Sitz bath; a wonder remedy in anorectal problems

Sitz bath; a wonder remedy in anorectal problems
Sitz Bath:
The name is derived from the German verb ‘sitzen’ meaning ‘to sit.’
Definition:
A sitz bath (also called a hip bath) is a type of bath in which only the hips and buttocks are soaked in water or saline solution.
In Ayurveda it has been described as ‘Kati Snaana’
Equipment used for sitz baths:

Sitz bath apparatus

A sitz bath, in which only the hips and buttocks are soaked in water or saline solution, is used for patients who have had surgery in the rectal area or to ease discomfort from fissure, painful hemorrhoids, bladder, prostate, or vaginal infections etc.
Purpose:
A sitz bath is used for patients who either have had surgery in the area of the rectum, or to ease the pain of Anal fissure or an abscess in anal or perianal region or thrombosed/strangulated external hemorrhoids, uterine cramps, prostate infections, painful ovaries, and/or testicles. It is also used to ease discomfort from infections of the bladder, prostate, or vagina. Inflammatory bowel diseases are also treated with sitz baths.
Preparation
The bath should be filled with 3-4 in (8-10cm) of water. For most conditions, nothing else should be added (no bubble bath or oil).
Description
Warm sitz baths are one of the easiest and most effective ways to ease the pain of painful anorectal conditions like Fissure in ano, Thrombosed/strangulated haemorrhoids or an abscess in the anorectal region.
A brief, cool sitz bath helps ease inflammation, constipation, and vaginal discharge. It can be used to tone the muscles in cases of bladder or bowel incontinence.
How to take a sitz bath?

1. A sitz bath tub can be easily purchased at any general/plastic utensils’ store. Select the size that suits you. Sometimes you may also find them at hospital pharmacies or medical supply stores.
2. Prepare the items you will need so they are near at hand from where you will be using the sitz bath.
3. Place the sitz bath tub over the horizontal surface of bathroom, and fix it at its place.
4. Fill the sitz bath with warm water. Remember that the water temperature will feel cooler to your hands than it will to the rest of the body.
5. If your doctor has recommended it, add salt or alum powder to the water.
6. Sit in the sitz bath for 10-20 minutes, or as recommended by your doctor.
7. When finished, use a towel to gently pat the affected area dry.
8. Use your sitz bath as often as recommended by your doctor; generally several times a day as needed to ease discomfort.
9. Wash your sitz bath tub after each use and dry it thoroughly.

Precautions
Some patients may become dizzy when standing up after sitting in hot water; it is best to have someone else present when doing a sitz bath.
Aftercare
The area should be carefully patted dry and, if necessary, clean dressings should be applied.
Risks
Sitz baths pose almost no risk. On rare occasions, patients can feel dizzy or experience rapid heart beat because of blood vessel dilation.
Normal results
Swelling goes down; discomfort is eased; healing is promoted.

Thanks for patiently reading this article. I hope people will be more familiar to this simple but very effective remedy to relieve pain and discomfort in anorectal problems, after reading this article. If however, you still have any query/doubt, you can e-mail me at consult@ayurvedapilescure.com

Author: Dr. Naveen Chauhan

Consultant Ayurveda Physician and  Proctologist

SHRI DHANWANTARI CLINIC, GHAZIABAD

Free GI diseases, Piles, Fissure, Fistula Awareness and Treatment Campaign निःशुल्क बवासीर, फिशर, भगन्दर व उदर रोग जागरुकता एव्ं चिकित्सा अभियान

निःशुल्क बवासीर, फिशर, भगन्दर व उदर रोग जागरुकता एव्ं चिकित्सा अभियान
श्री धन्वन्तरि क्लीनिक, गाजियाबाद द्वारा आर्थिक रूप से निर्बल बवासीर, फिशर, भगन्दर, पाइलोनिडल साइनस के रोगियों के लिये एक ‘निःशुल्क बवासीर, फिशर, भगन्दर व उदर रोग जागरुकता एव्ं चिकित्सा अभियान’ का आयोजन किया जा रहा है। इस अभियान में;

1. गुदा व पेट की बीमारियों के बारे में जन-सामान्य को विभिन्न प्रचार माध्यमों द्वारा जागरूक किया जायेगा।
2. आर्थिक रूप से निर्बल बवासीर, फिशर, भगन्दर, पाइलोनिडल साइनस के रोगियों के लिये निःशुल्क आयुर्वेदिक औषधियों व क्षार-सूत्र चिकित्सा की व्यवस्था उपलब्ध रहेगी।
   

कॄपया हमारे इस अभियान में शामिल हों व अधिक से अधिक संख्या में लोगों को इसके बारे में बतायें तथा ऐसे रोगियों को निःशुल्क इलाज के लिये हमारे पास भेजें।

धन्यवाद!

