Chronic Hemorrhoidsaccording to TCM

Symptom family: Hemorrhoid Symptoms

Parent symptom: Hemorrhoids

What is Chronic Hemorrhoids?

Chronic hemorrhoids represent a long-term condition where swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum and anus lead to discomfort, bleeding, and other distressing symptoms. Unlike their acute counterparts, which might resolve with immediate care, chronic hemorrhoids persist over time, causing recurrent pain, itching, and bleeding.

This condition underscores a significant impact on quality of life, necessitating comprehensive approaches to management and treatment. The persistence of symptoms despite conventional interventions often leads individuals to seek alternative remedies, including insights and treatments from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which offers a holistic approach to mitigating the underlying causes and symptoms of hemorrhoids.

How does TCM view Chronic Hemorrhoids?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, understanding the specific pattern of disharmony causing symptoms is paramount. This approach to diagnosis goes beyond treating symptoms superficially, aiming to identify and correct the underlying imbalance within the body's energy system, or Qi.

Each pattern reflects a unique constellation of signs, symptoms, and causes, guiding personalized treatment strategies. Recognizing the specific pattern behind chronic hemorrhoids, for instance, allows practitioners to tailor interventions that address not just the symptoms, but the root cause, ensuring a more effective and holistic healing process.

Acupoints for Chronic Hemorrhoids

In the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture plays a pivotal role in managing chronic hemorrhoids. Acupoints along the Bladder Channel, such as Chengfu (BL-36), located in the middle of the gluteal crease, and Huiyang (BL-35), found on either side of the coccyx, are particularly targeted. These points are known for their efficacy in removing obstructions from the channel and treating hemorrhoids by clearing Damp-Heat and regulating the Lower Burner.

The strategic selection of these acupoints aims to alleviate pain, reduce swelling, and address the root causes of hemorrhoids according to the principles of TCM. Through the stimulation of these points, TCM seeks to restore the natural flow of energy and bodily functions, providing relief from the chronic discomfort associated with hemorrhoids.

Explore below some acupoints used to address chronic hemorrhoids, organized by meridian.

  • By Meridian
  • Bladder Channel
Huiyang BL-35

Huiyang BL-35

On either side of the coccyx tip, 0.5 cun lateral to the posterior midline.

Chengfu BL-36

Chengfu BL-36

In the middle of the gluteal crease. Locate the point in prone position.