Natural Remedies for Anal Fissures: Soothing & Effective Relief

Changing Leg Position

Posted by Rafa (New York, New York, Usa) on 03/28/2010
★★★★★

Anal fissure cured by changing leg position during bowel movement

Had an anal fissure for over a month, with no apparent cause, other than typical bowel movements. It was very painful and led to a great deal of bleeding. I saw that one suggestion was to change the position of the back while having a bowel movement. This only helped slightly; HOWEVER, during this process of changing positions during a BM, I realized that the toilet I have been using was too low to the ground for me, causing my knees to be very bent and legs upright during a BM. It must have been putting strain on the anus. By extending my legs out in front of me during BMs, the pain and bleeding stopped within one day. Leg positioning seems to have been the simple cause of these anal fissures. It was such a simple solution and I wanted to share this with people with the hope of it helping them cure a very painful and annoying condition.

Changing Leg Position

Posted by Kal (London, England) on 06/12/2010
★★★★★

I just wanted to say to you a big thank you. I've been in horrendous pain for 4 weeks now and I tried the above change of position. For the first time in 4 weeks I didn't have any pain after a BM. Thank you so much for your advice. I'm now off to buy some vitamin B6 to see if that helps.

Changing Leg Position

Posted by Randy (Jc, Nj) on 11/23/2010

Not sure about this one. If it works for you, that's great. However, the natural position for deficating is squatting. I would have thought the lower toilet seat would have been a good thing. Keeping your legs straight sounds very counterintuitive to me, but again, if it works, it works!

Olive Oil

Posted by Patricia (Texas, US) on 06/05/2014

sorry about previous post typos and post poorly stated. I can report, pain free day, all day! Remember I had multiple BM earlier today, normally pain would last from AM thru PM.

What I learned:

1. Keep rectum clean throught out the day, use baby wipes soaked in witch hazel and apply organic coconut oil, I sit on heating pad for blood flow.

2. 1-2 Tablespoon organic olive oil at bedtime.

3. 1/2 tblsp manuka honey, 1/2 tsp coconut oil, 1/2 tsp organic aloe Vera juice, mix well, insert with a syringe at bedtime

4. Bath increase from 1-2x, to 3x daily, sitz bath when time allows.

5. exercise - walking helps.

6. Sit in over size firm pillow, at home and work; in car.

Potassium Permanganate

Posted by George (Liverpool, Lancashire, UK) on 05/21/2009
★★★★★

ANAL FISSURE CURE

1 go to your chemist and buy a small jar of potassium permanganate,also called condys crystals

2 buy a tube of haemorhoid ointment you only need the applicator tube that comes with it,you may have one already

3 take a new sterile handkerchief or similar piece of cloth and wrap it around the applicator and covers the tip of the applicator as well.

4 get a small empty glass or jar and put about a heaped teaspoon of the condys crystals in the jar, now add a little water at a time until you get a mix which looks like pale ink,if you test it with your finger it should stain.

5 get a condom and go all around it and make holes from from the bottom to about half the way up, these will allow the mix to leak out in to the fissure.

6 now take your cloth wrapped applicator and dip it in to the mix until well soaked, you might put on plastic gloves for this job or your hands will be stained,

7 next when your cloth is really wet with the mix slip your condom with the holes in it over your assembly and tie the end off so nothing can leak an elastic band will do, and smear baby oil or vaseline on the condom.

8 now insert condom in to anus a short distance and then wiggle it about and the mix will leak in to the area of the fissure and enter the fissure....

9 I did this every day for 3 days on the third day i was pain free and it never returned,beforehand i was in agony and due for surgery, the relief of the cure was amazing

10 my doctor gave me the tip about condys but i had to work out how to get it in to the right area of the fissure because the doctor told me to sit in a bowl of it, that didnt do any good because it has to get inside so i had to brainstorm a bit to come up with my method..

