Homeopathic Treatment of Hemorrhoids

Homeopathy provides rapid relief for the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids.
As always, the correct prescription is based on what is most unique about each
case. Each of the following cases was treated acutely.Hemorrhoids may need to
be be treated constitutionally if the condition persists or the acute flareups
are recurrent.

Case 1: Beverly before labor

Beverly was eight months pregnant. Her hemorrhoids had begun to
flareup up at the beginning of her third trimester, two months before this
visit. “I feel like it’s a tone problem. My anal tissue just doesn’t seem like
it can support the weight of the baby. ” She complained of pressure in the
rectum (2). She felt like the skin would pop (2). She experienced a sense of
fullness (3) and tightness (2). These sensations were much worse after a stool
(3) and after drinking coffee (2). One night she could not sleep because of a
twisting feeling (3) in the rectum. She was worried that the hemorrhoids would
become worse during the duration of her pregnancy and, especially, during
labor. On physical examination, two hemorrhoids about 1 cm in diameter were
visualized protruding from the rectum.

Case 2: Beverly after childbirth

Beverly returned to see us seven weeks later. Her labor had
lasted 29 hours, during which time she suffered from severe low back pain. She
now felt a twisting (2) feeling in the rectum most of the time. The dis-comfort
was temporarily relieved by cold applications (2). It was worse after a stool
(3), at which time it throbbed (3). Beverly experienced some relief from
elevating her legs. The pain was also worse from sitting down too long (2), at
which time the pain became griping (2) or clenching (2). This was a problem
because she needed to sit down much of the time to nurse her newborn son. There
was only slight bleeding (1) with the hemorrhoids. Examination reveal one pink,
swollen external hemorrhoid approximately 1.5 cm in diameter.

Case 3: Lois

Lois was a 45 year-old patient of ours of three years standing
at the time of her hemorrhoid flareup. She had moved out of state, so we
treated her hemorrhoids by phone consultation. Her hemorrhoids were terrible
(3). “It’s like when I had the kids. They are big (3) and painful (3). They
burn (3). The pain can be needlelike (3). One is the size of a grape (3). I
feel them all the time (3). It’s worse lately since my mother in law is
visiting and we’re doing a lot of sitting. I can feel the pain travel up my
back (2).” She had started to take rutin and Vitamin C and had also tried witch
hazel and sitz baths, but nothing was helping. The tone of desperation in her
voice was clear.

Case 4: Bill

Bill was in bad shape after painting the deck outside his house.
He had squatted and stooped for two days in a row and ended up with a raging
case of hemorrhoids. He had experienced hemorrhoids periodically in the past,
but these were the worst. He felt a raw (3), sore (3), burning (3) pain in the
rectum all the time. It was even worse after a stool (4). Bill experienced
severe left sacroiliac pain (3) along with the hemorrhoids. The SI pain was
sharp (2) and worse when he rose from sitting (3). He felt the hemorrhoids
protruding (2). There was no bleeding. He could not come into the office, so
there was no physical examination.

Please study these cases, then turn to page ____ for the case
analyses.

Case 1:

In analyzing Beverly’s case, we used the following rubrics in
Kent’s Repertory : “RECTUM; HAEMORRHOIDS; chronic”
(although we treated this case as an acute flareup, she did have a chronic,
recurrent tendency towards hemorrhoids), “RECTUM; HAEMORRHOIDS;
internal”, “RECTUM; HAEMORRHOIDS; pregnancy; during”, “RECTUM;
HAEMORRHOIDS; stool; after”, “RECTUM; HAEMORRHOIDS; stool;
protrude during”. The remedy which came up with the highest score and which
seemed to best fit Beverly’s case was Sulphur. We gave herSulphur
30C in a single dose. The rectum pain was substantially improved and she
did not need another dose.

Case 2:

Beverly was given Aloe 200c in a single dose.
Aloe is very useful for protruding hemmorhoids with a sense of
pulsation in the rectum. There is often a feeling of insecurity in the rectum;
a weakness and loss of power of the sphincter ani. This is much like Beverly
described at her previous visit while she was still pregnant. Patients needing
aloe may complain of an intense burning in the anus and rectum or an extreme
soreness and tenderness. The pain is usually relieved by cold applications. A
keynote of Aloe is hemorrhoids protruding like a bunch of grapes. There
may also be considerable mucus in the stool. Aloe is an important
remedy for dysentery, so diarrhea may also accompany the hemorrhoids.

Beverly called three days later to say her hemorrhoids were much improved. She
has not needed further treatment.

Case 3:

We also prescribed Aloe for Lois. The only potency which was
available to her locally was 6c. She took the Aloe 6c daily for two
days, then called us two days later with a report on her condition. The
hemorrhoids had diminished in size by one-half. The pain was better. The
improvement had begun to diminish after she stopped taking the remedy. We
instructed her to resume the Aloe 6c as needed and to call us if it
stopped working, so that we could send her Aloe 30c. The hemorrhoids
resolved over the next few days and Lois never needed the higher dose. That was
six months ago and she has had no problems with hemorrhoids since that time.

Case 4:

Bill was given one dose of Aesculus hippocastanum 200c
(Horse chestnut). Aesculus, a prominent remedy for hemorrhoids, is
needed for hemorrhoid pain which radiates to the back and hips, particularly
the sacroiliac. The pain is worse when the person rises from a seat, like Bill
did. The remedy also fit his tendency to rectal pain which was worse after a
bowel movement. Bill’s hemorrhoidal symptoms were much improved within two
days. The hemorrhoids were completely gone within three days. They have not
returned despite continued physical labor with squatting and bending.

These four cases illustrate the rapid and long-lasting response of patients
suffering from hemorrhoids to acute homeopathic treatment.

Dr. Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Dr. Robert Ullman are licensed
naturopathic physicians and are board certified in homeopathy. They are
President and Vice President of the International Foundation for Homeopathy
where they teach homeopathy to licensed health care professionals. They
practice in Edmonds, WA at 131 3rd Ave., N., Edmonds, WA 98020 and can be
reached at (206) 774-5599. Their new book, The Patient’s Guide to Homeopathic
Medicine, is now available.