"Bottom's Up"

OK this is kind of gross but true. Straw poll: Have you ever had a hemmoroid?  Swollen blood vessels that cause bloody stool or painful bowel movements ("bm")? I think I first learned about those from my grandma, who openly talks about gross body things like this.

First of all you may avoid getting them in the first place. Don't be lazy - don't sit on your toilet. Instead, consider the more traditional way to have a bm, which is to squat over a hole, building those quadriceps. Common for Japanese, Turkish and backpacker cultures. In terms of happy digestion, eat your fiber (whole, unprocessed vegetables and fruits), in addition to fiber supplements like psyllium husk or ground flax. Remember to consume bioflavinoids (Vitamin P), which help maintain blood vessel integrity (the pigments of fruits and veggies, abundant in foods such as bell peppers, citrus, and berries).

But if you get one (oh well) you may do some damage control. Pay closer attention to your consumption and digestion. You may purchase or make your own balm that is both healing and cooling. The herbs calendula and witch hazel are good for this purpose. These same herbs may also be used for an herbal bath. Calendula stops bleeding and heals open wounds (which I have mentioned in a couple other posts). Witch Hazel is an astringent and antioxidant, so is valuable for skin care. Both of these herbs have earned widespread pharmacological approval, and tons of products can be found in stores.

Still it is more fun to make your own medicine. I am making a balm of calendula, lavender and witch hazel sometime this weekend. Good for skin in general, not just hemmorroids.