How to Treat Hemorrhoids with Witch Hazel

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Find relief fast with this natural remedy

Co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: June 21, 2024 Fact Checked

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Witch Hazel for Exterior Hemorrhoids

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Witch Hazel for Interior Hemorrhoids

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When to Seek Medical Attention

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Although hemorrhoids are uncomfortable and sometimes painful, they’re also very common—as many as 3 out of 4 adults will have them at some point in their life. Hemorrhoids form when too much pressure is put on the veins in your rectum, which causes the veins to bulge. They can be interior or exterior, but, most importantly, both types of hemorrhoids can be treated. Witch hazel is a great home remedy that can help treat both exterior and internal hemorrhoids. However, if you have excessive pain, bleeding, or a hemorrhoid that won’t go away, it’s best to see your doctor for professional care.^{[1]
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Using Witch Hazel to Treat Hemorrhoids

Dip a cotton ball in witch hazel and rest it over the hemorrhoid for 1 minute, repeating up to 6 times a day. Alternatively, take a sitz bath with warm water, Epsom salt, and witch hazel for 15-20 minutes. Or, rub a hemorrhoid cream containing witch hazel on your hemorrhoids.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Treating Exterior Hemorrhoids

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1
Apply a witch hazel-soaked pad to your hemorrhoids for immediate relief. Take a cotton ball and soak it in witch hazel. Then, press it gently to the area for about 60 seconds up to 6 times a day. Throw away the cotton ball after you’ve used it and wash your hands.^{[2]
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- If you prefer, you can use packaged witch hazel pads (like Tucks Pads) that are made specifically for hemorrhoids.
2
Take a witch hazel sitz bath to soothe your hemorrhoids. Fill your bathtub with 3 to 4 inches (76 to 102 mm) of warm water.^{[3]
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Go to source} Then, stir in 1/2 cup (115 grams) of Epsom salt and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of witch hazel. Soak in the sitz bath for 15-20 minutes, adding more hot water if you start to get cool. Gently towel dry yourself afterward.
- For extra convenience, you can also buy a toilet sitz bath.
- After your bath, use a hairdryer to dry off your anal area rather than rubbing over it with a towel. If you do use a towel, try to blot the area rather than rubbing and irritating it.^{[4]
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3
Relieve itching and swelling with a hemorrhoid cream that contains witch hazel. Read and follow the directions on the container.^{[5]
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Go to source} Plan to use your finger to apply the cream directly to your rectum.^{[6]
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- Always wash your hands before and after applying the product.
- If you dislike the way the product feels while you’re going about your day, stick with witch hazel-soaked pads instead.
4
Clean your anal area before treating your hemorrhoids. Bathe or shower daily to keep your anal area clean. Generally speaking, baths are preferable to showers since they have the added benefit of soaking your hemorrhoids, which can provide some relief. Be gentle when you clean yourself, as scrubbing the area could be painful or uncomfortable.^{[7]
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- You don’t have to use soap but do use warm or hot water.
- Leftover fecal matter can irritate your hemorrhoids, so use a soothing wipe after every bowel movement. You can buy these wipes at any drugstore, and many of them contain soothing witch hazel.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Suppository for Internal Hemorrhoids

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Make a suppository out of witch hazel tincture and cocoa butter. In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of the tincture with 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of cocoa butter.
- A tincture is a concentrated form of something else. Witch hazel tincture generally comes in a dropper bottle and is much more potent than regular witch hazel. It’s important for your suppository as it wouldn’t work if the witch hazel were too watery.
- Warning: If you decide to buy a suppository from the store rather than making one yourself, don’t confuse a laxative suppository for a hemorrhoidal suppository—the consequences will not be what you expected!
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Mold the mixture in a small oblong shape. If you’re having trouble shaping the suppository, place the mixture in plastic wrap and twist it to mold it into a pill shape. Place the suppository in a small bowl and cover it with plastic wrap.
- In this case, a suppository is a solid dose of some type of medicine that gets inserted into the rectum. It releases the soothing witch hazel as it melts.
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Freeze the suppository for 1-2 hours until it is fully frozen. Place the bowl into the freezer, making sure it’s covered in plastic wrap.The suppository is good to use once it’s firm to the touch and doesn’t give when you press it.
- The suppository needs to be as cold and firm as possible for it to be fully inserted in your rectum.
4
Wash your hands and put on a disposable glove to practice good hygiene. Wear hand protection to keep your fingers germ-free and keep bacteria from getting under your nails or in the folds of your skin.^{[8]
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- You could also use a finger cot, which is like a disposable glove but just for an individual finger.
- If you don’t have a glove or finger cot, you can use your bare hand. Just make sure to thoroughly wash your hands both before and after inserting the suppository.
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Lubricate the end of the suppository to help it go in more easily. Use some kind of water-soluble lubricant and dab it on the end of the suppository. This helps you avoid any discomfort when you insert it, and it’ll help it go in a little further to more thoroughly treat your hemorrhoids.^{[9]
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- If the suppository looks too large when you take it out of the freezer, you can cut it in half. Doing so won’t make it any less effective.
6
Insert the suppository while laying on your left side. While on your side, bend the knee of your top leg while keeping your bottom leg straight. Lift your top buttocks with one hand and gently push the hemorrhoidal suppository into your anus with the other hand. Make sure it goes in about 1 inch (25 mm).^{[10]
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- You may need to push the suppository up inside using a finger. It may be a little uncomfortable but it should be over very quickly!
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Lay on your side for about 15 minutes while the suppository works.^{[11]
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Go to source} You may need to squeeze your sphincter for a few seconds to keep the suppository inside your body. Try your best to relax, though; hopefully, you’ll feel relief from the witch hazel before too long.
- You may get chilly while you’re waiting for the suppository to work, so it can be handy to have a blanket nearby.
- Try watching some funny videos on your phone while you’re waiting—they’ll help distract you and make the time pass more quickly.
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Discard your gloves and wash your hands a final time. Use warm water and soap, and scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds before drying them off with a clean towel. The suppository should have dissolved, but you may experience a little leakage as you move about. Wear a pad if this happens to you to keep the cocoa butter from getting on your clothes.^{[12]
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- You can use this kind of suppository up to 3 times if you need to for relief.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Seeking Medical Attention

