Natural Remedy for Anal Fissure
An anal fissure is a tear in the lower anal canal, close to the anal sphincter, and is often associated with internal hemorrhoids. The condition is fairly rare, but is most common in middle age, although it affects some children. When the stool is passed, the split is irritated, causing the sphincter muscles to go into painful spasm. Constipation is the root cause in most cases. Usually it heals quickly without complications but occasionally it may be chronic, spreading to the sphincter muscle and ending in infection. In some cases an anal fissure may be linked with other gut diseases.
Symptoms:
- pain during bowel movements
- minor bleeding
- irritation and discomfort
Treatment:
Ayurveda:
The following preparations may be helpful if the fissure is caused by constipation: Abhayarishta (an anal tonic), Gin (oral pills), or Sukumara ghritha (oral ghee).
Traditional Home Remedy:
- Dab a little olive oil on the fissure to encourage healing and relieve pain.
- Fresh lemon juice, applied to the fissure, will prevent infection and dull pain.
Herbalism:
- Dandelion coffee is a mild laxative, and can be drunk, as required, on a daily basis.
- Take a drink made of a cup of psyllium or flax seeds in a cup of water before bedtime to moisten stools and encourage regular bowel movements.
- Butternut, cascara, licorice, and yellow dock, decocted and mixed with a little honey, can help to stimulate bile, which will help produce normal bowel movements.
- Slippery elm and cinnamon will lubricate.
- Comfrey root can help to heal the sore and inflamed tissue
Aromatherapy:
Apply a few drops of neat (pure- directly from bottle-undiluted) lavender oil tea tree oil to the fissure to encourage healing and prevent infection. It may sting.
Homeopathy:
Constitutional treatment would be appropriate, particularly if you are prone to fissures, but the following remedies, taken four times daily may help:
- Nitric acid, for sharp pains during the passing of stools, also afterwards; constipation, irritability.
- Rantanhia, for relieving a burning sensation in the rectum which worsens after a bowel movement (loose or constipated).
- Aesculus, for sore burning pain in the fissure, and an aching lower back, with stools large and hard.
Vitamins and Minerals:
- Acidophilus encourages the health of the bowels, and so should be taken daily as required.
- Eat plenty of foods that are high in dietary fibers, including whole grains, fresh, raw vegetables and fruits, and dried fruits. Juicing vegetables is a great source for consuming large quantities making it easy to obtain more than enough vitamins and minerals daily in one 8 oz glass daily.
