COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEMORRHOIDS

Abstract: Effective treatment of hemorrhoids is provided by applying to the navel a non-toxic topical formulation of a terpene in a skin wetting carrier medium. The preferred terpenes are camphor and menthol. The carrier medium can be a liquid, cream, ointment, jelly, or any other convenient form, including sprays and aerosol sprays, and is periodically applied to the navel of the patient over a period of about one or two weeks.

Description: COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEMORRHOIDS The present invention relates to a composition of a method for the treatment of hemorrhoids. More particularly, it relates to a topical composition which is periodically applied to the navel of the patient, and which results in ameliorating of hemorrhoids and related disorders. The ubiquitous problem of hemorrhoids has not heretofore been treated with consistent success, either by surgery or by the employment of anal creams, jellies, suppositories, and the like. Such treatments are clearly symptomatic in character and afford only temporary relief in a majority of cases. The recurrence of the problem is the rule rather than the exception. The desirability of an effective treatment for the cure of hemorrhoids is readily apparent, and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a composition and methof for the treatment of hemorrhoids which causes an effective and permanent remission rather than temporary symptomatic relief. These and still other objects, as will become apparent, are afforded by the composition and method of the present invention, as detailed in the following disclosure. There has been found that a concentration of nerves, related to the digestive tract generally, and to the colon and rectum in particular, are concentrated inthe residuum of the umbilical cord. It has further been found that these nerves can be locally anesthetized, with the result of rapid remission and apparent cure of hemorrhoids. The umbilical nerves can be suitably anesthetized by the topical application to the navel of a suitable local anesthetic, preferably a turpene such as camphor or menthol in a suitable carrier medium. The 2 suitable local anesthetic, preferably a terpene such as camphor or menthol in a suitable carrier medium. The local anesthetic should should be employed in non-toxic and non-irritating dosage levels, and should be dissolved or disbursed in a suitable medium which will effectively wet the skin so that the anesthetic can be absorbed therein with maximum effectiveness. The terpenes, and particularly menthol and camphor, are substantially preferred in the composition of the present invention, although any suitable local anesthetic which will penetrate the skin and effectively anesthetize the nerve ganglia located in the umbilical residuum can be employed. The terpene materials preferred in the present invention because of their high level of effectiveness, low level of toxicity, and the moderate expense entailed. Such terpene materials are readily absorbed through the skin and serve to effectively anesthetize the nerve ganglia, and are relatively low in -toxic character when incorporated in suitable carrier media. While more complex and less readily available anesthetic agents can also be employed, the convenience and economy of camphor and menthol are exceptionally high. In addition, such materials are readily formulated with a variety of carrier media with few problem of incompatibility, stability, or the production of side effects. The carrier medium can be substantially any conventional carrier which is physically and chemically compatible with the anesthetic agent, and can be in the form of liquid, cream, ointments, jellies, or sprays. Such topical carrier media are exceptionally well known to the art and need not be discussed in detail for a clear understanding for those of ordinary skill in the art. The composition can be applied at any convenient and conventional fashion to the navel, including the 3 employment of liquid dropper apparatus, aersol sprays, solid stick compositions, or simply topical creams which are applied and rubbed into the navel. In most formulations, it is helpful to include a component which causes the composition to readily wet the skin of the patient, although the inclusion of wetting agents in such carrier formulations is usual and wholly conventional. The concentration of the anesthetic agent in the carrier and the dosage of application of the formulation are not narrowly critical variables in the present invention. It has been found that when the anesthetic is incorporated in the formulation at levels from about 2.5 to 10 percent by weight, no irritation of the skin or other undesirable side effects will result, regardless of the dosage applied to the navel region. At such concentrations, the minimum dosage for effective results is about the minimum amount which can conveniently be applied, e.g., in the case of a liquid, one drop is ordinarily sufficient. The operation of the composition and method of the present invention is enhanced, however, by the application of a plurality of dosages, at about 24 hour intervals for a period of about 7 to 10 days. Still better results have been found to occur when the composition is applied topically once daily for about 2 or 3 days, and the routine is then interrupted for a period of 2 or 3 days, and then initiated again for about 7 to 10 days. At the conclusion of the administration as outlined, in most patients, hemorrhoids will have been eliminated, together with itching, pain, bleeding, and other symptoms associated with the condition. Even in patients where the problem is not entirely eliminated at the conclusions of treatment, the symtoms are quite substantially reduced, and will continue to regress without the utilizatino of further treatment. 4 The operation of the composition and method of the present invention are not clearly understood at present, but it is believed that the local anesthetic agent operates upon the nerves associated with the umbilical cord residuum in the naval, ' and that these nerves by virtue of their involvement in the digestive tract, are associated with the causes of hem orhoids and related conditions. The mechanism by which the anesthetic operates upon the nerves and the effect of such anesthetization upon the digestive tract is at present unknown. Accordingly, applicants do not wish to be bound by any theory of the mode of operation of the composition or the method of the present invention. The composition of the present invention can be understood with reference to the following specific embodiment of Example 1, which is a preferred mode of formulating the composition of the present invention. The specific embodiment of Example 1 should not be narrowly construed but rather should be considered merely exemplary of the composition. Example 1 A solution is formulated comprising 88.5% by weight ethanol (U.S.P. 190 Proof) 5.5% by weight camphor (ϋ.S.P.) 1.0% by weight coconut oil, 5.0% by weight Surfa M-801, a proprietary masking and perfuming agent manufactured by Stepan Chemical Company, Maywood, Division, Maywood, New Jersey. In the composition, the coconut oil serves as a wetting agent and causes the composition to readily wet the skin. Camphor is a well known local anesthetic having a relatively low level of toxicity, while the ethyl alcohol serves as an effective carrier medium, and is believed to contribute to a minor 5 degree to the anesthetic action of the composition, and in addition, is believed to aid in the penetration of the skin by the camphor. The administration of the composition of the present invention is exemplified by the following example utilizing the composition of Example 1. Again, it should be noted, that the Examples are not intended to define the scope of the invention, but merely to illustrate the composition and method of the present invention. Example 2 Four patients suffering from hemorrhoids were supplied with the composition of Example 1 in a dropper bottle. Each patient administered two drops to the navel at bedtime on the first, second and third days, suspended the treatment on the fourth through sixth days, and then on days seven through thirteen, again applied two drops to the navel each day at bedtime. At the conclusion of the 13th day, treatment was suspended and each patient was examined. Each was found to have normal rectal conditions and reported the eliminatin of subjective symptoms including pain and itching. One of the patients had suffered from chronic diarrhea for a substantial period of time. The composition of the present invention proved to eliminate the condition and the patient achieved regularity of bowel movements in addition to the elimination of hemorrhoids. The foregoing disclosure is submitted solely to inform those of ordinary skill in the art and to exemplify the composition and method of the present invention, and accordingly should not be construed as limiting upon the scope of the invention. Since many variations of the composition and method of the present 6 invention will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art, it is intended to define the scope of the present invention in the following appended claims:

Claims: 7 CLAIMS 1. A method for treating hemorrhoids to ameliorate the condition thereof comprising the steps of: a. percutaneously applying to the patient a dose of about 0.025-0.075 ml of treatment composition consisting essentially of about 2.5% - 10%, by weight, 2-camphanone and about 90%-97.5%, by weight, carrier; b. allowing the treatment dose to reside on the patient's skin, whereby the 2-camphanone will be percutaneously assimilated by the patient; and c. repeating steps a. and b. daily for at least ten days. 2. A method as in claim 1 comprising repeating steps a. and b. for at least two weeks. 3. A method as in claim 1 comprising repeating steps a. and b. for about four weeks. 4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said treatment composition consists essentially of about 5.5%, by weight, 2-camphanone and about 94.5%, by weight, carrier. 5. A method as in claim 4 wherein the carrier consists essentially of about 93.6% ethanol, 1.1% wetting agent, and * 5.3% odor masking and perfuming agent, all expressed as weight per cent of carrier. 6. A method as in claim 5 wherein the wetting agent is coconut oil. 7. A method as in claim 1 comprising percutaneously applying a treatment dose of about 0.05 ml of treatment composition. 8. A method as in claim 7 comprising percutaneously applying the treatment dose to the patient's navel. 9. a treatment composition suitable for percutaneous application to humans for treating hemorrhoids to ameliorate the condition thereof, said composition consisting essentially of about 2.5% - 10%, by weight, 2-camphanone and about 90% - 97.5%, by weight, carrier. 10. A treatment composition as in claim 9 consisting essentially of about 5.5%, by weight, 2-camphanone and about 94.5%, by weight, carrier. 11. A treatment composition as in claim 10 wherein the carrier consists essentially of about 93.6% ethanol, 1.1% wetting agent, and 5.3% odor masking and perfuming agent, all expressed as weight per cent of carrier.—

Inventors: BELTON HUNTER M, GAGNE CYRIL, BELTON, HUNTER, M., GAGNE, CYRIL
Applicants: B & M CHEMICAL ESCROW, B&M CHEMICAL ESCROW
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: A61K31, C07C49