“How to effectively treat internal and external haemorrhoids (pile),” reads a message on a Facebook page run from Nigeria.
It claims three different mixtures made from bitter kola, red onions, mango tree bark, palm oil and garlic are effective treatments for haemorrhoids.
The post describes how the mixtures are prepared and how they should be taken.
But will these mixtures treat haemorrhoids effectively? We checked.
Visit hospital for appropriate treatment
Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen veins that develop inside or outside the rectum. Internal haemorrhoids develop inside the rectum and could cause bleeding when passing stool.
External haemorrhoids develop under the skin around the anus and usually cause bleeding, swelling, itching and pain in the anus.
The chances of getting haemorrhoids may be increased by straining while passing stool, pregnancy, a low fibre diet and obesity and others.
Samuel Akere, a consultant gastroenterologist at the University College hospital Ibadan in western Nigeria, told Africa Check there was no medical evidence that the three mixtures would treat the condition.
“I am not aware of these forms of treatment,” he said. “We treat haemorrhoids depending on the symptoms. If they are external we ask the patient to use haemorrhoidal cream. We also have suppositories that we use especially for internal haemorrhoids,” he said.
Akere added that in severe cases, surgery might be necessary. He advised people to visit the hospital for appropriate treatment.
Africa Check has previously debunked other false claims of mixtures meant to treat haemorrhoids.
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