Also known and piles, hemorrhoids are swollen veins outside the anus or inside the rectum that cause pain, itching, and bleeding. Hemorrhoids can often be healed through at-home treatments, but if they don’t improve or start to get worse, it’s wise to consult your doctor.
A comprehensive treatment plan is the key to healing hemorrhoids and preventing their recurrence. Treatment for hemorrhoids typically includes oral pain relievers and topical treatments, though severe cases may require surgical intervention. In addition to following your doctor’s hemorrhoid treatment advice, apply “Simple H‘ to relieve itching, soothe soreness, and ease pain.
If you find that your hemorrhoids aren’t healing fast enough or your symptoms continue to disrupt your daily life, don’t worry. There are at-home treatments that can help.
You’ve heard about popular at-home hemorrhoid cures like stiz baths or fiber supplements, but as you know these options con’t work for everyone. if you’re looking for something you haven’t tried yet, this guide is just what you need.
In addition to using Simple H to soothe pain and discomfort, you can implement dietary and lifestyle changes to relieve persistent symptoms and health your hemorrhoids. This guide will cover a collection of alternative at-home hemorrhoid cures you’ve never heard about in three categories: nutrition, herbs, and ointments.
Nutrition
There are several potential causes for hemorrhoids though, in some cases, no obvious cause can be identified. Straining to lift heavy objects, pusging to hard during a bowl movement, or weight gain causing pelvic pressure can all contribute to the development of hemorrohids.
Over-the-counter treatments like “Simple H” and oral pain relievers can help ease hemorrhoid symptoms, but if you want to heal your hemorrhoids even quicker, you’ll need to make a few changes. Your diet is a great place to start.
Don’t worry, we’re not going to suggest you overhaul your eating habits. In this section you’ll learn everything you need to know about how your diet impacts your risk for hemorrhoids and what two things you can do to heal hemorrhoids and prevent your symptoms from recurring in the future.
Why is nutrition important?
Making healthy changes to your diet is easier than you think but can yield significant results. If could be as simple as eating your fruit with the skin on or swapping white bread for whole wheat. Boosting your intake of whole foods and fiber whole reducing your consumption of dietary fats can often mitigate or even prevent the symptoms of hemorrhoids.
These small dietary changes can help do the following:
- Increase stool weight and decrease colon transit time (the amount of time feces spends in your colon)
- Soften stools by increasing water retention in your colon, helping them pass more easily
- Decrease pH levels in your colon to reduce colon transit time
Whatever you’ve experienced hemorrhoids before or not, you already know that fiber plays an important role in healthy and regular digestion. According to the Dietary Guidelines for American set forth by the USDA, women under 50 should consume 25 to 28 grams of fiber per day while men under 50 should consume 31 to 34 grams. Once you hit 50, women should consume 22 per day and men 28 grams.
This advice is nothing new, how do you actually implement it into your daily life in a way that is practical and effective? You’ll find out in the next section.
THE TOP TWO HACKS TO DESTROY HEMORRHOIDS
There are two simple things you can include in your diet to soften your stool, reduce hemorrhoid pain, and protect your digestive tract.
We’re talking about psyllium husk and probiotics. Here’s what you need to know about these diet hacks to destroy hemorrhoids:
1| Psyllium husk
When you experience constipation, you may find yourself struggling to pass stool and any stool you manage to pass might be hard to dry. Adding psyllium husk to your diet provides a boost of fiber which will help regulate your bowel movements and increase the amount of water in your stools to make them easier to pass.
Psyllium is used to reference plants belonging to the genus Plantago, the seeds of which are commercially used to produce mucilage. Where psyllium comes in handy for humans is in relieving symptoms of constipation.
To put it simply, psyllium husk consists of the outer layer of psyllium seeds, and it loves water. It absorbs water to form a gel that helps soften stool and make it easier to pass. Softer stool means less pain during bowel movements for hemorrhoid sufferers, but the gel that psyllium produces when it absorbs water can also help regulate your digestion. As it moves through the digestive tract, it traps waste and helps facilitate it removal from the body.
Add psyllium husk to your diet could also have benefits for blood sugar regulation, cholesterol reduction, and appetite control.
Here are some quick and easy ways to add psyllium husk to your diet:
- Stir a tablespoon of psyllium husk into a glass of water or juice.
- Blend psyllium husk into a healthy green smoothie.
- Add psyllium husk to your morning oatmeal.
- Bake psyllium husk into your favorite homemade breads.
- Thicken soups and sauces with half a teaspoon of psyllium per serving.
If you’re planning to take a psyllium-based fiber supplement, be sure to take it with plenty of water and don’t overdo it! A simple tablespoon of psyllium husk contains about 5 grams of fiber, so you want to space your intake out over the course of a day.
2| Probiotics
You’ve heard the hype about fiber, and it makes sense how softening your stools and decreasing the amount of time they spend in your colon can help relieve and prevent symptoms of hemorrhoids. What might be news to you is that the overall state of your digestive system impacts your risks for developing hemorrhoid in the first place.
Understanding your gut health and working to improve it can help you heal your hemorrhoids quickly and keep them from ever coming back.
