Medicinal Plants for Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids affect 1 in 20 Americans and more than half of people over the age of 50. The good news? There are some medicinal plants that may help.
Hemorrhoids, also called piles, occur when veins in the anus or rectum swell abnormally. They can be found inside the anal canal or may protrude from the anal opening. In many cases, hemorrhoids become inflamed, leading to symptoms such as ulcers and bleeding. This condition can also cause itching and the leakage of mucus. Pain, particularly during bowel movements, can be severe.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, hemorrhoids are common in both men and women and affect about 1 in 20 Americans. Moreover, half of adults older than 50 have hemorrhoids. If you have a diet that is low in fiber, are pregnant, often lift heavy objects, or strain during bowel movements, you may be more likely to develop hemorrhoids.
The good news is that there are some medicinal plants that may help!
Treating Hemorrhoids
Treatment involves easing bowel movements using astringents, ointments and lotions. Some therapies are suppositories containing a topical numbing agent, emollient, and sometimes even a corticosteroid. In traditional medicine, plants with strong astringency and anti-inflammatory properties are preferred; these are often plants that are rich in tannins (a chemical class of plant-derived molecules).
Medicinal Plants
Here is a list of just a few medicinal plants used in traditional medicine for hemorrhoids (Source: Lewis and Elvin-Lewis, Medical Botany, 2003, John Wiley & Sons).
Ash (Scientific name: Fraxinus americana L., Oleaceae). Bark extracts have been topically used for treating hemorrhoids.
Dyer’s Oak (Scientific name: Quercus infectoria Oliv., Fagaceae). An ointment created from the nutgall is used to treat hemorrhoids.
Sumac (Rhus glabra L., Anacardiaceae). Decoctions of the leaves or seeds have been used to shrink hemorrhoids and to stop bleeding.
Western Pearly Everlasting (Scientific name: Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) A.Gray, Asteraceae). A decoction of this plant was used topically by indigenous people of North America.
Witch Hazel (Scientific name: Hamamelis virginiana L., Hamamelidaceae). This plant is rich in astringent tannins and it has been used as an extract in suppositories or pads soaked in a witch hazel decoction are topically applied.
There are so many options to explore for this condition that go well beyond some of the better known species listed above. For example, a search of the Native American Ethnobotany Database yields 87 uses matching the query term of “hemorrhoid.” Some of these are taken internally (drunk), while others topically. This includes species like the Pacific Silver Fir, Red Maple, Common Yarrow, Red Buckeye, Mountain Alder, Crested Pricklypoppy, Grey Birch, various thistles, various species of dogwood, Persimmon, Apples and Crabapples, White Spruce, Slash Pine, and more.
The Takeaway
The challenge, of course, is that while we have a robust record of history of use of medicinal plants in medical traditions for hemorrhoids, modern scientific studies are usually lacking. I hope that someday scientific studies will reveal useful findings on the safety and efficacy profiles of these important historic remedies.
Yours in health, Dr. Quave
Cassandra L. Quave, Ph.D. is a scientist, author, speaker, podcast host, wife, mother, explorer, and professor at Emory University School of Medicine. She teaches college courses and leads a group of research scientists studying medicinal plants to find new life-saving drugs from nature. She hosts the Foodie Pharmacology podcast and writes the Nature’s Pharmacy newsletter to share the science behind natural medicines. To support her effort, consider a paid or founding subscription, with founding members receiving an autographed 1st edition hardcover copy of her book, The Plant Hunter.
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