Key Takeaways
Home remedies such as a sitz bath and ice therapy can reduce itching and irritation caused by hemorrhoids. Eating a diet high in fiber can help prevent hemorrhoids by making stools softer. See your healthcare provider if your home remedies and OTC medications don't help.
Home remedies can effectively shrink hemorrhoids and ease symptoms like itching and swelling. These methods include sitz baths and witch hazel. If these treatments don't work, discuss medical treatments like sclerotherapy and surgery with your healthcare provider.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
DIY Solutions for Hemorrhoid Relief
Home remedies can effectively manage hemorrhoid discomfort. Dietary changes, for instance, can promote healing and ease stool passage, preventing complications.
Some common treatments include:
Sitz Baths
To ease hemorrhoid itching and irritation, sit in a warm water bath for 10 to 20 minutes. Adding baking soda or Epsom salts can reduce inflammation. Alternatively, apply a mix of 2 tablespoons each of Epsom salt and glycerin to the area, wait 15 minutes, then rinse in a sitz bath
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a natural astringent that can help relieve minor bleeding and prevent infection. Dab it on gently with a cotton ball or add a few tablespoons to a sitz bath.
Natural Treatments
Apply aloe vera gel, vitamin E oil, or coconut oil to help soothe and reduce the size of minor hemorrhoids.
Ice Therapy
An ice pack can relieve inflammation and pain but should never be used for longer than 15 to 20 minutes. Anything longer can lead to frostbite.
Home remedies, along with OTC and prescription medications, are designed to relieve hemorrhoid symptoms and may shrink them. Some hemorrhoids go away on their own.
Everyday Habits to Ease and Prevent Hemorrhoids
Simple lifestyle measures can prevent and treat hemorrhoids:
Careful Hygiene
After a bowel movement, use a squeeze bottle with warm water to rinse the area around the anus. Pat it gently with a disposable baby wipe and allow it to air dry.
High Fiber Diet
A diet rich in soluble fiber can help relieve constipation and prevent hemorrhoids from returning. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel-like goo that helps ease the passing of stools. By making stools soft, there is less chance of rectal pain or bleeding.
Aim to consume between 25 and 35 grams of fiber daily to keep bowel movements regular.
Excellent sources of insoluble fiber include:
Beans and legumes Dried fruit Fresh fruits: Avoid bananas as they can be binding Fresh vegetables: Add greens, peas, and green beans to your diet Whole grains: Choose healthy options like barley, bran, brown rice, and whole-grain bread Prune juice
It's also important to drink plenty of water to help the fiber in your diet work better and to help keep stools soft.
Fiber supplements containing psyllium, methylcellulose, or calcium polycarbophil can also help.
How to Use OTC Medications for Hemorrhoid Relief
Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications are available to help relieve hemorrhoid symptoms. Some of these treatments can also promote healing by making bowel movements easier. Options include oral medications, which are taken by mouth, and topical treatments, which are applied directly to the skin.
Pain Relievers
Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Aleve (naproxen) and Advil (ibuprofen) are effective for reducing pain and swelling in mild-to-moderate hemorrhoids.
Topical Creams
NSAIDs are a good, first-line defense against hemorrhoid pain and inflammation. But if these fail to provide relief, hemorrhoid creams can be used to actively shrink inflamed tissues.
OTC and prescription options include:
Preparation-H: A popular OTC treatment with 0.25% phenylephrine, a vasoconstrictor that shrinks blood vessels Hydrocortisone rectal cream: An OTC steroid cream in 1.0% strength, reducing inflammation by tempering the immune response Tribenoside and lidocaine (Procto-Glyvenol): An OTC medicine as a suppository or cream; lidocaine numbs the area, while tribenoside is anti-inflammatory Rectogesic ointment: A prescription ointment with 0.2% glyceryl trinitrate (nitroglycerin) that relaxes blood vessels under the skin
Stool Softeners
As their name suggests, stool softeners are OTC products that soften stools and help relieve constipation. They are also commonly known as emollient laxatives.
Stool softeners contain the active ingredient docusate sodium and are sold under various brand names, including Colace, Correctol, Diocto, Doxinate, Dulcoease, Ex-Lax Stool Softener, Fleet Sof-Lax, Modane Soft, Phillips' Stool Softener, and Surfak.
Stool softeners take at least a couple of days to take effect.
How Stool Softeners Work
Rather than inducing a bowel movement like a stimulant laxative, stool softeners block the absorption of water in the intestine, thereby increasing the volume of water in stools. The result is a softer stool that's easier to pass.
When to Seek Medical Help
Hemorrhoids tend to be more aggravating than anything else and are usually relieved with home remedies and/or medications.
You should seek immediate medical care if a hemorrhoid:
Causes severe anal pain Causes rectal bleeding Occurs with a fever Occurs with abdominal pain and/or diarrhea
While complications are rare, they can and do occur sometimes. At the same time, other conditions can mimic hemorrhoids and be potentially serious, including an anal or rectal abscess or even colorectal cancer.
Advanced Treatment Options for Persistent Hemorrhoids
When home remedies or medications are not effective in relieving hemorrhoids, a minimally invasive medical procedure or surgery may be necessary.
Non-Surgical Procedures
Several minimally invasive in-office procedures can be used to treat larger or severe hemorrhoids. These include:
Rubber band ligation: For this procedure, a rubber band is placed around the hemorrhoid, cutting off the blood flow and causing it to shrink, usually within days. Sclerotherapy: A sclerosing (hardening) agent is injected into the hemorrhoid, causing the vein to collapse and shrivel up. Infrared coagulation: An intense beam of infrared light is used to destroy tissues inside the anal canal to cut off the blood flow to an internal hemorrhoid.
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Surgery
Surgery is reserved for only the most severe cases, including hemorrhoids that have thrombosed (filled with blood) or prolapsed (slipped outside of the anal canal).
Surgical options include:
Excisional hemorrhoidectomy: This involves the removal of a hemorrhoid with a scalpel. Afterward, the wound is stitched shut or left open to heal on its own. A hemorrhoidectomy is performed under general anesthesia. Stapled hemorrhoidopexy: This is an alternative procedure in which a circular device staples the prolapsed hemorrhoid back into its original position while cutting off the blood supply. Although recovery time is shorter, hemorrhoid recurrence is possible. General or regional anesthesia may be used. Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation: This is a minimally invasive procedure in which an ultrasound is used to locate the arterial blood flow. The blood vessel is then tied off, and the prolapsed tissue is sutured back into place. General, regional, or local anesthesia may be used.
A Word From Verywell
While discussing hemorrhoidal symptoms with your healthcare provider can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, there are a number of treatments, both medical and surgical, that can provide long-term relief. Don't be afraid to discuss your symptoms with your provider to get the best possible treatment.
By Cathy Wong Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health.
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