How I Cured a Painful Hemorrhoid With 2 Natural Remedies

Before you start reading, if you’re having issues with painful fissures, check out my post on How I Healed my Fissure: Natural Remedies for Healing Fissures.

I really contemplated writing this post because no one really wants to talk about personal health issues like hemorrhoids. Simply the name itself is off-putting.

The more and more I thought about it though, I felt like it was my duty to write about my experience because of how unbelievably miserable I was for a week and how amazingly better I felt after trying out two natural remedies. I know I’m not the only one to combat this. If I can help alleviate the unnecessary pain from someone, then it’s worth it.

So here I am — talking to you about butts, hemorrhoids, and the two things I used to cure one of the most painful hemorrhoids I’ve ever had.

But first, I need to share a bit of my background with this whole “issue.”

When I gave birth to Andrew four and a half years ago, I experienced “worse than normal” hemorrhoids. I truly believe a large part of that happening was due to the fact I had an epidural and literally couldn’t feel how I was pushing. Healing from those hemorrhoids was pure misery. From that point forward, I had random “butt issues” that you can read about in this post — from fissures to removing a painful hemorrhoid via rubber band ligation. And trust me, you NEVER want to go through the rubber band treatment because it is literally one of THE worst pains you’ll ever feel in your life. I vividly remember driving down the freeway after my appointment in California profusely sweating with Andrew in the backseat because of how much pain I was in.

Once I got my diet in order, eliminated most dairy for a while (due to bouts of diarrhea, unexplained chest pains, and constipation), and invested in a squatty potty, the times I experienced a hemorrhoid flare up became very rare.

That is, until three weeks ago.

No Bowel Movement for 4 Days + Straining = Recipe for Disaster

Three weeks ago we decided to take our last “family of three hoo-rah” to Disney World for four days. Even though I drank unthinkable amounts of water because of how miserably hot it was (don’t ever do Disney in the summer months in FL, FYI), I never once had a bowel movement those four days. I think it’s important to note during those four days I was not eating what I normally would if we were at home. Towards the end of the fourth day (Sunday), I felt so bloated and uncomfortable that I sat on the toilet and sorta “forced” myself to go. That was a terrible mistake. If you’re someone who suffers from hemorrhoids regularly or have suffered from them in the past, you know that the worst thing you could possibly do is to strain, force, or push a bowel to come through.

The next day (Monday) I had some stomach cramps and experienced looser stools because my body was literally trying to push out all the crap I ate. Loose stools can irritate your rectum which may cause a hemorrhoid to flare up. Sure enough on Tuesday, I had a hemorrhoid.

I didn’t treat it because I usually don’t have to but by the next few days, the discomfort started to increase and by Friday, the hemorrhoid became painful and large. I tried suppositories, over-the-counter ointment, witch hazel, and natural bottom balm but nothing was working. The pain went from me being able to walk around (uncomfortably) to me laying in bed as much as I could. I honestly couldn’t bare getting up for fear of the sharp stabbing pain.

My Breaking Point and the Light

One week later and I was still uncomfortably hurting. I hit my breaking point. I cried and cried, and cried some more. I was tired of the pain, I was tired of being bed-ridden, I was tired of my hips hurting, and I had a long list of things that I needed to get done to prepare for the arrival of this baby in 6 or so weeks.

As I was crying, searching the web for ANYTHING that could help me, I came across this glorious thread. Countless numbers of people going through what I was and finally finding relief through the application of… are you ready for it?… Apple cider vinegar!

Yes, apple cider vinegar. And no, there is nothing that apple cider vinegar can’t cure.

Multiple comments about how the pain was reduced drastically after the first application and almost all gone by the second and third. For the first time in one long week, I felt like I had found hope and relief was soon to come. Some people reported a burning sensation but to just push through it because the burning would eventually subside and comfort would follow. Some people said they would take a sitz bath with diluted ACV and some said they would soak a cotton ball in ACV and apply directly to the skin.

After the article on ACV, I also came across this article about using essential oils to help heal hemorrhoids. At the end of the article, the author mentions something about a homeopathic oil specifically made for treatment of hemorrhoids — whether they are thrombose, internal, or external. I read the reviews on Amazon and it seemed like a majority of people felt relief from it and that was good enough for me — I ordered it immediately.

That was one of those times I was incredibly grateful for Amazon’s Prime subscription because it would only take two days to receive the oil.

