Hemorrhoids or hemorrhoids develop when the veins in the anal area swell and enlarge. Internal hemorrhoids are usually painless, even when they bleed, but external hemorrhoids are usually painful and itchy. Fortunately, from now on there are many ways for you to shrink hemorrhoids. See step 1 to learn about it.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Shrink Hemorrhoids Fast
Step 1. Apply witch hazel extract
This natural plant extract contains astringent substances that help to shrink hemorrhoids and reduce itching. Bottled witch hazel extract is available at most drug stores. You can also find topical creams that contain witch hazel.
- Soak a cotton swab in witch hazel and apply it on the hemorrhoids after having a bowel movement.
- When you feel the hemorrhoids itchy, add more witch hazel as needed.
Step 2. Try using an over-the-counter ointment at a drugstore
Suppositories or creams containing hydrocortisone will reduce inflammation and help relieve pain.
The medications in these creams and ointments can cause skin damage over time, so don't use these ointments and creams for longer than recommended on the package
Step 3. Try using an ice pack
Place a small ice pack on the rectal area for a few minutes. This causes the blood vessels to constrict, thereby reducing pain and swelling. Apply ice for no more than 20 minutes at a time.
Step 4. Take a sitz bath
A sitz bath is a warm bath for the buttocks and hips. Put enough warm water in a large tub (which can fit on a toilet seat) or sit in a regular tub with a few inches of warm water in it. Experts recommend taking a sitz bath for 20 minutes after each bowel movement and two or three times a day. A sitz bath can reduce itching, irritation, and spasms in the sphincter muscles.
- Gently pat the anal area dry after a sitz bath. Do not rub or wipe the area as this can cause bleeding and irritation.
- For some people, adding Epsom salts to the water for a sitz bath can further reduce hemorrhoid pain. If you want, add this salt to the water according to the amount recommended on the package, then stir until completely dissolved.
Method 2 of 3: Changing Habits
Step 1. Don't push on the toilet
Try to avoid straining on the toilet. Straining to have a bowel movement is the main cause of hemorrhoids. Don't poop unless you really need to, and don't sit on the toilet for more than 5 minutes.
- Straining is also known as the Valsalva maneuver. During straining, peripheral venous pressure increases, causing the dilated veins to become more painful.
- Try placing a pillow on the toilet seat (available at drug stores). Sitting on a pillow instead of a hard surface helps reduce swelling of existing hemorrhoids and prevents new hemorrhoids from forming.
Step 2. Avoid constipation
Constipation makes straining more frequent, making it difficult to shrink hemorrhoids. To prevent constipation, drink plenty of water and maximize fiber intake to keep digestion normal.
- A high-fiber diet, along with adequate water intake, helps soften stools and make them easier to pass, thereby reducing the pain of hemorrhoids.
- Foods high in fiber include broccoli, beans, oats and wheat bran, whole grain foods, and fresh fruit.
- Fiber supplements can also help. According to Harvard health experts you can start slowly, and gradually increase your fiber intake to 25 to 30 grams per day.
- Use laxatives if other methods don't help your constipation.
Step 3. Try unverified natural remedies
Certain herbs and supplements have been touted to help shrink hemorrhoids and prevent them from coming back. There is no scientific evidence that these herbs and supplements work, but many people have found it helpful to use these medications:
- Take triphala capsules, available at health food stores. Triphala capsules contain herbs that help with gut health.
- Use horse chestnut and butcher's broom. These substances are used in herbal hemorrhoid creams, and you can take them in tea form.
- Use aloe vera. Eat a teaspoon of aloe vera after each meal, and rub aloe vera on your hemorrhoids for a cooling effect.
Method 3 of 3: Seeking Medical Help
Step 1. Seek medical attention for severe hemorrhoids
Call your doctor if you experience moderate-intensity pain in the rectal area for more than a week after the home treatment. You should also visit your doctor for severe pain or if you have rectal swelling that doesn't improve after 3-7 days of home treatment.
- Use a mirror to observe your external hemorrhoids. If it is larger than a coin, seek medical attention immediately. Also, see a doctor if your hemorrhoids are so large that they are blocking bowel movements.
- Hemorrhoids in the elderly are often heavier and less responsive to home treatments. So, if you are of an advanced age, you should seek medical help.
Step 2. Discuss non-surgical treatment options with your doctor
Hemorrhoids that won't go away after you try home remedies can be removed with a variety of remedies. Discuss the following options with your doctor and determine which one is right for your condition:
- Rubber band ligation. A rubber band is placed around the hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply and allow the hemorrhoid to slowly fall off.
- Sclerotherapy injection. A certain amount of fluid is injected into the hemorrhoidal tissue, causing the hemorrhoid to shrink.
- Infrared photocoagulation. A probe is used to shine a light on referees who do not respond to other treatments.
Step 3. Consider performing a hemorrhoidectomy
Hemorrhoidectomy is the surgical removal of hemorrhoids and the surrounding blood vessels that can cause hemorrhoids to recur. Recovery time after surgery usually takes only a few days.
Warning
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See a doctor if any of the following occur.
- External hemorrhoids.
- Great bleeding.
- There is a history of colon cancer in the family.
- There is a change in bowel habits.
