Ayurvedic Treatment of Piles for Seniors, for Complete Relief

Piles, fistula, or hemorrhoids during the advancing years have become common issues. Out of all three anorectal disorders, piles are characterised by prolapsing of the rectum and bleeding during bowel movements. Sluggish digestion is the main cause behind this. Some other common causes include physical strain, overindulgence in sexual activities, consuming non-vegetarian, smoking, and drinking alcohol. Fortunately, these are treatable and Ayurveda has some great remedies to help seniors. Ayurvedic treatment for piles gives good results with personalised medicines, diet, and lifestyle recommendations.  

Types of Piles  

Broadly, piles are divided into two categories: 

1. External Piles: External haemorrhoids are painful, to say the least. Because they grow towards the outer tissues of the anus and the surrounding skin is delicate, they often crack and bleed quite a bit. They are highly painful and result in plenty of itchiness.   
2. Internal Piles: These piles are found deep in the regions of the rectum. These kinds of haemorrhoids are normally painless, barring the bleeding, and sufferers may not generally feel them. 

Why should you choose an Ayurvedic Treatment for Piles?  

Ayurveda treatment is one of the most preferred treatments for external piles. Unlike other treatments for piles, it directly strikes at the root cause of the problem rather than acting upon the symptom management of the disease. In the beginning, Ayurvedic treatment works on detoxifying the body so that medicines can work efficiently and treat the root cause. Furthermore, Ayurveda reduces the risk of health problems arising from underlying causes because it directly treats the primary reason for the problem. According to some reports, it has been found that patients who complete Ayurvedic treatment face a low risk of health complications later in life. Besides this, Ayurveda is more than just medicines. It focuses a lot on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, taking a proper diet, and practising yoga.   

The Three Doshas & Their Role In Causing Piles 

Per Ayurveda – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are the three doshas that govern the body and represent the forces essential for human existence. Having a healthy balance in these three doshas plays an important role in a person’s health and life balance. Any imbalance in any of the three can cause piles. The most common reason is the deficiency in Vata and Pitta.   

Ayurveda defines digestion as the central function of a healthy life. Good digestion means that you can process food effectively into nutrients your body needs for you to keep going. Digestion relies on Agni, the digestive fire, and on the three Doshas to be in optimal balance. Imbalance in the Doshas can lead to adverse consequences on digestion and overall health, including piles. 

Types of Piles According to Doshas  

As per Ayurveda, the dominant dosha of the human body determines the type of piles one may be experiencing:   

• Vata dosha is a dry dosha and therefore its aggravation leads to drying up      bowel content and causes constipation. Constipation caused by Vata dosha  is rough and highly painful, with black piles and a hard texture

• The pitta dosha is a fiery element and when out of balance, tends to cause  diarrhoea, excessive thirst, and inflamed haemorrhoids that bleed.   

• People having the Kapha Dosha have cold, heavy, large, and light-coloured haemorrhoids. They may also experience poor digestion, sluggish bowels, and foul gas, causing their haemorrhoids to be slippery, light in colour, and larger in size

Grades of Piles as per Ayurveda  

Ayurveda provides four different grades for piles in increasing complications and severity: Grade I, Grade II, Grade III, and Grade IV. It also provides ayurvedic treatments for each grade of piles as needed. 

• Grade I piles are treated using natural remedies such as ayurvedic herbs, which work on normalizing bowel movements and addressing other symptoms such as bleeding.  

• Ayurvedic treatment for grade II works on increasing the body’s Agni. At this stage, no surgeries are required. Special ayurvedic herbs are given to patients to reduce swelling and growth of the haemorrhoid mass. 

• Grade III piles are advanced and severe, it requires the use of a special technique called Kshara Sutra, which is an ayurvedic procedure for treating haemorrhoids naturally. Ayurvedic herbs are another effective way to try to heal them and prevent them from recurring. Grade III is an advanced stage of piles and needs to be treated under the supervision of an Ayurvedic practitioner.  

•   At the later stages of piles – when they reach Grade IV – a lot of people may be at high risk of experiencing profuse bleeding, pain, and swelling. More than anything else, the main focus should be on the removal of the enormous pile mass itself. This can lead to anaemia, which must be treated immediately so that medical complications aren’t exacerbated. 

