Hemorrhoids are a rather delicate problem that many people feel embarrassed to see a doctor about. There are many folk methods that can help at early stages to relieve painful symptoms. To avoid flare-ups and complications, it is important to start therapy in time and perform procedures regularly until the signs of the disease disappear.
Treating External Hemorrhoids with Folk Methods
Since there are external and internal hemorrhoids, treatment methods will differ. To get rid of symptoms such as discomfort, burning, itching, pain, bleeding during defecation, and tissue inflammation, several home approaches may be used.
Healing Herbal Ointments
Medicinal herbs have long been used to treat many diseases. To relieve the signs of external hemorrhoids, you can prepare an effective natural ointment yourself.
-
Plantain. Take 100 g of dried leaves and grind to a powder. Add the same amount of butter and place on a water bath. Simmer about 30–33 minutes. Strain and cool.
-
Yarrow. Mix equal parts rendered animal fat (internal fat or badger fat) with dried, powdered herb.
-
Calendula. Mix one cup of calendula inflorescences (powdered) with 400–500 g of any fat. Heat on a water bath for 1 hour, strain, and let cool completely.
-
Elecampane & Wild Sorrel (horse sorrel). Mix roots in equal parts; grind in a coffee grinder. Take 2 tbsp of the medicinal powder, add 100 g butter and 1 tsp propolis tincture (pharmacy). Stir and use.
-
Herbal blend. Powder separately: plantain, calendula flowers, burdock, and common hop cones. Take 1 tsp of each, add 120 g butter, and warm on a water bath. After 30 minutes, strain and cool.
Apply ointments only after personal hygiene. After application, avoid washing or using the toilet for 30–50 minutes. Active components are generally safe unless you have individual intolerance.
Therapeutic Baths
This procedure is usually done with warm water and medicinal solutions. The temperature should not exceed 37 °C. Suitable options include:
-
Chamomile. With antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Brew a decoction from 3 tbsp dried chamomile and 1.8 L hot water. Infuse 20 minutes, re-warm, and pour into a basin of warm water.
-
Weak potassium permanganate solution. Use only a very pale pink solution to help heal fissures around the anus. For 5–7 L of water, use 1–2 g of crystals.
-
Oak bark. Helps with anal fissures, inflammation, itching, and microbes. Decoction: 50 g bark + 6 cups boiling water; simmer 30–35 minutes, then infuse 2 hours covered, strain, and add to warm bath.
-
Bay leaf. Can help reduce blood thickening, itching, and swelling. Infuse 50 g leaves in 5 L boiling water for 30 minutes under a lid; pour into the basin and begin while still warm.
-
Baking soda. Dries weeping hemorrhoids, reduces itching, and suppresses pathogenic bacteria. Add 5–7 tbsp soda to 5–7 L water and mix well.
Water should cover the problem area (usually 4–5 L is enough). Tip: each session ≤20 minutes; take twice daily until symptoms subside.
Compresses and Lotions
This method is indicated for both external and internal hemorrhoids. Use warm compresses, and for acute pain—ice. Clean the perianal skin with soap and running water before the procedure.
-
Potato. Grate raw potato, wrap in multilayer gauze, and apply to the anus for 20 minutes; dry the skin afterwards. Do twice daily.
-
Chamomile. Pour 1 L boiling water over 2 tbsp flowers; infuse 1 hour, strain. Soak folded gauze and apply for 20–30 minutes.
-
Carrot tops. Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 tbsp chopped fresh tops; infuse 6 hours in a thermos. Apply warm lotions every 3 hours for 10 minutes.
-
Aloe. Soak a cotton pad with aloe juice and apply for 20 minutes or overnight.
-
Sea buckthorn oil. Put 1 tsp oil on cotton cloth, apply to anus, and secure with plastic film and snug underwear. Course ~1 month. If there’s no effect in 2 weeks, switch to another method.
Treating Internal Hemorrhoids at Home
Internal hemorrhoids are often treated in combination with conventional therapy. If seeing a doctor is impossible, you can try to relieve symptoms on your own.
Natural Suppositories
Homemade suppositories can reduce bleeding, pain, inflammation, itching, and discomfort—helping you return to normal life. Key point: keep treatment regular.
Important: Make molds from finger cots (pharmacy) or firm paper + plastic wrap.
How to prepare:
-
Propolis. Powder the propolis and mix with butter at a 10:1 ratio. Heat on a water bath and pour into molds.
-
Aloe. Take a small juicy leaf, split, turn pulp outward so the peel is inside, shape like a candle, and insert overnight.
-
Sea buckthorn oil. Roll a cotton swab in gauze, soak well in oil, and insert overnight.
-
Raw potato. Carve a 4–5 cm × ≤1 cm “candle,” round the edges, lubricate with vegetable or sea buckthorn oil, and insert at bedtime. Thread can be passed through for easy removal.
