Did you know many common hemorrhoid treatments could actually be making your hemorrhoids worse - and have the potential to cause other health problems?
In a previous article, I've discussed the potential dangers of many frequently recommended herbal and natural remedies for hemorrhoids.
But pharmaceutical products also present many risks. So, what's wrong with over-the-counter or prescription medications for hemorrhoids? Many of these drugs contain ingredients including corticosteroids, vasoconstrictors, antiseptics, anesthetics, analgesics ... then there's petrolatum, mineral oil, shark liver oil...
In case you're wondering why these ingredients can be harmful, I'll give you some idea. Vasoconstrictors can cause an increase in blood pressure - this is why you may read warnings on the labels of some hemorrhoid treatments, advising against their use if you have hypertension.
After more than 20 years in this field, I am often surprised at how many patients are suffering from high blood pressure without even knowing it. In addition, many patients don't read the label thoroughly and use these hemorrhoid preparations when they should not have done so, causing them potentially serious risks. Then there's cortisone creams for piles - you've probably heard that these drugs should be used with caution. You usually need a doctor's prescription to obtain them.
Rectal suppositories are often used to administer drugs, because they provide an extremely rapid entry of the medication into the blood stream. So there are concerns that the use of cortisone-based creams in this area, which also enter the bloodstream, could be hazardous.
The other problem with cortisone creams is that if they are used for extended periods or too frequently, they can cause permanent thinning of the skin. This means that even slight scratching or rubbing could cause the skin to break and bleed. If you have hemorrhoids, you hardly want this problem on top of it. And unfortunately, this thinning of the skin is irreversible - the only treatment is to apply soothing creams to reduce irritation.
There are, however, many natural hemorrhoid treatments which have been clinically proven to provide relief for hemorrhoids as well as a permanent cure. Hemorrhoid drugs or a hemorrhoidectomy are not the best solutions. Hemorrhoids can return after surgery, simply because surgical removal does not address any of the the actual causes - it's often only a band-aid approach. I never met a surgeon who could guarantee a patient that their hemorrhoids would never return once surgically removed.
And I never met a surgeon who discussed with a hemorrhoid sufferer the aspects of their diet or lifestyle which might be contributing to their hemorrhoids. Yet, armed with this advice, may could save themsleves the pain and risks of both surgery and drugs.
Ultimately, your health is in your hands - it's your responsibility to be as well informed as you can about what causes hemorrhoids and what cures hemorrhoids. I realise that this information is difficult to find - it's an embarrassing topic to discuss, and many doctors tend to be more interested in writing prescriptions and treating the symptoms, than offering advice about prevention and effective natural remedies. This has also meant that many old wives' tales, unfounded folklore treatments, and crazy myths abound.
I understand why many hemorrhoid suffers tell me that they have tried natural hemorrhoid treatments to no avail. When I ask what they have tried, I hear the same list of herbs over and over again. Many of these herbs have recently been found to present certain health risks, and should not be used without supervision and medical monitoring.
My concern about all this mis-information is what prompted me to write a book about the clinically proven natural treatments for hemorrhoids.
Learn more at Janet's website www.hemorrhoids-saviour.com
