A sitz bath is a form of hydrotherapy. It is used as an effective treatment for many different ailments including hemorrhoids, prostate conditions, uterine cramps and muscular disorders, constipation, vaginal discharge, inflammation and many others. In some cases, sitz baths are used as a form of treatment after certain surgical procedures to help relieve pain and facilitate healing.
A sitz bath can be made with hot or cold water. The temperature of water that you use will depend on the condition that you are treating. In some cases, additional ingredients can be added to a sitz bath to help increase it’s healing power. If you are suffering from conditions such as hemorrhoids, uterine cramps, painful testicles or prostate problems, a hot sitz bath will work best for you.
On the other hand, if you are suffering from constipation, vaginal discharge or inflammation a cold sitz bath should be used instead. In some cases, alternating between hot and cold sitz baths is your best form of treatment. If you are experiencing abdominal disorders, headaches or congestion, you should alternate between hot and cold sitz baths for your treatment.
To prepare your sitz bath, you will need to fill a bathtub or basin with enough water so that your hips are covered and the water reaches the middle of your abdomen. If you are using a hot sitz bath treatment, the water temperature in your tub or basin should be about 110 degrees. This is a very hot bath, and if you feel too uncomfortable, remove yourself from the tub and allow the water to cool to about 90-100 degrees, or drain some of the water and add a small amount of cold water. If you are using a cold water treatment, you should only use cold water and add no additional hot water to the tub. If necessary, cover the top half of your body with a blanket to hold in warmth.
Stay in the sitz bath for 20-30 minutes. If you have taken a hot sitz bath, after you are done you can splash parts of your body with cool, not cold, water to help you cool off a little. If you are taking a cold sitz bath, you will only need to immerse yourself in the tub for 45-60 seconds and no longer. Staying in the tub for longer will provide no additional benefits to you and can be dangerous. If you are alternating baths, you will need to have two separate tubs filled with hot and cold water each. Immerse yourself in the hot water for 2-4 minutes, then switch to the cold tub for 45-60 seconds. Do this two or three times.
A sitz bath is a wonderful naturally remedy for many conditions. It’s easy to do and will help to provide immediate relief and healing to the complications you are suffering from. It is recommended however, that you do not perform sitz baths alone and have some there to supervise while you are taking them.
