Say Goodbye to Hemorrhoids
Herbal Cures For Hemorrhoids: Do They Really Work
Author: Henry Hammond
Many hemorrhoid sufferers are looking for something that not only treats the symptoms but will also cure their hemorrhoid condition. There are numerous over the counter creams and suppositories available that claim to treat symptoms and heal the damage and while some of these products have a well proven reputation, the effectiveness of others has is not so well proven and some scientific research shows that some may actually do more harm then good. Another option for treating and healing hemorrhoids may be different types of natural herbal remedies.
This article will discuss some of the herbs available and what each claims to do.
The first class of herbal extracts for using in the treatment of hemorrhoids would be the ones that work to sooth the pain and these are also the most commonly used. The most popular herb for hemorrhoid pain treatment is Witch Hazel and you will find this herb on the list of ingredients in virtually all over the counter hemorrhoid creams products on the market. In its astringent form, it is often used to treat sores, bruises and swelling. A sitz bath with Witch Hazel and Calendula can be used for hemorrhoid treatment or you can also use Yarrow, Sage, Bayberry, Oak Bark, and Yellowroot. These combinations of herbs have shown some evidence of being effective as they work to tighten the damaged tissue, stop the bleeding, and begin the healing process.
There are also classes of herbs that can be used to make teas or used externally in a sitz bath and some can actually be taken either way. Because the herbs listed below are not as commonly used for hemorrhoids as the ones above and also because they are often associated with use for other conditions, I do not advocate using any of them without further research. Teas used to treat hemorrhoids can contain herbs such as Lady's Mantle, Sheperd's Purse, Raspberry Leaves, Figwort, Collinsonia, Stone root, Rich weed, and Horse Chestnut. Herbs such as White Pond Lilly and Horse Chestnut can be used either internally as a tea or externally in a sitz bath. There are also many Chinese herbs that it is said can be used to treat hemorrhoids such as Chi Hu, Dang shen, Huang Qi, and Xuan shen.
As is the case of most herbal remedies for differing conditions, there is not always valid scientific proof of the effectiveness or safety of each individual herb but many people swear on the results of such herbs. As it is beyond the scope of this article to examine each herb in detail, it is suggested that further research be done before deciding to use any of the herbs mentioned. While herbs are natural substances that occur in nature, this does not necessarily guarantee safeness and just like minerals and vitamins, toxic affects can occur if a large enough dose is consumed. Because of these facts I must stress once again that further research should be done before taking any of the less well known herbs mentioned in this article. You should instead use this article as a guideline for what is available and once you find something interesting, visit your local nature store for more information.