How I Cured the Painful Hemorrhoid With ACV and Homeopathy

While I was waiting for the oil to arrive, I started with a sitz bath that had 2/3 cup epsom salts, 1 cup of raw apple cider vinegar, 15 drops of geranium oil, 15 drops of lavender oil, and 15 drops of chamomile oil. As I was sitting in the sitz bath on the toilet, I felt a little bit of relief. Unfortunately, once I got off the sitz bath, I felt like the hemorrhoid had protruded even more because of how long I was sitting.

That’s the only thing I don’t understand about sitz baths — I feel like they are contradictory to everything you read about reducing the chances of hemorrhoids since sitting on the toilet for long periods of time is known to cause a hemorrhoid to pop through. After using the toilet seat sitz bath twice, I decided to just sit in my bath tub with the same ingredients and felt much better after getting out. I did this once a night for the next four days.

90 minutes after the sitz bath, I soaked a cotton ball with ACV and applied it directly to the hemorrhoid. When purchasing ACV, please choose the kind that is raw with the mother in it. People were right when they said it would burn but within a few minutes, the pain went away. I let the cotton ball sit there for about 5 minutes for the first time and gradually increased each amount of time but not ever exceeding 15 minutes. Although it was a little sore after the direct application of ACV, the next day I noticed a significant difference.

Relief, finally.

Once I received my homeopathic oil, I applied the oil as stated on the bottle — three daily applications with two drops. In between the homeopathic hemorrhoid oil, I applied the ACV on a cotton ball. After the second day of doing this, I stopped the ACV and continued on with the homeopathic oil. Since ACV is acidic, I didn’t want to overdo my application. I also feel it had served it’s purpose of taking the “edge” off and was no longer needed in the healing process.

Within three days of using the homeopathic oil, my pain level went from a nine to a two. After the third day, the hemorrhoid began to noticeably shrink with each consecutive day.

I’m currently on my seventh day since starting the natural remedies and I imagine I only have one more day until the hemorrhoid is gone completely.

How to Prevent That From Happening Ever Again

Aside from not eating “normal” food during our Disney trip, one thing that I stopped taking during those four days was my magnesium powder. Although there are many reasons why I take magnesium daily, one HUGE benefit I have noticed is that it keeps my bowel movements regular. I will NEVER go on vacation again without taking my magnesium powder — ever.

And although this was such a miserable experience, I’m thankful I now have natural remedies up my sleeve that work — especially with our second baby’s arrival in November. I’m also thankful that I’m able to share this with you so you don’t have to go through as much pain as I did.

Related Reading: How I Healed My Fissure: Natural Remedies for Fissures + A Holistic View

Similar Posts

64 Comments

    1. Ģ
      Thank you so much for sharing this information.2 years ago I did a colonoscopy & removal of hemorrhoids and the piles are back again and very painful.I am going to try and follow your remedies and see if it works.
      Thank you
      Liz

  1. Ouch!! Glad you were able to heal it…that sounds so painful though! But at least now you know how to get rid of them if they pop up again. My horse riding instructor had a yearling who developed a MASSIVE hemorrhoid and she did the same research, coming up with ACV. She put about a cup or so into the horse’s feed and in no time it was gone. So drinking it also helps! Although, I don’t think I could handle the taste. But it’s an option. Glad you’re feeling better and thanks for sharing such a personal story! So many people are going to find relief once they read your post!

  2. Wow, this is fantastic. I’m so glad you did share. I will share too, so we can reach that “one” person (or more). That kind of discomfort is … horrible. SO happy for you. Thanks for the butt jokes. They were funny. Hurray for you!

    1. Butter and warm sheep fat application, level fibre food no industrial stuff , keeping dry but oily the rectum, squirting can also help, people better share their knowledge and ask skilful and experienced ones for help …

  3. Oh Loriel, I’m so sorry you went through that! I can relate and I’m so glad you found something that worked! That’s wonderful! I haven’t heard about either of these before, so I’m so grateful that you shared it with us. Off to take my magnesium powder now 😉

    1. I haven’t heard of magnesium powder before is it industrial like milk powder enriched with macromineral iron that causes liver cancer?
      Thanks in advance

      1. No, health food stores like Sprouts carry good magnesium powder ( mine is called Calm). It has helped me go regularly. Be sure to build up your amount carefully. I didn’t with unpleasant results! Magnesium is essential to our health and it’s hard to get enough through food alone.

        1. What is the dose u now take? Are there directions on the bottle? How much should I start?
          I have ordered the oil and will try the ACV beginning to day. I need help. Your post is so hopeful!