Ayurvedic Treatments for Piles 

Ayurvedic medicine treats haemorrhoids with a holistic approach. Rather than trying to eliminate the symptoms, Ayurveda helps patients find ways to mitigate flare-ups and work towards treating the root cause. In addition to ayurvedic medicines, one must expect lifestyle changes, herbal remedies, and minimally invasive procedures as a part of the treatment. Ayurvedic practitioners evaluate the overall health condition to determine the dominant dosha. Some of the Ayurvedic treatments for piles in seniors are as follows:  

• Bhaishajya Chikitsa (Medication) – Grade I and Grade II haemorrhoids can be treated with medication. Your dosha will provide valuable insight into your ayurvedic practitioner’s prescription and lifestyle recommendations. Some medications might not be suitable for your dosha, so it is best to follow your practitioner’s advice on that. If they are not severe, no other procedure is needed. In some cases of grade III and grade IV piles, Bhaishajya Chikitsa is given to patients along with other treatments.   

•  Kshara (Herbal application) – Kshara is a caustic, alkaline paste made of plant ingredients. The paste has a cauterizing action, so when applied to haemorrhoids, it chemically cauterises them and causes their degradation. It is applied on piles with the help of a device known as a slit proctoscope. This method is regarded as the best approach for treating haemorrhoids. While going through this treatment, the patient is advised to make some lifestyle or dietary adjustments to aid the healing process. It is highly recommended to test the paste on your arm to check the allergies and if no reaction appears within 24 hours, it can be applied to the rectal area.    

• Sastra Chikitsa (Surgical intervention) – For many, the thought of getting haemorrhoids removed by surgery is disturbing. Haemorrhoids can be treated with kshara sutra, which uses a special medicated thread to tie the papillae off at its base so that blood circulation stops in that area, providing peace from inflammation and pain. As a result, haemorrhoids will shrivel over 7-10 days. Kshara sutras are used when other treatment alternatives no longer prove effective. Patients might need some specific herbs to aid this process and healthcare professionals may recommend some changes in exercise, diet, and lifestyle. Unlike others, some risk is involved in this process. Those who are susceptible to infections or have bleeding disorders must consult a licensed healthcare practitioner before going for surgical intervention.   

• Agnikarma (Cauterization) – External haemorrhoids might be removed using infrared heat. An ayurvedic doctor may offer to burn off the afflicted area. Cauterization will likely cause some pain, so this treatment may require five to six treatments over several weeks for it to improve the condition. Again, a discussion of your dosha should be given priority for treatment to gauge if you can skip this option. Safer Western approaches like surgeries might be better options, but they also come with their risks, which vary depending on what surgery is performed; make sure you talk to your doctor about all potential options before making a decision.  

How effective is Ayurvedic treatment for piles? 

Although Ayurvedic treatment is safe, Kshara treatment has slight risk potential. As per a study, Kshara treatment was given to thirty people experiencing piles. After the continuous usage of the paste for seven days, there were no adverse effects shown during the treatment. The research concluded that this treatment is highly effective for Grade I and Grade II piles. As per another case study of Kshara chemical cauterization, the patient got rid of the disease within twenty-one days and showed no side effects. Researchers and scientists need to research more to understand how well the process works.        

Side Effects of Ayurvedic Treatments 

Several pieces of research have proved that treatments like the application of Kshara Sutra and Kshara paste are safe and effective. Most of the time, practitioners recommend medications or supplements along with Kshara Sutra.   

Surgical procedures and cauterization involve higher risk. The possible side effects that these processes can cause include damage to tissue, pain, bleeding, shock, infection, recurrence of haemorrhoids, and leakage of stool.  

The Takeaway 

While piles treatment looks safe and effective, it is important to consider all the options and do some research. Western medicines combined with Ayurvedic medicines are considered to offer the best result. For some, Ayurveda alone can provide all the necessary treatments, while for others western medical intervention could be required.  Don’t make the mistake of trying to self-diagnose or treat haemorrhoids on your own. Only a doctor can tell you for sure whether you have this condition and prescribe you the proper treatment.   

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