If you've ever had hemorrhoids, you know how useful a sitz bath can be. It is normally quite helpful in relieving the pain and itching of hemorrhoidal tissues. The name comes from the German word that means “sit”. It is at its most basic level simply a warm bath that helps give relief to the area affected. These baths are also used for relief of post-rectum surgeries, painful testicles or prostate infections. In addition, they may be prescribed to help inflammatory bowel diseases, or infections of the vagina or bladder.
You may take sitz baths in your tub, or in a special basin that fits over your toilet. If you use the special basin method, you will fill it with herbs or baking soda and warm water. Then you relax and soak the area for about fifteen or twenty minutes. You can repeat the procedure two or three times a day. These baths will help to keep the affected area clean, and will aid in increasing blood flow to help the healing process along.
Sitz baths have the ability to give you pleasant relief from the painful and aggravating symptoms of various disorders. You can also add essential oils to sitz baths, and these can be beneficial to the easing of your condition as well.
If you are immersing mainly your pelvic region in the water, this would be considered a sitz bath. The easing of your pain or inflammation will be assisted by the warm water and baking soda or oils. When you use sitz baths of any type, make sure you clean the basin well after each use. Cleansing and disinfecting the sitz basin after each bath will make sure that your future baths won't promote infection.
The prices of the basins used in sitz baths may vary, but the more basic models will not be expensive. If you purchase a more advanced model, with a drain or a constant warm water flow, these may cost considerably more. Even the more inexpensive sitz baths will give you greater comfort when you use them with cleanliness and care in mind. Have someone help you get up after your sitz baths, as some people do experience dizziness upon standing, if they were relaxing for more than ten minutes or so.
Women can take warm saline sitz baths for the relief of vaginal yeast infections. You will fill the basin with warm water and add a bit of salt, and a half a cup of vinegar. You can sit in the warm bath for about twenty minutes, or until the water is too cool to be comfortable. The vinegar will aid in bringing your vaginal pH level back to normal. If you are experiencing a vaginal discharge, constipation or bladder inflammation, cool sitz baths can help. They are also helpful in toning your muscles if you have bowel or bladder incontinence.
Some conditions do well when exposed to what is known as a contrast bath, of cold and hot water alternately. Use a basin of hot water and a basin of cold water, and sit in the hot for four or five minutes and then in the cold for a minute or less. Repeat this sitz bath three or four times, and finish with the cold water last.