Comfort • Hemorrhoids • Everyday relief
What Helps Hemorrhoids: Relief at Home and Lasting Prevention
Hemorrhoids are common, uncomfortable, and a little awkward to talk about. Here is how to feel better now, what keeps them from coming back, and when bleeding needs a doctor.
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Key points
- Most hemorrhoids get better with home care: fiber, fluids, sitz baths, and not straining.
- A fiber supplement such as psyllium has the best evidence, cutting bleeding risk by about half in trials.
- Plant flavonoids, such as diosmin and hesperidin, also show benefit, with some limits in study quality.
- Over-the-counter creams are usually meant for about one week of use.
- Never assume rectal bleeding is from hemorrhoids. Have it checked.
This page is general information, written by our founder. It is not medical advice.
What Hemorrhoids Are and What Causes Them
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins and tissue in the lower rectum and anus. Internal hemorrhoids are inside the rectum and are usually painless, but they can bleed. External hemorrhoids are under the skin around the anus and can itch, hurt, and swell. Straining on the toilet, constipation, sitting for long periods, pregnancy, and heavy lifting all add pressure to these veins (MayoClinic.org).
So what causes hemorrhoids to flare? Usually it is pressure from hard stools and straining, which is why softer stools are the heart of both relief and prevention. The good news is that most hemorrhoids respond well to simple home remedies.
Ways to Treat Hemorrhoids at Home
To treat hemorrhoids at home, the National Institutes of Health recommends these steps (NIDDK):
- Eat foods high in fiber, or take a fiber supplement such as psyllium or methylcellulose, or a stool softener.
- Drink plenty of water or other nonalcoholic fluids each day.
- Do not strain during bowel movements.
- Do not sit on the toilet for long periods.
- Use over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if needed to relieve pain.
Warm Baths
Sitting in a few inches of warm water, called a sitz bath, several times a day can treat hemorrhoid pain and itching (NIDDK). Warm baths of 10 to 15 minutes, especially after a bowel movement, are a common routine (MayoClinic.org). Pat the area dry gently afterward.
Creams, Ointments, and Suppositories
Over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams, ointments, and suppositories can ease mild pain and swelling of external hemorrhoids. Witch hazel pads and witch hazel ointments, along with common brands such as Preparation H, are easy to find. Doctors usually recommend using these over-the-counter products for about one week, and creams with hydrocortisone should not be used longer unless your doctor says so (MayoClinic.org). Follow up with your doctor if they do not help after a week, or if they cause dry skin or a rash around the anus (NIDDK).
Supplements with Real Evidence
High-Fiber Foods and Fiber Supplements
Fiber is the best-studied supplement for hemorrhoids. A meta-analysis of seven trials with 378 patients found that fiber supplementation lowered the risk of ongoing symptoms by 47 percent and the risk of bleeding by 50 percent, with consistent results at six weeks and three months (Alonso-Coello et al., 2006). Fiber makes stools softer and easier to pass, so there is less straining. Raise your daily fiber slowly over a week or two and drink extra fluids to avoid gas and bloating. Psyllium and methylcellulose are common choices (NIDDK). High-fiber foods such as beans, pears, oats, and whole grains also help ease constipation.
Plant Flavonoids
Flavonoids such as diosmin and hesperidin are plant compounds thought to strengthen vein walls. A meta-analysis of 14 trials with 1,514 people found that they reduced the risk of ongoing symptoms by 58 percent and lowered bleeding, pain, and recurrence. The authors cautioned that study quality, mixed results, and possible publication bias raise questions about how large the benefit really is (Alonso-Coello et al., 2006). A 2022 Cochrane review of these vein-supporting medicines, called phlebotonics, found benefits for bleeding, itching, and overall symptoms, with few safety concerns (Cochrane, 2022). In the United States, these products are usually sold as supplements, so ask your doctor or pharmacist before trying one.
If constipation is part of the picture, our constipation guide covers more ways to keep stools soft and regular.
Sulfur, Cream of Tartar, and Tarsul’s History
Tarsul’s roots are tied to hemorrhoids, so we want to be open about that history. A European patent first filed in 1989 describes a mix of about 22 percent flowers of sulfur and 78 percent cream of tartar, taken by mouth, for hemorrhoid symptoms such as burning and swelling (patent EP0581972A1).
A patent is not a clinical trial. It describes an idea and how to make it, but the patent itself gives no study results, and no controlled trials of sulfur and cream of tartar for hemorrhoids have been published. The patent also describes daily amounts of about 15 to 30 grams, which is far more cream of tartar than is safe because of its high potassium content. Please do not follow those amounts.
Tarsul today is cream of tartar with a smaller amount of MSM, a different sulfur compound. We do not claim it treats hemorrhoids.
A Note from Russ, Our Founder
In 2008 I was looking for answers to a health problem of my own, and I found an old pairing of sulfur and cream of tartar. I started Tarsul in 2010 so other people could use that simple two-ingredient mix without guessing at amounts.
