Sitz Bath Recipe

A Sitz bath is often used to help to treat disorders that are located in the nether regions, such as hemorrhoids, episiotomies, anal fissures and other such issues. There are a couple of different ways to take a Sitz bath but the most common is in the bathtub. The problem with this is that it is not always the most sanitary option. There are also Sitz baths that can be bought at your local drug store and work by sitting over the toilet so that you can sit on them and soak. Some of these baths even come with an option to have a continuous stream of warm water going into the Sitz bath so that the water never becomes cold. The overflow from the bath will drain down into the toilet, helping to avoid a flooded bathroom. There are also a variety of different recipes and things that can be used in the Sitz bath, depending on the condition and reason for taking one.

Basic Salt Water Sitz Bath

A salt water Sitz bath can be used for a number of things from hemorrhoids to vaginal itching. This is a simple recipe as it only alls for about ¼ of a cup of salt to be added to the Sitz bath in combination with the warmest water you can stand. It is best to soak in a salt water solution for at least 30 minutes at a time, changing the water when it has gone cold. If you are planning to use this recipe in the regular bathtub you will want to adjust the amount of salt you use to be sure you have a high enough concentration of salt in the water. Salt is an excellent antibacterial and is used to help with wound healing as well as drawing infection out. People have been using sea salt for years to help heal different skin conditions such as acne and rashes so it is no wonder it is so popular for Sitz baths as well.

Witch Hazel Sitz Bath

Witch hazel is well known for being a soothing and cooling remedy for hemorrhoids. In addition, it is a cheap solution that is very easy to find in just about any grocery store or drug store. Most of the time, you can get a bottle of witch hazel for under $2.00, making this a very inexpensive remedy for hemorrhoids. The best way to use witch hazel for a Sitz bath is to use about a quarter to a half a cup of witch hazel with just enough water to fully immerse your bottom half in. This should be done a minimum of once a day and the Sitz bath should last for anywhere between 15 and 20 minutes.

Blueberry Tea Sitz Bath

Many people are unaware of just how soothing and therapeutic blueberry leaves are. Not only have they been noticed recently for the many internal benefits they provide people in terms of helping to treat disorders such as urinary tract infections, diarrhea and many other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract but they are also full of healing properties and great for external problems such as hemorrhoids. The best way to create a Sitz bath using blueberry leaves is to boil about a cup of water with two heaping teaspoons full of dried blueberry leaves. Steep the leaves for a good 20 minutes and then use a fine mesh tea strainer to take the pieces of leaves out. Fill your Sitz bath or bathtub with just enough warm water to comfortably cover your anus and then add the tea to the water. Sit in the bath for about 15 or 20 minutes and repeat about twice a day until the hemorrhoids have gone away.

Herbal Recipe

A great herbal Sitz bath recipe involves several different herbs that have been widely regarded for their healing and soothing properties. You will need to purchase lavender flowers, sage leaves, comfrey leaves, rosemary, calendula flowers and some coarse sea salt. All of these items can be found in most natural health food or vitamin shops. Take about a quarter of a cup of each herb and approximately 2 to 3 cups of the sea salt and mix together. When you fill your Sitz bath use about a ¼ cup of the mixture to each bath and soak for about 15 minutes. Herbal Sitz baths are good for a number of ailments such as vaginal itching, episiotomies, anal fissures, hemorrhoids and a number of other conditions in which Sitz baths are recommended.

Making Sure Your Sitz Bath Is Sanitary

If you chose to use your bath tub to take Sitz baths in then there are a few things you should be aware of. Firstly, if you plan to sit in the tub with your feet in the tub, you should make sure you thoroughly cleanse your feet prior to putting them in the bath tub. This is especially true if the Sitz bath is being used to soak some kind of a wound such as an episiotomy. In addition, you will want to be sure that the bath tub itself has been cleaned with bleach or another disinfectant and rinsed well. You do not want to introduce bacteria to your condition thereby possibly making it worse. A Sitz bath is intended to heal you and help you with conditions you have and therefore should always be done in the most sanitary setting possible.

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  1. Very informational. I loved the recipes… will talk to my doctor about them… Sitz baths are so comforting. Thank you for the marvelous article!

  2. Is using Epsom salt over table salt more or less affective? Does the effectiveness depend on the type of bacteria? Is table salt always recommended over Epsom salt?

    1. Epsom Salts are magnesium-based, rather than sodium-based, and are always recommended over table salt, which also often includes additives you don’t need or want where a sitz bath reaches.

  3. Helpful as my doctor has actually recommended Bleach baths (obviously diluted and is a legit thing) I forgot his measurements and I’m not fond of the idea anyways but I remembered my mother doing witch hazel and Epsom/table salt sitz baths so I wanted to try that first. This helped me work out the measurements and gave me other ideas in the future. Thank you! My bum thanks you!

  4. I’ve tried those cheap plastic so called sitz baths and there is no way you can immerse your nether regions into them to soak. I have Lichen Sclerosis and need to soak often, at least 3x daily during flare ups. I cannot get out of the tub as my knees are destroyed by numerous falls throughout the years. I can’t turn over and put pressure on my knees. I am waiting for knee replacement surgery, however I’m also going thru chemotherapy for cancer prevention which has also caused my Lichen Sclerosis to major flare up. It’s an autoimmune disease I have suffered with for 35 yrs. I was looking for the old style sitz baths aka sitting bath. Koehler had a newer version but discontinued making them. I certainly would have bought one for my use.

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