Unspeakable Pain from Hemorrhoids: Revealing Traditional Korean Medicine Secrets for Rooting Them Out

The concepts of damp-heat and stagnation of qi and blood in Donguibogam closely parallel modern physiological mechanisms. Hemorrhoids occur when the anal cushion, a vascular structure in the anal canal, becomes abnormally enlarged or displaced. While this cushion normally supports continence by sealing the canal, various factors can lead to the development of internal hemorrhoids or external hemorrhoids. In modern clinical terms, damp-heat corresponds to local inflammation and vasodilation. Spicy or irritating foods irritate the intestinal mucosa and induce vasodilation, increasing blood flow to the perianal region. When gut dysbiosis occurs, toxins generated by harmful bacteria impair the mucosal barrier and intensify inflammatory responses. This promotes inflammatory edema within the microvessels of the anal cushion and fosters localized vascular stasis. Furthermore, chronic stress alters autonomic nervous system activity, disrupting digestive system motility and vascular tone, which impairs the normal contraction and relaxation of perianal vessels and creates conditions similar to damp-heat. Stagnation of qi and blood corresponds to circulatory disorder and increased venous pressure. Remaining seated or standing for prolonged intervals allows gravity to impede venous return in the pelvis and perianal region, elevating local venous pressure. Excessive straining from constipation or recurrent irritation from diarrhea produces similar effects. As blood fails to drain efficiently from the anal cushion, local swelling develops, a state known as venous congestion. Continued venous congestion weakens and stretches the supportive tissue, predisposing the cushion to prolapse or hemorrhage. Similarly, increased intra-abdominal pressure during pregnancy and childbirth represents a direct mechanical cause of stagnation of qi and blood. Donguibogam recognized that perianal inflammation, circulatory disorder, and everyday habits converge to drive the formation of hemorrhoids. Modern medicine describes these same phenomena at cellular and vascular levels, confirming that resolving local inflammation and restoring healthy circulation remain central to care.