TRADITIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE – DISEASES & FORMULAS

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids or ‘Piles’ refers to a swollen Vein or group of Veins around the Anus. They may be very painful, may be internal or external, and may present with Blood.

The ‘Hemorrhoid Veins’ were long used in Bloodletting, and were said to be filled with Melancholic Blood. Excess of the Melancholy Humor helps produce and feed the growth of Hemorrhoids. The Melancholic Blood is thick and obstructs the veins.

Therefore, to treat Hemorrhoids, a light, easy-to-digest diet must be used. Heavy, rich foods and over-eating must be strictly avoided. Medicines to thin the Blood and break Blood stasis are used along with medicines to enhance digestion.

Ayurveda has the Arcoghna group of Drugs, used to cure Hemorrhoids:
Holarrhena antidysenterica, Aegle marmelos fruit, Ginger, Aconitum heterophyllum, Chebulic Myrobalan, Hedysarum alhagi, Barberry, Calamus, Piper chaba

Western Tradition

Simples

Fenugreek
Bdellium
Butchers Broom
Figwort
Cypress nuts
Chebulic Myrobalan

Mullein
Restharrow
Horsechestnut
Polypody
Emblic Myrobalan
Black Myrobalan

1. Rhubarb (½ oz.) taken with Quince jelly.
2. “Black myrobalans are good for Piles. Fenugreek is
useful for Piles. Indian bdellium is useful for Piles”. (Rhazes)

Purgatives for Use with Hemorrhoids

Buckthorn
Tamarind
Cream of Tartar

Triphala
Figs

Simples for Topical Application

Pilewort (Lesser Celandine)
Cypress nuts
Bistort
Black Nightshade
Red Lead

Yarrow
Poplar buds
Tormentil
Leech
Alum

1. Oil of Linseed is good for Painful Hemorrhoids
2. Eel fat applied stops bleeding Hemorrhoids

Chinese Classification

Qi Deficiency, Sinking of Qi

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang

Blood Stagnation

Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang

Bleeding Hemorrhoids

Jiao Ai Tang

Purgative for use with Hemorrhoids

Ma Zi Ren Wan
Wu Ren Wan
Zeng Ye Tang

Formulas

Pills of Bdellium (Mesue)
Electuary of Micleta (Nicholas)
Hiera of Abbas (Unani)
Triphera Galeni
Triphera Minor (Triphera Phoenonis) (Mesue)
Triphala Electuary Lesser (Unani)
Triphera of the Saracens (Triphera Saracenica)
Ointment for Hemorrhoids
Arsoghni Vati (Hemorrhoid Pills) (Ayurveda)
Embelia 7 (Byi tang bdun pa)
Laxatixe for Use with Hemorrhoids:
Pills of Figs (Unani)

Special Formula

BLESSED OINTMENT FOR HEMORRHOIDS

Dragon’s blood, Litharge
Turmeric, Scoria of Silver equal parts
Powder, add wine vinegar and mix, adding a little Violet oil and Lily oil and beat until a rusty color appears. Apply on cloth and apply. (The Medical Formulary of Al-Kind)

OINTMENT FOR HEMORRHOIDS #1

    Borax
    Alum
    Barberry extract                2 grams each
Powder, mix with Butter (20 grams) and apply topically. (Unani)

OINTMENT FOR HEMORRHOIDS #2

Galls 4 grams
Camphor 2 grams
Powder and Mix with Butter (12 grams) to be applied. (Unani)

OINTMENT FOR HEMORRHOIDS #3

    Armenian Earth, Gum Arabic
    Mastic, Dragons Blood
    Myrrh, Rose
    Pomegranate flowers 3 drams ea.
  Butter       1 oz.
    Oil of Roses      3 oz.
    Leek juice       3 drams
    Filipendula juice    4 oz.
Boil the juices gently with the Wax and Oil and the juice is consumed, then add the rest in powder and form an Ointment. (Secrets of Alexis)

OINTMENT FOR HEMORRHOIDS #4

    Chicken fat    2 oz.
    Oil of Roses    2 oz.
    Wax          3 drams
    Egg Yolk       1
    Saffron       ½ dram
Make an Ointment. Opium (1 dram) was added if there was pain.

OINTMENT FOR HEMORRHOIDS #5

    Terebinth       1 ½ oz.
    Birdlime       2 scruples
    Zinc oxide    3 oz.
    Silver Litharge
    Ceruse
    Copperas       2 oz.
    Plantain       6 drams
    Oil           1 pound
Form an Ointment. (Secrets of Alexis)

OINTMENT FOR PAINFUL HEMORRHOIDS

    Ox marrow, Goose fat,
    Egg yolk, Bees Wax,
    White lead, Rose oil equal parts
Mix and apply. (The Medical Formulary of Al-Kindi)

ENEMA FOR BLIND (INTERNAL) HEMORRHOIDS

    Rose. Plantain, Knotgrass,
    Daisy root, Comfrey root,
    Tormentil root    1 oz. ea.
    Milk          1 lb.
boil it to half, strain and add Sugar 2 oz. (Salmon)

1. Black Wood Ear (Hei Mu Er). 60 grams
Black Sesme seed (Hei Zhi Ma). 15 grams
Stir-fry half the Wood Ear mushroom until slightly burnt. Then stir-fry the Sesame until fragrant. Add 1500 mls. of water, boil for 30 minutes, strain and keep. Drink 100 mls. with Sugar 2–3 times daily. This relieves the irritation and stops Bleeding.

Research:

1. An Evidence-Based Study on Medicinal Plants for Hemorrhoids in Medieval Persia

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