11 dont treat yorself with this method unless your doctor has diagnosed you as having a fissure, and ask if this is a suitable treatment for your case, all i can tell you for sure is if you have a fissure this works and it is a permanent cure and fast, i have changed my diet since and make sure i eat fruit and drink more water.. good health

GEORGE

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Lilli (Wa) on 06/14/2026 15 posts
★★★★★

Internal Rectal Remedies (hemorrhoids, fissures, irritation, etc))

Searching on the Internet, I found many remedies for external rectal issues, but few usable ideas for internal ailments.

This is what worked best for me:

1. Diet. The goal is soft stool to avoid re-injury. Eliminate bread/pasta dishes, large amounts of meat, dairy, fat, processed foods, constipating foods (like bananas), and soda.

2. Fiber: I use ground flax seed in my meals (if pre-ground, keep in the fridge or freeze extra). Start with 1/2 tsp, working up to 2 tbs. per day (followed by at least 1 cup of filtered water). I drink good quality organic prune and aloe juice. Look for foods that are high in fiber and are not constipating. *I wouldn't recommend OTC stool softener products. I don't care for the ingredients and the body can get reliant on them.

2. DAILY Breakfast Routine: dates, prunes, or other fibrous fruits with a cup of hot tea (black and dandelion are great) or coffee (should be caffeinated).

3. Water/Safe Liquids: Online recommendation is 8-10 8 oz. cups for women and 10-14 8 oz. cups for men, per day.

4. Bathroom: Eliminate when nature calls. Do not delay. I recently started using a small stool to raise my knees up which provides a more comfortable and natural position for elimination. There are videos and products online. I bought a 9" high "potty stool" online. Take your time. NEVER force...ever.

5. Natural OTC Remedies: Most brands are soothing. I alternate suppositories (including my homemade organic coconut oil/tea tree oil version) and creams. Do not use different brands together. Use after every bowel movement.

6. Sitz Baths: This is a must. Online recommendations are for 1/4-1/2 cup Epsom salts dissolved in warm water (not hot) or just use warm water. Soak for 15-20 minutes after every BM. Then replace your internal remedies.

7. Cushions: I'm not a fan of the "donut" cushion...never found them comfortable. So, I bought a toilet seat "riser". It is a horseshoe-shaped cushion, made of foam rubber and covered in vinyl, that gently lowers you but keeps your bottom from resting directly on a hard surface. I place it in my chairs to sit on.

8. DAILY Evening Exercise: There are videos online that show how to use gentle stretching exercises for these ailments, such as yoga poses. The child pose is a great exercise or even sitting and "marching" in place with your legs. Walk and try not to sit for longer than 30 minutes at a time.

9. DAILY Evening Routine: Before bed, I eat something fibrous along with liquid. I do floor stretching exercises and take a sitz bath and replace internal remedies, so they can work overnight. This helped with evening pain that was keeping me awake.

This may seem like a daunting regimen, but after 2 weeks of pain and just 2 days of use, these remedies worked very well for me. It takes a long time to heal an internal ailment like this so be patient and give yourself some grace...you will feel better.

Vitamins C and E

Posted by Michael (Sacramento) on 10/01/2015
★★★★★

Additional Vitamin C and Vitamin E for Anal Fissures

I made smoothies in the morning and at night with 1/2 cup orange juice for vitamin C and 1 ounce raw almonds for vitamin E and 1 ounce raw pumpkin seeds for zinc and my anal fissure healed completely in about 4 days.

According to the website: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2903966/ proteins, carbohydrates, arginine, glutamine, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, copper, zinc and iron play a significant role in wound healing and their deficiencies affect wound healing.

Botox

Posted by Ev (Australia) on 05/07/2015
★★★★★

Botox injections cured my fissures after 20 years of pain.

