Haemorrhoids or piles is a common ailment among adults. More than half of men and women aged 50 years and older irrespective of the socio economic status will develop haemorrhoidal symptoms during their lifetime. Haemorrhoids are rare in children but now a days several reports state the occurrence of haemorrhoids in children, and in elderly people.
What happens in piles/heamorhoids?
Haemorrhoids, are vascular structures in the anal canal.In their normal state, they are cushions that help with stool control. They become a disease when swollen or inflamed. The signs and symptoms of haemorrhoids depend on the type present. Internal hemorrhoids usually present with painless, bright red rectal bleedingwhen defecating. External hemorrhoids often result in pain and swelling in the area of the >anus. If bleeding occurs it is usually darker.
There will be other symptoms like
- Itching in anal region
- Painful bowel movements
- Feeling of a lump in the anus especially during straining
- Frothy mucus discharge with stool
- Constipation
- Painful defecation
What is piles in Ayurveda?
In Ayurveda, hemorrhoids are called as ArshaShoola, which literally means ‘pain from pricking like needles’. It is caused due to vitiation of any of the three doshas (vata, pitta, kapha). In Ayurveda it is mentioned “Arivatprananhanti” i.e. causing discomfort and pain in life like an enemy.
As per Ayurveda the various causative factors for piles are:
Dietary factors like excess spicey, sour foods, deep fried foods, non-vegetarian diet, less consumption of food and fluids, less fibre in diet, intake of alcohol and smoking
Regimen factors like suppression of natural urges, constipation, sitting in hard surface for long duration, prolonged diarhoea, excess indulgence in sexual intercourse, taking meals when the previous meal is not digested, irregular eating patterns
Can also occur as hereditary (Sahaja)
The above causes lead to the derangement of tridosha, mainly vatadosha. Vitiated dosha localizes in gudavali(anal spincters)pradhanadhamani(giant arteries)and mansdharakala(layer of skin which connects the skin tissue with its digestive fire) and vitiates twak(skin), mansa(flesh), meda(fat) and rakta(blood), resulting in the annavahasrotodushti(vitiation of the channels carrying food).
Line of treatment as per Ayurveda
Based on the stage of disease, the treatment should be imparted.
Arshaschikitsa may be divided into preventive measures and curative measures.The preventive measures include correction of the diet and regimen, balancing of the vitiated doshas, and correction of the digestion and metabolism.
In curative section, for the removal of the pile mass we perform specialized techniques called kshara karma and Agni Karma. These techniques will make the patient free from pile mass without performing the surgery. By performing these techniques the chances for recurrence are minimized.
Only by the removal of pile mass the patient can’t be made free from the symptoms. Along with these procedures, medications and diet corrections will be recommended which will prevent the reoccurenceof the disease. By following all the procedures as per the instructions the patient will be free from the complaints after the stipulated duration which will be mentioned by the doctor.