Hemorrhoids historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [2]

Overview

Hemorrhoids were first discovered by ancient Egyptians more than 3,700 years ago.

Hemorrhoids were known 3,700 years ago by ancient Egyptians. A recipe for an ointment made of ground acacia leaves was described in an ancient Egyptian manuscript.
The ancient Greek medical textbook “Hippocratic Corpus” described a maneuver that is similar to rubber band ligation as we know it today.
Roman encyclopedist Aulus Cornelius Celsus described band ligation and discussed possible complications. The Roman surgeon Galen suggested severing the connection between arteries and veins in an attempt to relieve the pain and the spread of infection.
During the sixth century, hemorrhoids were known as Saint Fiacre’s curse after a saint who developed them after working in his farm.
In 1398, the word “hemorrhoids” was first used in English after the French word “emorroides,” which developed from the Latin word “hæmorrhoida”. “Hæmorrhoida” means liable to bleeding.