by Lawrence Wilson, MD

ANAL FISSURES, ABSCESSES AND FISTULAS

Anal or rectal fissures, abscesses and fistulas are fairly common complaints. Rectal fissures are small linear tears or wounds in the rectal mucosa or lining of the end of the large intestine that do not heal well. As a result, they are like an open cut that hurts and may bleed a little whenever one has a bowel movement. They can also become infected, in which case they could lead to a more serious infection since they are in a relatively unclean area of the body.

A perianal abscess is a pocket of bacteria or some other microorganism that forms near the rectal or anal area.

An anal or rectal fistula is is an abnormal opening that develops between the rectal or anal area of the large intestine and an adjoining structure such as the skin around the rectum, a woman’s vagina, or some other structure.

Rectal problems are not only uncomfortable and often painful. They are also quite important because they may prevent a person from doing coffee enemas, a key part of a nutritional balancing program. This article explores the causes and correction of this condition.

CAUSES

Contributing factors may include:

Constipation. This causes straining at the stool and perhaps a toxic condition of the rectum. There can also be mechanical abrasion of the rectum as well.

Copper toxicity. Copper interferes can damage connective tissue in the body. The rectal mucosa and muscles in this area are all connective tissue, as are the tendons and ligaments that support the rectum. For some reason, some people have a weakness in this area, and this may be one factor to consider as a cause of fistulas.

Closely related to copper toxicity is zinc deficiency. Zinc, vitamin C, bioflavinoids and other compounds are needed for connective tissue health.

Inflammation. Generalized inflammation might also contribute to fissures and fistulas. Common causes for inflammation are low levels of omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin D, too much aluminum or nickel, and high levels of biounavailable forms of iron, manganese, copper, chromium, selenium and boron.

Muscle tension. Some doctors are able to heal fissures with botox injections, which relax the muscles of the rectal area. Perhaps the muscles becomes chronically tense, and this may impair circulation and prevent healing in the area. Rather than botox, which is quite toxic, one can use warm or hot sitz baths with Epsom salts.

Pelvic syndrome. This is a common phenomenon in which circulation or nerve energy is impaired in the pelvic region of the body. The cause may be some kind of childhood trauma that affects this area such as a sexual molestation, rape, or even just emotional trauma. A separate article entitled Pelvic Syndrome discusses this interesting topic. Unhappiness may contribute to this condition as well.

Infection. Another possible cause is an infection, particularly a yeast type of infection that may be difficult to identify and heal due to other factors such as copper imbalance.

CORRECTION OF RECTAL FISSURES

General healing measures. A nutritional balancing program with a healthful diet and lifestyle, supplements as indicated by a properly performed hair mineral analysis, and the use of a near infrared sauna, are all excellent general measures. Coffee enemas or colonic irrigation may not be possible, as they often irritate the fissures.

Fissures can heal with a nutritional balancing program, though I would add the Epsom salt baths described below as this will speed up the healing tremendously in some cases.

For Fissures: Epsom salt sitz baths. Fill a bathtub with only one to two inches of hot water. Stir in 2 pounds of Epsom salts until they dissolve. Sit in this bath for at least 20 minutes each day. Do this every day for a few weeks, if needed. The Epsom salts are soothing to the area, kill some germs, and relax the musculature in the area. This has definitely gotten rid of some anal fissures.

Another idea that I have not tried is an herbal bath. Some doctors suggest a sitz bath with warm water and a mixture of horse tail and oat straw tea. First prepare the horse tail and oat straw tea first by boiling a quantity of these herbs for at least 20 minutes. Then let it cool somewhat for best results.

Fill a bathtub with only about one to two inches of warm-to-hot water so you can sit in it and the water will touch the rectum. Add the herbal mixture to the bath water, and sit in the tub for at least half an hour.

You can use the same herb mixture for a second and maybe a third bath later in the day. Just leave the herbs and water in the tub and repeat the treatment at least three times during the day or more. The next day, make some more herbs fresh and repeat the procedure for at least a week or maybe several weeks.

You may also drink horse tail or oat straw tea, at least one strong cup per day. Just boil the herb in some water for about 20 minutes and drink as a tea.

Red heat lamp treatment. I do not have experience with this treatment, but it helps many chronic conditions, so it might be worth a try. I welcome any feedback on this idea.

Carefully set up a single red, 250-watt, ‘heat lamp’ so you can conveniently expose the rectal area to it. Ideally, sit on an old toilet seat or two boards with about 6 inches of space between them. Place the heat lamp below the seat shining upwards from underneath you for maximum comfort. Position yourself as close to the lamp as you can stand, of course without touching it, as it is extremely hot and will burn. Pull the cheeks of the buttocks apart so the light hits the rectum. Men may want to cover the testicles with a hand or cloth to prevent the light from shining directly on the testicles, as they are best kept cool.

Be sure not to touch the hot lamp, as it is extremely hot and will leave a nasty burn. Several sessions daily of about 10-20 minutes each would be best. The red heat lamp will bring blood and nerve energy to this area of the body and stimulate the lower chakra area as well. For more on this treatment, read Single Lamp Protocols on this website.

Herbs and other supplements. Herbs that are traditionally used for the anal and rectal areas include golden seal, horse chestnut, horse tail and oat straw. Aloe might also be useful. All of these herbs happen to be rich in silica compounds. They will probably work best if taken by mouth and used topically, as well. A cream made with vitamin E or perhaps vitamin A might also help.

Reflexology. This may be extremely helpful, according to some books on reflexology. I would suggest first doing a short general treatment on both entire feet. Rub the bottoms and tops of both feet in a general ways for about ten minutes per foot.

Then rub the correct points for the rectal area for another 5 or 10 minutes each. Two reflex points for the rectal area are:

· On the bottom of the foot, very near the back of the heel, toward the very inside edge of the heel, and mainly on the left foot but perhaps on the right foot as well. Just feel around the bottom inside part of the heel of the left foot, in particular, until you find tender spots and rub them for a few minutes.

· On the inside of the ankle, along the Achilles tendon, about half way up the lower leg or perhaps closer to the ankle bone. The best way to find the tender spots is to slowly work your way up the inside of the Achilles tendon until you feel any tender spots. Then work this area for a few minutes.

This can tonify and relax the tissues in this area, and also bring more blood and nerve energy to the area. Daily treatments for at least a few weeks or more may be needed in a chronic case, and it might take longer, so ideally continue with the routine for a few months, if needed, to give it a good chance of working. I would combine any remedy with a nutritional balancing program and maybe the Epsom salt baths for best results. Read Reflexology on this website for more information about this simple, yet powerful and very safe healing method.

For abscesses. An abscess is usually treated medically by draining it, and then the person is given antibiotics to kill the germs until it heals. This is one option, of course. However, I would suggest using a natural antibiotic only, as the regular medical ones are quite toxic. Instead, I would try colloidal silver – about 3 tablespoons daily, or some people use wild oregano oil or something else. Vitamin A in high doses, along with vitamin C in a dose about 3-6 grams daily, might help, too.

Fistulas. These can heal naturally. The medical treatment is to seal them off from the inside and then let them drain and heal on the outside. However, they vary in their type, so it depends on their location. Once again, I would not suggest regular antibiotics, if these are prescribed. I would instead suggest a natural antibiotic substance such as colloidal silver, wild oregano oil or something else, instead.

I welcome any feedback on these methods, as this is a condition with which I have less experience.

As always, never forget the basics of a nutritional balancing program such as your diet, your lifestyle, proper water intake and other simple hygienic and natural healing measures, as these are often important as well.

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