By Setareh Kiumarsi
Struggling with hemorrhoids? Is bowel movement accompanied by pain or bleeding? Do you feel burning or itching around the anus?
The accumulation of toxins or “bad phlegm” in the pelvic region can show up as hemorrhoids. How? This stagnant phlegm settles into the capillaries and veins around the anus, turning into a small bulging sac. If inflammation levels rise too high, that sac may rupture during defecation, causing bleeding.
The first step in treating hemorrhoids is to fix your diet and prevent constipation. So, while hemorrhoids are active, you need to avoid foods that are binding (astringent) and contribute to more phlegm building up in the intestines.
If your hemorrhoids don’t bleed, try to minimize foods like legumes (lentils, fava beans, chickpeas, etc.), cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, potatoes, raw apples (cooked apple is fine), mint (and mint-based products like mint tea or extract), cheese, yogurt, cream, clotted cream, ice cream, fast food (especially those made with white flour, industrial oils, cheese, and beef like cheeseburgers, pizza, lasagna), fried and fatty dishes.
If you’re experiencing bleeding hemorrhoids, also cut down on corn, eggplant, egg yolk, beef and veal, seafood, vinegar (and vinegar-based foods like pickles), sour fruits (like sour cherries, peaches, nectarines, unripe plums), oranges, sour tangerines, sour oranges, fruit leathers, kombucha, kefir, spicy seasonings (black pepper, red pepper, curry, chili, masala, cayenne, etc.), raw garlic and onions, raw scallions, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, cigarettes, and marijuana.
Avoiding constipation is crucial to speeding up recovery. Refer to earlier posts on how constipation starts and how to treat it in Ayurvedic medicine. Also, each night before bed, add 2 teaspoons of teffseeds, 1 teaspoon of fleawort seeds, and 1 teaspoon of psyllium husk to half a cup of boiled water, along with a couple of dried apricots. In the morning, add half a cup of hot water, a few drops of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of honey, and a pinch of salt to the mixture. Drink this on an empty stomach. Alongside it, take half a teaspoon of triphala or black haritaki powder, mixed with a teaspoon of honey, and swallow it like a paste.
While hemorrhoids are active, include foods like cooked leek, okra, beets, carrot juice, and turmeric in your meals (use turmeric more often in cooking).
If you’re dealing with bleeding, every couple of hours drink a diluted pomegranate drink: 1/4 cup pomegranate juice + 1/4 cup fennel seeds distilled water + 1/2 cup warm water + 1 teaspoon of honey.
Let’s now talk about a detox regimen to help treat hemorrhoids.
Detox Regimen
Still struggling with hemorrhoids, painful or bloody bowel movements, itching or burning around the anus?
As mentioned above, it’s vital to adjust your diet when hemorrhoids are active. But how about going on a light detox during that time?
Wake up around 6 a.m. and drink a cup of warm water mixed with a few drops of lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and 1 teaspoon of honey (use pink Himalayan salt if you have high blood pressure).
Fifteen to thirty minutes later, drink a glass of carrot and celery juice (the carrot should be twice as much as celery). Add 1/4 cup fennel distilled water (or 1/2 tsp fennel powder) before drinking.
For breakfast (between 7-8 a.m.), lunch (12-1 p.m.), and dinner (6-7 p.m.), have a bowl of digestive soup: sauté one chopped onion in olive or sesame oil with saffron, turmeric, and coriander seeds. If you’re not vegetarian, add a small piece of chicken breast along with chopped carrots, parsley, leek, scallion, celery, and cilantro. Toss in a handful of quinoa too. Make sure 70% of the pot is vegetables and 30% is chicken and quinoa. Add lemon juice to flavor your soup. Enjoy!
Starting two hours after each meal, sip a digestive tea every hour. (You can also substitute with Ananda’s digestive herbal tea if available.) Combine the following whole herbs (not powdered) in the proportions given: fennel (3), fenugreek seeds (1/2), psyllium (1), cumin (1/2), basil (1), rose petals (1). Steep a teaspoon of the mix in a cup of hot water. Before drinking, add a few drops of lemon, a pinch of salt, and a teaspoon of honey.
For snacks, eat a small bowl of cooked pears or apples and 2-3 dried apricots.
Follow this cleanse for 2 to 4 days, depending on your energy levels.
It’s similar to fasting, so avoid intense physical activity and take it easy so you can keep going. If you feel better after doing it, consider repeating it every month or two.
Home Remedies
What else can help?
Mix the following herbs in the given ratios by volume (no need to powder them):
Yarrow (1), myrtle (1), oats (1), sea salt (2), psyllium (2), calendula (1), baking soda (1).
Boil 2-3 tablespoons of this mix with the lid on for 5 minutes. Once it cools to a warm temperature, strain the decoction, pour it into a basin, and add 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Sit in this for about 20 minutes once or twice daily.
Before bowel movements, lubricate your anus and the surrounding area with castor oil. After cleansing and drying the area, apply a small amount of myrtle oil, castor oil, or fresh aloe vera gel. Neem oil is also a great option.
Stay full of health.
Please be sure to credit the author, Setareh Kiumarsi, when sharing or republishing this article, which was written with love and the hope of well-being for all.