          1. Hey Sherry, there are directions on the bottle and I just go by them.

            I have found the ACV to provide immediate relief. Good luck!

    1. I read the same article years ago in prevention magazine. It takes rutin awhile to work. It is a daily pill because it also helps in prevention. For quick relief I would definitely go with ACV with the muddier in it. Prevention also published a book back in the early 80’s that to this day I use. One of the best resolutions I found was when I was in PEI Canada (my Mother was born on the island) picking wild raspberries. The black flies were out and I got about 20 bites on my face. I didn’t feel them biting me. The bites were mostly on the left side of my face. That night around midnight I said to my Mother “look at me and tell me if something is wrong with my face”, her response was unbelievable. I called the doctor (yes, in the country that is what we would do in case of emergency) he said there was nothing he could do and the swelling would go down in a few days. My Mother remembered the book, my Uncle Danny gave me. We looked up insect bites and they said to put cotton ball soaked in ACV for 1/2 hour. My Mom got the cotton ball and tape, I was lucky my Mother knew about ACV back then and we made our salad dressing with it. My bites were serious my earlob stood out straight and I hade swelling that was causing a huge bite to fall and close my eye and my temple was swollen where it put my glass askew on my face. The next morning I got up and we removed all the cotton balls and my Mom was incredulous and said all the swelling is gone. I was skeptical until I looked in the mirror I was so surprised by my face being back to normal! This book was called “Natural Home Remedies” and was a compilation of testimonies, why I mention this is because that is where I learned about rutin.

  4. OHHHH this! This is so great! You are so amazing for posting this! I wish I had known this during my pregnancies - I don’t struggle now but man those pregnancy hormones screwed my digestion up so much and I definitely could have used this remedy! This is great! Thank you!

  5. I have struggled with Hemorrhoids for the last 16 yrs… Having had 3 children’s in those years. In the last 2 years, I have had great success with this wise advice that was suggested to me! After every bowl movement rinse or cleanse with soap, And with the Hottest water you can stand. (I stand in the shower with my top Clothes still on and just use my removable shower head. It reduces the swelling right away! And prevent a flare up! It’s an extra 2 mins of my time, but so Worth it!!!!)

  6. That seems like an awful lot to go through. I’ve had four children and this is what I did. I was out of Preparation H and suffering. I had bought some essential oils to try but other than putting them in a diffuser for scent, didn’t really know what to do with them. For some reason, I decided to use the Lavender oil on my hemorrhoids. I soaked a wash cloth in very warm water and dropped no more than three drops of lavender oil on the wet cloth. I bathed the area with it several times a day, repeating with the soaking wash cloth and fresh lavender oil. The lavender oil creates lots of very warm heat so don’t use too much. In two to three days the hemorrhoids were completely gone.

      1. Your experiences are very helpful. I have two pea size external hemorrhoid which I got during two pregnancies. Will this process shrink them and disappear! Please suggest.

  7. Thank you for this. I am 39 weeks pregnant with my 3rd and I am already having a hard time with hemorrhoids flaring up and dreading it after the baby arrives. This will hopefully help me too!

    1. Ugh, I really dreaded the hemorrhoid flare up after my second baby but thankfully I didn’t get any. VERY surprising. I hope you don’t get any either and that you have a safe labor and delivery!

  8. God bless you!!!! I even had hemorrhoid surgery 15 years ago!…and I never thought of ACV, Epsom salts, & lavender oil!!! also have more than 1 fissure now. I work a lot and sometimes forget to take care of my diet. I read your blog and used the combination of the 3 items in the bathtub. I had relief right away!!..and I was in tears before that! I even have a prescription with lidocaine and diltiazem, which worked almost as well for a while. It seems as though everything stops working after a while. I cannot thank you enough!! It is very difficult to sit at a desk and make decisions, talk to people, and write procedures for a company when all you can think about is how bad your butt hurts!! I return from the restroom in a cold sweat! Sorry, it’s hard to not stress how much it really sucks!! Anyway, thank you!!! I’m so sorry you had to go through this also, but (pardon the pun)…if it makes you feel better, please know that you helped me go from crying in my bed to carrying on with life as usual!

    1. Oh my goodness. I am so sorry YOU had to go through all of that. And I am incredibly happy you have found relief through what I suggested. Having a literal pain in the butt is the worst and it’s so hard to go on with normal daily activities. Big hugs to you!

