Best Natural Remedies for Shrinking Hemorrhoids (Piles) Fast!

Here's 10 of the best and most effective home remedies for getting rid of hemorrhoids you'll ever come across. Use them all to not only treat your current piles problem in a hurry, but also prevent these horrible things from ever coming back again! 

Hemorrhoids or piles really are a pain in the proverbial butt (sorry, had to get that one out the way). Over 70% of Americans will suffer from hemorrhoids during their lifetime and 50% will experience them by age 50 - and usually on more than one occasion too. The most common age group though is between 45 and 65. Piles are in fact so popular that online searches for “home remedies for hemorrhoids” or “natural remedies for piles” consistently rank amongst the most popular, and a few years ago, searches for hemorrhoid remedies even managed to top number one! Advertising's for hemorrhoid creams and treatments have also exploded in the last few years… so demand is definitely up. 1

Symptoms and Causes of Hemorrhoids…

Nicknamed “varicose veins of the rusty bullet hole” (don’t know who came up with that one?), hemorrhoids occur when the veins and blood vessels in the anus and rectum become inflamed and/or swollen, usually as a result of overstraining or excess pressure when trying to pass stools.

There are two types of hemorrhoids that can occur – internal and external…

Internal piles are mostly small, swollen veins that come loose from the wall of the anal canal. But they can also be large, sagging veins that bulge out of the anus (prolapsed hemorrhoid), usually caused from excessive straining during bowel movements. If the blood supply gets cut to the hemorrhoid, you’ll definitely know about it pain wise. If they do bulge out of the anus, you’ll usually see mucus and blood on the toilet paper or stool.

External hemorrhoids, on the other hand, form (clot) under the sensitive skin around the anus producing a hard lump. This soft layer of skin can get easily irritated and bleed during bowel movements, causing significant pain and inflammation. 2   

The severity and symptoms of piles varies greatly. Some people only have minor problems and aren’t bothered too much, while others suffer greatly with hemorrhoids and find them a constant interruption in their lives. Usual symptoms include bleeding during bowel movements, itching and irritation around the anal area, swelling in the anus, urge to defecate when there’s no stool, formation of painful lump near the anus, and even anal leakage.

The problem with hemorrhoids is they tend to get worse as time goes on, which is why older people make up the majority of regular sufferers. Pregnant women also commonly suffer from piles, especially during the latter part of their pregnancy as the growing fetus continues to put pressure on the abdomen. Hormonal changes during pregnancy also cause the blood vessels in the anus to swell (and giving birth further strains these blood vessels). Constipation, or its direct opposite, diarrhea, are the two main causes and initial triggers of hemorrhoids. Lack of exercise, a low-fiber diet, too many refined and processed foods, and obesity are some of the other culprits. 

Best "Tried and Tested" Home Remedies for Piles and Hemorrhoids…

If not treated properly or allowed to go on for extended periods, hemorrhoids can eventually lead to excessive blood loss, tissue death (gangrene) and even colorectal cancer. So fixing this problem short term AND long term (for good) is extremely important. Fortunately, this is quite easy to do when using a combination of natural remedies and some simple lifestyle changes.

So here’s our top 10 home remedies for hemorrhoids in order of importance. Each of the remedies listed are also completely safe (and highly recommended) for all adults, kids, and pregnant women. For these to work though, you must follow the recommendations correctly and utilize as many of them as you can. The outstanding results you’ll receive will definitely make the effort worthwhile…

Natural Remedy for Piles #1 – Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)…

Apple cider vinegar should definitely be your first “go to” remedy for hemorrhoids. It contains some powerful astringent (shrinking) properties that contract swollen blood vessels and give fast relief from the swelling and irritation associated with both internal and external piles. A water soluble fiber in ACV known as pectin, helps improve digestion and promote regular (and normal) bowel movements. Pectin also helps encourage the growth of good bacteria in the digestive system, particularly in the colon, which is essential for anyone with hemorrhoids (see #5 remedy). And the best thing about ACV is it’s as cheap as chips to buy!

