Are my symptoms due to piles/haemorrhoids?

Piles can cause the following symptoms:

• Severe pain while passing stool
• Lump or a protrusion near the anus
• Rectal bleeding during or after passing stool. Blood is usually not mixed with stool.
• Redness and soreness around the anus, along with an urge to itch ever too frequently.
• Pain and discomfort in the anal region while sitting for long durations

If ignored for long, piles can lead to anal infection, faecal incontinence, development of fistulas and even anaemia, owing to the excessive bleeding. It might seem a little embarrassing for you to discuss this condition with your doctor, but piles are a very common condition, and hence there is no need for you to suffer in silence. The sooner you seek treatment for this condition, the higher are your chances of full recovery without surgery. If they are at the early stages, they usually go away in a few days after diet correction and treating the cause. Here are a few simple home tips and ayurveda remedies to treat piles.

The ayurvedic approach to treating piles

Generally piles may be either internal or external and this can be confirmed by your physician after a physical examination and also using an instrument called the proctoscope. Ayurveda indicates that there are five types of piles or the arsh roga.

1. Born out of vitiation of vata dosha [air body humor]
2. Born out of vitiation of pitta dosha [fire body humor]
3. Born out of vitiation of kapha dosha [phlegm body humor]
4. Born out of vitiation of any two doshas
5. Born out of vitiation of all the three doshas—vata, pitta and kapha.

Home remedies and ayurveda advice for managing piles

According to ayurveda, the use of certain herbs, along with a combination of diet and lifestyle modifications can provide relief from the problem.

• Soak 1 tsp each of fennel and cumin seeds in 1 litre lukewarm water for 2 hours, strain and consume this water 2 – 3 times a day.
• Aim to drink one glass water per hour and at least 8 glasses per day. This would reverse any dehydration or constipation you could be suffering from, thus making your bowel movement smooth and comfortable.
• Make a detox drink by adding 1 tsp chopped ginger, handful of mint leaves, lemon wedges and 1 tbsp honey to 500ml water. Sip on this during the day to help flush out toxins.
• Eat green leafy vegetables, ghee and buttermilk daily.
• Consume foods that are high on fibre such as apples, papaya, oranges, sweet lime and cucumber to relieve the problem of constipation and hard stool.
• Dried, soaked figs are also known to be effective stool softeners.
• Including some raw garlic in daily diet helps prevent the bleeding associated with piles.
• Carrots are also known to reduce rectal bleeding. You can have fresh carrot juice or well-cooked carrot.
• You need to include some mild laxative in your diet like Triphala [Herbs combination of harad, baheda and amla], Gulkand [sweet jelly made from the rose flowers] and fennel or saunf.
• Fresh juice of amla taken on an empty stomach proves useful.
• If blood oozes out of the swollen piles, have ½ tsp sesame seeds mixed with some butter.
• Warm fomentation of the affected area with a warm poultice using the Haridra [Turmeric] helps.
• Sesame seeds paste may be applied on the piles for relief.

Most people with this condition swear by Sitz bath to give them relief. In this you sit in a tub of warm water for about 15 – 20 minutes. Soaking the anal region in warm water helps to relax the area and this should especially be done after passing stool. Do this at least twice a day.

Simple home hacks

• Massaging your abdomen area using tea tree oil or rosemary oil may help relieve the pain.
• Avoid using soap containing harsh chemicals around the anal region. After stools, gently wash it with clean hands using lukewarm water.
• Make sure to avoid using alcohol based wet wipes around the anal region. It only worsens the problem. You may try using a soft, moist cloth if you wish to.
• Taking oral pain killers or applying a local anesthetic cream can help relieve the pain to some extent, but only temporarily.
• In case, prolapsed piles becomes a permanent feature, surgery may be needed.

What to avoid

For someone who is suffering from the distressing condition of piles, soft and bland foods are usually recommended. Avoid chillies, hot and spicy foods, processed foods and caffeinated drinks. Also avoid foods that are high on starch, such as potatoes, and bakery items.

The post Ayurveda and home remedies to relieve painful piles appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

The best ones are plump, fragrant and have a very slight dent when touched. Avoid those that are hard, mushy, or show signs of mould.

However, dried figs are more popular and commonly used than the fresh ones.

The many health benefits of figs

Figs are healthy. Here’s why eating them is good.

Relieves constipation and helps heal piles

They have a mild laxative effect because of their high fibre content [the fibre content in figs is higher than in any other fruit or vegetable]. Eat two dried figs soaked in water overnight every morning and before going to bed with a glass of warm water to stay away from problems like haemorrhoids (piles) and constipation.

Helps control blood pressure

The potassium in fig helps control blood pressure. Also being high in magnesium, the potassium-magnesium combination combats acidity and gas formation to a great extent. Soaking a fig overnight in water and having it early in the morning with 4 – 5 basil leaves is of great help here.

Improves heart health

Dried fig is rich in phenol, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. The high soluble-fibre content helps reduce cholesterol levels in the blood by over 20 per cent, thus preventing plaque buildup in the arteries.

Promote weight loss

They have zero cholesterol or saturated fats, which, along with their fibre content promotes weight loss.

