Hemorrhoids, or piles, happen when the veins in the lower part of your rectum and anus are swollen. Because of the swelling, the walls of the blood vessels in your rectum stretch to the extent that the veins bulge. And it gets irritated when you poop, hence the bleeding.
Depending on the severity of your piles, there are several hemorrhoid treatments available today. Most cases of hemorrhoids either go away on their own or only require minimal treatment to reduce itching and discomfort. Mild treatments for hemorrhoids such as creams, ointments, suppositories and wipes are available over-the-counter in pharmacies. These products are designed to improve symptoms such as inflammation and irritation caused by piles and should only be used for a maximum of 7 days at a time.
If your hemorrhoids still continue even with over-the-counter treatment, then you might have to go to a doctor that can fully diagnose your situation. Treatments such as banding, sclerotherapy, infrared coagulation, and surgery are possible if your hemorrhoids progress past a certain stage.
Not everybody needs surgery and if you have hemorrhoids, you must deal with it immediately to prevent further complications. That being said, the best way to deal with hemorrhoids is to avoid constipation and the need to strain during bowel movements. Exercising regularly, eating more fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber are long-term solutions to prevent this problem. Not only these solutions, especially eating fruits and vegetables, prevent you from having hemorrhoids, but they can also help with hemorrhoid treatments. They help by naturally reducing the swelling and irritation while keeping hemorrhoids away with healthy habits.
That being said, here are vitamins, minerals and natural remedies that can help with hemorrhoid treatments.
Table of Contents
Vitamin E
Since vitamin E promotes healing by acting as a natural coagulant, applying vitamin E oil topically on the affected areas post-hemorrhoid treatment surgery can help soothe and shrink minor external hemorrhoids while increasing recovery speed.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C fortifies and strengthens blood vessel walls of your rectal and anal area. By maintaining the integrity of your veins, you are preventing hemorrhoids from happening. Also, vitamin C is water-soluble, meaning that it can attract water in your intestines and help soften your stool. You can get Vitamin C either from fruits such as citrus, kiwis and peppers.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is one of, if not the most prescribed vitamin that doctors recommend both pre- and post-operation. This is because vitamin K promotes blood clotting that helps heal incisions in patients after surgery and prevent bleeding problems. If you have undergone hemorrhoid removal surgery, then supplementing with vitamin K can help prevent reopening of your hemorrhoids.
Flavonoids and Anthocyanins
Eating fruits and vegetables that are rich in flavonoids and anthocyanins can help strengthen your veins, which play a vital role in the development of hemorrhoids. Fruits such as lemons, limes , apples, tomatoes, onions and carrots are rich in flavonoids. Sources of anthocyanins include red berries, blueberries, cherries, grapes and red cabbage.
Zinc and Iron
These minerals are generally helpful when it comes to wound healing and energy recovery following surgery. Zinc can be acquired in eating meat, seafood, dairy and beans. While iron is found in meat and poultry, beans, apricots, eggs, whole grains and iron-fortified cereals. If you can’t eat meat, iron and zinc dietary supplements are also available in the market.
Fiber
Whether you’re taking fiber supplements like psyllium or other forms of fiber, an intake of 25-30 grams accompanied with 6 to 8 glasses of water per day can help soften stool and reduce pain caused by hemorrhoids. Daily intake of fiber can help heal your hemorrhoids by reducing pressure of straining each time you defecate. If you want to get fiber from food sources, consider eating plenty of whole grains, fruit, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Rutin
As an antioxidant, the benefits of rutin include enhancing the strength and flexibility of capillaries. Nutritional experts recommend rutin to people who have hemorrhoids because rutin can strengthen blood vessels.
Fish oils (Omega-3s)
Omega-3 fatty acids are known to be anti-inflammatory, specifically Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). They are found in oily fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines. As an anti-inflammatory supplement, including omega-3s in your diet will help reduce the swelling of the affected area.
Key Takeaway
Supplementing your body with vitamins, minerals and other natural remedies can help reduce the swelling and inflammation resulting in promotion of recovery from hemorrhoids. An important note to consider, before taking any pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, you must first seek advice from a medical professional to have appropriate dosage, recommendation and usage of products. Ultimately, practicing a healthy lifestyle by eating a healthy mix of real food packed with vitamins and minerals will greatly help with hemorrhoid treatments.
