Fissure and Fistula

Fissure and Fistula are two of the major anorectal problems of humans. These problems arise from inappropriate eating habits and bad lifestyles. Fissure is actually an unnatural crack or opening in the skin of the anal canal, while fistula is described in medicine as an abnormal connection or passageway between two epithelium-lined organs or vessels that normally do not connect. In case of acute fissures, severe periodic pain may be felt after defecation. However, the force of fissures pain reduces with chronic fissures. Anal fissures generally expand from anal opening and are usually positioned posterior in the midline. Its depth can be sometimes superficial or down to the original sphincter muscle.

On the other hand, the fistula is a form of bodily cavity that burrows under the skin or mucous membrane and has an opening at both ends. A fistula may lead from one cavity to the other cavity of the body, or else it may open out from one cavity to the surface of the body. A fistula is basically like a cut in or around the anal channel and mucus membrane. Further, it mostly sprains while passing stool during severe constipation or chronic dysentery. However, modification in food and work habits can help preventing both fissure and fistula.

Anal fissure is caused for various reasons. The main cause of anal fissure is the lack of a balanced diet and undisciplined lifestyle. Fissure can build up due to some injuries in the anal tissue or for putting higher than usual pressure in anal sphincters. Many women can develop an anal fissure while giving birth. Various health situations like that of deficiency of Vitamin B-6, fever, a suppressed immune system, weight loss, abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel disease, anal cancer, etc. are some of the main causes of anal fissure. Fistula can be caused due to a few diseases, certain medical treatments or injury to the body. Diseases like Crohn`s disease and trauma to the body like prolonged, severe childbirth, etc. are also considered as causes of fistula.

Some of the main signs of anal fissure are sharp, stinging or burning pain during a bowel movement; itching and malodorous discharge, spots of bright red blood on toilet tissue, etc. Another sign of anal fissure is constipation. Further, symptoms like a `sentinel pile` may also occur because of anal fissure. It can be identified through a visual test of the anus and the surrounding tissues. The symptoms of fistulas include pain, fever, tenderness, itching, feeling sick, etc. Foul-smelling discharge or draining pus is also a sign of fistula. Further, it can be analysed by a fistula investigation or through a diagnostic examination that is Anoscopy.

There are numerous types of fistula. Some of the major types are umbilical fistula, vesico anal fistula, vaginal fistula, etc. The other types include the Intersphincteric fistula, Transphincteric fistula, Suprasphincteric fistula, Extrasphincteric fistula, etc. Umbilical fistula is an unusual passage that communicates with the gut at the umbilicus. The anal fistula is the most common among all types of fistulas and it forms near the anus. It may or may not communicate with the rectum and is caused by an abscess. It is characterised by constant oozing of pus and is accompanied by pain. In this case, generally the faeces enter the opening and make the healing difficult.

Treatment of fissure and fistula mainly comprise of medicinal process like Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy, and Yogic Asanas. The two common anorectic health disorders- fissure and fistula; occur due to many reasons and can be identified through various symptoms. There are different alternative medicinal therapies available for treatment of fissure and fistula. The medicines like Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy, Yogic Asanas, etc. are used frequently for treatment of fissure and fistula. Various home remedies, different kinds of water treatments and Magnetic therapy are also applied for treating fissure and fistula.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Fissure and Fistula : Ayurveda is effective for curing fissure and fistula. In Ayurveda, anal fistula is recognized as Bhagander. Ayurvedic medicine describes fistula as an opening between two organs of the body. Among different Ayurvedic therapies, the Kshar-sutra therapy is used most frequently for treating fistula. The Kshar-sutra heals the anal fistula from inside without any pain and other complications. The enema therapy is also sometimes advised. Apart from these, hot bath of the back and lower portion or the fomentation of pretentious area and taking smooth laxatives, analgesics, oral medicines, etc. are also suggested in Ayurvedic treatment of fistulas.

Homoeopathic Treatment of Fissure and Fistula : Homoeopathy provides an effective treatment for anal fissure and fistula. It is found that most cases of fissure can be cured through homoeopathy. These medicines help to reduce habitual tendency of constipation and also help prevent recurrence of the condition, in the long run. The homoeopathic medicines facilitate healing of the fissure, improve blood circulation to the affected parts, relieve the anal spasm, alleviate pain, prevent infection, relieve constipation and treat all the symptoms as well. The medicines like Graphites, Nitric Acidum, Ratanhia, Condurango, Paeonia, Silicea, etc. are used frequently in treatment of anal fissure. In case of treating fistula, the homoeopathic medicines first try to control the infection in the area and then prevent further attacks of abscess formation. The medicines also try to start new tissue development for closing down the tract. Once the process is complete, the opening closes down and the fistula gets cured permanently. The most commonly used Homoeopathic remedies for treating fistula include Hepar sulphuricum, Silicea, Bacillinum, Tuberculinum Koch, Berberis vulgaris, Calc phos, Graphites, etc.

