Effects of Terminalia chebula Retz. in treatment of hemorrhoids: A double – blind randomized placebo – controlled clinical trial

Hemorrhoids are one of the most common complaints affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The treatment of hemorrhoids in modern medicine causes many side effects. In Persian Medicine (PM), Terminalia. chebula Retz. is one of the best choices for the treatment of hemorrhoids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of T. chebula on hemorrhoids. Microbial tests and standardization of T. chebula were conducted prior to the preparation of the capsules. Patients (n = 104) meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the herbal intervention (T. chebula) or placebo capsules, four times daily on an empty stomach for four weeks. Outcomes included pain, constipation, hemorrhoids mass size, and bleeding. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of pain in the first and fourth weeks (p = 0.003, p = 0.025 respectively). Also, constipation and reduction of hemorrhoids mass size were significantly different between the intervention and placebo groups (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). However, there were no differences between the two groups in bleeding days (p = 0.123) during the four weeks. All variables (pain, constipation, haemorrhoids mass size, and hemorrhoids hemorrhage) had significant differences (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, p