Can Acupuncture help Haemorrhoids?

It is not common knowledge that acupuncture can help with haemorrhoids, and much of the research done in China has not been translated into English.

As a consequence, when I do see people with haemorrhoids, it is usually secondary to another problem that has brought them into the clinic.

Within Chinese medicine, there are various mechanisms that lead to this condition.

Firstly, there is congestion in the blood and energy. The blood is unable to move freely and it collects in one area.

Secondly, since we have gravity acting downwards on our body, we need energy to ‘hold things up’. When this energy becomes depleted then problems such as prolapses and hernias can occur.

Thirdly, something called ‘Damp Heat’ is a factor according to traditional Chinese acupuncture. Thus, it is important to avoid food and drink that are particularly warming; for example, whiskey, red wine, curries, seafood, and lamb. ‘Damp’ food includes cheese, milk, cakes, and biscuits… items that interfere with the movement of fluids and can obstruct our energetics.

The role of acupuncture is to combine a prescription of points that address these three areas. There are acupuncture points that help ‘uplift’ our energy. There are lots of acupuncture points that help move stagnation and congestion. Finally, there are acupuncture points that help clear ‘Damp’ and ‘Heat’ combined with correct dietary changes.

The diagram shows an important empirical acupuncture point in the calf muscle that is used to treatment haemorrhoids.