Does coconut oil or other natural oils (olive oil, castor oil, essential oils) help hemorrhoids?
In adults with symptomatic hemorrhoids, does topical application of coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, or essential oils reduce symptoms (pain, itching, bleeding) or promote healing compared with no treatment or standard hemorrhoid care?
How people search for this, in their own words
- “coconut oil for hemorrhoids”
- “best oil for hemorrhoids”
- “olive oil for hemorrhoids”
- “castor oil for hemorrhoid relief”
- “natural hemorrhoid treatment essential oils”
- “essential oils for hemorrhoids recipe”
- “essential oils to shrink hemorrhoids”
- “does oil pulling cure piles”
Evidence review in plain language · compiled 2026-11-02 · checked 2026-11-02 · next 2026-12-02 · automated review, how it works
What the evidence says
Bottom line
No study has tested coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, or essential oils alone for hemorrhoids in people — so we can't say whether they help.
The small human trials that exist tested an oil mixed with other active ingredients, like tea tree oil plus hyaluronic acid, or olive oil plus honey and beeswax, so the oil's own effect can't be separated out. The rest of the evidence comes from an animal study and reviews that give no original data. No trial has compared a plain oil against no treatment or standard hemorrhoid care.
How certain
Very low
The 3 human studies found measure a related question rather than this one, so they can only be read indirectly.
What it shows
Not studied
No study has measured this in people with this condition.
- answer it directly
- 0answer it directly
- studies found
- 6studies found
- randomised trials
- 2randomised trials
- people studied
- 51people studied
- years covered
- 2006–2024years covered
What the research shows
Insufficient evidence
Insufficient evidence
Time to symptom resolution
No study measured how long it takes symptoms to go away with coconut, olive, castor, or essential oils.
Not studied
Hemorrhoid size or grade regression
No study measured whether these oils shrink hemorrhoids or change their grade.
Not studied
Recurrence rate
No study followed people long enough, or compared groups, to see whether hemorrhoids came back after using these oils.
Not studied
Insufficient evidence
Important limitations
- Most human trials tested an oil blended with other active ingredients — tea tree oil with hyaluronic acid and methyl-sulfonyl-methane, or olive oil with honey and beeswax — so the plain oil's own effect cannot be separated out.[1,2]
- One study was done in rats with a chemically induced hemorrhoid-like condition, not in people, and tested Ayurvedic herbal medicines rather than coconut, olive, castor, or essential oils.[1]
- Two of the sources are narrative reviews that don't describe how studies were found, how many patients were involved, or what methods were used, so the claims in them can't be checked.[1,2]
- The human trials are very small, 36 and 15 people, and one had no control group at all — it compared patients only to their own symptoms before treatment, which can't rule out natural improvement over time.[1,2]
Why people try it
- Hemorrhoids are embarrassing to talk about, so people look for something they can try privately with items already in the kitchen or bathroom.
- Oils feel soothing on contact, and that immediate comfort can feel like proof it's working, even without lasting improvement.
- Online articles and forums often repeat the same claims about coconut or castor oil, which can make the idea seem better-tested than it is.
- People want to avoid medicated creams or an awkward doctor's visit for something they find private and uncomfortable.
What the studies found
- Found a benefit5 · 83%
- Mixed or unclear1 · 17%
What kind of studies
- Narrative review2 · 33%
- Randomised trial2 · 33%
- Animal study1 · 17%
- Prospective cohort1 · 17%
The studies that decided it
Balkrishna et al. 2024
Co-administration of Ayurvedic medicines Arshogrit and Jatyadi Ghrit, attenuate croton oil-induced hemorrhoids in rat model of recto-anal inflammation by modulating TNF-α and IL-1β levels
Herbal mix helped rats, not relevant oilsAnimal studyVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2024
Combined herbal treatment reduced swelling, bleeding, tissue damage and inflammatory cytokines in a rat model of hemorrhoids
- Who was studied
- Rats with croton-oil-induced hemorrhoids (not human patients)
- What they received
- Oral Arshogrit plus topical Jatyadi Ghrit, Ayurvedic herbal medicines (not coconut, olive, castor oil, or essential oils)
- Compared with
- Croton oil alone (untreated) and prednisolone as standard drug
- Main outcome
- Reduction in hemorrhoid-like tissue damage and inflammatory markers in rats
- Quality
- This is an animal study using different herbal medicines, not a human trial of the oils in question, so it cannot show whether coconut, olive, castor, or essential oils help people.
