Hemorrhoids are engorged veins in rectum. During evacuation these veins swell to provide extra padding to protect the colon and the anal sphincter. these veins remain 15-20% swollen between bowel movements. Pressure from the veins helps keep the anal sphincter closed and prevents incontinence. Decongestion of these cushions, achieved by a rapid decrease of anal tone, allows rapid emptying of the rectal content.

Hemorrhoids may be prolapse and protrude externally. They may protrude when straining to eliminate, coughing, sneezing, laughing, sitting for a long time, or standing. Hemorrhoids may also be invisible, occurring higher up in the rectum.

Hemorrhoids may be caused during childbirth, due to constipation & straining to eliminate, excessive downward flow of blood, or inflammation of the rectum. The rectum becomes inflamed due to various causes but most commonly when fecal matter putrefies in the colon or if there is an infection.

Hemorrhoids may clot or burst. They may be painful, itchy or asymptomatic. Mucus leakage may create a feeling of incomplete elimination. If you have hemorrhoids you may notice streaks of blood on the toilet paper when wiping. If hemorrhoids are irritated, cleanse the colon after evacuation with your hand instead of toilet paper, which irritates the sensitive tissues. Hemorrhoids may obstruct bowel movements. Call the doctor if hemorrhoids bleed more than once, bleeding occurs between bowel movements or lasts more than a week, or if stool becomes narrow or has a groove in them, if a lump grows in the area, or if you have a fever.

If you have hemorrhoids, avoid straining to eliminate, straining to lift heavy objects, and foods that cause gas, constipation, or irritation of the digestive lining. Avoid hard seats, eliminate any infection of the colon including parasites, and snacking between meals. Salty, sour and sweet foods tend to soften stools. Slimy foods including cooking oils, okra, oatmeal, flax and chia seeds can help. Use stool softening herbs like vidanga and haritaki. The hemorrhoid CD below contains a more comprehensive list of treatments.

Disclaimer: Conditions such as 'Hemorrhoids' that cause tissue changes could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor.

DIET REMEDIES FOR 'HEMORRHOIDS'

PRODUCT REMEDIES FOR 'HEMORRHOIDS'

AVOID DIETS, LIFESTYLES & HERBS THAT AGGRAVATE THESE EFFECTS

Symptoms Tell A Story

The first step to healing is learning patterns from your symptoms. Symptoms are clues that reveal underlying imbalances, showing you where your body is weak. Specifically, they reveal the doshas & qualities that may have become aggravated. If you notice a quality or dosha appears next to many of your symptoms, it helps you establish a pattern that may be systemic.

V = VATA, P = PITTA, K = KAPHA

GUNA	FOODS TO AVOID	DO YOU HAVE THIS IMBALANCE?
HOT ABOUT HOT GUNA Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation. LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT	AVOID HOT FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE HEMORRHOIDS	Status Unknown Take these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Hot' guna
DRY ABOUT DRY GUNA Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis. LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY	AVOID DRY FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE HEMORRHOIDS	Status Unknown Take these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Dry' guna
DIFFICULT ABOUT DIFFICULT GUNA Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest. LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFICULT	AVOID DIFFICULT FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE HEMORRHOIDS	Status Unknown Take these quizzes to find out if you need to decrease Difficult to digest foods
PUNGENT ABOUT PUNGENT GUNA Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper. LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT	AVOID PUNGENT FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE HEMORRHOIDS	Status Unknown Take these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Pungent' taste

To learn more about the symbols above, click on them.

SEE A DIET WHICH REMOVES THESE CAUSES

ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE 4

If you have symptoms in this category it means your imbalances have overwhelmed your body's resistance causing a full-fledged disease. Once imbalance reaches this stage it is more likely to cause acute or chronic conditions. You might be tempted to focus your attention on fighting symptoms in this category, but dismiss earlier warning signs of imbalance - i.e. symptoms in the stage 1 category. It is ideal to find and address the root causes weakening your system and remove them first. This ensures you are not adding fuel to the fire of disease. Once the root causes are removed, you can work on addressing the disease head on along with strengthening your body. This typically yields a quicker recovery and prevents recurrence. Ayurveda's preventative approach suggests you pay careful attention to every stage of disease development.

REDUCE THESE RELATED SYMPTOMS & HABITS

DO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR UNIQUE BODY?

What aggravates it? What heals it? Then get your Personal Ayurvedic Body Book! This book, written by founder and director of Joyful Belly, John Immel, is individually formatted for your unique body and will help you confidently choose food that restores your healthy glow to get you feeling like your best self. Just $19.99!

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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda exudes a certain ease, which many find enjoyable and insightful. His online course Balance Your Ayurvedic Diet in a Week provides tools for gracefully healing with Ayurveda to thousands. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda , which specializes in digestive tract pathology & Ayurvedic nutrition. John and his wife Natalie recently published Explore Your Hunger: A Guide to Hunger, Appetite & Food.

John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.

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