Best Drinks for Hemorrhoids

Water, prune juice and caffeine-free tea are the best drinks for hemorrhoids because they support hydration, and prune juice may also help with constipation.

The goal is to make stools easier to pass and reduce straining, not to cure hemorrhoids with a drink. For related approaches, browse natural remedies by health goal.

What are the 4 best drinks for hemorrhoids?

The most useful choice depends on whether you need a convenient way to drink more fluid or help with occasional constipation.

Evidence for specific drinks is limited. A 2010 review of supportive therapies for anorectal conditions discusses low fluid intake as a possible contributing factor, but it does not establish that any particular drink treats hemorrhoids.

1. Water

Water is the simplest everyday choice for supporting hydration. Drinking enough fluid helps keep stools from becoming dry, although constipation can have several causes and does not always improve just by drinking more water.

Keep water available and drink regularly with meals and between them. Plain tap or bottled water is fine; neither warm nor chilled water has been shown to be a better treatment for hemorrhoids. If you already drink enough, forcing extra water is unlikely to offer additional relief.

Water works alongside dietary fiber, which helps form softer, easier-to-pass stools. For food choices that complement your drinks, see the best foods for hemorrhoids. Increase fiber gradually and drink enough fluid with it, since a sudden increase can cause gas or discomfort.

Evidence strength: Hydration is a sensible part of constipation care, but the available hemorrhoid evidence does not prove that water alone shrinks hemorrhoids or resolves bleeding.

2. Prune juice

Prune juice may be useful when constipation and straining are part of the problem. It contains sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that can draw water into the bowel and help some people pass stool. Softer stools may make bowel movements more comfortable, but the juice does not directly treat a swollen hemorrhoid.

Try a small serving, such as ½ cup (120 mL), and see how your body responds. This is a practical starting amount, not a proven treatment dose. You can drink it on its own or dilute it with water if you prefer a less concentrated taste.

More is not necessarily better: prune juice can cause gas, cramps or diarrhea, which can make the anal area uncomfortable. Juice also does not replace fiber-rich foods; much of the fiber in whole fruit is absent from juice. For other options and their limitations, see the best juices for hemorrhoids.

Evidence strength: The possible bowel effect is based on the properties of prune juice, not on a hemorrhoid treatment trial in the evidence provided. Individual responses vary.

3. Caffeine-free tea

Caffeine-free tea can make it easier to drink fluids if you do not enjoy plain water. Its main role here is hydration; drinking a warm beverage may feel comfortable, but there is no established temperature or herbal ingredient that cures hemorrhoids.

Choose a plain caffeine-free tea you tolerate and drink it warm or chilled. Check the ingredient list rather than assuming every product labeled “herbal” is suitable for you. Some blends contain several herbs or laxative ingredients, which may cause cramps or diarrhea.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication, or are choosing a tea for a child, ask a clinician or pharmacist about the specific ingredients first. A product being sold as tea does not guarantee it is appropriate for everyone. Read more about the best tea for hemorrhoids.

Evidence strength: No tea is established as a hemorrhoid treatment by the available evidence. Any benefit described here is primarily from its contribution to fluid intake.

4. Low-sodium broth

Broth is another way to consume fluid, particularly if you prefer something savory. It can contribute to overall hydration, but it has no demonstrated special action on hemorrhoids. Choose a low-sodium broth when possible, since the sodium content of packaged products can vary considerably.

Have a cup with a meal or as a warm drink. Broth should be an alternative to some of your usual fluids, not a reason to force yourself to drink beyond your needs. If you have been told to limit sodium or fluid because of a medical condition, check with your care team before using it regularly.

Evidence strength: There is no direct evidence in the listed research that broth treats hemorrhoids. Its practical benefit is that it provides fluid. For non-drink measures that may ease discomfort, see these home remedies for hemorrhoids.

Which drinks should you limit or avoid?

You do not need to eliminate every drink other than water. Pay attention to drinks that make your own bowel movements harder or looser, and choose options you can tolerate consistently.

• Alcohol: Limit it, especially if it leaves you dehydrated or replaces water and other fluids. Alcohol is not a treatment for hemorrhoids.
• Very sugary drinks: These are not necessary for hydration and can crowd out water or more balanced choices. Some people also find that sweet drinks upset their digestion.
• Drinks that cause diarrhea: Large amounts of prune juice or drinks containing sugar alcohols may cause loose stools and irritation. Reduce or stop a drink if it has that effect.
• Caffeinated drinks that bother you: Coffee and caffeinated tea can contribute to fluid intake, so they do not automatically need to be avoided. If caffeine triggers loose stools or discomfort for you, try reducing it or choosing a caffeine-free alternative.

A drink that causes no symptoms for one person may bother another. Persistent diarrhea or constipation deserves medical advice rather than an increasingly restrictive drink list.

How much should you drink for hemorrhoids?

The U.S. National Academies’ general adequate intakes for adults are 2.7 L, or about 11 cups, of total water per day for women and 3.7 L, or about 15½ cups, for men; these amounts include water from food and all beverages, not just plain water. The ai symptom analyzer may help you organize questions about symptoms, but it cannot diagnose the cause of rectal bleeding or replace a clinician.

These figures are general reference points, not a prescription to drink that amount of water on top of meals and other beverages. Needs vary with activity, climate, pregnancy, breastfeeding and health conditions. Drink regularly and use thirst as one guide, rather than trying to reach a target as quickly as possible.

If you have kidney disease, heart failure or another condition requiring a fluid limit, follow your clinician’s individual advice instead of increasing fluids on your own. Drinking excessive water can also be harmful. If constipation continues despite adequate fluids and a gradual increase in fiber, ask a clinician what else may be contributing and whether additional treatment is appropriate.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

Rectal bleeding should not automatically be assumed to come from hemorrhoids. Arrange a medical assessment for new or recurring bleeding, or if symptoms have not improved after about a week of home care. Also contact a clinician if you have a persistent change in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, or ongoing abdominal discomfort.

Seek urgent care for substantial or ongoing rectal bleeding, bleeding with dizziness or fainting, black or tarry stools, or severe anal pain, particularly if it occurs with fever. These symptoms need assessment rather than treatment with drinks at home.

Contact a clinician promptly about rectal bleeding if you take a blood thinner or another medicine that increases bleeding risk. Do not stop a prescribed medication without medical advice. Pregnant or breastfeeding people and parents of children with suspected hemorrhoids should also ask a clinician for individualized guidance, particularly before using herbal products or laxatives.

Drinks can support easier bowel movements, but they are not a substitute for an examination when symptoms persist or are concerning.