- Limitations
- Animal model only, different intervention (Ayurvedic herbal preparations, not the oils being asked about), no human data, no participant count reported since this is not a human study.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
rat model of croton oil-induced hemorrhoids
- intervention
The in-vivo efficacy of the co-administration of AG, which was administered orally at the doses of 20, 60 and 200 mg/kg/day and JG, which was topically applied (100 mg/animal/day) was evaluated in Wistar rats
- comparator
Prednisolone was employed as the standard drug and was administered orally at the dose of 1 mg/kg/day
- primaryOutcome
To study the efficacy of co-administration of Arshogrit (AG) and Jatyadi Ghrit (JG), two herb-based Ayurvedic medicines, in rat model of croton oil-induced hemorrhoids
- result
AG and JG were able to attenuate the croton oil-induced macro and microscopic anomalies
Drug Dev Ind Pharm · PMID 39565131 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Almeida-Bezerra et al. 2022
Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivities of Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze
Not actually tested for hemorrhoids.Narrative reviewVery low qualityRelated question
size not given2022
Hemorrhoids is listed only as one of many traditional uses of the plant; no study or data on its effectiveness for hemorrhoids is reported
- Who was studied
- people using traditional herbal remedies for various ailments including hemorrhoids
- What they received
- Mesosphaerum suaveolens plant extracts/essential oil (general phytochemistry and traditional use review)
- Main outcome
- not tested for hemorrhoids specifically - review covers antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, larvicidal and allelopathic activities
- Quality
- This is a general phytochemistry review that only mentions hemorrhoids as one of many traditional folk uses, with no actual study testing the plant for hemorrhoid treatment.
- Limitations
- No methodology for how traditional-use claims were verified; no clinical or experimental data on hemorrhoids specifically; different plant species than coconut, olive, castor oil, or Myrtus communis.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze is a species widely used traditionally in the treatment of ailments, such as stomach pain, hemorrhoids, cough, verminosis, ulcer, liver disease, fever, influenza, nasal congestion, and inflammation.
- intervention
especially regarding the chemical composition of its essential oil
- primaryOutcome
biological activities, such as allelopathic, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, and larvicidal activities as described in the literature.
- result
Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze is a species widely used traditionally in the treatment of ailments, such as stomach pain, hemorrhoids, cough, verminosis, ulcer, liver disease, fever, influenza, nasal congestion, and inflammation.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 35310039 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Mahboubi 2017
Effectiveness of Myrtus communis in the treatment of hemorrhoids
Said to ease hemorrhoid symptomsNarrative reviewVery low quality
size not given2017
The review reports that clinical studies found M. communis essential oil significantly improved bleeding, pain, anal irritation, itching and heaviness, including in patients who had not responded to standard treatment
- Who was studied
- Adults with hemorrhoids types I and II
- What they received
- Myrtus communis essential oil (as lotion or ointment)
- Compared with
- No comparator specified; some patients had not responded to standard anti-hemorrhoid ointment
- Main outcome
- Bleeding, pain, anal irritation, itching and heaviness symptoms
- Quality
- This is a narrative review with no described methodology, no sample sizes, and no systematic search or appraisal of the studies it summarizes, so its claims of benefit cannot be verified or weighed for bias.
- Limitations
- No methodology is described for how studies were selected or appraised; no participant numbers, study designs, or statistical results are given; this is a narrative summary rather than primary research or a systematic review.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
patients with hemorrhoids types I and II
- intervention
M. communis essential oil (lotion or ointment)
- comparator
M. communis was also effective in treating patients who did not respond to current chemical treatments (anti-hemorrhoids ointment)
- primaryOutcome
bleeding, permanent pain, pain during defecation, anal irritation, anal itching and anal heaviness
- result
The results of clinical studies showed that M. communis essential oil (lotion or ointment) can significantly improve bleeding, permanent pain, pain during defecation, anal irritation, anal itching and anal heaviness in patients with hemorrhoids types I and II.
J Integr Med · PMID 28844211 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Joksimovic et al. 2012
Efficacy and tolerability of hyaluronic acid, tea tree oil and methyl-sulfonyl-methane in a new gel medical device for treatment of haemorrhoids in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Fewer hemorrhoid symptoms than placeboRandomised trialLow qualityRelated question
36 people14 days
The active gel significantly reduced all measured hemorrhoid symptoms compared with placebo, with good safety and tolerability
- Who was studied
- Adults with grade 1-3 hemorrhoids
- What they received
- A gel containing hyaluronic acid, tea tree oil, and methyl-sulfonyl-methane applied topically
- Compared with
- Placebo gel
- Main outcome
- Change in anal pain, pain during bowel movements, bleeding, itching, and irritation/inflammation after 14 days
- Quality
- Small trial of only 36 people over just two weeks, and the tested product combines three active ingredients so tea tree oil's own effect can't be separated out.
