Hemorrhoid Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Hemorrhoid Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine without recur
Hemorrhoid Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Hemorrhoids: Understanding and Proper Treatment
Today, let's share some diagnostic and treatment knowledge about hemorrhoids, helping you correctly understand and treat this condition.
Many people endure the suffering of hemorrhoids and opt for hemorrhoidectomy (surgical removal) at major proctology departments and hospitals. However, the condition often recurs shortly after surgery, leaving many puzzled.
Let me state this clearly: The Western medical approaches to diagnosing and treating hemorrhoids are fundamentally flawed. Surgery cannot provide a permanent solution. Establishing good dietary habits and proper maintenance are the fundamental methods for curing hemorrhoids.
Western Medicine's Understanding of Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids may appear to be a simple disease, but their exact causes have never been fully clarified. They are likely related to multiple factors, with the most commonly mentioned etiological theories being the Internal Hemorrhoidal Cushion Descent Theory and the Venous Varicosity Theory.
1. Internal Hemorrhoidal Cushion Descent Theory
Inside the anal canal, there is a ring-shaped vascular cushion known as the hemorrhoidal cushion, composed of a rich network of veins, smooth muscles, and connective tissues. It functions to close the anal canal and control defecation. During defecation, the hemorrhoidal cushion experiences downward pressure, pushing it downward, and after defecation, it contracts back into the anal canal.
When the elastic recoil of the hemorrhoidal cushion weakens, congestion, downward displacement, and hyperplasia occur, eventually forming hemorrhoids.
2. Venous Varicosity Theory
The hemorrhoidal cushions contain abundant veins, known academically as venous plexuses. These venous plexuses are unique because they lack venous valves, are located at the lowest points of the abdominal and pelvic cavities, and the surrounding tissues are lax. This makes these veins prone to congestion and stasis. Over time, the venous walls endure pressure, leading to varicosities. Factors such as prolonged sitting or standing, constipation, pregnancy, prostate enlargement, liver cirrhosis, and pelvic tumors can exacerbate venous varicosity, making hemorrhoids more likely to develop.
Western Medicine's Recognized Risk Factors for Hemorrhoids
Poor Bowel Habits: Straining during bowel movements, prolonged defecation, etc.
Chronic Diseases: Long-term diarrhea or constipation, chronic heart disease, or liver disease.
Dietary Habits: Low-fiber diet.
Others: Frequent heavy lifting, pregnancy, obesity.
However, approximately 40% of hemorrhoids are asymptomatic. The most common symptoms include bleeding, anal itching, pain, and prolapse. These symptoms may occur occasionally or repeatedly. The location, type, and severity of hemorrhoids determine the nature, intensity, and duration of these symptoms.
Internal Hemorrhoids: Primarily present as bleeding and prolapse of the hemorrhoidal tissue. Intermittent bright red blood after defecation is most common, usually without pain. Blood is bright red and may coat the stool's surface or drip after defecation. Severe cases may exhibit jet-like bleeding. Chronic blood loss can lead to anemia symptoms, such as dizziness and fatigue.
Small internal hemorrhoids may not noticeably enlarge in the short term.
Large internal hemorrhoids might prolapse from the anus and may need manual repositioning after defecation.
If prolapsed hemorrhoids do not retract in time, blood supply can be cut off, leading to strangulated hemorrhoids, causing tissue necrosis or even infection, accompanied by severe pain.
External Hemorrhoids: Mainly manifest as anal discomfort, persistent moisture and uncleanliness, sometimes itching, and protrusion of hemorrhoidal tissue. If inflammation accompanies them, significant anal pain occurs. Sometimes, blood accumulates subcutaneously, forming painful lumps known as "thrombosed hemorrhoids" or "clotted hemorrhoids," which are prone to bleeding and severe pain.
In addition to the direct symptoms caused by hemorrhoids, there may be anal skin irritation, itching, discomfort, a feeling of fullness around the anus, and mild fecal incontinence. Skin irritation and itching are caused by the mucus secretions from hemorrhoids; discomfort, a feeling of fullness, and fecal incontinence result from the prolapse of hemorrhoidal tissue in the anal canal, and there may still be a sensation of needing to defecate after a bowel movement.
Western Medicine's Diagnostic Methods for Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are primarily diagnosed through physical examination. External hemorrhoids can be diagnosed by observing the anal area, while internal hemorrhoids require an anoscope for examination.
Digital Rectal Examination: The doctor wears a glove or finger cots, applies a lubricant to the index finger, and inserts it into the rectum to palpate the inner walls for any protrusions or growths. If no masses or elevations are found during the digital rectal exam, an anoscopy is recommended for a better view of the rectal mucosa.
Colonoscopy or Anoscopy: For individuals over 40 years old with relevant symptoms and risk factors for colorectal cancer, a flexible electronic colonoscopy may be considered to rule out colorectal polyps, inflammation, or cancer.
Western Medicine's Treatment Principles for Hemorrhoids: A Critical Perspective
The treatment of hemorrhoids follows three main principles:
Asymptomatic Hemorrhoids: No need for medication or surgical treatment; focus on improving lifestyle habits.
Symptomatic Hemorrhoids: Emphasis on alleviating and eliminating symptoms rather than necessarily achieving a complete cure.
