Anal Fissure: Symptoms, Causes, and Natural Home Remedies

Passing stools should be painless and relieving. However, if you experience anal fissure, going to the toilet may be your worst nightmare. More unfortunately, anal fissure brings more pain and discomfort even when you are not passing stools. So, what is an anal fissure? What causes it, and what are the natural remedies for it? We will discuss all these and more in this article.

What is an Anal Fissure?

An anal Fissure is a tear in the anus. The cut usually goes into the anal canal and, in some cases, may go to the extent of exposing the tissues beneath the anus lining. Anal fissures are generally painful and might also because bleeding when passing stools. Anal fissures can affect anyone, from infants to adults. But it is more common among young people than older adults.

Fortunately, an anal fissure will heal without treatment in most cases. However, healing may take between four to six weeks. In severe cases, it may take over two months to heal. Therefore, you don’t have to endure the pain and wait for the condition to go on its own. There are many natural remedies for anal fissures, but let’s look at the causes and symptoms first.

Causes of Anal Fissures

Anal fissures are typically due to hard stools. A large stool can also cause them. Therefore, constipation is one of the most common causes of anal fissures. If one goes to the toilet too frequently, tears may also occur in the anus. This makes diarrhea another common cause of anal fissures. Excessive straining during a bowel movement can as well lead to anal fissures. Anal intercourse may also lead to an anal fissure.

Other causes include tears during childbirth, tight sphincter muscles, and insufficient blood flow to the anus. Some diseases like Crohn’s disease, anal cancer, HIV, herpes, syphilis, and tuberculosis can also lead to anal fissures.

Because constipation is common among children and young people, anal fissures are more common among this group than in older adults. People suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) are also at higher risk of anal fissures.

Symptoms of Anal Fissures

If you suffer an anal fissure, you may experience pains and itching. Physical symptoms include tears around the anus which may or may not have lumps close to them. Other symptoms may include bleeding when passing stools, blood on the stool, and severe pains during bowel movements.

Natural Remedies for Anal Fissures

The good news is that there are many natural remedies for anal fissures. These remedies can help prevent anal fissures, relieve pains and discomfort, and quicken the healing. They are also safe and inexpensive. Common natural remedies for anal fissures include the following:

• Drink Lots of Water

Whether constipation is the cause of your anal fissure or not, constipation will make it worse. However, drinking lots of water will prevent constipation and making passing stool easier. Water will also prevent the occurrence of anal fissures. Apart from drinking water, you can also eat foods and fruits that have high water content. This will make you stay hydrated.

• Use Stool Softener

Using Stool softeners is another way to prevent constipation. This will make prevent pains during bowel movements and relieve symptoms of anal fissures. Stool softeners and fiber supplements are available in your local pharmacies, and you can use them three times a day. However, it is necessary to follow instructions from the supplement manufacturer.

• Use Olive Oil and Aloe Vera Gel

Extract the gel from aloe vera leaf, mix it with olive oil, then apply it to the point of tear and allow it to dry. Both aloe vera and olive oil have soothing effects. Hence they will relieve the pain and reduce the bleeding. It will also increase the rate of healing. You can repeat it several times daily until the ana fissure is completely healed.

• Mix Olive Oil, Beeswax, and Honey

Another way to use olive oil to relieve the symptoms of Anal Fissures is by mixing it with beeswax and honey in equal proportion. Then rub the point of the tear with the mixture. Do not wash off until after two hours. The natural remedy will quicken the healing process and relief the pain and other discomfort caused by the condition.

• Use Cold Compress

If an anal fissure is causing severe pain or swelling, it can be relieved by a cold compress. You can place a pack of ice wrapped in a towel on your anus for a few minutes and repeat about four times every hour.

Conclusion

Anal fissures are tears or cuts in the skin near the anus. They can be caused by constipation, hard or large stool, childbirth strain, anal intercourse, and some medical conditions. Natural remedies for anal fissures include regular water drinking, a mixture of olive oil and aloe vera gel, and cold compress. Other remedies include stool softeners and a mixture of olive oil, beeswax, and honey.

There’s no need to suffer for weeks. Use the tips in this article to relieve anal fissure pains.