Hemorrhoids (haemorrhoids), aka Piles, are very common despite the fact that they are infrequently discussed and thus regarded as an embarrassing condition. Indeed it is estimated that at least 50% of the population suffer with them at one time or another*. The only reason it’s embarrassing to talk about them is because, unlike ear infections or eye infections or other common ailments, they occur in the ‘nether’ regions.
Hemorrhoids or haemorrhoids (the proper UK spelling!) are the result of the blood vessels around the anus becoming dilated and swollen usually because of pressure inside the abdomen. Often there are no visible symptoms of hemorrhoids but in many cases the blood vessels may project into the anal canal and out of the back passage and are sometimes referred to as ‘a bunch of grapes’ when visible.
Other symptoms to watch out for include:
1) bleeding when opening the bowels – the blood is usually bright red in colour and is seen on the loo paper or on the surface of the motions
2) mucus discharge
3) itching around the anus
There are a number of steps which can be taken to help reduce the symptoms and make the stools less solid and more frequent:
1) Eating a diet rich in fibre so lots of fruit & veg (beetroot is particularly good), wheat bran, nuts, cereals and the like
2) Adding fibre supplements to your diet such as psyllium husks (they don’t taste particularly pleasant in water but do help ‘bulk out’ the diet making you more regular and the stool softer)
3) Drinking plenty of water and juice to help reduce water retention
4) Taking regular exercise
In addition to the above, a mix of Florame aromatherapy’s organic essential oils and carrier oils, applied daily to the anus may help to reduce inflammation of the blood vessels and relieve itchiness. Before using, ensure you are not allergic to the blend by massaging in a drop to the inside of your elbow and leaving it to soak into the skin overnight:
Mix 3 drops of Florame’s organic cypress essential oil with 3 drops of amyris sandalwood essential oil in 10ml of macadamia oil. Every evening before bed, clean the anal area with soap and water and pat dry with a towel – don’t rub as this will only serve to irritate the inflamed blood vessels. Then put a couple of drops of the mixture on your fingers, rub to warm up then apply to the anus as you would a cream.
Organic cypress essential oil and amyris sandalwood essential oil are both known for their venous decongestant and oxygenating properties and are widely used to help increase blood circulation and reduce the swelling in varicose veins.
Alternatively Florame’s Blood Circulation Blend of Essential Oils which contains a pre-blended mix of 12 organic essential oils can be diluted to 5% in our organic sweet almond oil and applied in the same way.
*Source: BBC
