Hemorrhoid Treatment Options

Hemorrhoids are the result of swollen veins in the rectum and cause pain, itching and sometimes bleeding. They can result from straining during bowel movements, pregnancy, obesity and low-fiber, low-fluid diets. Several treatment options are available that can easily be done on your own for mild cases. More serious cases require medical intervention.

Use over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams or wipes that relieve itching and pain. They commonly contain hydrocortisone or witch hazel. Do not use these products longer than seven days unless your doctor tells you otherwise. They can cause irritation and thin the skin.

Relieve pressure by sitting on a air-filled ring, sometimes called a donut.

Fill a bath with warm water and sit for 15 to 20 minutes a couple of times a day.

Use stool softeners and natural bulking agents like psyllium husk as directed to encourage normal bowel movements and reduce straining.

Apply ice or cold packs to relieve swelling and reduce pain

Try natural supplements. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends diosmin and hesperidin, bioflavonoids naturally found in foods, to stop bleeding, alleviate pain and reduce the length of a hemorrhoid flare-up. Take 1,350 mg of diosmin and 150 mg of hesperidin two times daily for four days and reduce that dosage to 900 mg and 100 mg twice a day for three days. They contribute to vein health. Talk to your doctor before trying them.

See your doctor if you have severe pain or bleeding or other treatments have not provided relief after several days. Several minimally invasive procedures can treat the hemorrhoid and provide relief. If your hemorrhoids are especially large or other treatments have not proven successful, surgically removing them might be necessary.