by Lawrence Wilson, MD

HEMORRHOIDS

Hemorrhoids are a very common symptom, even in fairly healthy people. They consist of swelling of one of the veins that circles the anal opening. Often the swollen vein can be felt, and may protrude outside of the anal opening, causing what feels like a soft bubble in the anal area. A hemorrhoid is similar, in some ways, to a varicose vein located in the rectal area.

SYMPTOMS OF HEMORRHOIDS

The main symptoms are itching, pain upon having a bowel movement, at times, and bleeding. The blood is bright red and often it appears as a streak of red on the surface of the bowel movement. There can also be discomfort upon sitting down due to the swollen vein in the rectal area.

In more severe cases, a swollen vein can protrude from the rectum, requiring the person to literally push the swollen vein back inside the body. Rarely, it is possible for a vein to become caught and strangulated, which could cause serious pain and complications requiring surgery to correct.

CAUSES FOR HEMORRHOIDS

In nutritional balancing science, we identify several important causes for hemorrhoids. Some of these are well known, while others are not:

Constipation. This is a most important cause for several reasons. First, one must strain at the stool to move the feces out and this puts pressure on the hemorrhoidal veins that can cause the condition. Also, the bowel movement is hard and often too large in diameter, and this also may irritate or otherwise impact the hemorrhoidal veins.

Stool too large in diameter. This is extremely common. It is actually a yin condition of the body, particularly of the large bowel.

Copper imbalance, or perhaps other imbalances associated with vein health. Copper, in particular, when in excess, damages connective tissue. This includes the veins. Symptoms such as varicose veins, spider veins, hemorrhoids and other difficulties with the veins can be due to copper imbalance in many cases.

Liver congestion. This is another possible cause. If the liver is too congested, blood may not flow easily back to the liver through the hemorrhoidal veins and this might cause swelling of a weakened vein.

Inflammation and stress of any kind, but particularly straining at the stool, holding one’s breath, or something else. This could put pressure on the hemorrhoidal vein and cause swelling.

CORRECTION

As one’s health improves on a nutritional balancing program, often hemorrhoids go away. More severe cases may not resolve, and may require surgery or a newer treatment involves the use of galvanic current that is applied with simple probes to the area. While I am not sure how this works, I am told it can be quite effective, painless and even superior to surgery. Not too many doctors offer this therapy, but one could most likely locate a doctor who offers it via the internet.

Remedies. Many folk remedies claim to help with hemorrhoids. These range from poultices and suppositories made with potato or onions, and wheat grass implants, to over-the-counter remedies that are not bad such as Basic H.

Depending upon the severity of the condition, any of these may be helpful.

HEMORRHOIDS AND COFFEE ENEMAS

People who have hemorrhoids sometimes find that doing coffee enemas aggravates their condition. This is unfortunate, because coffee enemas are extremely healing for the liver and the colon, in particular.

A possible solution is to switch to the S.A. Wilson coffee (available at www.SAWilsons.com). This particular blend of lightly-roasted coffee seems to be milder and less irritating to the colon, and easier to tolerate for those with hemorrhoids.

If this does not help, some people need to have surgery or use galvanic current treatment to eliminate the hemorrhoids so that one can do coffee enemas. This is an instance in which surgery or other medical approaches may be very worthwhile.

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