In western medicine, there are different hemorrhoids causes to watch out for. Old age is one of the most common causes of hemorrhoids, though they could appear at any age. Experts say that most people get hemorrhoids when there is constant high pressure in the blood vessels in the body.  Pregnancy is another cause as there is additional pressure on the lower part of the body due to the baby. The hormonal changes that go with pregnancy are also known to increase the risk of developing piles or hemorrhoids. Some people also develop hemorrhoids when they are always constipated, resulting to constant straining to help move the feces.

It is believed in Chinese medicine that this disease is mostly caused by improper food intake, excessive intake of spicy and irritant foodstuffs, or by qi stagnation and blood stasis due to downward transmission of dampness and heat. Clinically, in accordance with different locations, there are different names. For instance, what occurs above the dentate line is termed internal hemorrhoids. What occurs below the dentate line is termed external hemorrhoids. The combination of internal and external hemorrhoids are termed mixed hemorrhoids. Our TCM clinical practice has showed that integration of Chinese medicine and western medicine is a very good choice for this disease.