To get rid of internal and external piles quickly, mix a tablespoon (30 ml’s) of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of Manuka or buckwheat honey in a glass of warm filtered water and drink down twice daily on an empty stomach. Just make sure the ACV you buy is raw, organic apple cider vinegar containing the “mother” apple (very important). Normal processed ACV’s will not work! For those who find it hard to stomach the ACV liquid, you can purchase the apple cider vinegar capsules instead. These work just as well. And remember, you should continue taking the ACV every day for the rest of your life for general health and to keep those hemorrhoids away for good!

For some fast (instant) relief from external hemorrhoids, you can also dip a cotton bud in some apple cider vinegar and gently apply to the inflamed area. It will sting to begin with so be ready, but the amazing relief you’ll get from the irritation and itching will make it worth it. Continue to apply the ACV 3 times daily until the swelling is completely gone.

Home Remedy for Hemorrhoids #2 – Rutin, Vitamin C and B6… 

Rutin is a very close second remedy for piles! This substance is a type of bioflavonoid. Bioflavonoids are excellent for strengthening blood vessel walls and increasing blood flow. Increasing blood flow is critical when suffering from piles because hemorrhoid veins have very poor (or no) blood flow and this is what causes the pain and inflammation. Rutin also contains quercetin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This flavonoid actually works so well for hemorrhoids that you can be completely cured in as little as two or three days - 48 hours in some cases! Sometimes it can take longer, depending on the severity, but 10 days is usually the maximum. And by continuing to take rutin every day (it’s completely safe and not expensive either) you will never suffer with hemorrhoids again – guaranteed!

You need vitamin B6 and vitamin C to help with the absorption of rutin, so when purchasing a rutin supplement, make sure it either contains both of these or buy some supplemental B6 and vitamin C to go with it. It’s definitely much more effective and fast-acting with the B6 and vitamin C. You also need to take at least 1000 mg’s of rutin per day to begin with, usually for the first 6 weeks, then a minimum of 500 mg’s for a maintenance dose after that. So make sure the product you buy contains either the 1000 mg capsules or the 500 mg’s. These are some of the most reputable brands currently on the market… Rutin Bioflavonoid Capsules. 

For children (3 years and up), just make sure the dosage is less - somewhere in the range of 200-500 mg’s a day. You will need to buy the 50 mg count capsules for this or simply break one of the higher strength capsules in half.  

Home Remedy for Piles #3 – Black Peppercorns…

Black peppercorns really are a miracle treatment for hemorrhoids. In all honesty, you won’t believe just how good they work until you actually try them. Black pepper helps to relieve the swelling and inflammation of hemorrhoid veins. Exactly how, no one really knows - but they work, and work quickly, so that’s all that matters. Because black pepper also enhances the absorbability of other food and nutrients, we recommend you take between 10 and 15 of the big black peppercorns, or half a teaspoon of black pepper powder, with your rutin and then again with your cayenne pepper, honey and lemon drink (see #7 remedy). So that’s around 25 peppercorns or one full teaspoon of black pepper powder per day. 

So if you have some black peppercorns in the pantry, start taking some right now. You’ll be astonished by the quick results! 

Home Remedy for Hemorrhoids #4 – Coconut Oil…

Coconut oil contains MCT’s (medium chain triglycerides) which soothe and heal the colon, as well as essential probiotics for the health of the bowel. This makes it a perfect food for anyone who suffers with bowel problems such as hemorrhoids, IBS, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Coconut oil is also a powerful anti-inflammatory food so it helps to reduce the inflammation associated with hemorrhoids. This is yet another fast-acting remedy that works extremely well for both internal and external piles.

So here’s what you do…

Firstly, simply eat a tablespoon of organic virgin coconut oil 1-2 times per day. This can be done by either eating it straight off the spoon (yum!) or mixing it in a smoothie or in your tea or coffee. The second way is by making the oil into a suppository and then placing it up your exhaust pipe. This gives amazing relief from the symptoms of both internal and external hemorrhoids. With external piles you can also dip a cotton bud into some coconut oil and then gently dab this on the external hemorrhoid and even the swollen skin around the anus. It doesn’t sting and relief begins almost immediately.