Elevates mood

They are abundant in vitamin B6, which enhances production of serotonin [mood-boosting hormone] and prevents water retention.

Eases symptoms of menopause

Menopausal women with major mood swings can benefit from eating figs. Women on birth control pills too can have figs to replenish their vitamin B6 levels, which gets depleted by the pill.

Increases bone density

Being rich in calcium, figs help in increasing bone density.

Helps sleep better

Get rid of insomnia by eating them regularly—figs are rich in tryptophan, a vitamin that induces good sleep.

Soothes respiratory ailments

Soothe your respiratory ailments with this simple remedy. Boil 4 – 5 fresh figs in about half litre water. Bring the water to a boil and then strain the mixture. Once cooled, drink the mixture and get instant relief from a sore throat.

Boosts skin health

Get soft, glowing and blemish-free skin by including them in your daily diet. A natural way to treat boils is by applying the inner red part of a fresh fig over it and sealing it. Keep it on for 10 – 15 minutes and then wash it away with warm water.

Figs in your food

Here are some ways to incorporate figs into your diet and reap its benefits:

• Dried figs added to milkshakes or smoothies lend extra flavour, while making the drinks high in energy—an ideal way to start your day.
• They can be added to baked goodies like muffins, cakes, cookies, muesli and energy bars.
• They double up as natural sweeteners in oatmeal, ragi or any other wholegrain breakfast porridges.
• Dried figs can also be added to fruit salads or custard. You can finely chop the figs and add them to your favourite salad with cinnamon before serving.

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Sexual orientation is a term used to refer to an individual’s primary physical, emotional, romantic and sexual attraction to individuals of a specific gender [male or female]. The most commonly recognised sexual orientations are heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality.

According to the American Psychological Association [APA] the term “also refers to an individual’s sense of personal and social identity based on those attractions, behaviours expressing them, and membership in a community of others who share them”.

What is homosexuality?

A sexual attraction to [or sexual relations with] persons of the same sex is known as homosexuality. While homosexuality would technically cover same-sex preferences among both males and females, lesbianism is a term which specially implies female-female preference. Studies in the West have shown that about 4% of men and 2-3% of women are exclusively homosexuals and 10% are bisexuals as they enjoy sex with both the genders.

So far there has been no conclusive scientific evidence to believe that a person is born with a particular sexual orientation. There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, anatomical, developmental, cultural and social influences on sexual orientation, no findings have convincingly emerged, that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor. However, the largest group of researchers believe that sexual orientation [Homosexuality, Heterosexuality or Bisexuality] is a result of an ‘unconscious’ choice that a person makes during his growing years, due to various known and unknown factors, often beyond the conscious control of the person.

It is a result of various factors such as the basic personality type, uncensored exposure to sex, parental influence, lack of correct and value-based sex education, experience of direct or indirect child abuse. However, if a person truly wishes to modify his/her sexual orientation at any age willingly, it is possible to help such a person. Such change, of course, cannot be imposed on him/her. If imposed, nothing will help! His/her self-motivation plays a major role.

Irrespective of a person’s homosexual or lesbian orientation, the homosexual or lesbian is mentally sound, emotionally stable, intelligent, sharp, talented, efficient, hard working, faithful, trustworthy and socially well-adjusted like the rest of the [non-homosexual] population.

Equal human rights

All human beings have equal worth and therefore straight or homosexual, everyone has the right to live with human dignity. I am all for ‘equal human rights’ for homosexuals, and to not treat them like some inferior species or second-class citizens. They are as much human as anyone and thus deserve to be treated humanely.

Having said that, being a medical practitioner in the field of sexual medicine for over two decades, I have seen severe medical complications arising out of ‘consensual sodomy’ or ‘anal sex’, whether between two homosexuals, or even when it has been compelled on a woman by a man. The physical and emotional trauma of these victims stirs my heart and cannot go unmentioned in the midst of all this debate of ‘de-criminalising consensual sexual behaviour in privacy between two same-sex individuals’.

I fully agree with every scripture that separates the person from the action. Therefore, I reiterate that while all human beings should be viewed and treated equally with the same human dignity by law and society, all sexual acts done by anyone homosexual or straight, if causing physical or emotional trauma to another, [whether minor or major], should also be equally punished by the law of the land.

Cases

Sexual exploitation

Jagan, a 19-year-old illiterate boy from a very poor family in rural India, got a job in Mumbai as a domestic servant. His distant relative, a 37-year-old man Prakash who was working as a cook in a rich family, got him this much needed job. The owners of the house would leave home every morning and would return at late in the evening. In their absence Prakash would use cooking oil as a medium and force anal sex on Jagan. Since Jagan was helplessly dependent on Prakash he could never gather courage to resist him and started consenting to the exploitation.One day he developed a rectal prolapse [a medical condition wherein the walls of the rectum protrude through the anus and hence become visible outside the body], bled profusely, and had to hospitalised.