Think of your gut as an ecosystem – it’s home to trillions of microscopic organisms that affect your digestion and overall health. You may have heard it referred to as your gut microbiome. Basically, your gut contains both good and bad bacteria, but the key is to keep the two in balance. When bad bacteria start to outnumber the good, you end up with problems like low immunity and poor digestion.
Probiotics are friendly bacteria that help restore and maintain a healthy balance in yoru gut microbiome. Common probiotic strains include lactobacillus and biffidobacterium.
Here are simple ways to incorporate probiotics into your diet:
- Take an over-the-counter probiotic supplement.
- Eat probiotic yogurt that contains live cultures.
- Drink kefir, a fermented probiotic milk drink.
- Consume fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles.
- Include gouda, mozzarella, cheddar, and cottage cheese in your diet.
It’s always wise to consult your physcian before adding supplements to your diet. It’s particularly important to get your doctor’s advice before taking probiotics if you are immunocompromised.
HERBS
Modern medicine relies heavily on pharmaceutical treatments but sometimes the answer you’re looking for doesn’t come in an orange pill bottle. You might be able to find in your own backyard.
We’re not suggesting you start eating weeds out of your flower beds but know that nature has given us some powerful tools to fight disease and resolve health problems like hemorrhoids. Herbal medicine involves the use of plants for therapeutic or medical purposes. It’s an age-old practice that dates back approximately 60,000 years to the Palaeolithic age.
There are many ways to take herbs for medicinal purposes. The most obvious, of course, is to ingest them directly. Aside from consuming the leaves of the herbs, there are herbal teas or tisanes produced by steeping the herb in hot water. Herbs can also be taken in tinctures, an alcoholic herbal extract.
Essential oils derived from healing herbs can often be taken orally or applied topically. The can also be incorporated into balms, creams, and ointments.
WHY ARE HERBS SO IMPORTANT?
Herbs play a key role in traditional medicine among many cultures. Chines traditional medicine uses herbs to restore balance between the body, mind, and spirit; the core tenets are similar to ayurveda. Ayurveda is a holistic system of healing founded on the idea that disease in the body is caused by disruptions in an individual’s energy balance.
In more modern times, certain herbs have beed shown to provide significant health benefits through endless scientific study.
Consuming certain herbs may help with the management or prevenion of serious diseases like diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease. Herbs often contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties related to their polyphenol content.
While many herbs provide health benefits, certain ones are more helpful in managing and preventing the symptoms of hemorrhoids.
SIX STAND-OUT HERBS FOR HEMORRHOIDS
When it comes to herbal remedies for hemorrhoids, the best solutions deliver both analgesic (pain relieving) and anti-inflammatory benefits. Here are the top six you should consider:
1| Goldenrod
Goldenrod (solidago canadesis) is a member of the family Asteracese, the same family as asters and daisies. This herb has an extensive history in folk medicine for its diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. Various species of goldenrod have also been used to treat bacterial and fungal infections.
When it comes to treating hemorrhoids, goldenrod is best applied topically. The above-ground parts of the plant (stems, leaves, and flowers) can be dried for medicinal use – you can purchase dried goldenrod or dry wild goldenrod yourself.
To make homemade goldenrod salve, melt a half ounce of beeswax in a double boiler and stir in 3.5 ounces of goldenrod-infused oil. Pour into small jars and let it firm up before use.
2| Gotu Kola
Gotu kola (centella asiatica) is a healing herb commonly use in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine. In modern medicine, this herb has been used in ointments for psoriasis and in treatments for varicose insufficiency.
This herb may support hemorrhoid treatment by improving circulation and building the lining of the blood vessels, though it takes time. Gotu kola can be taken by mouth as a tincture, tea, or capsule and can be applied as a cream or liniment.
To make gotu kola tea, steep 1 tp 2 teaspoons dried gotu kola leaf in 2/3 cup boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes per day. Drink three times per day.
3| YARROW
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is often used in European folk medicine to treat wounds and hemorrhoids. It can be applied to open wounds to support the healing process or taken internally as a treatment for cramps. The best way to use yarrow for hemorrhoids is in bath.
To prepare a yarrow bath, steep 2 T of dried yarrow in 1/2 quart of boiling water for 15 minutes. Drain and let the liquid cool then add to a warm bath and soak for at least 20 minutes. Thoroughly dry the affected area the apply ‘Simple H‘.
4| RUTIN
Rutin is a type of plant pigment that is abundant in the pseudocereal buckwheat. It helps stabilize and strengthen blood vessel walls and boost microcirculation in the tissues to help heal hemorrhoids naturally. You can take this herb in tea by steeping 2T of buckwheat in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drink several times a day.
5| TRIPHALA
While many herbs on this list ease pain and inflammation from hemorrhoids, triphala helps regulate bowel movements and makes them easier to pass. Common in ayurvedic medicine, triphala is a mix of three specific dried fruits, all of which are native to India. Triphala consists of amla or Indian gooseberry (Emblica offcinalis), bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and haritaki (Terminalia chebula).
