Apr 28 2010
Sitz Bath Procedure for Hemorrhoid Therapy
It has already been proven that using sitz bath for hemorrhoids is an effective remedy. The procedure can be used to treat mild symptoms of hemorrhoids or for more severe cases of hemorrhoids. The only problem why some people suffering from this condition did not get the benefits is due to improper sitz bath procedure. Even if this is one of the simplest home remedy for hemorrhoids, a lot of people may not understand why it is done and how it is being done.
Sitz bath or hip bath is a type of bath in which only the hips and buttocks are soaked in water or saline solution. This type of bath is a European tradition which has expanded and became popular all throughout the world as an alternative treatment for health conditions in the perianal area.
The needed materials for this procedure are available in most pharmacies and health stores. There are ready made sitz bath kits, solutions and even some herbal preparations which can be used when doing sitz bath. To start the procedure, all the materials needed should be prepared in advance to avoid disruption in the therapy. You have to place the sitz bath over the toilet bowl filled with warm or cool water. Make it sure that the water is not too hot or not too cool. The temperature range of the water should be from 90°F to 100°F. The kit or the basin should be properly affixed to the bowl to ensure that it will not slip which can cause harm or injury to the person using the bath.
It is also a must that the patient should be able to reach the floor with their feet. A footstool can be used if he or she can’t reach the floor while sitting on the tub or basin. This will help support the weight of the body from pressing too much weight on the sitz bath.
The patient with hemorrhoid should only immerse their hip when doing sitz bath. This should be performed at least 10 to 15 minutes per interval and can be repeated many times within the day. Many people have said that this would already alleviate the pain caused by hemorrhoids.
To make the sitz bath more effective, the use of Epsom salt diluted in the water is recommended. The saline solution provides additional relief especially for women suffering from vaginal discomfort. There are also some herbal preparations which can be added to the bath but please make it sure that there are no harsh ingredients on the product as it may just cause other side effects. Ask your doctor before using any over the counter products.
If your sitz bath kit comes with a bag which is used to continously add water to the bath, hung it above the head level and the water temperature should be the same with the basin water. Please also check the draining vents when doing the sitz bath and make it sure that the excess water will be drained through the toilet bowl.
After the therapy, the patient should pat the area dry with a clean towel. Do not extend the time spent on the sitz bath as it does not provide additional benefits.
But a word of caution, people who underwent a hemorrhoidectomy should not use sitz bath to alleviate the pain or use it to hasten the healing. There is a study that the use of sitz bath after a hemorrhoid surgery does not give significant effect to the recovery of the patient.
Another way to increase the effectivety of a sitz bath is by adding sea salt. Sea salt has amuch diffrent mineral content than regualr salt or epsom salts and is known for it’s healing properties.
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