become painful because they are being cramped and hurt while outside - they have the muscles clamping down on them to try and stop it from coming through, which is what the muscles there are for and then they have cheeks rubbing against them and so on.

Seeing Your Doctor About Your Hemorrhoids and Dealing with the Embarrassment:

They are also known as piles, but some use the term prolapse. Prolapse may sound something dreadful, but it's not your intestines falling out. When we are talking hemorrhoids, the doctor is simply saying the hemorrhoid is showing itself outside your bottom.

Doctors see hemorrhoid cases every day, so although it may be embarrassing for you, it's nothing new to your doctor. If you need to, just write all your symptoms down and let the doctor read them. A sensitive doctor will ease you through the embarrassment and provide you with a proper diagnosis. Until then you are just guessing - all sorts of things have to be ruled out.

How to Cure Hemorrhoids or Piles??

Hemorrhoids, or piles, are painful, swollen veins in the rectum or anus. The condition commonly occurs during and after pregnancy, or in other situations when pressure is placed on or around the anus. Self-care methods are useful for relieving itching and discomfort caused by hemorrhoids, but medical intervention is sometimes required to reduce inflammation that won't recede on its own.

Method 1 of 3: Lifestyle Changes

Method 1
Know the causes of hemorrhoids. If you strain during bowel movements or sit for long periods of time, you may be causing or exacerbating hemorrhoids. Other causes of hemorrhoids include:

• Constipation
• Anal infections
• Cirrhosis

Method 2

·         Increase your intake of fluids. Staying hydrated helps prevent flareups and hastens their cure. Drink at least six to eight glasses of fluid (other than alcohol) each day.

Method 3

·         Increase your intake of fiber. Eating fiber prevents and cures constipation. Consume more fruits and vegetables. You may also want to use a stool softener or fiber supplement, such as Metamucil or Citracel.

·         Wear cotton undergarments. Wearing silk or another fabric can trap moisture around the anal area, causing repeated hemorrhoid flareups.

·         Avoid perfumed soaps, toilet paper, or clothes detergent. Start using unscented, dye-free products, since the chemicals in perfumes and dyes can cause irritation.

Keep your anal area clean. Bathe daily using plain, warm water
It is not necessary to use soap; in fact, soap could make the problem worse by irritating the anal area.

 Moisture can cause irritation, so pat the anal area dry with a cotton ball, or gently dry the anal area using the lowest setting on a hair dryer.
Apply a cold compress to the area. This reduces swelling and soothes itching.
Use witch hazel. Witch hazel soothes irritation and reduces swelling. Pure witch hazel is available at most drug stores. Apply it using cotton pads or cotton balls.

• Pads pre-soaked with witch hazel are also available at some drugstores.
• It's best to use pure witch hazel, but you may also try a product containing witch hazel mixed with other substances, such as soothing oils and aloe. Avoid products containing synthetic chemicals that may make the hemorrhoids worse.
• Draw a warm bath and pour in a few capfuls of witch hazel. Soak until the irritation has eased.

Use a sitz bath filled with warm water. A sitz bath is an over the toilet bath for hips and buttocks. It can be used to ease the pain of hemorrhoids. Sitz baths are available at pharmacies and medical supply stores.
Apply hemorrhoidal cream or suppository containing hydrocortisone to the affected area. ^[2] Do not apply hydrocortisone more often than recommended on the tube or bottle.
Homeo Medicine that can help you to heal Piles:
Aesculus hippocastanum: When this remedy is needed, hemorrhoids are sore and aching, with a swollen feeling. Pain may last for hours after the bowels have moved. People who need this remedy often have the sensation of a lump, or a feeling that a lot of small sharp sticks are inside the rectum, poking them. Sharp and shooting pains may be felt in the rectum and back. A person who needs this remedy may also have low back problems.
Aloe: Hemorrhoids that are swollen and protrude “like a bunch of grapes” and are soothed by cold soaks or compresses may be helped with this remedy. Hemorrhoids may alternate with diarrhea, and the person may have a lot of flatulence.
Arnica montana: Sore, bruised-feeling hemorrhoids may be relieved with this remedy, especially when straining or over-exertion (for instance, childbirth or heavy lifting) has brought on the hemorrhoids.
Calcarea fluorica: This remedy may be indicated for hemorrhoids with bleeding and itching in the anal region, or internal hemorrhoids causing soreness in the very low back and sacrum. The person may also have problems with flatulence and constipation.
Graphites: Burning hemorrhoids with soreness, cracks, and itching in the anal region suggest a need for this remedy. A person who needs Graphites is often overweight, has difficulty concentrating, and tends toward skin eruptions.
Hamamelis: A raw, sore feeling in the anus, with bleeding hemorrhoids, indicates a need for this remedy. Pulsation may be felt in the rectum, and the lower back often aches. Symptoms may be worse from warmth.
Ignatia: Hemorrhoids accompanied by spasms and stabbing pain in the rectum suggest a need for this remedy—especially if the person is sensitive and emotional. Stitching pains can be felt in the rectal area when coughing. Bleeding and pain are often worse when the stool is loose, and rectal prolapse sometimes follows bowel movements.
Nux vomica: Itching, painful hemorrhoids, a feeling of constriction in the rectum, and chronic constipation with ineffectual urging are indications for this remedy. People who need Nux vomica are usually impatient, tense, and irritable, and often have a tendency toward heavy use of stimulants, strong foods, and alcohol or drugs.
Pulsatilla: When this remedy is indicated, hemorrhoids are itchy and uncomfortable, with sticking pains. They are likely to protrude, with improvement after lying down. Warmth often aggravates the symptoms. This is a very helpful remedy for hemorrhoids that appear during pregnancy or around the menstrual period.
Sulphur: Itching, burning, oozing hemorrhoids accompanied by a feeling of fullness and pressure in the abdomen suggest a need for this remedy. The anus is inflamed and red and may protrude significantly. The person may feel worse from warmth and bathing, and have flatulence with a strong, offensive odor.

 

Homeopathy Dosage Directions

Select the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms. In conditions where self-treatment is appropriate, unless otherwise directed by a physician, a lower potency (6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, or 30C) should be used. In addition, instructions for use are usually printed on the label.
Many homeopathic physicians suggest that remedies be used as follows: Take one dose and wait for a response. If improvement is seen, continue to wait and let the remedy work. If improvement lags significantly or has clearly stopped, another dose may be taken. The frequency of dosage varies with the condition and the individual. Sometimes a dose may be required several times an hour; other times a dose may be indicated several times a day; and in some situations, one dose per day (or less) can be sufficient.
If no response is seen within a reasonable amount of time, select a different remedy.