Natural Health: How can I treat my post-pregnancy piles?

plus how to care for your nail cuticles

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026 - 02:00

Megan Sheppard

I developed external piles following my last pregnancy. Mostly, they don’t cause me any bother, but every now and again, they flare up and can be excruciating. What would you suggest?

External haemorrhoids, otherwise known as piles, can range from mild discomfort through to itching, burning, and the excruciating pain that you mention during a flare-up. In many cases, this indicates internal piles as well, though these tend to cause fewer issues.

Pregnancy and childbirth are common causes of haemorrhoids. The pressure of carrying a baby for months and the pushing during labour can cause the veins to swell excessively, both internally and externally. Other common triggers include constipation and diarrhoea.

Fibre is a great way to ensure the colon functions efficiently without causing trauma to already swollen veins, enabling them to heal naturally. One of the best ways to address this is to take one to three teaspoons of psyllium husks or hulls daily. You will need to mix the psyllium well in a large glass of water, and drink it immediately before it sets into a quite solid gel. You can also add it to freshly pressed fruit or vegetable juice if you prefer — there isn’t much flavour to a psyllium drink, but the texture can be challenging, so juice can make it more enjoyable.

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is a long-utilised herbal remedy that can help restore tone and elasticity to the venous system. For best results, take it internally and apply it topically.

The Venaforce range from A Vogel utilises horse chestnut and is formulated to target varicose veins, haemorrhoids, and spider veins, and is available as tincture tablets, liquid tincture, and Venagel for topical relief.

Other soothing and tonifying herbal remedies for haemorrhoids and varicose veins include butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus), calendula (Calendula officinalis), and witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana).

Calendula is an excellent soothing solution for hands and nails, available in cream or balm.

You are quite right to consider the connection between changes in nail health and perimenopause. Brittle and flaking nails, discolouration, ridges, and changes in the cuticle are often associated with perimenopausal changes in women.

It is also worth noting that perimenopause is not the only condition that can affect your nails — nutrient deficiencies, autoimmune conditions, thyroid disorders, anaemia, psoriasis, and adrenal fatigue can all impact the health and appearance of your nails and cuticles.

Your cuticles might benefit from regular overnight treatments. Calendula is an excellent soothing solution for hands and nails, available in cream or balm. Apply the treatment to your hands and nails before bed. For deep healing, wear cotton gloves so the cream or balm won’t rub off as easily.

If you have trouble finding a pure calendula product, try looking for herbal baby products, as they are often calendula-based and very natural and gentle. A couple of supplements are worth considering. The first is Methyl Sulphonyl Methane (or organic sulphur), a crucial component in the production of keratin and collagen.

You will need to take around 3-5,000mg of MSM daily for best results. Use pure MSM crystals and take a teaspoon, stirred into a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice each morning, as MSM works synergistically with vitamin C, and will also help mask the slightly bitter taste.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are another way to support dry, cracked, inflamed, or peeling skin. You can supplement with EFAs, or simply make sure that you get in plenty of foods high in EFAs, such as nuts, seeds, oily fish, and hemp seed products.