To treat hemorrhoids, one can use aloe vera, in the form of an oil or a cream, as well as chamomile in the form of a cream. The Arabs also used a plant known today as lesser celandine. They consumed it as an herbal tea or applied it directly.
Hemorrhoids can be caused by constipation, in which case vegetables should be eaten, along with a laxative such as flaxseed. There is also a plant called horse chestnut, which can improve blood circulation and is therefore very effective for problems with varicose veins, varicocele, and hemorrhoids, since it helps improve blood circulation. It can be found in the form of creams or capsules. Finally, the Arabs also used chamomile as an herbal tea or a cream for hemorrhoids.
What hemorrhoids are, and why they come out
Everyone has hemorrhoids: they are cushions of veins that line the anal canal and help with continence. They become a "condition" when they swell, bleed, come out, or hurt. What makes them swell is pressure: straining on the toilet when stools are hard, sitting for long periods (especially on the toilet, phone in hand), pregnancy and childbirth, being overweight, carrying heavy loads. The professor names the first cause, constipation, and that's where we start. There are internal hemorrhoids, which bleed without pain (bright red blood on the paper or in the bowl) and can come out during a bowel movement, and external ones, which form a lump under the skin and hurt when a clot forms there (thrombosis). See also hemorrhoids at an advanced stage.
The three actions that help the most
- Fiber. A meta-analysis of randomized trials shows that fiber reduces bleeding and overall hemorrhoid symptoms by about 50%, and it is the baseline treatment recommended everywhere (Am J Gastroenterol, 2006). The professor's flaxseeds are an excellent source of it: one tablespoon ground per day in yogurt or applesauce, with a large glass of water; plus vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole wheat bread, up to 25 to 30 g of fiber per day. Psyllium from the pharmacy does the same job.
- Water, 1.5 to 2 liters per day: without it, fiber hardens instead of softening.
- The warm sitz bath, 10 to 15 minutes, two or three times a day and after every bowel movement during a flare-up: it relaxes the sphincter and eases the pain; in pregnant women, a comparative study found it as effective as an anorectal cream (Women Birth, 2018). You can add a chamomile infusion, as the Arabs used to do according to the professor.
To this should be added: don't strain, don't stay on the toilet more than a few minutes, go as soon as you feel the urge, elevate your feet on a small stool (the squatting position of tradition, which aligns the rectum), stay active, and lose weight if needed. A reference review on hemorrhoids places these measures first, before any medication (Am Fam Physician, 2018).
The professor's remedies, with what the trials say about them
| Remedy | How | What the research found |
|---|---|---|
| Horse chestnut | Standardized extract in capsules (300 mg twice a day, i.e. 100 mg of aescin), or as a topical cream | Cochrane review: horse chestnut extract reduces pain, edema, and heaviness in the legs in venous insufficiency, with few adverse effects (Cochrane, 2012). Since hemorrhoids are veins, this is the venous tonic the professor cites, and it also applies to varicose veins and varicocele |
| Aloe vera | Pure gel (from the leaf or store-bought, alcohol-free) applied to the area after the sitz bath, two or three times a day | Double-blind randomized trial: an aloe vera cream reduced pain and sped up healing after hemorrhoid surgery (J Altern Complement Med, 2010). Soothing and healing, with no effect on the cause |
| Chamomile | Strong infusion in the sitz bath or as a compress; store-bought cream | Anti-inflammatory and soothing; traditional use, no dedicated trial on hemorrhoids |
| Lesser celandine (pilewort) | Store-bought ointment; the fresh plant is irritating | The "hemorrhoid plant" of old Europe, rich in astringent saponins; tradition without a trial, for external use only |
| Flaxseeds | One tablespoon ground per day, with water | The baseline remedy: this is the fiber, proven (see above) |
| Flavonoids (diosmin, flavonoid fraction) | From the pharmacy, on advice, during a flare-up | Meta-analysis: the purified flavonoid fraction reduces bleeding, pain, and recurrences (Adv Ther, 2020). This is the reference venotonic medication, derived from citrus fruits |
The flare-up program
- From the first day: warm chamomile sitz bath after every bowel movement; aloe vera gel afterward; soften the stools (ground flaxseed, prunes, plenty of water) so you no longer need to strain.
- Venous tonic: horse chestnut in capsules for two to three weeks, or the pharmacist's flavonoids.
- Cold on the pain: a cold pack wrapped in a cloth, ten minutes, if the lump is painful.
- Moist toilet paper or washing with water (the istinja of tradition, which is also good hygiene), without rubbing or perfuming.
- After the flare-up: fiber and water every day, not just when there's bleeding; this is what prevents it from coming back.
Contraindications and precautions
Any bleeding from the anus should be seen by a doctor at least once, and without fail after age 45 or in the case of a family history of colon cancer, repeated bleeding, a change in bowel habits, fatigue, or weight loss: what could be a polyp or a tumor should not be blamed on hemorrhoids, and the exam is simple. Sharp, continuous pain with a hard, blue lump is a thrombosis: the doctor can lance it within 48 hours, which brings immediate relief. A hemorrhoid that comes out and no longer goes back in is treated (banding, surgery). Horse chestnut should be avoided with anticoagulants, in cases of kidney or liver failure, and during pregnancy and breastfeeding; lesser celandine is not taken by mouth. In pregnant women, fiber, water, sitz baths, and aloe vera are the safe foundation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best natural remedy for hemorrhoids?
Fiber, which cuts bleeding and symptoms in half in trials: flaxseeds, vegetables, fruits, with plenty of water. For a flare-up, a warm chamomile sitz bath and aloe vera gel; to tone the veins, horse chestnut.
Is horse chestnut effective?
Yes, in venous insufficiency, according to the Cochrane review: less pain, edema, and heaviness. Since hemorrhoids are veins, it has its place as a two- to three-week course, except during pregnancy or with anticoagulants.
Does aloe vera relieve hemorrhoids?
As a local gel, yes: a randomized trial shows it eases pain and speeds up healing after surgery. It soothes; it doesn't treat the cause, which is pressure and constipation.
What does Prophetic Medicine say about hemorrhoids?
It treats the cause, constipation, through fiber and water, recommends washing with water (istinja), the squatting position, and astringent, venotonic plants. Hijama is sometimes suggested between flare-ups, never on the area itself.
When should you see a doctor?
At any bleeding, at least once, and without fail after age 45; urgently for a hard, very painful lump (thrombosis) or a hemorrhoid that no longer goes back in. Bleeding is not always a hemorrhoid.
