Hemorrhoids are among the ailments that we prefer to ignore until they go away on their own. However, since this hardly ever happens, you should know what you can do if the worst should happen. The symptoms can be easily treated with the following 5 home remedies for hemorrhoids.
5 home remedies for hemorrhoids
Here you will find simple but effective remedies for hemorrhoids. But remember, it’s not enough to just fight the symptoms. You should also consult a doctor and investigate the causes in order to rule out serious illnesses.
1. Cottage cheese compress
Cottage cheese has a cooling and soothing effect on irritated skin with hemorrhoids. To make a compress, put a little cottage cheese on a cloth and then place it on the anal area for about 20 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
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2. Sitz baths
Sitz baths are a good way to soothe the skin on the buttocks and relieve the itchiness. You can just take the bath in your tub, the abdomen and part of the thighs should be in the water, or you can use a sitz bath for the toilet (as pictured). Anti-inflammatory substances such as chamomile, oak bark or witch hazel are suitable as additives. But you can also take a bath in clean water.
Important : Water should only be at body temperature when you take a sitz bath so that the skin is not softened. In addition, it should not last a long time. 3 to 5 minutes is more than enough.
3. Banana
Although bananas should be removed from the diet in case of hemorrhoids as they have a constipating effect, it is best to have them at home for external use. To use it, mash a banana and put it in a tea towel like a white cheese compress and place it on the affected area for 20 minutes. Besides, the inside of the banana peel is also known to have a calming effect.
4. Black tea
The tannins in black tea also have anti-inflammatory effects. To enjoy it, boil 2 black tea bags and let them cool before placing them on the affected area for a quarter of an hour. You can also take a sitz bath with black tea.
5. Toilet stool
One of the main causes of hemorrhoids is excessive pressure exerted during bowel movements. As the position on the toilet is often partly responsible, it is recommended to buy a step, which offers a better angle between the intestine and the anus.
Other measures: Nutrition and hygiene
In order to prevent constipation and hence hemorrhoids, it is important to get enough fiber and fluid. Yogurt, sauerkraut and kombucha are also suitable for boosting “good” gut bacteria.
For anal hygiene, you should use soft and resistant toilet paper, without additives, as these irritate the skin. Therefore, wet wipes are not recommended. Oil care wipes are a suitable alternative.
Things to avoid with hemorrhoids:
- Staying or sitting for a long time
- Jogging too long
- Eat spicy
- Read or check emails in the toilets. Do not spend more time than necessary in the toilet, because the pressure on the anal area is particularly high, which favors hemorrhoids.
Here you will find more tips on the “little corner”:
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