Hemorrhoids are painful, swollen veins that protrude into the colon and sometimes protrude beyond the sphincter to become palpable and visible.
At this point they are prolapsed hemorrhoids.
The goal to any of the various natural hemorrhoid treatments is to reduce the swelling.
Two of the most popular and easy to access treatments are also seeming opposites.
The first method is the sitz bath.
When doing this treatment, you sit in a tub of water as warm as you can tolerate.
Some people use their bathtubs.
It's handy, has running water and a drain, everyone has one and everybody's bottom can fit into one.
Other options are a large but not deep sink or a plastic basin like you might use to bathe an infant.
These use less water than a bathtub but will cool down faster.
A sitz bath should last between ten and twenty minutes so you may have to dump the water and add more hot water to it no matter what size your tub is.
To get the healing effects, it is necessary to do a sitz bath three to five times a day.
Many people report relief after one day of treatment.
This won't cure the problem but it will help it significantly.
The second method is to ice the area.
As odd as it seems, cold and hot both help shrink the swelling.
Wrap a bunch of ice cubes in a towel and apply the cold pack to the affected area.
Do not apply ice directly to your bottom.
An alternative to ice is a reusable ice pack.
These stay colder longer and don't drip as they melt.
Another way of applying cold to that area is to use a package of frozen peas or corn.
The package will conform to the shape of your rear end better than either the ice pack or the cold pack.
If you don't rip it, the package is reusable although you might think twice about eating the contents after it's been used for treating your rectum.
If you have hemorrhoids, you have cheap options for treatment available to anybody who has a kitchen and a bathroom.
These methods won't cure hemorrhoids but they might help lessen the problem.