Naturopathic Treatment of Fissure and Fistula : Naturopathy is often used for the treatment of fissure and fistula. The naturopathic treatment of anal fissure aims to keep the stool soft and avoid constipation. Diet plays a major part in Naturopathic treatment. Patients are advised to take juices of orange, musambi, pineapple and carrot after mixing with equal amount of water. Regular application of a warm-water enema helps in cleansing the bowels. After taking the juices for a few days, a patient is advised to begin a well-balanced diet that should consist of unrefined foods like whole grain cereals, honey, molasses and lentils, green leafy vegetables, especially spinach, trench beans, tomatoes, lettuce, onion, cabbage, turnip, pumpkin, beets and carrot, etc. The diet should also comprise the fresh fruits like pears, grapes, figs, papaya, mangoes, grapefruit, gooseberries, guava and oranges; the dry fruits like figs, raisins, apricots, dates and the milk products in the form of butter, ghee and cream.

In naturopathic treatment of fissure and fistula, consumption of certain food items is strictly restricted. These items include the sugar and sugary foods made of white flour, rice, cakes, pastries, biscuits, cheese, fleshy foods and white sugar. The patients are suggested to drink adequate quantities of water, as it is beneficial not only for constipation but also for cleansing the system, diluting the blood and washing out poisons. For treatment of fistula through Naturopathy the patients are suggested to switch to a diet that is predominantly vegetarian, low on salt and spices, high in fiber, salads and fruit. Apart from these, there are also a few home remedies that help in treating fissure effectively. Sometimes, gentle instillation of a little olive oil into the rectum can be beneficial in the treatment of anal fissure. This helps in softening the hardened stool and is required to be repeated daily as needed.

Magnetic therapy is another effective way used regularly in the treatment of fissure and fistula. Advantages of magnetic therapy offer several treatments to patients where he sits down on the two magnets kept side by side. Sometimes, cotton pads are used over the magnets, if the patient feels pain sitting on the hard magnets. In case of the patient is unable to sit over the magnets, general application of the magnets to the soles of the feet is resorted regularly. Regular intake of mixed magnetized water helps in hastening the healing process.

Yogic Treatment of Fissure and Fistula : Yoga therapy offers another effective way for treatment of fissure and fistula. Different Yoga Asanas have proved effective for curing pain and other problems resulting from fissure. The Yoga Asanas like Uttana Padasana, Pavana muktasana, Vajrasana, Yoga Mudra, Bhujangasana, Salabhasana and Shavasana, etc. are most commonly advised. For treating fistulas, the Yogic treatment lays more emphasis on relaxation and advise the patients to follow various Yoga Asanas, Pranayama or breathing exercises, Kriyas or cleansing techniques, Sattvic and simple Yoga diet. The Yogic Asanas like inverted postures, prone postures and breathing exercises like Mild KapalaBhati and Anuloma-Viloma are used commonly for treatment of fistula.

The above mentioned alternative medicinal methods are used quite frequently for the treatment of fissure and fistula, along with the conventional surgical treatments. They are used mostly to avoid complications caused by surgical treatments and also to get cured in a much easier and less painful manner.

Anal fissure is a painful linear crack of the skin and underlying tissues of the anus. In homeopathy this disease has a number of treatment procedure and medicines. Anal fissure is also called an ano rectal fissure. It is a linear split or tears in the lining of the lower anal canal. Most anal fissures happen when a large, hard stool over stretches the anal opening and tears the delicate anoderm. Short term anal fissures are usually superficial and shallow.

Treatment of Anal fissure
Graphites 30: This medicine is appropriate for the following symptoms. Anal fissure that occurs due to dryness of skin and constipation requires this medicine. There is sharp pain in the anus after the passage of stools, which are hard, lumpy and difficult to evacuate. Straining to pass stools causes a rush of blood to the face. An important feature of this medicine is sad nature with a disposition to weep on hearing music.

Nitric acid 30: This is useful at the time when anal fissure is caused by dryness of skin. There is a sensation of a splinter in the anus with discharge of an offensive fluid or, occasionally, blood. There is severe long-lasting pain in the fissure after passing stools. Unlike Graphitis, there is a tendency for loose motions. For all these symptoms Nitric acid is an important medicine.

Ratanhia 30: Anal fissure is sometimes caused from constipation, stools passing out only after much straining. There is also a sensation of constriction in the anus. The fissure has severe burning pain, which persists long after the stools have been evacuated. The pain is temporarily relieved by cold applications. In case these symptoms are prominent in one`s life. He or she should take the above-mentioned medicine.