Korean Medicine Treatment for Patients with Grade I-III Hemorrhoids (Goligher Classification): A Case Series

Abstract

Background: Hemorrhoid surgery is a frequently performed surgery in Korea, second only to cataract surgery. However, it has serious complications, including bleeding, infection, anal stenosis, and urinary retention, so active conservative therapies are in need at an early stage. Case summary: Thirteen patients with anal disease complained of main symptoms of pain, bleeding, and prolapse, with additional complaints of itching and mucus discharge. An herbal medicine mixture of Eulja-tang and Hwangryeonhaedok-tang was administered twice daily, and dry cupping therapy, acupuncture, and hot pack placements were administered on pelvic and sacral regions once weekly for four weeks. The symptoms were evaluated before and each week after the treatments. The treatments had statistically significant therapeutic effects. Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment—effectively alleviating the symptoms of anal disease, such as pain, bleeding, and prolapse—may represent an alternative therapy for conservative treatments in the early stages of anal disease. Keywords: hemorrhoids, Korean medicine, Goligher classification, case series