Anal sex as an experiment

Vinod and Swapnil, two 18-year-old boys were working in a private office. In the absence of senior employees. they would watch porn together. One day they consensually attempted anal sex with each other and invited double trouble. While Vinod developed a bad tear in his rectum, Swapnil developed Paraphimosis [a painful surgical condition of the penile foreskin that needs an emergency circumcision surgery without which the penis could be permanently damaged].

Sexual advance at workplace

Amit was a 20-year-old frail boy from a poor family. His father was dead and his old mother was ill. He had two younger sisters at home to support. He got a job of a peon in a private office after a lot of struggle and a long wait. His boss, a 46-year-old rich, married man fancied anal sex. He pressurised Amit to have anal sex with him after office hours in the privacy of his cabin. Amit felt helpless as this job was vital for him. He consented to the demands of his boss. A few months later, when he approached a doctor, he discovered he had developed infected painful fissures at his anus, and had partially lost control on the sphincter mechanism of the anal opening. He had lost his job and had no courage to approach the police as he felt he had neither the moral right nor the legal standing as he was and adult and he had ‘consented’ to this act in ‘privacy’.

Secret sexual life

Amol, a 32-year-old married man was a bisexual. He would indulge in consensual anal sex with some of his male office colleagues. His wife was oblivious about this. Amol also never felt that his secret parallel life would ever affect his marriage. During the second pregnancy of his wife, the obstetrician detected that she was not only HIV positive, but her tests for syphilis, hepatitis-B and genital herpes were also positive. Amol tested positive for these four STDs too. It was obvious that Amol had contracted these STDs from his multiple homosexual contacts and now his wife and unborn child were also victims of these life-threatening infections.

In all the above cases, the involved individuals were ‘adults’ and were engaging in anal sex with ‘mutual consent’ in ‘privacy’. These are just a few classic examples. Incidents such as these are rampant. Doctors get to see several such cases in their private practice as well as in general hospitals. I wish all those who are critical of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code [1860] need to give serious consideration to their demands. The legal experts, social activists, gay organisations and the media cannot afford to be ignorant about possibilities such as these.

It also needs to be noted that as per Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, anal sex is a punishable offence, even between husband and wife with mutual consent.

Medical facts related to anal sex

Anal sex is commonly practised by homosexual partners, probably as a substitute for  heterosexual sex. Some heterosexual partners also practise it, with or without mutual consent. Any sexual activity is strictly a matter of personal choice, but should be engaged with genuine mutual consent [which has not been extracted under any kind of pressure]. It is strictly your personal choice to indulge in any act you enjoy as long as you are not causing any physical or psychological harm to the other.

As a medical expert, I would like to enlighten the readers about some medical facts related to anal sex. Medical science regards anal sex as ‘high-risk behaviour’. Physiologically, the anus is not designed for penetration by any hard object. As a protective reflex action, the anal sphincter tightens ordinarily if stimulated. Any attempt at penile insertion can be distressing, even if done slowly and gradually. If the penis is forced into the anus, injury is possible. The lining [mucus membrane] of the rectum is very thin, tears easily, does not heal fast and therefore is vulnerable to infections. Also, the tears can enlarge to a fissure or a crack. These are painful and slow to heal. There is also a possibility that a fistula could open up, allowing faeces to re-route into the abdominal cavity or into the vagina. This can cause serious surgical complications. One may lose control over the anal sphincter causing continuous involuntary leakage of stools. There is also the increased risk of haemorrhoids, which are quite uncomfortable. Rectal prolapse—wherein the walls of the rectum protrude through the anus and hence become visible outside the body—is another surgical emergency that is seen resulting out of anal intercourse.

Some of the micro-organisms that are normally present in the anus of even a healthy individual, are known for causing severe urinary infection if they enter the urethra and urinary tract. During anal sex, the urethra actually enters the rectum, inviting infective bacteria into the urethra and thus the urinary tract. Repeated urinary infection can cause serious problems such as renal damage and even kidney failure.

Masters and Johnson in their book on Sex and Human Loving warn, that anything that has been inserted into the anus if subsequently put into the vagina can cause severe vaginal infections because bacteria are naturally present in the anus. Therefore moving from anal intercourse to vaginal intercourse is extremely hazardous.

The rate of transmission of HIV [and other STDs] through anal sex is much higher compared to other penetrative sexual acts. A condom, which is thought to be a means of so-called ‘safe sex’, is not designed for anal sex. Anal sex involves a totally different kind of pressure dynamics, and the latex or polyurethane condoms are not manufactured for these pressure dynamics. A condom is far more likely to get torn during anal sex [thus paving the way for the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other STDs]. Therefore I reiterate that anal sex—even with the use of a condom— is definitely a ‘high-risk behaviour’.

As a society we need to learn to accept all persons with equal human rights irrespective of their choices, but we do reserve the right to reject certain behaviours that are injurious to their health and the health of others connected to them. Those choosing to be in loving same-sex relationships are no less human, and do not deserve any less respect, than anyone else. In fact, the homosexuals I have known are very warm, loving, talented, creative, and extremely intelligent persons. Talking in condescending terms to them or of them, or mollifying/placating them, reinforces a discriminatory attitude towards them. Therefore, an equal human approach must be adopted by the moral-keepers of our society and by the law of our land in this regard.

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