-
Garlic. Grate 1–2 cloves, wrap in multilayer gauze, and use as a suppository.
-
Ice. Freeze purified water or herbal infusion (e.g., chamomile: 1 tbsp flowers + 1 cup boiling water). Freeze in the fingers of a medical glove. Use 2×/day for 30–40 seconds.
Insert easier while lying on your side. After insertion, remain lying for ~20 minutes to prevent leakage and allow action.
Micro-Enemas
Introduce a medicinal solution into the rectum using a bulb syringe while lying on the left side with knees drawn up.
Solutions:
-
Chamomile. 1 tbsp flowers + 1 cup boiling water; infuse, strain, warm to room temperature.
-
Potato juice. Use 6–7 tbsp freshly pressed juice.
-
Strawberry leaves. 1 tbsp chopped leaves + 300 ml boiling water; infuse 30 minutes, warm gently.
-
Mumiyo (shilajit). Crush 6 tablets and dissolve in 100 ml warm water.
-
Wormwood. 1 tbsp herb + 1 cup boiling water; boil 5–6 minutes and infuse 5 hours; use warm.
Sterilize the syringe by boiling 3–4 minutes before each use.
Decoctions and Infusions (Internal & External)
-
Macerate 50 g horse chestnut (fruits) in 500 ml vodka for 14 days; take 70 ml before breakfast.
-
Pour 70 g rose hips over 500 ml boiling water in a thermos overnight; strain and drink 100 ml twice daily.
-
Pour 50 g raspberry seeds over 300 ml boiling water; let cool to room temperature; drink 100–110 ml before meals. Continue until symptoms resolve. If condition worsens, see a proctologist and physician. Home treatment is acceptable only when there are no serious complications.
Folk Remedies for Hemorrhoids: What Can Help Overcome the Disease?
Folk remedies have long been widely used to treat diseases of veins and blood vessels. Proctological pathologies are no exception. Alternative medicine offers many useful folk recipes for hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoidal disease is a pathology that is becoming more common every day. Both adults and children suffer from this ailment. Not only is the number of patients increasing, but their average age is also decreasing significantly. A sedentary lifestyle, desk jobs, alcohol consumption, poor diet, and many other negative factors act as provocateurs of proctological diseases.
Is it possible to cure hemorrhoids at home and how?
In the early stages, the disease can be treated with a variety of medications. Some relieve pain, others improve blood circulation, and still others reduce inflammation. As a result, this unpleasant disease can really retreat.
But is it possible to achieve the same effect with folk recipes? After all, this condition has been known since ancient times! Surely, a vast experience of treatment without any “chemistry” has accumulated. Indeed, there are countless recipes for proctological pathologies.
Features of Alternative Therapy
How to treat: compresses, decoctions, infusions, lotions, baths, medicinal herbs, raw vegetables.
Can the disease be cured? No. These remedies do not affect the root causes but serve to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
During pregnancy and childbirth: only after consulting a doctor.
⚠️ Folk remedies for hemorrhoids are effective only at the initial stage of the disease!
If the diagnosis is stage 2–3, treatment must be carried out by a proctologist. Alternative medicine in such cases will help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation only for a short time.
When to Use Folk Remedies for Adults?
There are people who tolerate medications very poorly, mostly due to individual characteristics of the body and a tendency to allergies. In such cases, one has no choice but to look for alternatives in folk medicine.
Others intentionally try to use only natural, plant-based methods whenever possible.
However, hemorrhoid treatment with folk remedies should not turn into self-therapy. Even more so, one should not self-diagnose. The symptoms of hemorrhoids are similar to several other intestinal diseases, including cancer. First, you must undergo an examination and hear this diagnosis from a doctor, and only then — discuss with a specialist the possibility of using folk recipes as supportive therapy. After this, you can begin treatment.
The Most Effective and Inexpensive Methods
Alternative therapy at home offers many options. Each of them is aimed at relieving symptoms and preventing infection.
Most often used are:
-
Potato suppositories for itching,
-
sitz baths for washing,
-
enemas and lotions,
-
herbal infusions,
-
ointments.
Rectal Suppositories
Successful treatment of proctological diseases often begins with rectal suppositories. These agents quickly reduce inflammation and relieve unpleasant symptoms.
Rectal remedies do not necessarily have to be bought in pharmacies — homemade suppositories are quite acceptable.
-
Vegetable candles (potato, carrot): cut into small cylinders (about the size of a finger, up to 4 cm long). Before insertion, irrigate the rectum with half a glass of cold water. Lubricate the candle with oil. A carrot suppository is inserted for about 30 minutes in the evening, while a potato one can stay in overnight.
-
Ice suppositories: made using a glove finger or medical finger cot, filled with water or chamomile decoction and frozen. They are inserted into the anus for a short time; they melt on their own.
Baths, Lotions, and Micro-Enemas
For such treatments, calendula is considered the best herb. It fights inflammation and promotes healing. Both infusions and alcohol tinctures are used.
