Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen vascular cushions in the lower rectum or around the anus. They can be internal (inside the rectum) or external (under the skin around the anus), and symptoms may include bleeding with bowel movements, itching, pain, swelling, prolapse, or a feeling of incomplete cleaning. In Western medicine, hemorrhoids are often understood as a problem of increased pressure and strain on anal veins and supporting tissues, commonly associated with constipation, prolonged sitting on the toilet, pregnancy, low-fiber diets, or repeated straining. This overlaps with related Gold Bamboo topics such as constipation, which can be an important driver of symptoms and recurrence.

Treatment options vary because hemorrhoids differ in severity, chronicity, and dominant symptoms. Mild bleeding or irritation may respond to conservative measures such as fiber, hydration, stool-softening strategies, and symptom-relief creams or sitz baths. More persistent or prolapsing hemorrhoids may be managed with office procedures such as rubber band ligation, while severe thrombosed external hemorrhoids or advanced prolapse sometimes lead to surgical discussion. Eastern approaches, including acupuncture and selected botanical traditions, are commonly used to address pain, swelling, bowel regularity, and symptom recurrence, though the evidence base is generally less extensive and more variable than for standard conservative care and procedures.