Probiotics

Posted by Jpl (Los Angeles, CA) on 04/17/2014
★★★★★

Re Anal Fissures:

Eat organic yogurt. I only eat wallaby from whole foods or Ralph's or sprouts. No I'm not a seller. Just someone with more than 10 years experience with this problem. And having tried most everything. The wallaby will cure the cut from inside. But you still have to keep stools soft. And sometimes I add coconut oil or neosporin to the outside, especially at night and before going to the bathroom. If wallaby ever goes out of business I'm in trouble. 100 million probiotics in one cup. And no the pills with billions didn't work. For some reason it has to be yogurt.

Olive Oil

Posted by Om (Hope Bc Canada) on 01/26/2014

Sorry to hear about your wives' painful experience.

Use pure sesame oil or pure olive oil, if you can find it and use it liberally. After each bowel movement take a cold sitz bath. There are more cures on hemorrhoids here on EC. External intervention is often not satisfactory. Please research well before making that decision. All the best.

Namaste, Om

Olive Oil

Posted by Gerald (Los Angeles) on 01/31/2014

@ Andy, from India:

We buy ours directly from of the company's engineers; I pick it up at his systems engineering lab in L.A.

Because of the ozone on their manufacturing premises, insurance considerations don't allow me go to the plant, in Commerce, despite our having known them for years.

Your best bet is to go to their Craigslist, Los Angeles page and order it there: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/hab/4288829394.htm

That will plug you right into their email.

I wish you the best of luck.

For this application, it certainly worked very well for us!

Wheatgrass, Vitamin E

Posted by James (Sterling, Va) on 10/19/2012
★★★★★

I had a anal fissure for decades. The worst was when I had toilet bowl water red with blood and allways blood when I wiped. It would seem to heal and then would retear. I tried oils, and lotions, even one gaget you freeze in the freezer. I came across Wheat Grass website that sells wheatgrass cream. I couldnt find any other supplier. I bought 3 of the creams. Then bought Carlson vitamin e suppostories 3 packs of 24. You coat the suppositories with a large amount of wheatgrass cream and insert. Using a finger also get a large amount on that tear. Dr wheat grass recomends their product for fissures so its ok to use internally. I used it after a bowl movement in the morning and at night. On weekends 3 times. And never wipe with a dry tissue I use witch hazel or water and soak the tissue. The healing factors of both the wheatgrass and vitamin e will heal that fissure. keep hydrated and use a stool softener because a hard stool with retear the fissure when healing.

Olive Oil

Posted by Bryan (Arizona) on 11/19/2013
★★★★★

This advice for olive oil as well as the changing leg position during BM saved me from a terrible situation. I had tried many things for anal fissure. The olive oil, amazing healing gift from nature.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Simmi (Johannesburg, South Africa) on 07/11/2012
★★★★★

Hi, I had a fissure as a result of being constipated and also just having a baby 2 months ago. After a week of suffering, my GP advised to change diet and my dentist advised as well. Within a week, 95% of the pain went away, this is how:

For 2 weeks, eat only fruit, veg and bran, 6-8 glasses of water a day, absolutely no junk food, cakes, biscuits, no meat , fish lamb, no protein as this constipates.

After each BM, soak in chamomile tea bags, 3 tea bags per 2litres of boiled water thats then cooled.

Apply aloe vera gel and wheat germ oil, alternating between the 2 throughout the day.

This helped me so much.

Horse Chestnut, MSM

Posted by Dg (Canada, Cananda) on 11/18/2011
★★★★★

I had an anal fissure that kept reapearing and there was sometimes quite bad. I took MSM and horse chestnut homeopathic remedy, and it was healed in several days. I was also taking fish oil and cod liver oil. I reccomend giving this a try. It worked wonders for me. thanks

Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin B6

Posted by Fizzy (Los Angeles, Ca) on 06/04/2011
★★★★★

Cod liver oil pills worked like magic. Helped on the first bowel movement following the issue. I'm now taking that and Vitamin B6 per this website and are doing much better, so thank you all and hope this helps someone else going through this painful issue.

Witch Hazel

Posted by Big D (Olympia, Washington) on 01/23/2011
★★★★★

Witch Hazel works great for soothing and preventing anal fissures as well as hemmoroids. I currently suffer from IBS so my bowel movement tend to be irregular, making it uncomfortable to go. Clean then wipe with a damp cotton ball (not soaked) after a each bowel movement until symptoms go away.

