Piles or Haemorrhoids

This is a fairly common condition and may cause considerable pain and distress. There is a tendency to ascribe any bleeding or discomfort in the region of the rectum and anus to 'piles'. This is a very dangerous error as the cause of the bleeding or discomfort may be due to several other conditions, some serious and calling for skilled medical care.
It is, therefore, imperative that no diagnosis of piles should be assumed without careful expert examination, if necessary with the aid of proctoscope or sigmoidoscope.
Piles, if present, are clusters of enlarged varicose veins at the termination of the rectum. They are often the result of prolonged straining at stool on account of constipation, though there are other causes.
At first the piles, usually three in number, are soft and bleed readily. As time goes on they become larger and also more solid as the result of fibrosis, and tend to come down when a stool is passed. At first it is possible to replace the piles within the anal sphincter muscle, but in the long run they are liable to become permanently prolapsed, refusing to remain within the anus after replacement.
It may be advisable when this state of affairs has been reached to resort to surgical removal, which can give permanent relief. How¬ever, in the earlier stages homoeopathic treatment can be of con¬siderable benefit, once the diagnosis has been unequivocally con¬firmed.
A number of remedies claim attention. ALOE, HAMAMELIS, NITRICUM ACIDUM when there is bleeding and much soreness. If there is a tendency to prolapse then AESCULUS, LEDUM or PODO¬PHYLLUM should be considered. If there is severe pain and the piles are extremely sensitive to touch, PAEONIA, SILICEA or STAPHISAGRIA may be called for.
For external application PAEONIA ointment will often give relief. Attention to bowel movement and general health is necessary, and avoidance of alcohol. Any rectal complaint which proves un- reponsive to treatment calls for expert investigation and advice.