A fairly common misconception that absolutely no baths should be taken until you get rid of the disease still circulates among ordinary people. It is quite simple to dispel this myth, but it is very important to fully understand the essence of the question of whether it is possible to take a bath with hemorrhoids and, if so, how. The fact is that, having heard a positive answer, many immediately relax and begin to abuse this opportunity to their own detriment.
There are many nuances that need to be taken into account for your own health. Mostly they consist in the fact that a person must at least understand what exactly he wants, because baths can also be therapeutic. There is nothing wrong with them, but you should approach the organization of this event with the utmost care. Now we’ll figure out together why there are so many precautions.
Characteristics and symptoms of hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are a proctological pathology, which is characterized by the appearance of blood stagnation in the cavernous plexuses of the rectum. Against this background, hemorrhoidal nodes form on the mucous membrane of the rectum and in the anus, which under certain conditions become inflamed and bleed.
The disease manifests itself with characteristic symptoms that disrupt normal life and cause anxiety and inconvenience. In the anal area there is pain, itching and burning. The process of defecation may be accompanied by pain and bleeding.
Hemorrhoids progress quickly, so it is important to carry out treatment correctly and in a timely manner. As the disease progresses, the severity and severity of symptoms increases. In addition, treatment in advanced cases turns out to be longer and more complex: often the only option is surgical treatment.
Among the various means of treating and preventing hemorrhoids, doctors do not ignore sitz baths, which are prescribed for:
- symptomatic therapy: help relieve itching, relieve pain, relieve external manifestations of inflammation;
- prevention of exacerbations;
- preparing the patient for surgery;
- accelerating recovery after surgical/hardware treatment.
Baths for hemorrhoids, as a rule, complement the course of treatment. The doctor recommends the procedure to the patient in accordance with individual indications.
Types of therapeutic baths for hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids begin to manifest themselves even at an early stage of development. Discomfort in the anal area, characteristic itching and anxiety are the first signs that it is important to pay attention to in a timely manner. It is at this stage that doctors most often prescribe conservative treatment to the patient using topical medications. Sitz baths with medicinal solutions or herbal infusions are also recommended as a complement to therapy.
Baths for hemorrhoids help cope with inflammation and pain. The active substances included in their composition improve tissue regeneration, due to which the healing of damage to the mucosa occurs.
Depending on the symptoms, the doctor recommends the appropriate treatment method to the patient:
- Cool baths: low temperature helps relieve pain and stops bleeding by constricting blood vessels.
- Warm baths: the procedure helps strengthen the vascular wall and speeds up the healing process.
- Hot baths: have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects (require caution).
- Steam baths: relieve pain, have a calming effect (caution is needed, there are contraindications).
For the convenience of carrying out procedures at home, it is recommended to use a special hygiene accessory Mr. Procto. The plastic bath is firmly installed on the rim of the toilet, filled with a medicinal solution and used for its intended purpose. With this device, it is convenient to carry out treatment at home without worrying about water leaks and other troubles.
Recommended for purchase
Steam and smoke baths are not very popular, but in vain!
When using a steam bath, the following are used: chamomile, oak bark, and St. John's wort.
To do this you need:
- Prepare a decoction and pour it into an appropriate bucket to sit on. At the same time, hemorrhoids should be as visible as possible. It is recommended to use hot milk with steamed onions instead of broth.
- To make the steam more effective, the pelvic area is wrapped in a blanket along with a bucket. The process continues until the steam disappears completely.
When carrying out a smoke bath, you need a can, a brick, as well as some of the natural ingredients: onions, garlic or birch tar.
A very hot brick should be placed in the middle of the can. Next, you should drop some tar into the can or put in another finely chopped product.
During this procedure, the effect of pain relief is felt instantly.
Benefits of bath therapy
Baths for the treatment of hemorrhoids are an affordable and simple method of treatment. It is distinguished by a number of significant advantages that attract the attention of both doctors and patients. Their benefits include:
- effectiveness: procedures help combat the symptoms of the disease, enhance the effect of medications;
- speed: home procedures help to quickly relieve unpleasant symptoms;
- ease of manipulation: if you have special hygienic equipment, there are no difficulties in carrying out prescriptions;
- accessibility: treatment creates a minimal financial burden on the patient’s budget;
- safety: baths are not harmful to health (subject to strict adherence to the recommendations of the attending physician).
