Olive oil can help with hemorrhoids in two ways: taken by mouth, it softens stool and reduces the straining that makes hemorrhoids worse, and applied to the skin, it may soothe irritation and inflammation around the affected area. Neither use is a cure, but both have reasonable evidence behind them as part of a broader management plan.
How Olive Oil Helps From the Inside
The biggest favor you can do for hemorrhoids is to stop straining on the toilet. Hard, dry stool forces you to push, which increases pressure on the veins in your rectum and anus. That pressure is what causes hemorrhoids to swell, bleed, and hurt. Anything that makes bowel movements easier takes direct pressure off the problem.
Olive oil works as a mild, natural laxative through a few different mechanisms. First, it physically lubricates the intestinal lining, helping stool slide through more easily. Second, the plant compounds in olive oil (particularly abundant in extra virgin varieties) trigger gentle contractions in the large intestine and increase the secretion of water into the intestinal tract. The result is softer, bulkier stool that passes without straining. These same compounds also appear to support a healthier balance of gut bacteria and stimulate bile acid production, both of which improve overall digestive regularity.
Extra virgin olive oil outperforms refined olive oil for constipation relief because it retains far more of these active plant compounds. Refined olive oil still has lubricating properties, but the extra virgin version gives you both the lubrication and the intestinal stimulation.
How Much to Take Orally
Clinical trials have tested olive oil at doses ranging from about 4 mL per day (just under a teaspoon) up to 40 mL per day (roughly 2.5 tablespoons) without reported side effects. In one constipation study, patients started at 4 mL daily and adjusted upward as needed, with the average effective dose landing around 5 to 6 mL per day, or just over a teaspoon. That’s a modest amount you can easily drizzle on salad, mix into pasta, or take straight.
Starting small is smart. A tablespoon or two on an empty stomach in the morning is a common folk approach, but even a teaspoon daily may be enough to notice softer stools within a few days. Too much at once can cause loose stools or mild nausea, so work up gradually if you want more effect.
Topical Use for Hemorrhoid Symptoms
Applying olive oil directly to external hemorrhoids is a traditional remedy, and there is some clinical evidence supporting it, though not for olive oil alone. A pilot study tested a mixture of equal parts honey, olive oil, and beeswax on patients with first- through third-degree hemorrhoids. Patients applied the mixture for 12 hours at a time, and the treatment significantly reduced bleeding and relieved itching. No side effects were reported.
That study used a specific 1:1:1 ratio of honey, olive oil, and beeswax, so the benefits likely came from the combination rather than olive oil by itself. Honey has well-documented antibacterial and wound-healing properties, and beeswax forms a protective barrier that holds moisture against the skin. Olive oil contributes its own anti-inflammatory compounds and acts as a carrier that keeps the mixture spreadable. If you want to try this approach, mixing roughly equal amounts of raw honey, olive oil, and beeswax (melted and cooled) creates a simple balm you can apply to the area after cleaning.
Plain olive oil on its own can still serve as a gentle moisturizer for irritated skin around hemorrhoids. It won’t sting, it’s unlikely to cause a reaction, and it creates a thin protective layer that reduces friction. Apply a small amount with a clean finger or cotton pad after bathing.
Extra Virgin vs. Refined for Hemorrhoids
For oral use, extra virgin olive oil is the better choice. It contains significantly more of the plant compounds responsible for stimulating intestinal contractions and water secretion. Refined olive oil still lubricates, but you lose much of the active benefit. For topical use, the difference matters less since you’re mainly relying on the oil’s moisturizing and barrier properties rather than its internal effects on digestion.
Pairing Olive Oil With Other Approaches
Olive oil works best as one piece of a larger strategy. Fiber is the cornerstone of hemorrhoid management. Most adults need 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day, and most get about half that. Increasing fiber through fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains adds bulk to stool and makes it easier to pass. Olive oil complements fiber by adding lubrication and stimulating the intestinal movement that pushes that bulkier stool along.
Water matters just as much. Fiber without adequate fluid can actually make constipation worse, so aim for at least 6 to 8 glasses a day. Physical activity also promotes regular bowel habits by stimulating natural intestinal contractions.
For immediate symptom relief while you work on the dietary side, warm sitz baths (sitting in a few inches of warm water for 10 to 15 minutes) reduce swelling and ease pain. Over-the-counter creams containing witch hazel or a mild numbing agent can help with itching and discomfort. Olive oil, whether taken internally or applied topically, layers on top of these measures rather than replacing them.
Limitations Worth Knowing
The clinical evidence for olive oil specifically targeting hemorrhoids is thin. The topical study involved only 15 patients and used olive oil as part of a three-ingredient mixture, not alone. The oral constipation research is stronger but studied constipation generally, not hemorrhoid patients specifically. The logic connecting softer stools to less hemorrhoid aggravation is sound, but no large trial has directly measured olive oil’s effect on hemorrhoid outcomes.
Olive oil also adds calories. A tablespoon contains about 120 calories, so if you’re taking it daily, factor that into your overall intake. And while topical application is safe for most people, avoid applying any oil to broken skin or open wounds without cleaning the area first, since oil can trap bacteria against raw tissue.