How to Use Baking Soda in a Sitz Bath

A sitz bath can be used to ease the pain and speed healing of hemorrhoids, anal fissures, vaginal yeast infections, episiotomy surgery, and other disorders affecting the buttocks or genitals 1. Sitz baths consist of sitting in a shallow container or tub of warm water so that the affected parts of the body can be soaked as needed. The addition of baking soda to a sitz bath can help soothe irritated skin and provide relief from itching and burning.

Fill the sitz bath or bathtub with warm water. You will need to fill the tub full enough so that the affected body parts are submerged in the water when you sit in the tub.

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Mix 4 to 5 tbsp. baking soda in the sitz bath. Stir the water with a wooden spoon to dissolve the baking soda.

Soak the affected area in the sitz bath for 10 to 20 minutes. Dry off gently with a clean, soft towel to prevent further irritation.

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Repeat the sitz baths several times throughout the day or as indicated by your doctor, to help relieve symptoms.

Tips

Inflatable sitz baths, which are designed to be mounted on your toilet seat, can be purchased from some drugstores.

A regular bathtub filled with a shallow amount of water can be used for sitz baths if you do not have an actual sitz bath.