At an early stage of the development of the disease, baths help stop the exacerbation and serve as a measure to prevent the spread and aggravation of the pathology. If the disease is advanced, then procedures are carried out to alleviate the condition and prepare for doping or surgical treatment with a laser.
Risks of the procedures
Antihemorrhoidal treatment should be selected individually. Only a doctor can qualifiedly assess the severity of the patient’s condition and select suitable treatment methods for him. As a rule, baths only complement the main therapy. If you use them without first consulting your doctor, the risk of side effects and complications increases. It is also possible that an allergic reaction to drugs and components of the medicinal solution may occur.
Contraindications
People who are at risk should refrain from these activities. But almost everyone is allowed warm baths because they are the safest. Only in critical situations are they prohibited altogether. For example, those people who are scheduled for surgical intervention, that is, with already advanced stages of hemorrhoids. The following category of people should also be careful:
- Pregnant women. You should not take hot or cold baths, as they can negatively affect a woman’s overall health.
- Suffering from genitourinary diseases. For those who often suffer from cystitis or prostatitis, cold baths are strictly prohibited.
- Allergy sufferers. The fact is that any components used for medicinal baths can irritate the affected area and then inflammation will begin with a vengeance.
There are generally no other restrictions. To completely protect yourself from adverse consequences, it is better to consult a doctor, because each organism requires an individual approach and, accordingly, treatment. It is important to take care of yourself and it is better to minimize self-medication.
Rules for performing procedures at home
Hemorrhoids are a complex disease, the symptoms of which have their own specific characteristics. The degree of their expression largely depends on the stage of the process, as well as the state of the body. The use of baths for hemorrhoids requires an analysis of the clinical picture, according to which the following is selected:
- medicine for preparing a medicinal solution;
- suitable water temperature;
- frequency of manipulations.
Hot/warm baths
Hot baths for hemorrhoids (solution temperature 36-40 degrees) are a way to cope with the inflammatory process and prolong the period of remission in the case of a chronic disease. The choice in their favor can be made only in the absence of bleeding, as well as any injuries or damage to the mucous membranes of the rectum. This is due to the fact that hot water causes blood vessels to dilate and increases blood circulation.
Surgery, doping, acute inflammation are direct contraindications to thermal effects.
Cold water treatments
Using cold solutions (water temperature no higher than 20 degrees) for sitz baths helps relieve pain and discomfort in the anal area. After the procedure, the pain subsides due to the antiseptic effect, improved blood flow, and a decrease in the volume of nodular formations.
Before carrying out manipulations, it is important to make sure that there are no contraindications, which include:
- inflammatory diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems;
- high risk of deep vein thrombosis and nodes;
- probable risks of developing an allergic reaction to the medicinal solution.
Is it possible to use the sauna?
Baths and saunas are controversial events in this matter. But the answer is simple: it’s not worth the risk. The fact is that due to the high temperature, the blood will, of course, begin to circulate, but not in the right way. It will create powerful inflows in the vessels, which will entail one thing: an increase in hemorrhoids and cones. After all, a hot bath for hemorrhoids is prohibited for the same reason.
There are too many external factors in saunas that negatively affect the patient’s condition
Advice: Refrain from any activities that could harm you during an exacerbation of the disease. It is very important not to irritate that same area again, especially if the nodes have fallen out. It is better to be patient a little and cure everything at the initial stage without any complications.
Inflammatory processes can also worsen if any infections occur. Therefore, it is also recommended to refrain from swimming in the sea. There are too many different microelements, including bacteria and unwanted substances. The already affected area will become even more irritated, leading to unbearable pain.
Recipes for baths for hemorrhoids
To combat symptoms, you can use baths with medicinal solutions prepared according to various recipes: from pharmaceutical preparations, infusions of medicinal herbs, potassium permanganate and other substances.