      1. I don’t have the oils or epson salt but I am trying the ACV as we speak. I’m desperate. I did however take a warm bath as soon as I got home from work. After the bath I applied witch hazel and I try to cleans with witch hazel after each BM. I just use a syringe to squirt the area down. It weird to talk about these things but comforting to know it’s not just me. It’s just seems this is the worst they’ve ever been. The hardest, literally, and most painful. Naproxen twice a day Downs’s warrant any relief. But I will respond back after a couple days of the ACV.

    2. I am you. I work 10 hour days and today was the first day at work dealing with it. Very bad. I understand your post totally.

  9. I have oils and love them. Also love my ACV. I don’t have the pain after using all the over the counter stuff but I am still very swollen, if I but the oils you purchased the swelling will go away?

  10. Thank you, just like you, I have been searching the web desperately for anything. …I am in crisis, this is getting really worse fast, I have been unable to function, literally in bed, quality of life has been brought to almost a 0. I have to depend on my mom to care for my family. I am getting to Rick bottom because the pain is crucial and it takes all my strength away, I am trying thr ACV as I type and I will order tge oil. Thank you for the hope.

  11. THANK YOU! I know it took a lot of courage to post this. After 24 solid hours of my husband in agony, I mean almost crying from the bathroom, I decided we needed more than the pharmacy had to offer and found your post. 20 minutes in Epsom salt, ACV and essential oils, he’s asking where to send you flowers, he’s been fetal on the couch and is so much better now!

    1. Hi Alexandra. Reading comments like this make it so worth putting myself out there in such a weird vulnerable way. I am so happy your husband is starting to feel relief, and hope he’s free and clear of pain very soon. Thank you for taking the time to share your (well, husband’s) testimonial. 🙂

  12. I know you posted this almost a year ago, but I came across your post today, desperate to find something that worked. I had tried all of the over the counter treatments, and it kept getting worse. I tried witch hazel with an all natural ointment and still no relief. Today I was in tears, so uncomfortable, when I came across your post. I sent my husband to the store, and you are absolutely spot on with the ACV. I used the ACV first, and then applied a combination of coconut oil and lavender oil (it’s Saturday and the earliest Amazon could ship the oil you recommend was Monday) and immediately what a difference. I cannot thank you enough for posting!

    1. Hi Katy. I am SO SO happy to hear you are feeling relief. Reading comments like yours makes me happy that I stepped out of my comfort zone and wrote about something not too many people like to talk about. Hugs to you!

  13. Thanks for share,my husband had the same problem but worse,I used the Apple vinager for.my natural hair,so I will tried,thanks so much.

  14. Yup. Never had hemorrhoids til I gave birth and now that I”m pregnant with my second, I’m re-experiencing the discomfort. Doesn’t seem like anything close to the hell you went through though! I have actually posted about using Apple Cider Vinegar for this purpose on my DIY site, but YET, I haven’t actually done it myself. I’m going to get on it now though! Also, I use homeopathy pretty regularly and couldn’t actually find any info on remedies for H’s. I’m glad you found that oil and now I can look into that too! Thanks for your honesty and bold disclosure!

  15. Thank you sooooooooo much for posting this! I am so grateful! I was so close to considering a rubber band ligation, but now I will try these other methods first! I already did my first does of ACV and I’m feeling a little better!

  16. Thank you for sharing your experience. I was in tears today. I got bath with 3 items, still I’m in pain. I bought ACV but I’m afraid of using this straight forward on my hemorrohiod, because is bleeding a bit. Do you think it’s ok to apply ACV in my situation?

  17. Hi, thank you so much for this post. Just came across it. I have been sufferring from internal hemorroids/fissure since two months now, I never got one before and I initially thought its just a minor thing and will go away in few days, now every BM is unbearable followed by 8-10 hours of pain in sitting, moving, tried every over the counter thing but to no avail 🙁 have a question about ACV and oil application, will it still work on internal hemorroids if I apply it outside?

    1. Hi Loreal! First of all, thank you so so much for this wonderful post! I have been desperately searching the web trying to figure out what exactly is wrong with me and how to treat it, since a lot of the hemorrhoid pain described on webmd and other medical sites doesn’t really reflect my symptoms, but your blog totally does and has comforted me so much!! I have the same question as Ak. How did you apply ACV and the H-hemorrhoid formula oil to the internal hemorrhoid? Do you just apply it onto the hemorrhoid when it protrudes out or stuff the cotton ball up the butt (sounds VERY uncomfortable, especially when it’s already in pain!)?

