Shrink Hemorrhoids
 Several remedies and treatments have been worked out to provide relief from the annoying symptoms of hemorrhoids. One of the important strategies to reduce the severity of hemorrhoids is to shrink hemorrhoids tissues. More than one mean are used to shrink hemorrhoids, particularly the internal type of hemorrhoids that keeps growing inside the anal canal and, after enlargement, may protrude out of the anus as prolapsed hemorrhoids. While several topical and oral medications and herbs are also used to shrink hemorrhoids, three special kinds of medical procedures are particularly effective when one needs to shrink hemorrhoids. These are: sclerotherapy, rubber band ligation, and infrared photocoagulation.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy essentially consists of injecting a sclerosant (a sclerosing or hardening solution) into the hemorrhoids. This solution works to shrink hemorrhoids and causes them to fall off during normal bowel movement. Most of the times, sclerotherapy is used for treating the bleeding type of internal hemorrhoids. The sclerosant solution is usually phenol dissolved in almond oil or a particular type of saline solution. With sclerotherapy, it is possible to treat multiple hemorrhoids (usually up to three) at once, even in elderly patients. The procedure is quick but it is usually not very successful in case of larger hemorrhoids. In addition, while sclerotherapy works to shrink hemorrhoids and cause them to fall, it does not eliminate the hemorrhoids for ever. Hemorrhoids usually return after about a year of treatment with sclerotherapy.
Rubber Band Ligation
Rubber band ligation is a procedure that serves to shrink hemorrhoids by cutting off the blood flow to them. For this purpose, hemorrhoids are tied off at their base with rubber bands. The hemorrhoids then fall off in about a week after treatment. Pain and unease in the rectal area and lower abdomen is usually felt by the patient after the treatment. Rubber band ligation usually treats one or two hemorrhoids at a time but more may be treated if the patient is given general anesthesia. Rubber band ligation is the most widely used procedure us as a hemorrhoids treatment. It works more rapidly and provides more lasting relief than sclerotherapy. In addition, it is the least expensive method to shrink hemorrhoids and get rid of them. However, it is generally a painful procedure and some people may not choose it for this reason.
Infrared Photocoagulation
Infrared Photocoagulation, also called coagulation therapy, is used for treating small and medium-sized internal hemorrhoids. The procedure works to shrink hemorrhoids by cutting off their blood supply with an intense beam of infrared (IR) light. The IR light causes the formation of a clot in the vein supplying blood to the hemorrhoids, thus blocking their blood supply. This treatment works to shrink hemorrhoids and kill them before they grow internally. The patient usually feels much pain after the treatment and needs to use painkilling drugs prescribed by his/her doctor.
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