Hemorrhoids: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions from Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hemorrhoids are a common condition that can be quite bothersome for sufferers. Here are some of the manifestations of hemorrhoids and how they are treated from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective:

1. Stage 1 Hemorrhoids:

• Symptoms: Bleeding fresh blood during defecation, pain, constipation.

• Causes: Blood stasis, Qi stagnation, constipation.

• Treatment method: Liang Xue Zhi Xue (reduce blood, stop bleeding), Huoyue Khu U (promote blood circulation, remove stagnation).

• Herbal formula: Perilla, Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Scrophulariae, Polygonum multiflorum, Artemisia scoparia, Sophora japonica flower.

2. External Hemorrhoids:

• Symptoms: Red swelling and pain in the anal area, hemorrhoids become swollen, constipation, red urine.

• Causes: Damp heat in the large intestine, blood stasis, Qi stagnation.

• Treatment method: Qing Re Li She (clear heat, benefit dampness), Huoyue Zhi Tong (promote blood circulation, relieve pain).

• Herbal formula: Sophora japonica flower powder (Sophora japonica flower: clears damp heat in the large intestine, cools blood and stops bleeding; Perilla, Centipeda: promotes blood circulation; Rhizoma Atractylodis: moves Qi and relieves pain…; Radix Rhei, Atractylodes macrocephala, Paeonia lactiflora…).

3. Long-standing internal hemorrhoids:

• Symptoms: Long-term bleeding during defecation, dizziness and tinnitus, pale complexion, fatigue, spontaneous sweating, thin white tongue coating.

• Causes: Deficiency of Qi and blood, stagnation of Qi and blood.

• Treatment method: Bu Qi Xue, Sheng De (tonify Qi and blood, elevate the body), Zhi Xue (stop bleeding).

• Herbal formula: Si Wu Tang with modifications (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Colla Corii Asini, Astragalus, Glycyrrhiza uralensis).

Note: This article is for informational purposes only. You should consult with a qualified TCM practitioner for a diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.