Anal Fissure (adjunctive care)
Also known as: anal fissure, tear in the anus, painful bowel motions
An anal fissure is a small tear in the anal lining, causing sharp pain and bleeding with bowel motions. Most heal with stool softening, warm sitz baths and topical treatment; persistent fissures need medical review. Chinese medicine sees dryness, heat and stasis in the intestine and treats the constipation, local spasm and local blood flow.
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Lifestyle & Diet
- •Keep stools soft with fibre, fluids and movement — straining re-tears the fissure.
- •Warm sitz baths two or three times daily.
- •Continue the prescribed ointment for the full course even when pain eases.
- •Avoid long toilet sitting and straining.
Cautions & Contraindications
- •Do not apply herbal pastes inside the anal canal without practitioner prescription.[]
- •Persistent fissures beyond 8 weeks need medical review for further options.[]
When to reassess or seek care again
Review at 2–4 weeks: pain score, bleeding, stool softness. Escalate to a colorectal review if not healing.
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Sources & Further Reading
Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.
- NICE · 2024
- National Library of Medicine · 2024
- Healthdirect Australia · 2024
Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.