Hemorrhoids

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) comfrey is rich in allantoin, a wound-healing chemical that is anti-inflammatory, stimulates the immune system and hastens the formation of new skin. You can moisten powdered comfrey with vegetable oil and apply the paste. Or you can pound the leaf to soften the fuzzy hairs it’s covered with and apply the leaf itself, topically. You don’t have to worry about washing it off, as the residue will come off the next time you shower.

Plantain (Plantago, various species). Plantain has a strong folk reputation as a hemorrhoid remedy. This herb contains allantoin, the same soothing compound found in comfrey.

Psyllium (Plantago ovata). In one study, 51 people with hemorrhoids received a psyllium preparation. More than
three-quarters (84 percent) reported improvement–less pain, itching, bleeding and discomfort on defecation. Commission E, the German herbal advisory panel, recommends taking anywhere from four to ten teaspoons of psyllium seeds a day for constipation. It’s easy to get that much by using a commercial product such as Metamucil, which is made with psyllium seeds.

Psyllium works by absorbing water in the gut and swelling considerably, which adds bulk to stool and triggers the muscle contractions we experience as “the urge.” If you use psyllium, make sure you drink enough fluids. You should get at least eight (eight-ounce) glasses of water  or juice a day. And watch how you react to this herb if you have allergies. If allergic symptoms develop after you take it once, don’t use it again.

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Witch hazel is a soothing, cooling astringent that can help relieve hemorrhoidal pain and itching. But you really don’t have to spend extra for a brand name. Simply make a compress
using witch hazel, which is available at pharmacies for a much lower price. Just tuck a fresh compress in place whenever you feel the need for a little soothing. Then forget it’s there and go about your business.

Aloe (Aloe vera). Aloe gel is astringent and helps heal wounds. You might try applying it topically to the anal area.
When ingested, aloe juice is laxative. India’s Ayurvedic physicians suggest drinking a half-cup of aloe juice three
times a day until hemorrhoid flare-ups have cleared. You can buy aloe juice at most health food stores. (Don’t try to prepare your own. The inner part of the leaf itself is such a powerful laxative that juicing that could cause problems.) German physicians echo the Ayurvedics. Commission E suggests aloe as a stool softener for those with hemorrhoids or anal fissures or after anal or rectal surgery. The suggested dose is 0.05 to 0.2 gram of powdered aloes, also known as dry extract. This really isn’t very much powder–a pinch thrown into a cup of tea would do it. (This remedy may turn the urine red.)

Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus). This woody herb has a long history as a treatment for venous problems like
hemorrhoids and varicose veins. The plant contains chemicals called ruscogenins, which have anti-inflammatory and vasoconstricting properties. I’d try five rounded teaspoons of root in a cup of boiling water for internal consumption; you can sweeten the tea with honey. And for topical application, a tincture of the herb made with alcohol.

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum). The bark of this tree contains several chemicals that help treat hemorrhoids. Aesculin and aescin strengthen blood vessel walls, reducing the risk of further hemorrhoids. Other chemicals in this herb have anti-inflammatory benefits. Some experiments have shown that horse chestnut does help relieve hemorrhoid symptoms. About 5 to 10 percent of the active chemicals are absorbed if you take this herb orally. There’s just one problem: The herb contains tannins that tend to contribute to constipation if you drink it. But you can use a tea made from the herb to apply to the hemorrhoids or make a poultice by moistening powdered bark or seeds and apply the resulting paste directly.