Besides Being a Pain in the Ass, What Can Hemorrhoids Teach Us About Natural Healing?
One of the reasons that I chose this particular topic today, is that hemorrhoids are the result of only one toxin, not several, which allows us to dive a little deeper into some of the principles about what makes us ill and how and why we are able to actually get to the root cause and heal it. One of the mainstays of modern medicine is that all of the ills that we have is caused by inflammation, and the way they treat everything is to target medication that reduces that inflammation, just like I mentioned in a previous article on dry eyes. When you reduce the inflammation the symptoms subside, but they eventually come back, so the real question that modern medicine doesn’t address is why do we get the inflammation in the first place? Oh, they try to explain it through some vague terms like autoimmune issues, but that is really their explanation when they have no idea what is causing the inflammation. But now we know that the true cause of that inflammation is the toxins that are sitting in the tissues inciting the inflammatory response.
So let’s dive into the actual cause of hemorrhoids and all the whys and wherefores to really begin to understand what helps keep us well and what and why we get most health problems.
Below are the top reasons given by modern medicine pundits.
Cause
How It Contributes
Chronic constipation or straining
Increased intra-abdominal pressure compresses rectal veins
Prolonged sitting on the toilet
Blood pools in the rectal veins due to gravity and reduced venous return
Low-fiber diet
Hard stools and infrequent bowel movements cause straining
Chronic diarrhea
Repetitive irritation of anal tissues and venous congestion
Pregnancy
Enlarged uterus and hormonal changes increase pressure on pelvic veins
Obesity
Increased pressure in the pelvic region affects venous drainage
Heavy lifting
Repeated straining increases intra-abdominal pressure
Aging
Tissues supporting veins weaken over time, increasing risk of prolapse
But if constipation was a CAUSE of hemorrhoids, then why don’t all people who are constipated have them, or why don’t all women who have children have hemorrhoids?
This list of causes, is simply a list of triggers, not the actual cause. Remember when I told you that any problem/symptom that you have which is intermittent will require a trigger for it/them to manifest. You always have the toxins in your tissues, but you don’t always have the symptoms, it requires a trigger to set off the toxin. In the case of sinus/nasal allergies, it might be pollen or a particular scent, but in the case of hemorrhoids, it’s often mechanical pressure.
Hemorrhoids are caused by a toxin called ethylparaben. Ethylparaben is found in:
Cosmetics and Personal Care: Ethylparaben is frequently used as a preservative in a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products to prevent microbial growth.
Moisturizers: Both with and without SPF.
Makeup: Such as foundations and BB creams.
Shampoos and Conditioners: Products designed to cleanse and condition hair.
Lotions and Body Washes: Products for cleansing and moisturizing the body.
Facial cleansers, shaving products, and various other items designed for personal hygiene.
Foods: Ethylparaben can be found in some processed foods as well.
Pharmaceuticals: It's also used as a preservative in some medications.
I think that it is safe to say that it is very hard for anyone living a “normal” life in this modern western world to avoid the toxin, ethylparaben.
So then the question that you have to ask is why if ethylparaben is so readily available to most people, why don’t we all have hemorrhoids?
Before we go further, I want to remind you that it is the first intoxication that is the most significant. The very first time that you are exposed to a toxin, is the time when you have no antibodies to it, so it is the time you are most vulnerable to having it settle into your cells/tissues. After that first intoxication, the antibodies will be circulating in your bloodstream and prevent the toxin from entering your cells. (See my first article Our Immune Systems Are Failing Us. Why? for a more complete explanation)
There are several reasons why we don’t all have hemorrhoids is spite of the fact that it’s next to impossible not be exposed to ethylparaben.
First and foremost is that there are many molecules that can bind to the ethylparaben that prevent it from entering your tissues, and if you have these molecules floating around in your bloodstream at the time of exposure you will not end up with the ethylparaben being able to enter your cells even without having antibodies to it.
The following three substances will prevent the ethylparaben from entering your cells: Daidzein, P-Coumaric Acid, and Progoitrin. And remember, while these substances are busy binding the ethylparaben and preventing it from entering your cells, your body is now busy making antibodies to it to protect you from the next exposure. Where can you find these molecules? Here are the foods in which they are found:
Daidzein
Soy and Soy Products: Soybeans, soy flour, soy flakes, soy beverages, and fermented soy products like miso and tempeh are rich in daidzein.
Legumes: Chickpeas, lentils, and other legumes contain smaller amounts of daidzein.
Fruits: Some fruits like mango, melon, peaches, plums, and strawberries contain daidzein.
Nuts: Nuts are another source, though the amounts are generally lower compared to soybeans and other legumes.
Other Foods: Wheat bran and corn flour may also contain daidzein.
P-Coumaric Acid
Fruits: Apples, pears, grapes, oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes.
Vegetables: Beans, potatoes, and onions.
Grains: Barley, corn, oats, and wheat.
Other: Basil, garlic, and even roasted coffee.
Progoitrin
This family of vegetables, which includes cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, is a primary source of progoitrin.
Rapeseed, often used to produce rapeseed oil, is another significant source of progoitrin.
Other sources:
Progoitrin is also found in swedes, turnips, peanuts, mustard, rutabaga, kohlrabi, spinach, cauliflower, and horseradish.
The above three substances are part of a larger group of nutrients called antioxidants. Antioxidants are structured so that they can easily give up an electron, which is able to neutralize free radicals, which is one cause of inflammation. Free radicals are produced in larger amounts when the immune system is busy fighting against toxins and other organisms that don’t belong. It is kind of a vicious cycle because free radicals can cause inflammation and yet free radicals are produced as a consequence of inflammation. The more antioxidants that you consume and produce, the more capable your body is at fighting inflammation.
