Piles, also known as hemorrhoids, are when the veins located in the lower rectum and the anal canal become swollen and dilated. These dilated veins (varicose veins) become convoluted beneath the tissue layers and appear similar to a ball of hair covered by a cloth. Such a protrusion is known as a pile mass.

Causes of Piles [Hemorrhoids]

Piles/hemorrhoids may occur due to excessive straining during bowel movement. It often occurs in the case of chronic constipation where increased pressure is required in order to make the fecal matter move out of the rectum and anal canal. Hard stools may also contribute to worsening the condition by exerting added pressure to the dilated veins. Piles may also develop during pregnancy due to the additional weight in the pelvic region or as a trauma during child birth. Other conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver, genetics, poor diet are some of the other causes for pooling of blood in the anal vessel also resulting in piles.

Additionally, Ayurveda designates the occurrence of piles due to habitual consumption of constipating foods such as potatoes, cabbage, channa (chick peas), split peas, spicy foods and excessively dry foods. Similarly suppression of the urge to pass flatulence and stools can lead to chronic constipation and eventually haemorrhoids. Constant use of hard seats and continuous pressure exerted on the anal sphincter may also cause piles to develop.

What are the types of haemorrhoids?

There are generally two types of haemorrhoids:

Internal: The pile mass lies inside the rectum. It usually causes discomfort during passing stools and can bleed if the stools are too hard or if more pressure is exerted.
External: The pile mass is located under the skin on the outside of the anus.This type of piles can be irritating and painful and may often bleed if disturbed.

Haemorrhoids may also be classified according to the degree of severity.

First degree: This is a type of internal pile which may or may not bleed, usually of a recent onset and stays within the anal canal.
Second degree: Slightly more severe than first degree piles in that it can prolapse or come out of the anal canal while passing stools and will retract inwards after completion of defecation.
Third degree: The pile mass always lies outside the anal canal, tends to bleed more while passing stools and can be pushed back into the anal canal.
Fourth degree: The most severe type of piles, where the mass is always outside the anal canal and cannot be pushed back inside the anal canal. This type of haemorrhoids is very painful and has profuse bleeding. Blood clots may form within the pile mass and it may become enlarged.

Classical Ayurvedic texts states two types of haemorrhoids.

Sushka – Dry or with no discharge. This type of piles will not be associated with bleeding. Similar to internal piles or first and second degree piles.
Sravi – Piles with discharge or bleeding piles. Similar to third and forth degree piles.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of piles include

Pain and pressure inside the anal canal
Small, round lump either on the anus or inside the anal canal
Itching and soreness around the anus
Blood-stained stools or bleeding during passing stools
In certain conditions, a pile mass may come out while passing stools and then retract back into the anal canal

Can piles be prevented?

Yes, you can prevent the occurrence of piles. Avoiding all the causative factors as mentioned above will reduce the chances of developing piles.

Ayurveda Treatment

Internal management:

The combination of KachnaarGuggul, VaraChurna, Sanjivanivati and Digestion Support works as an effective Ayurveda treatment. The Ayurveda medicines for piles (like kachnaarGuggul) not only focus on shrinking the pile mass, but herbal remedies like Sanjivanivati and Digestion support help in the digestive process, which leads to less likelihood of piles.

Surgical Management:

Haemorrhoids can be treated with either Kshara sutra or Kshara karma which are both Ayurvedic surgical procedures. It involves the application of organic alkalies that promote chemical cauterization of haemarrhoidal mass and reducing the size while also healing of the tissues.

What is Kshara Sutra?

Kshara Sutra is a seton thread medicated with organic alkalis, such as Apamargakshara (Achyranthesaspera), Arkakshara (Caltropisgigantea) or Snuhikshara (Euphorbia lingularia). The alkali is repeatedly coated on the seton thread 21 times. Apart from this, natural antibiotic like haridra powder, guggulu, etc are also used to make Ksharasutra. The mechanical action of the threads and the chemical action of the drugs coated , collectively do the work of cutting, curetting, draining, and cleaning thus promoting healing of the tissues. This also acts both as the antiseptic and fibrotic agent to induce healing. This can be applied and changed periodically till the thread cuts the pile mass.

What is Kshara Karma?

Kshara Karma is an Ayurvedic surgical procedure that involves the application of caustic alkalis such as Apamargakshara (Achyranthesaspera), Arkakshara (Caltropisgigantea) or Snuhikshara (Euphorbia lingularia) to cauterize and arrest the blood flow to the pile mass. Within 1-2 weeks of the procedure the pile mass will shrivel up and fall off leaving so scar tissue on the anal canal.

What are the benefits of Kshara Karma?

Post-operative pain is mild
No bleeding
One day procedure, minimal hospitalization
Due to no scar tissue formation, no chance of incontinence of stools
Minimal chance of reoccurrence

What is the chance of haemorrhoids reoccurring?

There is minimal to no chance of haemorrhoids reoccurring if treated with kshara sutra or kshara karma. The kshara has chemical cauterization effect that induces the generation of new healthy tissue and prevents the reoccurrence of this condition.

Our Approach

AyurVAID Hospitals provides Piles Treatment through Ayurveda. The Sushruta Samhita has explained the hemorrhoids as Arsha more than 4000 years ago. Sushrut Maharshi has enumerated types, causes & treatment in detail. The conservative treatment & kshara karma treatment described by him is used by us at AyurVAID Hospitals. We boldly announce that this treatment is better than any modern surgery, using the latest technological inputs. After natural piles treatment at AyurVAID Hospitals, there is minimal to no chance of haemorrhoids or abscess recurring. We treat with ksharasutra (also described as Ayurveda Piles Operation), a seton thread medicated with organic alkalis, or Kshara Karma (application of special alkaline medical paste) intervention, supplemented by Panchakarma procedures.

If the patient’s ano rectal condition is at an early stage, a personalised regimen of diet-lifestyle-classical Ayurveda medicines can mitigate the effects of Piles and reverse the condition. AyurVAID Hospitals, Ramamurthy Nagar, Bangalore, the 1st and only NABH Accredited hospital for Ayurveda para-surgery in the country, is today a pioneering institution offering Ayurvedic treatment for Piles in Bangalore. Dr. Seshasayee PhD, is the Sr. Physician and specialist with a decade’s proven experience in care with proven medical outcomes for ano-rectal conditions.

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Piles

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Piles [Hemorrhoids]