How A Sitz Bath Works
As a small child watches the formation of a scab, that child learns about the ability of the human body to heal itself. When a doctor suggests that a patient take a sitz bath, that physician wants to help his or her patient take advantage of the body's natural healing abilities.
Sitz baths have been prescribed for treatment of hemorrhoids, anal fistulae, wounds resulting from an episiotomy, menstrual cramps and inflammation of the prostate. In all of those cases, the affected region of the body generally has the ability to heal itself, over a period of time. By using a sitz bath, a patient can reduce the length of that healing period.
Sitz baths expose an inflamed or wounded region of the body to warm water. Often, a patient adds to that water some salt or baking soda. The patient sits in the warm water for about ten to twenty minutes.
In the past, a patient that planned to take a sitz bath could find and buy a ceramic bowl. Manufacturers made bowls that were designed to hold the tender or wounded end of someone with one of the conditions listed above. Today, however, it is very difficult to locate such ceramic bowls.
That does not mean that the patient planning to sit in warm water has no way of finding the proper sort of bowl. That patient must simply manage with a less fragile, plastic bowl. That patient must then exercise care, regarding the cleaning of that bowl. If not cleaned properly after each bath, that bowl could retain an infectious organism.
Obviously, most adults would prefer to have their exposure to the comfort of sitz baths remain a personal and private experience. However, some adults need assistance with the act of rising from the sit down position the position that they have had to assume.
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