Hemorrhoids Home Treatment

Comfort measures

• Try not to sit or stand for a long time when hemorrhoids are irritated. If you must sit for a long time, sit on a pillow. Avoid lifting heavy objects.
• You may need a day or more of bed rest to take pressure off inflamed, irritated veins. If you are 3 to 6 months pregnant, you may find it helpful to lie on your side. If you are not pregnant, sleeping on your stomach with a pillow under your hips will help decrease swelling of hemorrhoids.
• Wear cotton underwear to prevent moisture buildup, which can irritate hemorrhoids. Wear loose clothing to allow freedom of movement and to reduce pressure on the anal area.

To relieve pain

• Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can cause hemorrhoids to bleed more. If you need to use a nonprescription pain reliever, choose one that is not an NSAID, such as acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol).
• Take a sitz bath. Fill your bathtub with just enough warm water to cover the anal area. Do this several times a day, especially after you have had a bowel movement. Soak for about 15 minutes at a time. Be careful! If the water is too warm, it could burn you.

Proper Cleaning & Wiping Technique

• Whenever possible, clean the area in a bath or a shower without using soap (soap is an irritant). Plain water or natural cleansing products are usually OK. Be sure to rinse the area well. Then gently dry the area by blotting it with a towel.
• Thick-quilted disposable baby wipes can be a suitable substitute for toilet paper when bathing is impractical. Be sure to wipe slowly and gently and never scrub the area.

Hemorrhoids over the counter medications

• Most over the counter creams or suppositories used in the treatment of hemorrhoids are directed at reducing the pain and itching symptoms. They do not make the dilated veins go away but merely give you relief until the cause is eliminated and the body heals them itself
• Both external and internal hemorrhoids can be treated with over the counter hemorrhoid medications.
• Most hemorrhoids symptoms should either disappear or significantly reduce in a week after the patient starts applying these products