Sitz bath is highly recommended by many professional doctors or alternative medicine practitioners as the healing treatments for episiotomies from childbirth, hemorrhoids, anal or vaginal fissures, and other conditions. This process is often used in hospital but it is possible for you to have sitz bath at home. People can take sitz bath by sitting in warm to hot bath which submerges the buttocks and hips. Here are some tips which you can follow to do sitz bath at home.
First, you prepare some things such as large shallow plastic container, hot water, towels, and blanket. You can find large bowl which is approximately 8 inches depth. Another option is using bathtub but you may not be comfortable since sitz bath is more for use in submerging the buttocks and hip area not the legs. You can also buy the sitz bathtub which is available in the market. The bathtub products come in various options. They are equipped with different features. You just need to find the best product which matches with your needs. By using sitz bathtub, sitz bath at home can be done easier.
If you are using bowl or basin, you should place the bowl or basin in the bathtub or on a towel on the floor. It is better for you to use the easiest one for you to get up from. Next, you can fill the bowl one third full of medium hot water. You can use your elbow to test the water temperature. Make sure that the water temperature is in the comfortable level. You should not use your hands since they can tolerate higher temperature.
The usage of salt is debated by some professional doctors and practitioners. Some doctors consider that warm water is effective enough as the healing treatment. However, some people think that salt addition will help the healing process faster. If you decide to use salt for your sitz bath at home, you can use sea salt or epitome salt. It is better for you to ask your doctor for approval. Add ¼ cup of Epsom salt to the bathtub and stir until the salt dissolves completely.
During sitz bath, you should keep a towel and blanket since they are handy to solve the spillage. They are also useful when you need warmth. To start the bath, you can lower yourself in the tub gently. Sit in the tub for 10-20 minutes or until the water cools considerably. If it becomes uncomfortable, you have to get out of the bath.
You can use sitz bath with hot water, cold water, or alternating between the two for maximum healing ability. Adding salt is also good option for you. In this present day, many people do not only use the salt but they also use various herbs such as rose geranium, blue chamomile, lavender essential oil, rose oil, and much more. The combination of the herbs can help your healing process faster since those herbs have the ability to loose the sore muscles. It will be quiet easy for you to find the recipe for sitz bath at home. However, you have to consult with your doctors. It needs to be done to ensure that the herbs are suitable for your conditions and do not bring any infection to your wounds.