Sitz Bath (Sitting Bath or Hip Bath)

Description:

Patient sits with lower abdomen and pelvis immersed in water.

Indications:

• Amenorrhea
• Fibromyalgia
• Headache - congestive
• Painful hemorrhoids
• Uterine fibroids
• Painful spasms (vaginismus, tenesmus)
• Colic (e.g., intestinal, uterine, nephritic)
• Suppressed menses
• Insomnia
• Neuralgia (e.g., intestinal, ovarian, testicular)
• Sciatica
• Lumbago

• BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy)
• Incontinence due to BPH
• Enuresis
• Menorrhagia
• Prolapsus (e.g., uterine, rectocele, cystocele)
• Constipation
• Stage fright

• Cystitis - acute
• Pruritis ani
• Pruritis vulvae
• Mental or sexual excitement

• Cystitis - chronic
• Endometriosis
• Headache - congestive
• Hemorrhoids
• PMS
• Uterine fibroid
• Constipation
• Vaginal infection
• Postpartum
• PID
• Improving neuralgias
• Prostatitis
• Improving insomnia
• Fissures
• Pelvic congestion

Action Mechanism:

• Pelvic and abdominal organs receive reflexive effects from spinal cord
• Direct effects according to the water temperature and duration of bath (e.g., hot - relaxing; cold - tonifying; neutral - calmative)
• Derivation from the head and lungs
• Hot foot bath minimizes the possibility of congestion via the derivative effects

Materials:

• Washtub or sitz tub
• Foot tub
• Bath thermometer
• Towels
• Sheet/blanket to cover patient if necessary
• Hot water
• Cold water
• Washcloths

Procedure:

• Place towel on bottom of tub and drape towels over the front and back of the tub to protect patient's buttocks, back, and popliteal area
• Fill sitz and foot tubs with water of appropriate temperature and amounts as indicated below:

• Amount: 1/2 " above navel
• Temperature: 106 - 110 F (41 - 43 C)
• Foot bath: 110 - 112 F (43 - 45 C)
• Duration: 3 - 8 minutes

• Amount: 1/2" below navel
• Temperature: 55 - 75 F (12 - 24 C)
• Foot bath: 105 - 110 F (40 - 43 C)
• Duration: 3 - 8 minutes

• Amount: to navel
• Temperature: 92 - 97 F (33 - 36 C)
• Foot bath: --
• Duration: 1/2 - 2 hours

• 2-5 minutes hot
• 20-60 seconds cold
• Carefully assist the patient in and out of the bath
• Cover patient with sheet and/or blanket if desired by patient
• For the hot sitz bath: apply cold compresses to forehead and back of neck
• Finish hot sitz by pouring cold water over all parts bathed in hot water
• Start alternating sitz with hot and end with cold
• Finish hot foot bath with cold effusion to feet
• Rest patient for at least 30 minutes after bath

Contraindications:

• Inability to move with safety and ease (e.g. debility, obesity)
• Hot foot bath is contraindicated in peripheral vascular disease

• Hot:
Hemorrhage
Menorrhagia
Atonic conditions i.e. prolapsus
Pelvic congestion

• Cold:
Acute lung congestion
Heart problems
Acute inflammation
Painful conditions
Spasms
Colics

• Alternating:
See listings under hot and cold

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).