Herbal baths
To treat and prevent exacerbations of hemorrhoids, you can use infusions prepared from plants. Plants have valuable medicinal properties: they fight inflammation, swelling, itching, strengthen the vascular wall, and improve regeneration. Regular procedures have a local calming effect, alleviate the condition, and complement the course of treatment. The infusion is prepared in advance according to the specified recipe.
Calendula infusion
Calendula is a well-known and widespread plant that has a whole range of medicinal properties. Its active components have an anti-inflammatory effect, eliminate burning and itching of the skin, and improve regeneration. These valuable properties are ideal for treating hemorrhoids.
Dried flowers of the plant are used to prepare a medicinal infusion. Approximately 4 tablespoons of the herb are poured into a glass or enamel container and poured with a liter of boiling water. The container is tightly closed with a lid and additionally wrapped in soft cloth for insulation. The infusion becomes suitable for use after 50-60 minutes. Before the procedure, it must be filtered and diluted with water to the required volume. Calendula baths should be done daily 1-2 times for 15 minutes. The course of treatment is up to 2 weeks.
Chamomile baths
The herb and chamomile color are an excellent natural antiseptic. For hemorrhoids, the infusion improves the tissue tone of the problem area, disinfects, relieves inflammation in the anal area, reduces itching and burning. To prepare the product, dry raw materials are used at the rate of 3-4 tablespoons per liter of water. The herb is poured with boiling water and infused in a warm place for about one hour. The treatment procedure is carried out 2-3 times a day until the symptoms disappear.
Oak bark decoction
For the treatment of external hemorrhoids, baths with a decoction of oak bark are effective. The product has the ability to relieve itching and inflammation, has an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effect.
To prepare a medicinal decoction, you need to use 50 grams of raw materials per 1.5 liters of water. The prepared container is placed in a water bath and simmered over low heat for up to 50 minutes. After this, the broth is left covered for 2-3 hours. The finished infusion is filtered and used to prepare cold and warm baths.
Infusion of succession
The herb has the properties of relieving irritation, reducing inflammation, and protecting against the spread of infections. Baths with a series of hemorrhoids complement the treatment and serve as a prevention of exacerbation of the disease.
To prepare the infusion, take half a glass of dried herbs per liter of boiling water. The mixture is infused under the lid for 30-40 minutes. The finished product is filtered and cooled to room temperature. Procedures using it are carried out for 15 minutes before bedtime for 10-15 days.
Baths with a solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate)
Sitz baths with potassium permanganate provide effective disinfection and reduce the risk of inflammation and the spread of infection. In addition, the product effectively dries, eliminates itching, and accelerates healing in the presence of external cracks in the anal area. The solution should be prepared from a concentrate prepared in advance, which is diluted in water to the required consistency (from slightly to intensely pink).
Baths with sea salt/soda solution
The procedure provides antiseptic treatment, relieves swelling, pain, and itching. To prepare the solution, you need to use 400-500 grams of salt and 3 tablespoons of soda per 3 liters of water. The mixture is thoroughly mixed and used warm. After the procedure, the skin of the anus is carefully brushed and lubricated with vegetable oil or ointment for hemorrhoids.
What herbs are suitable for baths?
Baths with chamomile decoction will help stop the inflammatory effect.
For sitz baths, you need to choose those herbs that quickly relieve inflammation, heal and tone blood vessels. You should be aware of allergic reactions that may occur to some herbs. If the itching intensifies or a rash appears, it is necessary to stop treatment with baths and select another herbal component.
How to carry out procedures at home
To obtain the expected therapeutic effect, it is necessary to perform procedures regularly 2-4 times a day. The duration of the manipulations ranges from 10 to 25 minutes. The bath solution should be prepared immediately before use, for example, dilute the drug, dissolve salt or concentrate. It is better to prepare the herbal infusion in advance for several procedures.
Before the bath you should take a hygienic shower. Instead of a basin, it is convenient to use a special toilet attachment. Liquid is poured into the container, and the patient is comfortably placed on it to undergo the procedure. After completing the manipulation, it is enough to rinse the bath with clean water and put it away for the next use.