To make your suppository you can either use an old suppository (if you have one lying around) for the mould or you can buy a pack of suppositories from any chemist or drug store and fill one of those with the oil. To fill the suppository or to make the mould the coconut oil must be in a solidified state (semi hard). It cannot be melted and runny. So once you fill the suppository, place it in the fridge to cool first before removing the hardened oil and inserting in the rectum. Not only will the coconut oil help soothe your hemorrhoids, the coolness of the oil will also give you some nice relief as well.

Now, when you purchase coconut oil, be sure you only buy organic, raw virgin coconut oil and not the processed varieties. Processed coconut oils are rubbish and should never be taken internally, either through the mouth OR the rusty bullet hole! 

Natural Remedy for Piles #5 – Probiotics and Fermented Foods…

If you don’t have enough good bacteria growing and thriving in the colon, the bad bacteria quickly take over and literally go on a rampage in your waste disposal dump! Other toxic parasites grow and breed in there as well and leave their mark, so to speak (all living organisms have to poop!) The colon cannot function properly under these horrific conditions. Diarrhea and constipation are two of the first signs that your colon is under duress and not working correctly. Fortunately, getting some probiotics (good bacteria) into you will fix this problem. The good bacteria will quickly take over and run the bad guys (bad bacteria) out of town. They also help eliminate parasites and other harmful microorganisms from the gut.

The result of this is a healthy functioning digestive system and a healthy functioning colon - and best of all, no more constipation or diarrhea! (And no more hemorrhoids too of course).

To get your required amount of healthy gut bacteria, there are two things you need to do. Firstly, find yourself a good quality probiotic supplement to take every day (such as these ones). Secondly, start culturing your own probiotic rich sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, kombucha, buttermilk, and other fermented foods. Remember this, you can never have too many probiotics and probiotic rich foods… ever! The problem with healthy gut bacteria is they have a high turnover rate, which means you must constantly replenish and top up the supply. This MUST be done every day.

For some great tips and everything you need to know on how to easily culture and ferment your own foods, be sure to check out this terrific website… CulturesForHealth.com

Home Remedy for Hemorrhoids #6 – Dehydrated Cereal Grass…

Dehydrated cereal grass is a powerhouse food packed with essential nutrients, life sustaining chlorophyll, and crucial plant fiber. Fiber is particularly important for hemorrhoid sufferers because a lack of soluble fiber causes hard stools (constipation) and even its direct opposite, diarrhea. Fiber also gently cleans and soothes the lining of the colon and helps reduce bowel inflammation. In addition, cereal grass is an excellent food source (prebiotic) for your good gut bacteria, so it significantly enhances the effectiveness and absorbability of your probiotics and cultured foods! And lastly, the chlorophyll contained in cereal grass is an exceptional blood builder. By building up the blood you naturally increase blood flow through the veins and blood vessels, which in turn prevents and gets rid of problems such as piles and hemorrhoids.

You can purchase cereal grasses (wheat grass, barley grass, etc) from most good health food stores or online. Just make sure you ONLY purchase dehydrated cereal grass and not the juiced varieties. “Juiced grasses” do not contain the necessary fiber your colon needs. Here’s one of the best brands if you’re interested… Amazing Grass Organic Wheat Grass Powder. 

Home Remedy for Piles #7 - Cayenne Pepper, Buckwheat Honey and Lemon Drink…

Cayenne pepper is a powerful anti-inflammatory and blood purifier. It works almost immediately on hemorrhoids by increasing blood flow through the hemorrhoid veins, along with reducing the swelling and inflammation. Liver toxicity is also another cause of piles. Cayenne pepper helps to detoxify the liver and get it working properly again. Honey has been used since ancient times to cure hemorrhoids, but buckwheat honey is even better for preventing and treating piles as its rich in rutin. Honey is also an excellent anti-inflammatory and contains some potent healing qualities. Lemons contain citrate, which naturally increases blood flow through the veins and strengthens capillary walls. Lemons are also a powerful liver detoxifier.

To make up this potent drink, simply add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and one teaspoon of raw organic buckwheat honey to a cup of warm filtered water. Add the juice of half a fresh lemon then mix until the honey is dissolved then drink down. Repeat this twice daily for best results.

