Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that form in and around the rectum. After formation, they can cause symptoms such as itching, pain and bleeding, causing hemorrhoid sufferers to seek timely relief. Many assume that the best way to find relief is to shrink their hemorrhoids. And that’s why we often hear the question, “Does Witch Hazel Shrink Hemorrhoids Fast?”

In this post, we explain how witch hazel can be used for hemorrhoids and what results you can expect from this product. We also highlight ways to quickly shrink symptomatic hemorrhoids without undergoing surgery.

What is Witch Hazel?

This is a type of plant with reported medicinal properties. Over the years, extracts from the plant have been used to treat everything from acne and alopecia to eczema and psoriasis. Witch hazel extracts are also commonly found in over-the-counter relief products such as cream for hemorrhoids.

How Does Witch Hazel Affect Hemorrhoids?

When hemorrhoids symptoms are causing considerable discomfort, we know you’d like fast relief. Now, witch hazel can provide temporary relief for hemorrhoid sufferers. However, that relief does not come from shrinking hemorrhoids. Instead, this plant extract acts as an astringent when applied to your rectal area, causing cells to temporarily contract. In turn, symptoms such as burning and itching should improve. Unfortunately, they are likely to return once the witch hazel application wears away.

What Does Shrink Hemorrhoids?

If you have grade 1 hemorrhoids, you may find sufficient relief from witch hazel applications in combination with lifestyle changes to reduce your risk for recurring problems. For lasting relief of grade 2-3 internal hemorrhoids, however, a medical procedure to shrink hemorrhoids is likely to be your best option. At the Texas Hemorrhoid institute, our internal radiologists perform HAE, (hemorrhoid artery embolization), a procedure that shrinks internal hemorrhoids by cutting off their blood supply. And, while the hemorrhoids shrink slowly following your procedure, they should not return in the same location. So, if you’re looking to witch hazel to shrink hemorrhoids fast, we encourage you instead to instead request a consultation with our team and start exploring more effective treatment options.