Often recommended as a natural healing, therapeutic and pain relieving remedy for many types of ailments the sitz bath follows the hydrotherapy (water therapy) theory. By soaking the affected area in warm water for a prescribed period of time up to several times daily, sometimes in a mixture of baking soda or salt, the discomfort subsides and self healing is process is accelerated.
Relief from the discomfort caused by common medical issues such as hemorrhoids, the  after effects of episiotomies, vaginal yeast infections can be found by taking sits baths. Many times even in hospitals patients are given a sitz bath to help with pain and to aid in keeping the area clean. Soaking in warm water causes more blood to flow to the area which promotes the healing process.

While taking a sitz bath at home is not difficult, elderly people may sometimes require help because  soaking for a period of time in warm water and then getting up too quickly can cause momentary dizziness. For safety reasons, the first few sitz baths at home should be taken when assitance is nearby.

The sitz (which is taken from the German word “Sitzen” meaning “to sit”) bath does not require patients to fill the entire tub but rather only enough to cover the affected area which is usually just above  the buttocks and sometimes just to the lower waist. For this reason, sitz baths at home do not necessarily have to be taken in the bathtub. If you’ve been prescribed sitz baths at home as part of your healing therapy, there are a variety of products available that will make the soaking and cleansing processes easier than having to add water to the tub a few – to several – times daily.

There are also a myriad of different types of organic and natural soaking mixtures that can be made for your sitz baths at home. Your doctor will likely suggest a salt such as Epsom, be added to the water. When considering sitz bath remedy mixtures that your doctor has not prescribed, be sure to check with him or her before using them for your sitz bath as some ingredients may aggravate the condition rather than help it.

For the relief of pain and discomfort a sitz bath for hemorrhoids is a great option that is often recommended by healthcare professionals.  It is important to know that if your doctor has suggested taking sitz baths for hemorrhoids, you should follow his or her instructions on water temperature and on any ingredients he may have prescribed for you to add to the sitz bath. A sitz bath can be a great source of natural pain relief.

While most physicians recommend taking a sitz bath for hemorrhoids at least three times per day, it is often prescribed up to several times daily. The need for several soakings is to help keep the area clean and to promote healing. Healing is accelerated when the mind can stop thinking about the pain and can concentrate on helping the body to heal itself. Also, the heat from the sitz bath will cause the blood cells to rush to that area and thus expedite the healing.

While it is of course possible to take your sitz bath for hemorrhoids in the bathtub, it can be quite a chore and can also use a lot of unnecessary water. Sitz baths should be filled at least 2 to 3 inches high so that the rectal area is covered enough and the water is getting into the area it needs to be.  There is an easier, more efficient, quicker and easier to clean up way to take a sitz bath and that is by using a portable sitz bath.

Portable sitz baths are plastic or inflatable small vessels that can be placed directly under the lid of the toilet or under the seat area of the toilet. Some are vented to allow water to flow through and include a bag and tube attachment for adding a sitz bath mixture that will run through the sitz bath tub.

If you are self treating your hemorrhoids because you’re sure that’s the problem you’re experiencing and are looking for guidance on sitz baths for hemorrhoids, it is often recommended that sea salt or Epsom salt be added to the sitz bath. If you’re under a doctor’s care, then he or she may have prescribed an herbal or salt sitz bath to aid in quicker healing and to alleviate discomfort. These herbal mixtures can be made at home or can be purchased pre-made from drug stores and health food stores.

Taking a sitz bath for hemorrhoids at least three to four times a day will help healing and also relieve discomfort, but it is important to know that if there is rectal bleeding present it could be a sign of a more serious condition. Therefore, please check with your doctor to be sure that the blood is a result of hemorrhoids. Also, once the hemorrhoids are gone, it’s necessary to make the proper changes to your diet and your lifestyle to help prevent a future hemorrhoid reoccurrence.

When you’re suffering from the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids, nothing is more soothing or can offer more relief than a hemorrhoids sitz bath several times per day.

To help promote the healing process and to aid in allowing the body’s natural healing to take over, soaking in a warm herbal sitz bath mixture is often recommended by both physicians and holistic practitioners alike.

There are many types of herbal sitz baths and some can even be purchased pre-made while other can be mixed up at home. Before using any sitz bath recipe, please check with your healthcare provider.

Also, when sitz baths are suggested for your hemorrhoid treatment or for other conditions such as healing after childbirth or vaginal yeast infections you may find that purchasing a portable sitz bath will help in the process. Often doctors recommend sitz baths be taken anywhere from 4 to 7 times per day. Having to fill the tub 3 or 4 inches, several times per day can be time consuming therefore, small portable sitz baths are an ideal option. They also make clean up easier and faster.

