Ingredients of a Salt Sitz Bath

The most common use of a salt sitz bath is for women who have just undergone childbirth and have irritation or discomfort to the perineum, near the opening of the vagina. Other uses include relieving discomfort associated with hemorrhoids, genital herpes and bladder infections. During a sitz bath, only the hips and buttocks are immersed. Making a sitz bath at home is simple, use it as often as needed to relieve pain and discomfort.

Water

• Warm water is recommended for a sitz bath, because it relieves discomfort and cleanses the area. Be sure to test the water before you sit in it to ensure that it is not too hot. If you test the water with your hands, keep in mind that the tolerance to heat is different to more delicate parts of the body, so add cool water to the bath if it is slightly hot for the hand. Warm water also soothes sore muscles, and brings down any swelling in the area.

Salt

• The ideal type of salt to use for a sitz bath is Epsom salt. Epsom salt is suggested for soaking because the main ingredients, sulfates and magnesium, are absorbed through skin. The salt is also helpful for relieving muscle aches, and may easily be found in any drug or retail store near the bandages and first aid items. Add ¼ cup of the Epsom salt to an inflatable sitz bath, or one cup to a bathtub. Run your hands through the water to dissolve the salt, and then sit in the water for 20 to 30 minutes, once a day until healed. Once you have finished, dry off the area gently with a cotton towel.

Bathtub

• While a bathtub is convenient for a sitz bath, you may also purchase an inflatable sitz bath from the local drugstore. The inflatable version fills with air, and fits directly over the toilet seat. Add the warm water to the inflatable bath before sitting. Some versions feature a solution bag with a tube, which allows you to keep the warm water constantly flowing into the sitz bath. Fill up the solution bag with warm water and hang it from something in the room that is located higher than the toilet so it has a constant flow of water. Hook the tube up to the bath and allow warm water to flow into the bath. The inflatable bath also features vents, so overflowing water empties into the toilet.

  If you use a bathtub, only fill it with water that covers the hips and buttocks. Seek physician advice prior to using a bathtub, because if you have had surgery, your doctor may prefer you to use an inflatable bath.