That old pairing was first patented for hemorrhoids, so people naturally ask about it. My honest advice is to start with what is proven: fiber, water, a warm bath, and not straining. And if you see blood, please get it checked. Peace of mind is worth the visit.
Nutrition and Habits That Keep Hemorrhoids Away
The best way to prevent constipation is also the best way to keep flare-ups from returning.
- Aim for plenty of fiber every day from vegetables, fruit, beans, whole grains, or a fiber supplement.
- Stay well hydrated through the day so fiber can do its job.
- Go when you feel the urge, and do not wait.
- Keep bathroom trips short. Leave the phone outside.
- Stay active. Regular movement helps keep bowels regular.
- Avoid long periods of sitting, and take breaks to stand and walk.
When to Get Medical Care
Talk with a health care professional if you have bleeding during bowel movements, or if hemorrhoids do not get better after a week of home care. Do not assume rectal bleeding is from hemorrhoids, especially if your bowel habits change or your stool changes in color or consistency. Bleeding can also come from other conditions, including colorectal and anal cancer (MayoClinic.org).
Seek emergency care for large amounts of rectal bleeding, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting (MayoClinic.org). Get care right away for severe anal pain with bleeding, especially with belly pain, diarrhea, or fever (NIDDK).
For hemorrhoids that keep bleeding or hurting, doctors can offer quick treatments during a clinic visit, such as rubber band ligation, which cuts off the blood supply so the tissue shrinks and falls off, and surgery for larger hemorrhoids (NIDDK; MayoClinic.org). Your doctor can also suggest a different medicine if pain is hard to control.
About Tarsul’s ingredients. Because cream of tartar is high in potassium, please talk with your doctor before using Tarsul if you have kidney problems or take medicines that raise potassium, such as some blood pressure pills or potassium-sparing water pills (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements). Swallowing large amounts of cream of tartar has caused dangerously high potassium levels (Medical Journal of Australia, 2025). Details are on our cream of tartar page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make hemorrhoids go away fast?
Warm sitz baths several times a day, an over-the-counter cream or suppository for up to a week, and a pain reliever can ease symptoms quickly. Softer stools from fiber and fluids let the area heal. With home care, symptoms often go away within a week.
What is the best supplement for hemorrhoids?
A fiber supplement such as psyllium has the best evidence. A meta-analysis of seven trials found that fiber cut the risk of ongoing symptoms by about half and the risk of bleeding by half. Plant flavonoids also show benefit in studies.
Should I worry about bleeding from hemorrhoids?
Talk with a health care professional about any rectal bleeding. Do not assume it is from hemorrhoids, especially if your bowel habits or stool color change, because bleeding can also come from other conditions, including colorectal cancer. Seek emergency care for heavy bleeding, dizziness, or fainting.
How long do hemorrhoids last?
Many flare-ups settle within a week of home care. See a health care professional if you do not get relief after a week, or sooner for severe pain or bleeding.
Does cream of tartar help hemorrhoids?
There are no clinical trials of cream of tartar for hemorrhoids. A 1989 patent describes a sulfur and cream of tartar mix for hemorrhoids, but a patent is not proof that something works, and its amounts are far higher than are safe for potassium.
Can Tarsul help hemorrhoids?
We do not claim Tarsul treats hemorrhoids. Tarsul grew out of an old sulfur and cream of tartar pairing, but it has not been tested in hemorrhoid trials. Fiber, fluids, and good toilet habits have much better evidence.
Tarsul and Your Daily Routine
Tarsul is two ingredients, cream of tartar and MSM, with no proprietary blend, made in San Diego since 2010. Read about cream of tartar and MSM, see dosage and ingredients, or see Tarsul capsules and powder.
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Sources
NIDDK. Treatment of hemorrhoids.
MayoClinic.org. Hemorrhoids: symptoms and causes and Hemorrhoids: diagnosis and treatment.
Alonso-Coello P, et al. Fiber for the treatment of hemorrhoids complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006;101(1):181-188.
Alonso-Coello P, et al. Meta-analysis of flavonoids for the treatment of haemorrhoids. Br J Surg. 2006;93(8):909-920.
Perera N, et al. Phlebotonics for haemorrhoids. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022, Issue 4.
EP0581972A1: Hemorrhoidal composition of flowers of sulphur and cream of tartar. Priority date February 6, 1989.
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Potassium fact sheet for health professionals.
Hyperkalaemic cardiac arrest due to cream of tartar ingestion. Med J Aust. 2025;222(11).
About this page — last reviewed October 2026
Written by Russ Guillemot, founder of Tarsul. Tarsul is a family-run dietary supplement company in San Diego, California, selling since 2010. We are not physicians, and nothing on this page is a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Where we cite research, we link to it so you can read it yourself.
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.