Hemorrhoids are blood vessels in the area of the anus that have swollen up. They are partially caused by the stagnation of blood in the rectal and anal areas of the body. They are not usually life-threatening but they can be painful and can be a nuisance to everyday life. Traditional treatments such as surgeries can be expensive and intrusive. However, other treatments like yoga, acupuncture, auriculotherapy, meditation, and Ayurveda to cure hemorrhoids can help not only alleviate hemorrhoids but also contribute to the overall wellness of the body.
YOGA
Yoga is a low-impact exercise. Choosing the right kind of routine can be beneficial. A lot of its poses don’t pull at the affected areas and helps regulate the flow of blood. The increase in blood flow helps to reduce the swollenness of the veins in the affected areas. Yoga also helps in decreasing the body’s stress levels which is also a factor in contributing to the existence of hemorrhoids.
Some recommended poses are the candle pose, fish pose, child’s pose, squatting pose, and the more difficult head stand. The child’s pose and the squatting pose also helps aid in digestion and relieves constipation, one of the symptoms that accompany hemorrhoids. These poses should ideally be held between 30-60 seconds but it’s important to remember not to push beyond one’s capabilities. The slow, controlled movements of yoga does not only burn calories and serve as an exercise but also reduces the inflammation caused by hemorrhoids.
Remember to use a mat and to do the exercises in a clean area. Stray objects like towels can be a cause of accident during the routine. Like all exercise, yoga should be done regularly to produce results. Said results would not appear in one session. Continuous practice will help cure hemorrhoids as well as contribute to the body and mind’s balance.
ACUPUNCTURE
The body has several pressure points that correspond to different areas that could be in need of healing. According to Chinese philosophy, sickness is caused by an imbalance in the yin and the yang of the body. Hemorrhoids are also the result of an imbalance. As such, it can also be cured by acupuncture.
It is important to note that acupuncture is a learned skill and should only be done by professionals who have practiced it for a long time. One cannot simply look up the points in the internet and start sticking needles in them. Harming the body and worsening the condition is a very concrete possibility.
AURICULOTHERAPY
Auriculotherapy or ear acupuncture has the same basic premise with acupuncture. However, unlike acupuncture which uses the pressure points all over the body in order to create balance in the nervous system, ear acupuncture functions under the belief that the ear is a microcosm of the body.
Like acupuncture, auriculotherapy should only be performed by a trained professional. It is still a very effective alternative cure for hemorrhoids as it targets pressure points and aids in creating a balance for the body and aids in the reduction of stress levels.
MEDITATION
Meditation can go hand in hand with yoga when it comes to curing hemorrhoids. It would be best to practice both at the same time. However, if the hemorrhoids are too painful, meditation alone is a great way to help curing them. Like yoga, meditation also helps reduce stress.
The best kind of meditation to do when you have hemorrhoids is to breathe with your diaphragm. There isn’t a need for any particular pose to be able to do this. In fact, it is recommended not to sit with your legs crossed. Cross-legged sitting can actually cause hemorrhoids and worsen them because the blood flow in the areas may be restricted by this particular position. Taking deep breaths and using your diaphragm to do so is very beneficial to the body. While stress is being reduced, the flow of blood is being regulated and there is an increase in the oxygen circulating the body. These simultaneous things happening inside the body will help reduce hemorrhoids.
It is ideal to lie down in a quiet place when meditating. Using music to concentrate is a good way of going about it as well. However, if life proves to be too busy, a simple 5 minutes while stuck in traffic or while waiting in line is okay as well.
AYURVEDA
In the context of Ayurveda, anal fissures and hemorrhoids are a result of a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. As such, if Ayurveda is used to eliminate hemorrhoids, a lifestyle change is due. While you do not need to do a complete 180, it would greatly help to adopt some of the practices of Ayurveda and tweak the lifestyle that caused the hemorrhoids in the first place.
Here are some of the things that Ayurveda recommends:
•The eating of easy-to-digest nutritious foods
•Avoidance of citrus, spicy, and hard fiber foods that can damage the rectal area
•Early bedtime (not later than 10pm if possible)
•The taking of breaks while sitting
•The drinking of an adequate amount of water
•An easy, unstrained bowel movement
•Regular exercise (like morning walks)
It’s important to note that the Ayurveda is not simply a diet or an exercise routine. It’s a way of life that is grounded on several traditional beliefs that is well worth taking a look at. It would also be helpful to check out the foods and recipes that Ayurveda recommends for a healthier, well-balanced body.
EFFECTIVITY OF ALTERNATIVE CURES
Instant results should not be expected. However, if an individual persists in following these alternative cures –yoga, acupuncture, auriculotherapy, meditation, and ayurveda to cure hemorrhoids, optimum results will be achieved.
Note too, that using these options is a win-win situation. Users will not only be rid of an embarrassing condition but will most likely see an improvement in their overall health. Unlike creams which can be expensive and may even cause allergies, these cures have no side-effects and should be given a chance.
Hemorrhoids need not be a permanent embarrassment or nuisance to your life. More often than not, they can be easily cured by adopting simple habits. And these cures can also work as good habits as they contribute to a person’s wellness wholly.