A pile of herbs

A pile of herbs

ANCIENT WISDOM, MODERN SCIENCE

Haemorrhoids can be such a pain to live with. Find out what herbs can help with the condition. 

PILES refer to a condition in which the veins around the anus or lower rectum are swollen and inflamed. Medically known as haemorrhoids, piles may result from straining to move stool. Other contributing factors include pregnancy, ageing, obesity, chronic constipation or diarrhoea, liver diseases, and anal intercourse.  

Piles occur both in men and women. According to a recent health estimate, as many as 40% of the population have experienced symptoms of this disease some time in life. By age 50, about half of adults have had to deal with the itching, bleeding and pain that often signal the presence of piles. 

Piles are either inside the anus (internal) or under the skin around the anus (external). The most common symptom of internal piles is bleeding, presenting as bright red blood covering the stool, toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl. 

Mimosa pudicais a short-lived evergreen shrub that can be useful for alleviating the symptoms of piles.

External piles are characterised by painful swelling around the anus, inflammation and little or no bleeding. Other symptoms include itching around the anal area, pain during and after defecation, redness around the anus, mucous-like discharge from the anus and in stools, irregular defecation, weakness, headache, and anaemia. 

According to Ayurveda, piles or "arshas" result from impaired digestion. Apana vata, the biological energy responsible for defecation, is aggravated by the factors cited above. This leads to pathology of rectal tissue and formation of pile mass.  

Common treatment measures for piles are tub baths, application of ice packs and anti-haemorrhoidal cream. It is advisable to drink lots of water and eat nutritious foods with water-soluble, easy-to-digest fibre such as whole juicy fruits, carrots and cucumber. Avoid becoming overweight and lose weight if you are overweight. Exercise regularly. 

A number of herbs are used in Ayurveda to treat piles.  

Lajjalu/Touch-me-not plant/Mimosa pudica 

Mimosa pudica is a short-lived evergreen shrub. Commonly known as the "touch-me-not" plant, the characteristic feature of Mimosa pudica is the drooping of its fern-like leaves when touched, usually reopening within minutes.  

It has prickly stems and small, fluffy, ball-shaped pink flowers in summer. It is common in hot, moist localities, lawns, open plantations, and weedy thickets. It forms a dense ground cover. 

The roots of Mimosa pudica are bitter, astringent, acrid and cooling, and they are used in the treatment of ulcers, inflammations, haemorrhoids, and fistulas. The leaves are additionally used to treat cuts and wounds.  

The plant contains the alkaloid mimosine, and the extract of its leaves contains an adrenaline-like substance. The root of the plant is considered useful to relieve asthma, diarrhoea and urinary complaints.  

The juice of freshly crushed leaves is used internally and externally in piles. It is also applied externally to fissures, skin wounds and ulcers. The haemostatic property of Mimosa pudica helps in controlling bleeding in piles. Its anti-inflammatory activity reduces inflammation and helps to control secondary infections. 

Bhringaraja/Thistle/Eclipta alba 

Eclipta alba grows as a common weed throughout India. It is a branched herb with white flower heads. The herb contains wedelolactone and dimethyl wedelolactone and is a rich source of ascorbic acid. It also contains an alkaloid, ecliptine.  

Eclipta alba is widely used in Ayurveda for its anti-hyperglycemic, immunomodulatory, analgesic, and hepatoprotective activity. 

The plant is bitter, acrid, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic and hematinic. The fresh plant is considered anodyne and absorbent. It stimulates liver function and aids digestion.  

Eclipta alba is good for stopping haemorrhages and fluxes. It is beneficial in the treatment of skin diseases, wounds and ulcers. Being an effective anti-inflammatory agent, it is very effective in the treatment of piles. 

Nirgundi/Five-leaved chaste tree/Vitex negundo 

Vitex negundo is an aromatic large shrub. The whole plant, including fruits, seeds, flowers, leaves, bark and root, has therapeutic value, according to Ayurveda.  

The plant is bitter, acrid, carminative, digestive, anthelmintic, antiinflammatory, antipyretic, and antiseptic. Vitex negundo is useful in the treatment of arthritis, inflammations, diarrhoea, cholera, fever, liver diseases, haemorrhages, wounds, and ulcers.  

Casticin, isoorientin, chrysophenol D, luteolin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, beta sitosterol and D-fructose are some of the chemical constituents of Vitex negundo.  

It is used therapeutically for its antihyperglycemic, anticonvulsant and antinociceptive activity. The juice of the leaves is used for the treatment of foetid discharges.  

The leaves show antiinflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal activity. The anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action of Vitex negundo reduces inflammation associated with piles and expedites healing. It also has strong antihistaminic activity, which helps to control associated itching.  

Zergul/Pot marigold/Calendula officinalis 

Calendula officinalis is an aromatic and erect herb. It has an angular, hairy stem, and flowers that are light yellow to deep orange in colour. The flowers contain calenduline, which is the major constituent. The extract of flower shows antimicrobial effect. Various studies have proved the antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and antiedematous activities. Medicinally, it is credited with tonic, stimulant and astringent properties. It is used in gastrointestinal and genitourinary complaints.  

Due to its wound healing and topical anti-inflammatory properties, it is used to treat pains and bruises. In addition to accelerating wound healing by epithelial regeneration, Calendula officinalis also helps control pain and itching associated with piles.  

External treatment of piles is effective with a topical application having anti-inflammatory, analgesic, wound healing, membrane stabilising, and antimicrobial properties. However, use of the right part of the herb, extracting the herb in the right way, proper blending and the right mixture will determine the efficacy of herbal products.  

The herbs described above can help check bleeding, control irritation and itching, relieve pain, and shrink pile mass.