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Visit your doctor if your hemorrhoids bleed, hurt, or don’t improve. Most hemorrhoids go away within a week without medical care, but they can occasionally bleed or cause excessive pain. If you experience this, meet with your doctor to see what additional treatment options are out there so you can find relief.^{[13]
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- Let your doctor know that you’ve been treating your hemorrhoids at home with witch hazel.
- It’s always important to call your doctor whenever you experience hemorrhoids, even if you’re confident that hemorrhoids are the issue. Rectal bleeding can sometimes signify something more serious, like colon cancer.^{[14]
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Get immediate medical care for dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Visit your doctor or an urgent care center immediately to get checked out, as these may be symptoms of a more serious condition or possibly an infection. Medical professionals can help you get the proper treatment so you start feeling better quickly.^{[15]
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- Don’t drive yourself if you’re dizzy or lightheaded. Instead, call a friend to come pick you up, or order a car to take you.
3
Complete any hemorrhoid checks and tests at the doctor’s office. Let your doctor check your hemorrhoids and do any necessary tests—they’ll probably do a visual inspection to confirm your diagnosis. If you have internal hemorrhoids, they may do a quick exam by feeling for the hemorrhoid using their finger. These tests can be a little awkward and uncomfortable, but they’re very quick.^{[16]
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- In rare cases, your doctor may decide to do a colonoscopy if they suspect you have a condition other than hemorrhoids. This test is generally painless, though you may experience some discomfort.
4
Try a topical treatment if witch hazel doesn’t work for you. Look into OTC treatments like hemorrhoid creams and hemorrhoid suppositories, which may all help to ease your symptoms. If you still have hemorrhoids after a week, visit your doctor again to ask about other treatments.^{[17]
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- Read the label before using the product and make sure you follow all of the directions.
5
Discuss medical treatments with your doctor if natural and OTC remedies aren’t working. If nothing seems to be helping, your doctor may suggest a minimally invasive medical procedure to help with your hemorrhoids, like:^{[18]
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- Rubber band ligation: Your doctor cuts off the hemorrhoid’s blood supply by doing a rubber band ligation, which means tying rubber bands around the hemorrhoid. This makes it fall off.
- Sclerotherapy: Your doctor inserts a treatment into your hemorrhoid to help it decrease in size.
- Coagulation: Your doctor uses heat from a laser or infrared light to shrink and harden your hemorrhoid.
- Surgery: Your doctor removes the hemorrhoid in a hemorrhoidectomy or staples your hemorrhoid to help relieve your symptoms.

Expert Q&A

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Does the witch hazel have to contain alcohol or is the alcohol free type useful as well?

Zora Degrandpre, ND
Natural Health Doctor
Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.

Zora Degrandpre, ND

Natural Health Doctor

Expert Answer

Use the alcohol-free witch hazel. The tissues of a hemorrhoid can be very delicate and the alcohol may be too harsh and cause some stinging and discomfort.

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Can antibiotics cause hemorrhoids?

Zora Degrandpre, ND
Natural Health Doctor
Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.

Zora Degrandpre, ND

Natural Health Doctor

Expert Answer

No-- at least not directly. Antibiotics only work for bacterial infections. It is possible that taking antibiotics can reduce the number of intestinal bacteria (which we need) and can also cause constipation, though more commonly, they cause diarrhea. The risk of a hemorrhoid can increase with constipation or diarrhea, So, indirectly, antibiotics might increase the risk of hemorrhoids.

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Tips

Increase your fiber intake and avoid sitting for long periods of time to help prevent hemorrhoids.^{[19]
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Do your best to not strain when having a bowel movement, as this can cause hemorrhoids or make existing ones even worse. Instead, relax and give yourself the time you need to pass a bowel movement. This way, you won’t put excess pressure on your veins.^{[20]
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Hemorrhoids are especially common among pregnant women. They should clear up within a few weeks after giving birth, but talk to your doctor if they are especially painful.^{[21]
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Warnings

Contact your physician if you notice blood on your toilet paper after wiping, or if you just passed a painful bowel movement.^{[22]
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Always confirm with your doctor that the problem is hemorrhoids, rather than a more serious medical issue. If your existing hemorrhoids are especially painful, your doctor can offer some in-office treatments to help lessen your discomfort.^{[23]
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Pay attention to any reactions you have to the witch hazel, and stop using it if it leads to any irritation or itchiness—you may have an allergy.^{[24]
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