- Limitations
- Very small sample (36 patients), short 14-day follow-up, and the tested product is a three-ingredient combination (hyaluronic acid, tea tree oil, methyl-sulfonyl-methane) rather than tea tree oil alone, so the effect of the oil itself cannot be isolated.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
36 haemorrhoidal patients (grade 1-3) was enrolled
- intervention
a new gel medical device (Proctoial) containing hyaluronic acid with tea tree oil and methyl-sulfonyl-methane as major components
- comparator
double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- primaryOutcome
The anal pain, pain during defecation, visible bleeding, pruritus and irritation/inflammation were recorded before and after 14-day treatment
- result
The new gel medical device statistically significantly reduced all the symptoms after the treatment compared to placebo.
- n
The total number of 36 haemorrhoidal patients (grade 1-3) was enrolled
Updates Surg · PMID 22492249 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Arsić et al. 2011
Estimation of dermatological application of creams with St. John's Wort oil extracts
Reduced skin irritation, not tested on hemorrhoidsRandomised trialVery low qualityRelated question
size not givenseven-day treatment
After seven days the creams reduced skin irritation back to baseline levels and showed antimicrobial activity, but this was tested on an experimental skin-irritation model, not on hemorrhoid patients
- Who was studied
- people with skin irritated by a sodium lauryl sulphate test (not hemorrhoid patients)
- What they received
- cream containing 15% St. John's Wort oil extract, made with olive, palm or sunflower oil
- Compared with
- skin condition before treatment (baseline)
- Main outcome
- skin irritation measures (electrical capacitance and erythema index) and antimicrobial activity
- Quality
- No participant numbers are given, the test is a skin-irritation model rather than actual hemorrhoid patients, and the oil is a St. John's Wort extract rather than plain olive, coconut, or castor oil.
- Limitations
- No patient numbers reported; uses a sodium lauryl sulphate skin-irritation model instead of real hemorrhoid patients; tests a St. John's Wort herbal extract, not the plain oils in question.
Taken word for word from the abstract
- population
using a sodium lauryl sulphate test
- intervention
three O/W creams containing 15% (w/v) of SJW oil extract as an active ingredient
- intervention
different vegetable oils used as an extractant, namely: Olive, palm and sunflower oil
- comparator
restored to the baseline value after a seven-day treatment with the tested creams
- primaryOutcome
Both skin parameters assessed in the study (electrical capacitance and erythema index)
- result
demonstrated significant antiinflammatory effects in an in vivo double-blind randomized study
- result
restored to the baseline value after a seven-day treatment with the tested creams
- result
displayed the same antimicrobial activity against the most of the investigated microorganisms
Molecules · PMID 22205093 · Read it on PubMed ↗
Al-Waili et al. 2006
The safety and efficacy of a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax for the management of hemorrhoids and anal fissure: a pilot study
Less bleeding and itching with honey-oil blendProspective cohortVery low qualityRelated question
15 people4 weeks
Bleeding and itching were significantly reduced in patients with hemorrhoids; pain, bleeding and itching were significantly reduced in patients with anal fissure, with no reported side effects
- Who was studied
- Adults with anal fissure or first- to third-degree hemorrhoids
- What they received
- Topical application of a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax (1:1:1) for 12 hours
- Compared with
- None – symptom scores before treatment compared with after treatment
- Main outcome
- Change in bleeding, itching, swelling, redness and pain scores over up to 4 weeks
- Quality
- This was a tiny, uncontrolled pilot study with no comparison group, no blinding, and a mixed population of fissure and hemorrhoid patients, so it can't reliably show the oil blend itself works.
- Limitations
- No control group, no randomization or blinding, very small sample mixing two different conditions, and the treatment was a honey-olive oil-beeswax blend rather than olive oil alone, so olive oil's individual effect cannot be isolated
Taken word for word from the abstract
- n
Fifteen consecutive patients, 13 males and 2 females, median age 45 years (range: 28-70)
- population
who presented with anal fissure (5 patients) or first- to third-degree hemorrhoids (4 with first degree, 4 with second degree, and 2 with third degree)
- intervention
were treated with a 12-h application of a natural mixture containing honey, olive oil, and beeswax in ratio of 1:1:1(v/v/v)
- comparator
Efficacy of treatment was assessed by comparing the symptoms' score before and after treatment
- primaryOutcome
Bleeding, itching, edema, and erythema were measured using a scoring method
- result
The honey mixture significantly reduced bleeding and relieved itching in patients with hemorrhoids. Patients with anal fissure showed significant reduction in pain, bleeding, and itching after the treatment.