You can find triphala in health food stores or online as a liquid, powder, or capsule. It’s best to take it on a empty stomach to improve absorption in doses between 500mg and 1g per day.
6| HORSE CHESTNUT
Also known as the buckeye, horse chesnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) us a type of flowering plant belonging to the same family as soapberry and lychee. It has anti-inflammatory properties and may help strengthen the capilaries and seal permeable vein walls. Horse chestnut can be taken orally or topically as a natural treatment for hemorrhoids.
To use horse chestnuts in homemade herbal remedies it’s best to start with horse chestnut oil. You’ll need 7 ounces of dried horse chestnuts that have been ground into a coarse powder. Combine with 4 cups olive oil in a double boiler over medium-low heat. Bring the oil up to about 105F and maintain it at that temperature for an hour, stirring occasionally. Col then strain through cheesecloth and store in a lidded bottle or container.
Make your own horse chestnut salve by combining 3.5 ounces melted carauba wax with 12 ounces chestnut oil. Blend well then add 2 to 3 drops of essential oils for scent (if desired and transfer to small jars to cool completely.
TOPICAL TREATMENTS
While internal herbal treatments can help strengthen blood vessel walls and support healing, topical treatments like compresses are generally the most effective for pain and inflammation.
A compress is a pad of absorbent material soaked in a liquid preparation and applied directly to the skin. When made with the right ingredients, compresses can help relieve hemorrhoids symptoms.
HOW CAN TOPICAL TREATMENTS HELP WITH HEMORRHOIDS?
Common hemorrhoid symptoms include pain, swelling, and beelding. Ointments and other topical treatments can be applied directly to the affected area to deliver analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits. Some experts suggest that wet compresses are the most effective topical treatment for hemorrhoids and many patient find them the easiest to prepare at home.
Hemorrhoid compresses should only be applied when the skin is clean. They’re best applied after baths or compresses and after each bowel movement/
Many of the herbs from the previous section work well in compresses for hemorrhoids. Gotu kola and horse chestnut are popular for use in herbal topical treatments for hemorrhoids, though with hazel is one of the most trusted topical hemorrhoid treatments.
THREE DIY HEMORRHOID COMPRESSES
1| Post-Sitz Bath Ice Compress
The warmth of a sitz bath helps improve blood flow to the affected area and may help reduce pain and muscle spasm. Following a stiz bath, a simple cold compress made with ice helps further ease pain by numbing the area and reducing swelling and inflammaion.
Here’s how to use this cold compress at home:
INGREDIENTS:
- Soft, clean cloth
- Ice cubes
INSTRUCIONS:
- Lay the clean cloth out flat.
- Place a handful of ice cubes in the center of the cloth.
- 3. Fold the sides of the cloth in, enclosing the ice into a makeshift pouch.
- Apply the compress to the affected area for 10-15 minutes at a time.
2| Apple Cider Vinegar Compress
The beneficial properties of apple cider vinegar are largely linked to its acetic acid content. It offers both antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits. When applied as a compress, apple cider vinegar acts as am astringent, so it may help shrink hemorrhoids.
Here’s how to make an apple cider vinegar compress at home:
INGREDIENTS:
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2/3 cup water
- 2 to 3 drops essential oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- Pour the apple cider vinegar into a glass jar.
- Add the water and essential oil then shake well to combine.
- Soak a cotton ball or pad in the mixture and dab gently on the affected area several times a day.
3| Witch Hazel Compress
Holding a compress in place long enough to experience relief can be tricky. Using a maxi pad or adult diaper simplifies the process and you can even chill it in the freezer for added relief. A combination of witch hazel and aloe vera creates a soothing compress to help relieve hemorrhoid pain and inflammation.
Here’s how to make a witch hazel compress at home:
INGREDIENTS:
- Chlorine-free maxi pads (unscented)
- Aloe vera gel
- Pure witch hazel
- Essential oil (tea tree works well)
- Small spray bottle
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Open the maxi pads, leaving them attached to their wrappers.
- Smear a tablespoon of aloe vera gel along the length of the pad.
- Fill a small spray bottle with witch hazel and add a few drops of essential oil.
- Shake well then spray the maxi pad with the witch hazel.
- Fold the pads up into their original wrapers and insert into a freezer bag.
- Freeze for at least 20 minutes and use as needed the affected area several times a day.
Conclusion
In an ideal world you’d never have to deal with hemorrhoid symptoms at all but that is sadly not the case. If you’re already experiencing hemorrhoid symptoms, talk to your doctor about the best way to relieve pain and speed healing. Simple H can help. (You can stock up your supply here.)
It’s important to be consistent. Using Simple H regularly can help keep your symptoms under control.
If you want a little extra support in treating your hemorrhoids, remember the alternative at-home cures covered in the guide. Increase your intake of dietary fiber. Restore balance in your gut microbiome with probiotics. Take anti-inflammatory herbs and try DIY warm wet compresses.
Small hemorrhoids can disappear as quickly as a few days, though large hemorrhoids may take a little more time and more focused treatment. Stock up on Simple H to make sure you’re prepared when symptoms strike.
Scientific References: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30]

