An anal fissure is defined as a small tear in the anal part that can cause pain and/or bleeding. They affect both men as well as women equally and both the young as well as the old.
The main symptoms of an anal fissure are painful bowel movements that persist for hours, and less often bright red colored bloody stool. People may try to avoid having a bowel movements due to the pain.
Anal fissures are usually due to constipation, i.e., passing a hard and dry stool which tears the fragile skin at the anal outlet. When this condition occurs, the fissure is considered to be "acute" and if the symptoms persist for weeks or months, it can be chronic (means it presents for a long time or recurring frequently).
In Ayurveda, anal fissure is correlated with "Parikartika" and the pain is characterized by "kartanvat shool". It is mainly caused due to the vitiation of Vata and pitta dosha. For local applications, madhura, sheeta, and snigdh dravyas are used.
What are the causes of Anal fissure?
Anal fissures are most often caused by damage to the anal part. Most of the time, stretching and tearing can occur when a person passes hard stools.
Fissures are usually caused due to trauma in the inner lining of the anus from a bowel movement. This is because of a hard and dry bowel movement or loose, frequent bowel movements.
Patients with a tight anal sphincter muscle are more prone to develop anal fissures. Other common causes include inflammatory bowel disease, anal infections, or tumors or a sexually transmitted infection such as anal herpes infection.
What are the symptoms of an anal fissure?
The main symptom of the Anal fissure is a sharp pain that starts with the passing of stool and may last for several minutes to a few hours. As a result of fear of pain, the patients may try not to have bowel movements.
Other symptoms include:
- Bright red colored bloody stool or on toilet paper after a bowel movement
- Formation of a small lump or skin tag on the affected skin near the anal fissure. This symptom is more common during chronic infection.
Some preventive measures
- Firstly you have to avoid constipation and keep the stools soft
- Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods that are found in vegetables, fruits, cereals, wholemeal bread, etc.
- Drink plenty of water. Adults should drink at least two liters (10-12 cups) of water/fluids per day. Most of the fluid will pass as urine. However, some of it is passed out in the gut that keeps the stool soft.
- Don't ignore the feeling of passing the stool because people suppress this feeling and put off going to the toilet until later. It may result in the formation of bigger and harder stools which are more difficult to pass.
What are the risk factors for anal fissure?
Here are some of the factors that may increase the risk of developing an anal fissure include:
- Constipation is the main risk factor because of straining during bowel movements and passing hard stools which increases the risk of tearing.
- Anal fissures are more common in women after they give birth to a child.
- Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the intestinal tract which may make the lining of the anal canal more vulnerable to tearing.
- Anal intercourse.
- Anal fissures can occur at any age, but it is more common in infants as well as middle-aged adults.
Ayurvedic treatment for anal fissure
Chandigarh Ayurved Centre provides a wonder kit named "Anal fissure care kit" which is comprised of 6 products such as Detox premium powder, Piles soft tablets, Arsho fit capsules, Triphala syrup, Panchasakar churna, and Shatadhauta ghrutham.
These formulations work on the root cause of the disease and are free from preservatives, additives and have no side effects.
1. Detox premium powder
Detox premium powder is a natural antioxidant that is very beneficial in removing the toxins from the body. It consists of various wonderful ingredients like parwal pishti, akik pishti, shukta pishti, kamdudha rasa, moti pishti, gandhak rasayan, giloy satv, etc which are very helpful in reducing swelling, inflammation and prevents the anal lining from tear. It also balances the aggravated Vata as well as pitta dosha.
Dosage: Take 1 sachet twice daily with normal water.
2. Arsho fit capsule
Arsho fit capsules are widely useful in treating the symptoms related to anal fissure like irritation, burning sensation, bleeding, etc. The ingredients present in it are nag keshar, shodhit suhaga, raswanti, shodhit gairik, sonth, etc. are very helpful in balancing the three doshas. These capsules also possess laxative, analgesic, and inflammatory properties.
Dosage: Take 2 capsules twice daily with normal water.
3. Piles soft tablets
Piles soft tablets are very helpful in treating the symptoms associated with anal fissure. It keeps the stool soft because it is made up of reetha chhlika which is purified in cow's milk acts as a laxative, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Dosage: Take 2 to 3 tablets twice daily with normal water.
4. Triphala Syrup
Triphala syrup is prepared from three wonderful herbs- haritaki, bibhitaki, and amalaki. These herbs have been used in Ayurveda for many ages for treating constipation. It also acts as an immuno-modulator that enhances immunity and prevents the body from infections.
Dosage: Take 2 teaspoonful twice daily.
5. Panchasakar Churna
As the name suggests, it consists of 5 main ingredients- Haritaki, pippali, shunthi,trivrit, and sauvarchala lavana. These help to pacify the Vata dosha and prevents the formation of ama. Being a detoxifier it eliminates the toxins from the body.
Dosage: Take 1 teaspoonful daily with lukewarm water at bedtime.
6. Satadhauta Ghrutham
Satadhauta Ghrutham is a classical Ayurvedic formulation which is used as an external application. It comprises of plaksha, nyagrodh, aswatha, udumbra, etc. It is formulated by washing 100 times purified ghee which increases its potency to provide relief in burning sensation, skin irritation, etc.
Method of application: Apply this gently over the affected area.