ScientificWorldJournal · PMID 17369999 · Read it on PubMed ↗
What actually helps, on this site
More about the condition:
All 6 studiesEvery study that answered the question, with its design, size and result.
How we searchedThe exact query, the date it ran, and what came back — so you can run it yourself.
- Searched
- PubMed · ClinicalTrials.gov · Crossref on 2026-11-02
- The exact search — paste this into PubMed to repeat it
("Hemorrhoids"[Mesh] OR hemorrhoid*[tiab] OR piles[tiab]) AND ("Plant Oils"[Mesh] OR "Coconut Oil"[tiab] OR "Olive Oil"[Mesh] OR "Castor Oil"[Mesh] OR "Oils, Volatile"[Mesh] OR essential oil*[tiab] OR aromatherapy[tiab] OR coconut oil[tiab] OR olive oil[tiab] OR castor oil[tiab])- PubMed expanded that to:
("Hemorrhoids"[MeSH Terms] OR "hemorrhoid*"[Title/Abstract] OR "piles"[Title/Abstract]) AND ("Plant Oils"[MeSH Terms] OR "Coconut Oil"[Title/Abstract] OR "Olive Oil"[MeSH Terms] OR "Castor Oil"[MeSH Terms] OR "oils, volatile"[MeSH Terms] OR "essential oil*"[Title/Abstract] OR "aromatherapy"[Title/Abstract] OR "Coconut Oil"[Title/Abstract] OR "Olive Oil"[Title/Abstract] OR "Castor Oil"[Title/Abstract]) - What came back
- 67 records found · 67 read · 6 answered the question
- Included
- Human, animal or laboratory studies reporting an outcome relevant to the question
- Excluded
- Records about a different condition or intervention
- Records reporting no outcome
- Retracted publications, which are listed but excluded from every count
- Limits
- Details were read from abstracts, not full papers, so anything reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured here.
- Fields were read from abstracts, not full text, so detail reported only in a paper's methods section is not captured.
- Evidence strength is adapted from the GRADE framework. It is not a GRADE assessment and was not produced by a GRADE panel.
Automated evidence review — PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Crossref. Search strategy, grading rules and the checks that must pass before anything publishes were written by Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, colon & rectal surgery, Beverly Hills. The pages themselves are compiled by software running that method and are not read one by one before publication — saying otherwise would be the one claim here that could not be checked.
- 67records came back from the search
- 67were read
- 6actually answered the question
Risks and safetyReported side effects and who should be careful.
- No side effects were reported in the few small trials, but they tested oil blends, not the plain coconut, olive, castor, or essential oils people are asking about, so this doesn't confirm those plain oils are free of problems.
Common questionsShort answers, drawn from the same studies.
- Does coconut oil help hemorrhoids?
- No study has tested coconut oil on hemorrhoids in people. There's no research showing it helps, but there's also none showing it doesn't — it simply hasn't been checked in a trial.
- What is the best oil for hemorrhoids?
- No research compares different oils against each other for hemorrhoids, so there's no evidence-based answer to which works best. The small trials that exist tested oils mixed with other ingredients, not a single oil on its own.
- Does castor oil help with hemorrhoid relief?
- No trial has tested castor oil for hemorrhoids. There's no evidence either way, so any benefit is unproven.
- Can essential oils shrink hemorrhoids?
- No study has measured whether essential oils shrink hemorrhoids or change their grade. The closest evidence is small trials of tea tree oil combined with other ingredients, which looked at symptoms like pain and bleeding, not size.
- Does oil pulling cure piles?
- Oil pulling (swishing oil in the mouth) hasn't been studied for hemorrhoids at all. It's a different practice aimed at a different part of the body, so there's no evidence connecting it to hemorrhoid symptoms.
What has changedEvery re-check, and whether it changed the answer.
2026-11-02
Re-reviewed under a revised method. 1 new study · 13 no longer retrieved.
This is information, not advice
This page summarises published research. It cannot tell you what is happening in your own body, and evidence changes. If something is bleeding, painful, or new, it is worth being looked at — that is a different question from the one on this page, and a better one to bring to a consultation.
Contact the officeAutomated evidence review — PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Crossref. Search strategy, grading rules and the checks that must pass before anything publishes were written by Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, colon & rectal surgery, Beverly Hills. The pages themselves are compiled by software running that method and are not read one by one before publication — saying otherwise would be the one claim here that could not be checked.