Sitz Bath: Uses and Procedure

Search Results

Web results

Sitz Bath: Uses, Procedure, and Risk Factors

What is Sitz bath

Hot Sitz bath is an partial immersion bath covering only the hip, pelvic and  the anal area (buttocks) with water. The water may contain herbs or essential oils. 

It is a bath that is usually warm used for cleaning and healing.

SITZ BATH TREATMENT INDICATIONS 

WHEN TO USE SITZ BATH

• Strengthening pelvic tissues 

• Building of nervous vigor

• Itching

• Relieve pain, 

• Chronic constipation 

• Relieve pain after an episiotomy (surgical procedure to facilitate child birth) and relieve pain after rectal operation 

• Hemorrhoids 

• Chronic pelvic Inflammation 

• Dysmenorrhea or painful Menstruation 

• Boils and abscesses around the anal  region 

• Cystitis (painful urination) 

PHYSIOLOGIC EFFECTS OF SITZ BATH 

HOW SITZ BATH WORKS

It increases blood flow in the region thus relieving cramps and spasms in pelvic region and urinary bladder. 

Relaxes the urine nary bladder

Relaxes the internal anal sphineter 

Sitz bath can be done in two ways 

1. Sitz bath alone

2. Sitz bath with hot foot bath 

TYPES OF SITZ BATHS

•  Baking soda

• Basic saltwater sitz bath

• Herbal sitz bath

• Oil sitz bath

• Blueberry sitz bath

•  Sitz bath with witch hazel extract

• Apple cider vinegar sitz bath

HOW TO MAKE SITZ BATH

THINGS YOU NEED FOR SITZ BATH 

1. A large basin, deep enough for a person to sit in it

2. Basin of ice water

3. Two cold compress towels 

4. Sheet or blanket for wrapping around the body 

5. One bath towel

6. A kettle or pot of boiling water 

7. An extra basin for hot foot bath (if Sitz bath will be done with hot foot bath) 

TREATMENT PROCEDURES FOR SITZ BATH 

1. Pray with the person 

2. Remove the patient should remove their outer clothes 

3. Pour hot water into the basin and dilute it to a temperature the person can tolerate 

4. Close the doors and windows to prevent air drafts

5. Aid the patient while trying to sit in the basin, then gently place the legs of the person into the hot foot bath basin containing a water warm enough to tolerated by the person. if hot foot bath is used

6. Cover the person and basins with the sheet or blanket 

7. Apply the cold compress on the person forehead immediately the person starts perspiring and change the compress every 2 to 3 minutes [cold compress is a towel soaked in cold or iced water then wrung of water and placed around the forehead.] 

8. Occasionally add hot water to both the hot foot bath and the Sitz bath basins every 4 to 5 minutes to maintain the temperature of the water. Be sure to place your hand beneath the hot water in the basin and stir while adding hot water to the basins to avoid burning the patient’s  feet 

9. Continue for 20 to 30 minutes 

10. After completion, pray with patient 

11. Pour cold water on the feet of the person, to close the pores of skin that are opened due to the heat, this protects the person against bacteria 

12. The patient should rest for a while and a then have a shower. 

HOW LONG SHOULD SITZ BATH LAST

Occasionally add hot water to both the hot foot bath and the Sitz bath basins every 4 to 5 minutes to maintain the temperature of the water. Be sure to place your hand beneath the hot water in the basin and stir while adding hot water to the basins to avoid burning the patient’s  feet 

 Treatment should last up to Continue for 20 to 30 minutes, but lease for very sick and weak persons.

Don't forget to Share: