The World Wide Web is rif with ersatz advice about the treatment of hemorrhoids at home. Although some of these recommendations are valuable, others fall more appropriately under the category of hearsay and magical thinking.

Harvard is a fairly reliable repository of legal advice, thankfully, which is why today I’d like to highlight one of their lesser-known recommendations. We all know that sitz baths and fiber can help you poop better, of course. But this piece also recommends a form of lubrication. As it happens, this very simple, mechanical step can greatly improve your prognosis on the can, as evidenced by the following plan-language excerpt:

Lubricate the process. Mixing a tablespoon of mineral oil with applesauce or yogurt and eating it at breakfast or lunch allows stool to slide by the hemorrhoid more easily. But don’t do this for a long period, cautions Dr. Wolf. (if you try this, you may want to place a liner in your undergarments to absorb any oil leakage.)

A little is good, a lot could be catastrophic. Still, it is worth a try, especially if constipation is creating too much pressure down below, causing you to strain when you should be relaxing instead.

For the very best hemorrhoid treatment and care in Southern California, check out the health care clinics of Dr. Maz Ghodsian today.