Treatment Approach: Primarily non-surgical treatments. Surgical intervention may be considered for strangulated hemorrhoids, thrombosed hemorrhoids, second-degree or higher internal hemorrhoids, and mixed hemorrhoids.
Comment on the Second Principle: It's somewhat humorous because claiming that a complete cure isn't necessary suggests a misunderstanding of the fundamental causes of hemorrhoids. Without understanding the root causes, the idea of curing them is unfounded. Of course, the notion that a complete cure isn't always necessary avoids self-contradiction, but it's more about the lack of understanding.
For severe hemorrhoids, Western medicine resorts to excision. This is their specialty. Western medicine views the body as a collection of individual parts; as long as a few peripheral parts are removed and the body can continue functioning, surgery is the simplest solution without much concern.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective on Hemorrhoids
In patients with hemorrhoids, TCM can often diagnose the condition through observation alone. The facial area corresponding to the large intestine is located at the cheekbones where a vertical line from the corner of the eyes intersects with a horizontal line parallel to the ear canal. If a person has hemorrhoids, black spots may appear on their face. A spot on the left side indicates hemorrhoids on the left side of the anus, and similarly for the right side. This is a basic principle of TCM's "looking, listening, questioning, and palpating." You can try this yourself in the future.
This also explains why some people have clear, spotless skin while others have numerous facial spots. The spots result from internal organ issues. Some people opt for spot removal surgeries to achieve clearer skin, but after a few years, spots may reappear because the underlying internal organ issues were not addressed. Removing the spots externally cannot stop their recurrence.
Therefore, it's important to emphasize that the true method for whitening and removing spots is to regulate the balance of yin and yang in the five organs and six bowels from within. External surgical methods only treat the symptoms and do not address the root causes, leading to recurrence and numerous side effects. Beautiful women should keep this in mind.
Explaining the Causes of Hemorrhoids from a TCM Perspective
I will use a TCM perspective to explain the causes of hemorrhoids, supplemented by some of my previous treatment experiences.
Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
Five Organs: Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, Kidney
Six Bowels: Gallbladder, Small Intestine, Stomach, Large Intestine, Bladder, San Jiao (Triple Burner)
Why This Arrangement? It corresponds to the five seasons.
Liver (Wood): Spring
Heart (Fire): Summer
Spleen (Earth): Long Summer
Lung (Metal): Autumn
Kidney (Water): Winter
The human anus belongs to the final segment of the large intestine, which is governed by the large intestine. Among the five organs, the lungs and large intestine are interconnected, so problems with the large intestine are caused by an imbalance of yin and yang in the lungs.
When studying TCM, it's crucial to focus on the corresponding relationships between the five organs and six bowels, avoiding being misled by the superficial symptoms. Otherwise, one might enter a dark room and get stuck in a thinking trap.
Since the anus and large intestine are governed by the lungs, treatment should consider balancing the yin and yang of the lungs rather than merely treating the symptoms.
In my previous practice, I found that hemorrhoids were just one manifestation of underlying issues. Through the dialectical analysis of the five elements and yin-yang balance, I discovered that most hemorrhoid patients have root causes in the spleen, heart, and kidneys, with some rooted in the liver.
I found that the primary cause of hemorrhoids is often lung yang deficiency, but there are also cases of lung yin deficiency. An imbalance of yin and yang manifests differently in the associated organs.
Five Elements Interactions:
Spleen (Earth) Overcomes Kidney (Water)
Kidney (Water) Overcomes Heart (Fire)
Heart (Fire) Overcomes Lung (Metal)
Lung (Metal) Overcomes Liver (Wood)
Liver (Wood) Overcomes Spleen (Earth)
The principle of the five elements overcoming each other follows this continuous cycle.
Among these five organs, identifying the root cause is crucial. Without identifying the root, all treatments are like blind men touching an elephant, treating symptoms without addressing the underlying issues.
Transmission Pathways of Disease Qi:
Regardless of the starting point within the lungs, disease qi can follow various pathways:
Spleen → Kidney → Heart → Lung → Liver
Kidney → Heart → Lung → Liver → Spleen
Heart → Lung → Liver → Spleen → Kidney
Lung → Liver → Spleen → Kidney → Heart
Liver → Spleen → Kidney → Heart → Lung
Each pathway can be associated with hemorrhoid symptoms, and each path may involve a deficiency in either yin or yang, totaling 10 possible imbalances.
The human body's self-healing ability is powerful, relying on the balance of yin and yang in the five organs and six bowels to achieve harmony. If the dialectical direction is wrong and yin and yang are misdiagnosed, treatments will follow the wrong path, worsening the patient's condition.
Regarding Hemorrhoid Treatment: The main focus is to regulate the yin and yang of the lungs. If lung yang is insufficient, it should be supplemented; if lung yin is deficient, it should be nourished. Additionally, incorporating some astringent herbs can help retract the hemorrhoids, allowing them to gradually disappear.
Summary:
Understanding hemorrhoids requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both the symptoms and the underlying causes. While Western medicine often resorts to surgical removal, Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes balancing the body's internal energies and improving lifestyle habits to achieve lasting relief. By focusing on the harmony of the five organs and their interactions, TCM offers a holistic path to managing and potentially curing hemorrhoids.