-
Calendula infusion: 3 tsp of dried flowers per glass of room-temperature water. Infuse for 3–4 hours, strain, and use for rinsing or micro-enemas.
-
Calendula tincture: 10 g dried flowers + 100 ml 70% alcohol, infuse for 2 days. For micro-enemas, dilute 1 tbsp tincture in a glass of water.
Yarrow, known for its hemostatic properties, is also used. A decoction (30 g of herb per 1 cup of water, boiled for 20 minutes) can be applied as lotions or micro-enemas (60 ml).
Sitz baths are also highly effective. For example:
-
With potassium permanganate (very light pink solution). Important: dissolve crystals separately to avoid burns.
-
With burnet herb (4 tbsp per 2 liters boiling water, boiled for 5 min, infused, cooled, and strained).
Ointments for Hemorrhoids
Folk treatment also includes creams and ointments from medicinal plants. They relieve pain and heal cracks. Key rule: ointments are not rubbed but applied as a thin layer after hygiene.
-
Calendula ointment: 10 g vaseline + 5 g tincture, applied 3 times a day.
-
Mumiyo: a small lump softened in fingers and applied to external nodes in the morning and at night. Can be combined with oral intake.
-
Propolis ointment: 10 g ground dry propolis + 100 g unsalted butter. Warm, mix, strain, and use to reduce inflammation and pain.
Steam Therapy
Steam treatments are a unique folk method against hemorrhoids. They are carried out with hot vapors of medicinal herbs or onions.
-
Onion in milk: 2 onions are boiled in half a liter of milk. The hot solution is poured into a container, the patient sits above it so that the steam acts on the anus. The procedure continues until the liquid cools.
-
Garlic steam: a hot brick is placed in a metal bucket, crushed garlic is poured on top. The patient sits above so that the steam affects the hemorrhoids.
⚠️ Important: the vapor should be hot but not burning, to avoid burns.
Chinese Folk Recipe
Chinese healers recommend using a mixture of herbs for decoction: rhubarb root, burdock seeds, ginseng root, and clove oil. The decoction is consumed internally and also used externally for compresses. It is believed to relieve inflammation, improve blood circulation, and reduce pain.
Remedies for Women
During pregnancy, hemorrhoids often develop due to increased pressure in the pelvic area. In this case, aggressive folk remedies (such as garlic or strong alcohol tinctures) are not recommended.
Safe options include:
-
Warm sitz baths with chamomile or oak bark,
-
Lotions with aloe juice,
-
Suppositories made of raw potato or sea buckthorn oil.
All procedures must be coordinated with the attending physician, since even harmless herbs may have contraindications for pregnancy.
Remedies for Men
Men often face hemorrhoids due to heavy physical exertion, weightlifting, alcohol abuse, and sedentary work. For them, the most effective folk remedies are:
-
Ice suppositories (strengthen blood vessels, relieve swelling),
-
Compresses with propolis ointment,
-
Micro-enemas with chamomile or calendula decoctions.
It is recommended to exclude alcohol and spicy foods from the diet and increase fiber intake.
Prevention of Hemorrhoids
Prevention is much more effective than treatment. Simple lifestyle rules help reduce the risk:
-
Eat foods rich in fiber (vegetables, fruits, whole grains).
-
Avoid prolonged sitting; take breaks every hour.
-
Do not lift heavy weights.
-
Drink enough water (1.5–2 liters per day).
-
Avoid excessive alcohol and spicy food.
-
Do special exercises (Kegel, light gymnastics).
Conclusion and General Recommendations
Hemorrhoids are a delicate but very common problem that requires careful and timely treatment.
Folk remedies can play a significant role at the initial stage of the disease: they help relieve pain, itching, inflammation, and bleeding. Herbal ointments, sitz baths, compresses, natural suppositories, and micro-enemas can bring relief and improve quality of life.
However, it is important to remember:
-
Home methods do not eliminate the underlying causes of hemorrhoids.
-
They cannot replace professional diagnosis and treatment by a doctor.
-
Improper use of some folk remedies (too hot steam, concentrated solutions, aggressive plants) may harm.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Help
Contact a proctologist immediately if you notice:
-
Strong or persistent rectal bleeding,
-
Severe pain not relieved by folk remedies,
-
Prolapse of hemorrhoids that cannot be repositioned,
-
Signs of infection (fever, pus, swelling),
-
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy or postpartum,
-
No improvement after 1–2 weeks of home therapy.
Safe Approach
-
Use folk remedies as supportive care, not the main treatment.
-
Always maintain hygiene and a healthy lifestyle.
-
Combine home remedies with a balanced diet, enough water, and physical activity.
-
Do not delay consulting a doctor, especially in advanced stages.
👉 Hemorrhoids are treatable. With timely action, combining folk wisdom and modern medicine, you can return to comfort and protect your health.