Below is an herbal sitz bath hemorrhoid recipe that you can mix at home.

Boil a small pot of water
Meanwhile, mix together 1 oz. of each of the following herbs: chickweed, marshmallow root, lavender flowers, plantain, chamomile and calendula.
Add 2 oz. of rosemary and Uva ursi (also known as bearberry) and 2 oz. of sea salt.

Pour the boiling water over 4 ounces of your herbal and salt mixture (reserve the rest) and allow it to steep for a few hours.

Strain the mixture into a bowl and throw away the used herbs.
Add the strained liquid to your warm sitz bath.

If you’d like to make more than one batch at a time, feel free but don’t leave it out on the counter – you’ll have to refrigerate the leftover. If you do this, then just make your next sitz bath a little hotter before adding the herbal mixture and that should bring it down to the right temperature.

Again, there are various types of pre-packaged herbal sitz bath recipe bags that can be ordered online or purchased in health food and natural market stores. Also always check with your doctor to see what ingredients you should include and avoid before soaking. Another suggestion is to pick up an inexpensive portable sitz bath which are available for under $20 and often can be placed right on the toilet seat.

Sitz baths should be taken at least four times per day but always follow the advice of your health care provider. Everything is going up these days, from teeth whitening prices to groceries. It makes sense to handle things like sitz baths in your own home. They are both effective and fairly inexpensive.

If your physician has recommended taking a sitz bath at home for relief of pain, spasms, itching, swelling or other discomfort from a medical issue in the lower region of your body, it’s because many of these symptoms can be helped through hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy, or water therapy, aids in the healing process as well as helping the discomfort to subside. It allows the body to focus on the affected area and also, soaking in the warm water brings more blood flowing to that area which promotes faster healing.

Your doctor may have suggested salts or baking soda to be mixed with the water in your at home sitz bath.
Be sure to follow his or her instructions on how much solution to add to the water as well as how often to take sitz baths at home. This will usually be anywhere from 3 to 7 times per day.

To begin, there are several products available that are cost effective (from $10 to $20) that can aid in the ease and ease of clean up for your sitz baths. From plastic to soft inflatable bowls that either rest on a chair or fit directly into the toilet seat, these products prevent patients from having to fill the tub with enough water to cover the affected area up to seven times daily. Choosing to use the portable sitz bath can make life simpler during this time. Often, patients leaving hospitals can ask their nurse for a plastic bowl type sitz bath to take home, however, it may be wise to check if it will be charged to the hospital bill or if it will be complimentary.

Setting Up Your Sitz Bath

If you have a portable sitz bath tub, follow the instructions that the manufacturer included for the proper fill height and if your portable sitz bath fits into the toilet seat, be sure it is installed properly. This is usually as easy as setting it on the seat.

Many portable sitz baths at home will have vented areas that prevent them from spilling over by allowing the water to drizzle out of the vents and into the toilet. If your particular model does not include venting, be sure you don’t overfill it as it will cause you distress should it spill over and a sitz bath at home should be a relaxing experience.

If you do not have a portable sitz bath, then you can simply fill the bathtub with about 3 or 4 inches of water – the temperature of the water should be what ever your doctor recommended. Normally it’s warm water but for some conditions such as episiotomies, many women may find that cool water feels better and offers more pain relief. Please, give your doctor a call if you are unsure of the proper water temperature.

Once the sitz bath is filled to the appropriate height and the recommended water temperature has been reached (sometimes ice must be added if your doctor suggests it) you’re ready to begin.

Add any solution your doctor has recommended and mix the water with your hand.

Carefully sit in the tub or on the toilet with your portable sitz bath.

Be sure the water is covering the affected area.

Relax in your at home sitz bath as directed by your doctor which is usually anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes.

Try to keep yourself calm and focus on healing. The mind is a very powerful thing – keep it positive and keep yourself relaxed.
When exiting your sitz bath, be sure to get up slowly. The dilation of the blood vessels from the warm water may cause you to feel lightheaded and dizzy. This is temporary but caution should be exercised when standing and leaving the tub, so don’t stand up too quickly.
When drying the area, pat, don’t wipe. If possible allow the area to air dry.
Follow any instructions your doctor gave you regarding cream or powder applications.
Rinse portable sitz bath and turn upside down in the sink or tub to dry or dry with a towel – or empty and rinse the bathtub.

Repeat the above for the recommended amount of times your doctor has prescribed.
Sitz baths at home will aid your body in healing itself and bring you much needed relief from discomfort.