For hemmoroids dampen half a cotton ball and insert partially in the rectum (like a soppository) for a few hours or as long as needed. Caution! Can sometimes burn or sting a little But usually goes away.

Changing Leg Position

Posted by Jini (Vancouver, Bc, Canada) on 05/18/2011

If you go watch my "Constipation Pooping Positions" video on YouTube, you will see why extending the legs helps in situations where you need to relieve the downward pressure on the rectal canal or anus. Other times this is also helpful is with anal stenosis or stricture - go see the vid, I explain it all there.

Anal Fissure Tips

Posted by Srinivasa (Bangalore, Karnataka) on 06/21/2011

Hi, I suffered from chronic anal fissure for 5 months and tried everything but nothing worked, which may be acv, aloevera, stool softener anything and everything. My problem was after bowel movement the pain use to hang around continuously for the whole day and I lost around 10kg weight. After all this I decided to go for surgery, this june 8th I got operated and very next day got discharged. The same day I had bowel and amazingly it was pain less, I was under medication for 3-4 days. There use to be little discomfort for 6-7 days. Now I'm all right sharing my wonderful experience with people who are really undergoing severe pain, I suggest you if you have the same problem pls pls pls get operated. the cost of my operation in Bangalore in a reputed hospital costed only Rs.15,000/- that's around 400$ to 500$. Wish you all the best and speedy recovery.

Anal Fissure Tips

Posted by Hossein (Tehran, Iran) on 06/27/2011

Srinivasa, would you tell me what kind of operation did you have? it was a laser surgery for vaporization of the fissure or it was a sphincterotomy?

Anal Fissure Tips

Posted by Srinivasa (Bangalore, Karnataka) on 06/30/2011

Hi Hossein,

I had Anal Fissure sphincterotomy, they put me in anastesia, not conscious while operation. it took them 10 to 15 minutes, beleive me now I started preparing for Marathon for 10 km though I'm 45 years old with hypertension taking regular medicine for BP, I'm completely alright and enjoying my time, I can eat anything now, no more pain actuall speaking now enjoy the relief of bowel moments as it use to be earlier:).

All the best to you Hossein.

Anal Fissure Tips

Posted by Babitha (Bangalore, Karnataka) on 09/25/2011

Hi Srinivasa,

Congratulations on the success of your surgery. My husband is going through the same problem and gone through sphincterotomy, but is still in a lot of pain. Can you please tell me which hospital were you treated in and who is the doctor. This information will be very useful to me. Kindly help.

Anal Fissure Tips

Posted by Letmein (Fort Mill, South Carolina) on 09/03/2012

The bowel movement that caused my fissure just caught me off guard-it was fast. my doctor told me years ago to put my right thumb in my vagina to push the poop out. you can also kind of reduce the size this way also. also, what helps more than anything is deep breathing-enhale thru the nose-out thru the mouth. you can feel the poop moving down to the rectum as you breathe out.

hope this helps. at least you don't have the poop on your finger.... just be sure your thumb is clean.

Anal Fissure Tips

Posted by T (Edmonton) on 08/07/2018

That's the worst, for a female try this, push up using both hands finger tips, push along the outer wall side on both side of the anal hole, around where stool is sitting, especially if you have a dropped bowl, the pressure will help muscle push out stool. Not sure for male not sure as scrotum in the way. I found this online forgot what it's called.

B-6

Posted by Heather (Palmdale, CA) on 04/23/2009
★★★★★

I have had very bad bleeding every time I had a bowel movement. I tried the vitamin B-6 and within a few days, no more blood. I will still have a colonoscopy to make sure everything is fine but I am glad that there is no more bright red blood in the toilet. I think I had an internal hemmoroid or a fissure - either way it is better. Try it, it works!