But now you know that antioxidants play an even a larger role by what I have now labeled obstructive pairing. Antioxidants have the propensity because of their structure to bind certain toxins and prevent them from entering the cells. Clearly the more antioxidants you have floating around in your blood stream, the more likely you will prevent some intoxications.
Here is a list of some notable antioxidants:
Glutathione: This naturally produced antioxidant is vital for various biochemical reactions, including helping other antioxidants function effectively. It plays a crucial role in detoxification and protecting cells from damage.
Astaxanthin: Found in marine organisms, astaxanthin is known for its potent antioxidant properties, which are believed to be responsible for many of its health benefits.
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA):
This antioxidant is both fat- and water-soluble, allowing it to work throughout the body. It supports mitochondrial function and helps protect against oxidative stress.
Vitamin C:
Found in many fruits and vegetables, vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage.
Vitamin E:
Another important antioxidant, vitamin E is found in nuts, seeds, and leafy green vegetables.
These pigments, including beta-carotene and lycopene, are found in colorful fruits and vegetables and are known for their antioxidant properties.
Polyphenols, including flavonoids (like those in green tea and berries) and resveratrol (found in grapes and red wine), also have strong antioxidant effects.
The message here is that the healthier your diet in terms of including multiple antioxidants, the lower your inflammation level and less likely you will be to take new toxins on board. There is not one antioxidant that is far superior to most others because each have their own role to play and their own toxins to bind. Variety is more important than large amounts of one or two antioxidants.
So one reason you may not have hemorrhoids in spite of being exposed to ethyl paraben is that when you were first exposed your body had enough obstructive pairing going on to prevent the toxin from entering the tissue, and now you have antibodies to it, and it is unlikely to cause a future intoxication.
Ironically, another reason that you may not have ethylparaben in spite of being exposed to it, is for just the opposite reason. There is a pairing that is necessary for the ethylparaben to lodge in the endothelial lining of the veins of the rectum and that pairing is benzoate. If you have sufficient levels of benzoate in your bloodstream at the time of intoxication with the ethylparaben you will definitely end up with hemorrhoids. Where does benzoate come from? It is a product of the microbiome and it is excreted into to bloodstream of the colon, it then travels to the liver where it is converted to hippurate. Without the microbiome we do not make hippurate.
Benefits of Hippurate Synthesis by the Liver:
· Detoxification: The liver's ability to synthesize hippurate from benzoic acid (a common food byproduct) and glycine allows for its removal from the body through the kidneys. This process is part of the body's detoxification system.
· Metabolic Health: Studies suggest that adequate levels of hippurate are associated with improved metabolic health, including:
· Reduced Liver Steatosis (Fatty Liver): Research indicates a negative correlation between hippurate levels in the liver and hepatic steatosis.
· Improved Insulin Sensitivity: Hippurate has shown potential in rescuing insulin resistance.
· Reduced Inflammation: Hippurate is linked to reduced inflammation in the liver.
· Gut Microbiome Health: Hippurate is associated with a diverse and healthy gut microbiome. A balanced gut flora contributes to overall well-being.
So why would we have insufficient levels of benzoate in the rectal circulation?
Here is what AI tells us:
Key Factors That Interfere with Microbial Benzoate Production
1. Dietary Composition
Low intake of polyphenols
Fewer substrates for microbial benzoate production (e.g., from berries, tea, coffee, cocoa)
Low protein or amino acid intake
Reduces phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism by microbes
High-fat, low-fiber Western diet
Shifts microbiome away from fermentative species that produce benzoate
You will note that insufficient levels of polyphenols (a class of antioxidants) makes you less likely to have benzoate in your bloodstream and therefore less likely to have it pair with the ethylparaben, and less likely that you will have hemorrhoids. Both daidzein, and p-coumaric acid are both polyphenols. Irony at its best.
Now one of the things we haven’t discussed is that there are as many as thirteen different toxins that can cause inflammation of the endothelial lining of the veins (many of which are pharmaceuticals by the way), but ethylparaben is the only one that goes it to the hemorrhoidal veins. Why is that? Ethylparaben as noted above is the only one that will do its damage with the pairing of benzoate, and since benzoate is produced by the mirobiome of the colon, it stands to reason that is why it settles in the rectal veins.
Whether it’s inflammation of a rectal vein, or a vein in the leg or some other part of the body, the pathology is the same. The toxin causes chronic inflammation of the endothelial lining of the vein and as a result there is intermittent marked swelling of the veins aggravated by the triggers. And when there is significant swelling flow become impaired and thrombosis can occur.
Targeting the inflammation will not heal the hemorrhoid, it will only reduce symptoms. You need to get rid of the toxin. Once the toxin is gone, you will no longer get hemorrhoids once they are healed, no matter how long you sit, or how constipated you are.
What herb can remove the ethylparaben? Chervil 1 ml/day for 8 weeks, though since chervil is one of those amazing herbs that can treat multiple toxins, you should take it for 20 weeks so that if it is taken up by other toxins, you’ll have enough to fully get rid of your hemorrhoids (and something else might heal unexpectedly).
Hopefully now, you not only know how to get rid of your hemorrhoids, but understand a little better how the process works as to why some people exposed to the same toxin don’t get the problem while others will. The principles of pairing, obstructive pairing, and triggers are important part of comprehending how illness occurs the way that it does. The more you understand the principles, the more sense it all makes.
Please leave any questions in the comments. I look forward to answering them. Thanks