How to Take a Sitz Bath for Hemorrhoids

Estimates of those who suffer from hemorrhoids on at least an occasional basis run as high as 100 million Americans. It is no wonder then that treatments offering relief from this painful ailment are growing in popularity. While many people are too embarrassed by their hemorrhoids to seek conventional medical treatment, there are alternative treatment plans that can be just as effective as doctor-prescribed treatments - if not more so. One of the most effective cures sufferers is the use of a sitz bath for hemorrhoids.

A sitz bath for hemorrhoids has been proven effective in alleviating the pain and irritation of hemorrhoids, by using hydrotherapy to improve the circulation and reduce the pain. A sitz bath is a small bowl - usually made of plastic - that easily fits over your toilet bowl. The bowl is filled with warm water and sometimes an additive like Epsom salt. First used by the ancient Greeks, a sitz bath for hemorrhoid relief operates on the principle that warm water helps blood to flow to the affected area, thereby relieving pressure that causes pain and discomfort.

The benefits of a sitz bath for hemorrhoids are many. The use of water therapy is a natural, age-old practice for better health and stress relief. Hydrotherapy not only improves circulation in the affected areas, but the hot water acts as a sedative as well. By using water as hot as one can tolerate, the heat sedates the area around the hemorrhoids, providing immediate relief. Best of all, using a sitz bath for hemorrhoids avoids the side effects associated with many other therapies and medications.

Taking a sitz bath for hemorrhoids relief is as simple as filling the sitz tub and sitting in it. Many physicians suggest that their patients alternate between several minutes of hot sitz bathing and cold sitz bathing to continually maintain the blood flow in the area.
For those who do not have a plastic sitz bath, an alternative method involves filling a bath tub with several inches of hot water - just enough to cover the irritated area, and sitting in the tub with your feet flat and your knees level with your chest. No matter which method you use, however, always be sure to gently pat yourself dry with a towel, or even air dry if possible. Rubbing the area can quickly re-irritate the hemorrhoid and undo the benefits of the sitz bath.