Note: Some websites recommend using cayenne pepper as an external remedy for piles or mixing it in with other ingredients to use as a suppository. We don’t recommend you do this. Only use cayenne pepper internally as a drink or add it to your foods. Cayenne pepper is hot so it can easily burn your sensitive bum if you use it as a topical treatment. Then you’ll definitely know what it’s like to have a burning ring of fire!

Home Remedy for Hemorrhoids #8 – Castor Oil and Witch Hazel…

Both castor oil and witch hazel are excellent topical remedies for external piles. To use these simply take a round cotton pad (make-up remover pad) or something similar and apply 6-8 drops of either hexane free organic castor oil or witch hazel to the pad. Apply the pad to the hemorrhoid or lump, pull up your underwear and pants, and then leave for at least 3-4 hours (continue with your day as normal). You can then remove after this time and replace the pad once again. You’ll find the swelling, pain and itching will be gone within a few days of using this external remedy.

Natural Remedy for Piles #9 – Olive Oil and Aloe Vera…

Olive oil strengthens blood vessels and contains some strong anti-inflammatory properties. It works both internally and externally for hemorrhoids and is great for reducing the pain and swelling. For internal use, simply consume a teaspoon of organic extra virgin olive oil daily (this will also help to loosen hard stools and get the excretory system working properly once again). For external benefit, take a cotton pad and apply some olive oil to it. Place on the affected area and leave on for 3-4 hours. Re-apply as necessary.

Aloe vera also contains some potent anti-inflammatory properties and works a treat for both internal and external hemorrhoids. For internal benefit, add some aloe vera juice to one of your daily drinks or smoothie (there is no set amount so add as much as you like). For external relief, apply some natural aloe vera gel to the hemorrhoid and anal area. This will help to reduce the pain and soothe the awful burning and itching. 

Home Remedy for Hemorrhoids #10 – Healthy Eating…      

What you decide to eat for treating and preventing further occurrences of piles is vital. If you eat foods that keep the bowel healthy and working properly, along with food and nutrients that promote blood flow and strengthen the blood vessels and veins, you will not get hemorrhoids again. That's the honest truth.

“Clean eating” is a common phrase in the health and healing world but it really is extremely important. Plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds (especially flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds), herbs and spices (particularly garlic, turmeric, ginger, and the herbs and spices already discussed), along with high fiber foods and omega-3 foods such as cold water fatty fish are the standards. Refined and processed foods and junk food (or what we like to call, butt clogging foods!) should be avoided at all costs. In addition, make sure you drink at least 6-8, twelve ounce glasses of clean filtered water each day. Water is the ultimate cleanser, detoxifier and purifier. And don't forget to do some light, moderate exercise 3-5 times a week as well! 

"Last Word" on Using These Natural Treatments for Your Hemorrhoids…

So there you have our top 10 home remedies for piles. Remember though, you don’t just want to treat your hemorrhoids now and alleviate the symptoms now – you want to fix the underlying cause so you never have them again! That’s what these 10 tips and remedies will do.

Keep in mind that this is a long term lifestyle change we’re talking about here. Piles are a powerful warning sign that your gut and internal waste dump are in disarray and not working properly. Fix these and you'll fix many of the other health problems you may have as well.

And one of the biggest benefits of getting rid of hemorrhoids and repairing your digestive system is the very noticeable increase in energy you will get. When the colon is working correctly, it doesn’t get bogged (pardon the pun) down trying to digest and excrete horribly formed or rock hard feces. Instead, digestion and bowel movements are easy and excessive pushing is not required. Waste also moves quickly through the colon instead of sitting there breading toxic pathogens (harmful bacteria and protozoa’s). In addition to this, a healthy functioning gut will mean awful problems such as upset stomachs and diarrhea will be a thing of the past.

So all of this adds up to a perfectly healthy functioning digestive system, and of course, no more hemorrhoids. 

Good luck with it and all the best!

P.S. Because constipation and diarrhea are the two main instigators of hemorrhoids and piles, we recommend you take the time to have a read of our informative articles on these if you regularly suffer from either of them. You can click on the links below to go there. If your hemorrhoids are due to or caused from IBS, we also have a terrific article on this as well.

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