Commonly called piles, haemorrhoids are caused by swollen or strangulated veins inside or on the exterior of the anus. Haemorrhoids often protrude from the anus if the sufferer strains during a bowel motion, causing pain and bleeding. They sometimes stay permanently outside the rectum in the form of soft, grape-like purplish lumps. External piles usually clear up within a week or two, but sometimes leave small skin tags which cause further itchiness. Occasionally, blood inside a haemorrhoid clots, turning the pile into a hard and extremely painful lump. All cases of anal bleeding should be medically investigated as they can indicate a more serious underlying condition.

If the diagnosis shows the common problem of piles, which Chinese Medicine sees as the result of heatdamp and blood stagnation in the anus, treatment will commence to move the stagnation, cool the heat and move the blood. A Chinese Medicine practitioner will prescribe Angelicarhubarb, dandelion, magnolia bark and kapok flower.
