SITZ BATH DEFINITION, USES, PROCEDURE, AND RISK FACTORS

The word sitz came from German word ‘sitzen’ which means ‘to sit’.Sitz bath is a procedure to get relief from the pain in your bottom areas, or can say that relieves your private parts. Your health specialist may suggest the Sitz bath in hemorrhoidal pain, fissure pain, postpartum pain, any type of inflammation, swelling, or irritation in the perineum or you can easily use it for your cleaning purpose at home. Now in this article we are going to know about the Sitz bath, its procedure and its wonderful benefits in needful patients.

A sitz bath is a warm, shallow cleansing procedure which helps to clean the perineum, that is the space between the rectum,scrotum or vulva. This also provides relief from pain and irritation in genital areas. Sitz bath can also be taken in a bathtub or on a daily basis, this is very useful to increase the blood flow because it is given by warm water and some medicinal formulations can also be added in this water to give effective results. Sitz baths also help in treating and provide fast recovery after delivery as vaginal tears, bartholin Cyst.

It is a way of bathing the genitals that is very useful to give relief in soreness, burning sensations, and infections in these areas. A sitz bath may be helpful in anogenital conditions like haemorrhoids, fissures-in-ano, fistulas-in-ano or postpartum infections as well as inflammations, to improve the hygiene and to promote the blood flow. In Ayurveda we always guide for Sitz bath in such conditions because it gives instant relief in pain and tenderness.

When patient is taking Sitz bath some following steps should be followed to get proper or effective results.

• The first step must be to Clean the tub properly, hygiene must be maintained. You can scrub the tub with antiseptic solutions and rinse thoroughly.
• The second step is to fill the half tub with warm water but be careful it wouldn’t be so hot that you may get burns. You must check the water temperature by placing a drop on the wrist and get a normal temperature to sit in. Add the herbal formulations that are recommended by your Ayurvedic practitioner to get rid of the underlying condition.
• Now enter the tub to soak your perineum part in water for 15-20 minutes. Try to contract or relax the anal part to take water in and out.
• After 20 minutes when you are getting out of the tub, gently pat your perineum part with a clean towel or a cotton cloth, don’t use the towel roughly, as it may cause pain, redness or irritation.
• After this process, clean the tub thoroughly for next use.

Both children, adults or elderly people can use Sitz baths. Children must be under supervision during the Sitz bath. Your Ayurvedic Practitioner may or may not prescribe you some Medications to put in a Sitz bath or you can only use warm water to have a soothing effect.

This procedure transmits very little or no infection because it is not an invasive procedure. If anyhow infection occurs then its main cause must be uncleaned tub, due to the transmission of infected bacteria in the anal canal.

If this perineal area becomes red and puffy, any kind of pain or itching gets worsens stop using the sitz bath.

If Sitz bath brings you relief in your ongoing condition then you may immediately return to doing the normal day to day activities.

1. Haemorrhoids – this is a very common condition nowadays, many people are suffering from haemorrhoids or commonly known as piles. They occur when veins of anal and rectum part become swollen, this condition may subside oftenly by itself within a few weeks and its main features are pain, itching, or bleeding for the meantime.
• To heal them in an efficient way add epsom salt with little nirgundi oil and Sphatika bhasma in Sitz bath to help shrink piles faster and give you great relief from pain. Sphatika bhasma is specially used to prevent the growth of microorganisms, it has astringent, sweet, sour taste and has hemostatic and anthelmintic medicinal properties.
• Tea Tree oil can also be used in Sitz bath tubs to get relief from the inflammation as it has marvellous anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Vaginal tears after delivery – These are very common after the childbirth, they commonly occur when the baby’s head is too large as compared to the circumference of vaginal canal or the women may be primigravida, with high birth weight baby, with prolonged delivery, or with assisted deliveries with vacuum or forceps. This condition may heal in 1 or two weeks after appropriate treatment depending upon the severity of the tear. To get relief from the pain you may apply ice packs for 5-7 minutes, it also helps in reducing swelling or inflammation. Always use stool softeners to reduce the strain on the stitched area.
• You can use a sitz bath with lukewarm water and sit in it for a few minutes to cleanse the skin near the vaginal tear. The Allopathic medicinal system also gives advice for use of Sitz baths in this condition.
• Dashmool kwath can also be used because it has properties of swelling, inflammation or pain relieving.
• A Yoni steam seat for the toilet can also be used.
3. Bartholin glands – Some conditions of bartholin glands may produce some secretions especially during sexual activities. But in some conditions glands become enlarged and painful and a Sitz bath can relieve the symptoms of this condition too.

Anybody can take a Sitz bath in the bathtub, this doesn’t require a physician prescription. Some people can also use Sitz bath regularly to clean the perineum and it also helps to increase the blood flow to the perineal area that results in fast recovery from ongoing disease. When it is used by adding some extra herbal formulation that promotes the healing process then this simple process multiplies its results against the disease.