  18. Hi can u pls send me ur email adress? Loreal i would lile to ask if the acv in our country is the raw one.. i urgently need advice thank u bianca

  19. Great post! I have also taken the oral ACV caplets to help with internal hemorrhoids. I use in combo with essential oils mix (clove and tea tree oil with a carrier oil) and it works wonders! The oil not only soothes the pain and irritation but also brings down the inflammation and helps heal them!

  20. Great post.I would like to share information regarding Epsom Salt Bath for Haemorrhoids.
    Haemorrhoids, also commonly called piles is a condition characterized by inflamed veins that occur in the rectum or anus. Haemorrhoids generally occur during strained bowel movements or due to pregnancy when there is increased pressure in the rectal veins. Some of the easy detectable symptoms include irritation, itching, anal swelling, and painless bleeding. If you are suffering from haemorrhoids, you might have tried several remedies to get rid of it. Epsom salt is one of the best remedies to relieve the inflammation and pain caused due to haemorrhoids.
    For more information visit
    https://parentinghealthybabies.com/epsom-salt-bath-haemorrhoids/

  21. Thanks for your helpful post. For the last three weeks I have been having a flare up of both the hemorrhoids and fissures. I am using the compounded ointment my doctor prescribed with very little relief. Any issues with using both the oils and the compounded ointment. Thank you.

  22. I Would like to thank you for sharing a nice blog which is related to piles, piles symptoms, and its treatment. I Think Its a great blog related to piles.These blogs give a lot of knowledge, treatment option for piles and so on

  23. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!! I have suffered for 2 years, most the time I just put up with it, figured they never go away, but I can’t take this anymore. Dealing with another flare up, so I decided to look it up and found your post!
    I just did my sitz bath and I can already feel relief, went from a 10++ in pain to an 8. I can’t wait for the next few days!! Like the other fellow sufferer I almost want to cry, happy tears! Relief is on the way!!! Thank you for your willingness to be so open & honest!! Thank you thank you thank you!

  24. You have to be very careful with magnesium because it is a laxative. I have ulcerative colitus and starting taking magnesiium pills because someone told me it was good for leg cramps. I had a terrible reaction to the pills. Going to the bathroom 6 or 7 times a day, cramping, feeling horrible. Called my doctor crying who reminded me that magnesium is a laxative. Glad to get the info regarding hemorrhoid treatment as I get those regularly.

  25. Hi Loriel -
    Found you on Pintrest. A bit skeptical but thought I’d reach out anyways. Currently suffering on/off for about two months with Hemorrhoids. How to do you apply the ACV. Meaning do you place the cotton ball and where undies?

  26. Thank you for putting this article out there. My fiancee has had issues with hemorrhoids in the past and I am glad that there is a natural way to take of it using things we already have available (except maybe the specific oil for hemorrhoids). I will be sure to let her know about your blog.

  27. I just started using the h-oil and am hoping it works. I have used acv before and it also works but really want them to shrink away vs go dormant - so hoping oil does that. On magnesium people should not take the cheapo mag oxide which people have mentioned caused issues - use only quality magnesium that doesn’t cause those problems like Doctors Best - High Absorption Magnesium 100% Chelated with Albion Minerals - have been using for years without single issue in stomach or stool.

  28. What is Piles are well known by the name Hemorrhoids are an inflamed and swollen collection of tissue that develops in the anal region. Also called hemorrhoids, they can develop inside or outside the anus they bleed and are very painful when they skin around the anus. We look at various options of symptoms, causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of piles including bleeding after defecation or after using the loo that range from lifestyle changes curd your problem ayurvedic and herbal product vedas piles cure.

  29. Important points in this article that we should be aware of hemorrhoid and this 2 natural remedies. This would surely be a huge help. Thanks for sharing this one out.

  30. THE IDEAL HEMORRHOID CURE! You peel a potato and cut the potato lengthwise to the size of a finger. Set one finger aside and put the others in a plastic bag and refrigerate. Get the piece that you set aside and pop that sucker up, up, up, and away, and your hemorrhoids will be gone by morning (if not, do it again). Yes, you can coat it with KY. It’ll come out of its hiding place when you normally have to go. Best thing EVER! * * * You are so welcome!

  31. Hi Loreal! Do you still take the magnesium citrate powder everyday? I have heard that this causes laxative-dependence, so I’m a bit worried to do this.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *