Even the most experienced bathers may have yet to experience a sitz bath. An epsom salt sitz bath is a sort of bath that focuses primarily on the bottom area, providing comfort and calming care in a simple and accessible way. You don’t need a standard bathtub to enjoy a sitz bath, and the entire soothing process takes less than 30 minutes.
How Are Sitz Baths Taken?
A sitz bath can be taken in one of two ways. First, a sitz bath apparatus can be attached to the back of the toilet, creating a small soaking basin sitting directly above the toilet bowl. This simple method is mess-free, easy to clean up, and makes sitz baths accessible for anyone. A sitz bath basin can be taken on trips and used during travel, they can be used in small apartments or tub-less homes, and the device is small enough that it can be stored discreetly in a closet or under a sink when not in use.
Those who do have a traditional bathtub may choose to experience their sitz bath in this way. An epsom salt sitz bath only requires a couple of inches of warm water drawn into the bathtub, and then 1 to 2 tablespoons of a favorite sitz soak per gallon added to the water. You can then sit in the tub for around 20 minutes as you feel the soothing comfort care, then drain the bath when you’re all done.
Once you’re finished with your 15 to 20 minutes sitz soak, simply pat the skin dry and take time to enjoy the refreshed and soothing feelings left behind.
Why Are Sitz Baths So Popular?
Simply put, sitz baths are popular because they work. They work to soothe, to relax, to comfort, and to provide a different sort of self-care. According to the World Health Organization, the average American spends up to 10 hours per day sitting down. This puts quite a bit of pressure on the bottom area, often leaving this part of the body feeling tired. A sitz bath is a simple way to treat the body right through soothing comfort care. It’s easy, it’s versatile, and it pays close attention to a part of the body that all too often goes ignored.
Sitz baths are also a popular comfort remedy for calming hemorrhoid conditions. Alongside medication prescribed by a physician, a sitz bath can ease symptoms and provide soothing while medications take their time to get to work. The standard American diet is often considered to be too low in fiber, which may be part of the reason why hemorrhoids affect about 1 in 20 Americans at any given time. Hemorrhoids are known to cause such discomforts as itching, soreness, swelling, and general discomfort of the entire bottom area.
For those with hemorrhoids, taking a sitz bath directly focuses on the area in need. Using USP grade epsom salt blends with aromatherapeutic essential oils, bathers are able to target the “problem region” with a solution that soothes their symptoms without causing any excess discomfort in the long or short-term. Not all hemorrhoid medications take effect straight away, so a sitz bath can serve as a comfort care backup tool that anyone can turn to.
A Sitz Bath Kit With All You Need
One doesn’t have to be dealing with hemorrhoid discomfort or a tired bottom to enjoy a sitz bath. This style of bath is enjoyable to all bathers, and taking your first sitz bath can be as simple as one kit. The Sitz Tub Bundle comes with a sitz tub ready to be attached to any standard toilet bowl, a carrying or storage bag, and a Sitz Bath epsom salt blend to get you started.
To use the bundle, first attach the sitz tub to the toilet. The tub is made to sit firmly in any standard sized toilet bowl, with an attachment at the back to keep the tub secure. Once the tub has been placed into the bowl, you can begin drawing warm water to fill the tub in preparation for the bath.
When drawing water, start slow with your heat, as you don’t want to accidentally scald or burn your bottom region when your main goal is soothing comfort. A nice warm temperature that lets off just a little steam is perfect. Fill the sitz tub enough so that your bottom is completely immersed. If you overfill the tub at all, a set of holes in the back of the unit allows the water to spill effortlessly right back into the toilet so there is no mess involved.
Once your tub has been filled, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of your Sitz Soak to each gallon of water, starting slowly if you’re new to sitz bathing. As you learn more about how you like your bath and your aromatherapy experience, go from 1 to 1.5 to 2 tablespoons per gallon as you see fit. Once the soak has been added, agitate the water to make sure all of the salt and essential oils have been effectively dissolved.
Now all that you need to do is sit. Sitting in your sitz bath is a 15 to 20 minute experience, and during this time you may read a book, play a game on a phone or tablet, enjoy a crossword puzzle, or even simply sit back and focus on the soothing feeling of the warm water.
Sitz Soaking For Everyone
Sitz soaking can have a targeted goal, like invigorating a tired body or soothing hemorrhoid symptoms, or it can be a bit of “just because” self-care. An epsom salt bath in a sitz tub makes this style of bath accessible to everyone.
