Yoga is popularized as a relaxation and meditation technique, but it may also be beneficial for treating medical conditions like hemorrhoids (piles). Learn more about this in this article.
Haemorrhoid, also known as pile, is a condition that occurs when the blood vessels in and around the anal canal and rectum get swollen. Some people claim that everyone, at least once in life, will have experienced hemorrhoids. However, it is common during old age and pregnancy.
There are generally two types of hemorrhoids:
Internal hemorrhoids occur inside the rectum and are often painless, whereas external hemorrhoids are inside the anus and are quite painful.
The common symptoms of hemorrhoids include bleeding, inflammation, pain during bowel movements, itching, and mucus discharge after passing a stool.
The possible causes of hemorrhoids are unhealthy eating habits, obesity, strain during constipation, sitting for long durations, pregnancy, family history, and old age.
While there are clinical treatment options for hemorrhoids, lifestyle and diet play important roles in their management and prevention. Things you can do to prevent the occurrence of hemorrhoids include:
As a word of caution, always consult a doctor whenever you experience pain or discomfort before starting a natural therapy. You do not want to aggravate the symptoms and cause further issues. Also, if the symptoms of hemorrhoids persist or get worse, immediately consult a doctor. Do not rely completely on self-care.
Studies have shown that the ancient Indian branches of the healing tree—Ayurveda and yoga—can help cure hemorrhoids. A 2012 study published in the journal Ayu showed that Ayurveda offers a cure to bleeding piles and prevents recurrences.
Yoga has both physical and mental benefits. It is one of the best ways to cure hemorrhoids, as it focuses on every muscle and gland of the body. It stimulates the nervous and energy systems that help keep diseases, stress, pains, and ailments at bay.
While doing yoga, you perform asanas with twists and bends, which massage the abdominal organs, helping to improve conditions like piles. Yoga also helps regulate the functioning of the digestive system, which helps with a better metabolism.
Your circulation is also enhanced with asanas that involve inversions. This means yoga induces healthy bowel movement, making it easier for you to pass your stools without straining your anal canal and rectum. The blood vessels and veins in those areas will be safe from inflammation or swelling.
Many poses in yoga are gentle yet stimulating enough to help you in case of mild hemorrhoid symptoms. These poses will relax your tensed muscles and veins near the anus and massage your abdominal organs. They will also relax your body and mind.
In today's article topic, yoga alliance certified teacher and trainer, Ashish Painuly and owner of Fitsri blog shares with us the eight best yoga poses for hemorrhoids. If you have pile, practicing these yoga poses may cure the condition.
This pose is well known for providing a good stretch to the groin, knees, and inner thighs. If the cause of your hemorrhoid is pregnancy, practicing this pose can help reduce the symptoms. It will also strengthen the bladder and massage the abdominal organs.
This pose is a mild inversion that helps blood circulation go down from your feet to other body parts. It will increase circulation towards the anus, which will reduce the pain, irritation, and inflammation. This is one of the best yoga poses for hemorrhoids.
It also aids in reducing abdominal pain and the strain caused by the pressure of passing stools. It is a highly restorative pose that can be performed with props to relax your body further.
This pose does offer therapeutic benefits and additionally massages the abdominal organs. It will increase circulation towards the anus and release tension from the hips, lower back, and legs.
To practice child's yoga pose for hemorrhoids:
As the name suggests, this pose will aid in removing gas from your stomach and intestines. It also relaxes your anus, buttocks, and abdomen, along with giving digestion comfort. It will reduce the pain that comes with hemorrhoids and the stress on the rectum and anal canal veins.
If your hemorrhoid symptoms are mild, you can practice this squatting pose. It is extremely beneficial in stimulating your digestive system and opening your groin. This will prevent constipation and other issues with your digestive system. It also stretches your hips, buttocks, and spine.
The root lock, also known as Mula bandha in Sanskrit, is present at the base of the spine. It is performed as a vinyasa in the fourth series of Ashtanga Yoga. This intermediate pose stimulates the digestive system, strengthens the pelvis and spine, stretches the muscles around the anus, and opens the hips.
By practicing the root lock pose, you are essentially activating the root lock to promote energy flow to the rectum. This may be helpful for people with piles.
Here is how to practice the root lock yoga pose for hemorrhoids:
Deep belly breaths help with healthy bowel movements, releasing stress from the pelvic floor muscles and avoiding strain on your anus. It will also allow your mind and body to relax and will massage your abdominal organs.
While yoga mudra is often linked with hand gestures, this is one mudra that does not involve using your hands. In Ashwini mudra, you are contracting and releasing your anal muscles. It helps trap the prana energy and send it upwards through the Sushumna Nadi.
This mudra is extremely easy to perform, and it increases the colon's health. Additionally, it helps with constipation, making the large intestine walls firmer, curing diseases related to the rectum and anus, toning the muscles and nerves around the anal sphincter, and improving blood circulation.
The unique characteristic of this mudra is that you can practice it while performing any yoga asana. To do Ashwini mudra yoga pose for hemorrhoids:
Piles can be extremely painful if left untreated properly. If you notice blood in your stools, you should take appropriate precautions and consult a doctor. However, if you keep performing the above yoga practices, you may successfully keep the symptoms away and cure mild cases of hemorrhoids.