Dietary Changes

Posted by Kat (Washington DC, DC) on 03/31/2009
★★★★★

Anal Fissure - Change in diet helps

I had an anal fissure that kept bleeding everytime I did #2. I figured out that this was due to constipation. So I looked for remedies to fix constipations. I found out that constipation can be helped if you add fiber to your diet. So I started eating lots of things with fiber (high fiber cereal), vegetables, beans, etc. I also found out that my constipation might be related to a yeast infection that I had. Yeast infections are caused by candida, which feed on sugar. (You can easily find many anti-candida diets on the internet). So I started to eliminate sugar from my diet. I had the anal fissure for about 3.5 months. After 1 month on the anti-candida/high fiber diet, I am happy to see that my stools are a lot softer and I am not getting anal fissures any more. I am not sure if this is due to the high fiber are the lack of sugar in my diet. Either way, I am happy with my results. I am not sure how long I'll stay on the anti-candida diet. I am thinking at least 3 months total, and I'll introduce a few sweets back slowly. Hopefully my fissures won't return then. I hope my story helps someone.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Anothertip (Ontario, Canada) on 11/17/2011

Just try flaxseed oil (cold pressed)

Witch Hazel

Posted by Shelley (Mississauga, ON) on 02/22/2009
★★★★★

I suffered from anal fissures for years and discovered an amazing way to eliminate them. By applying witch hazel with a Qtip after bowels or before bowels will greatly reduce any pain or discomfort from the fissures. Witch hazel is a cleansing astingent that does not cause over drying. Try it, it works for me, and I will never stop using it!

B-6

Posted by Afsaana (Dallas, Tx) on 04/23/2010
★★★★★

WORKED TEMPORARILY

Hi, Do you continue to take vitamin B6? I was having the same condition and I found great relief once I took B6. If I stop taking, the pain comes again. Also I hear that long term use may be toxic and could have irreversible nerve damage. Kindly let me know.

Manuka Honey

Posted by Adam (Denmark) on 06/15/2023

In regards to application, did you use raw manuka and or I have been advised to use beeswax, oil and manuka honey

Dietary Changes

Posted by Ammazurin (London) on 06/06/2019
★★★★★

I've had chronic anal fissures for about 10 years and have tried every treatment and protocol out there. The pain has been unbearable at times and often debilitating, you end up not even leaving the house! What I've found helps the most for long-term healing is simply a change of diet and lubrication. Keeping active also helps with bowel movements but isn't key in my experience. Cut all grains and dairy, eat plenty of apples or pears as well as any other fruits or vegetables (apples and pears have been the best for me as they result in nice soft, comfortable and fluffy bowel movements!) and use only raw coconut oil, pure ghee, butter and cold olive oil for eating. Lubricate after every bowel movement and at night with plenty of good quality olive oil. Smearing it around the outside of the anus and probing internally gently with your little finger works best if in severe pain but don't go too deep as your finger and even suppositories can make the fissure worse.

Once pain subsides and healing begins (after a few days of eating better) you can go deeper with the olive oil. Apples and olive oil are the way to go, simple and uncomplicated but extremely effective.

Clove, Coconut Oil and Eucalyptus

Posted by Chris (Atlanta, GA) on 01/03/2023

You should always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil like olive oil. Pure essential oil may kill pain quickly but could harm the tissues as it is very potent

Horse Chestnut, MSM

Posted by Vikas (India) on 05/06/2017

Were the two medicines suggested by you taken separately or were they mixed together?

Changing Leg Position

Posted by Mara (Canada) on 02/15/2026
★★★★★

Honestly, this helped me a lot too. Can't remember if I tried it on my own or learned from you - was about 4 years ago...but it helped so much, from making a BM borderline impossible, to still-very-painful-but-possible (Oh gosh, do I remember...And I'm sure it helped with *decreasing damage* done each time, which of course makes healing possible and faster..gradually BMs in this position were less and less painful... Anyway, going through this again unfortunately which is why I'm back on this page. Had to comment on this because it REALLY helped.