डा० नवीन चौहान

श्री धन्वन्तरि क्लीनिक, गाजियाबाद

सम्पर्कः +91-9818069989, 9536909883

Email: info@ayurvedapilescure.com

Free GI diseases, Piles, Fissure, Fistula Awareness and Treatment Campaign

A campaign about anorectal diseases is being run by Shri Dhawantari Clinic, Ghaziabad to spread the awareness about the anorectal and GI diseases and to help the poor patients. Details of the campaign are;

1. Free educational and awareness programmes to be run in schools, colleges, villages, urban, slums, jhuggis about Piles (Bavaseer), Fissure, Fistula in ano (Bhagandar), Pilonidal sinus and Gastrointestinal problems etc.
2. Absolutely Free treatments of anorectal and Gastrointestinal diseases by Ayurvedic medicines and Kshara sutra therapy for economically weak patients.

Be a part of our campaign to help the poor. If you know any such patient who can’t afford the treatment, send him to us. We shall provide absolutely free treatment for him/her.

For more details and registeration/referral kindly call us at +91-9536909883 or email at info@ayurvedapilescure.com

Thanks,
Dr. Naveen Chauhan
Director and Chief Consultant
Shri Dhanwantari Clinic, Ghaziabad

Diet for Constipation, Piles/Hemorrhoids, Anal fissure and Fistula in ano (anorectal) patients in Hindi

ANAL FISSURE/FISSURE-IN-ANO - Causes, prevention and treatment

Anal fissure or Fissure-in-ano is a kind of longitudinal cut (linear ulcer) at the anal canal  outer anterior and posterior margins (skin-lined part) which is formed when a person suffering from constipation passes hard stool with strain. It is extremely painful ano-rectal condition which lead sufferer into stress and anxiety. The person is so much distressed that he/she develops fear for passing stool. This tendency however adds to his problem as it further aggravates the problem of constipation.

Anal fissure commonly occur at midline posteriorly but sometimes seen at midline anteriorly and rarely seen at anywhere in the anal circumference.

The ulcer of anal fissure doesn't heal up easily because;

1. The anal canal always full of microorganisms i.e. it is always lodged with infection.
2. The passage of hard stool during the act of defaecation prevents it from healing easily.

In acute stage the fissure is extremely painful and may bleed frequently but if ignored for a long time for more than 7-8 months, it gets partially healed up and a skin growth known as sentinel tag or sentinel pile surrounds it. This sentinel tag further hinder the complete healing of the underlying fissure.

Who suffer more from Anal fissure the causative factors?

• People who have a habit of eating junk food and fast food with less dietery fibres.
• People who drink less fluids and water.
• People who do not exercise or walk and have sedentary lifestyle.
• Women during pregnency generally develop constipation and thus anal fissure is seen more in women than men.

How fissure can be prevented?

The primary cause of anal fissures is constipation. So, one has to develop habits by which constipation can be prevented. A few measures can be;

1. Taking adequate dietary fibers. Eat more vegetables, fruits and salad.
2. Drink plenty of water and fluids but avoid much coffee and tea.
3. Avoid straining during defaecation.
4. Avoid excessive chillies and spices in food items.
5. Avoid much of non-veg. food. Try to be vegetarian.
6. Use of buttermilk (Lassi without butter) with a pinch of cumin powder and black salt keeps the digestion correct.

What is the treatment? 

In acute condition, medicines to relieve constipation along with Ayurvedic healing oils for local application, are prescribed. Dilation using anal dilators of appropriate diameters or using index finger is done along with ayurvedic healing oils. However if the condition becomes chronic and sentinel tag has been formed, surgical intervention is necessary. 

In Ayurveda the sentinal tag is cut by using a specialized medicated alkaline thread ligation technique, known as Kshara-sutra ligation which offers a better way to treat chronic fissure-in-ano than conventional surgery. Kshara sutra method is least invasive para surgical procedure for cutting benign tissues like sentinel tag, piles masses, warts, condyloma etc. In this technique a highly specialized medicated thread is ligated tightly around the sentinel tag, which strangulate the tissue and cause necrosis thus the tag fall off in 3 to 5 days. The underlying fissure heals up in next 5-15 days. Ayurvedic medicines for constipation and Ayurvedic healing promotion oils like Jatyadi oil or panchguna oil etc.along with Finger dilation of anal canal (Ganesh Kriya) are used till the fissure gets healed completely. 

Sitz bath :- In acute as well as chronic cases of fissure in ano, Sitz bath with lukewarm triphala or panchwalkal kwath is quite helpful in relieving the pain. Patient should use a plastic tub of appropriate diameter and fill it with lukewarm panchwalkal/triphala kwath or simply tap water with some some antiseptic solution and should sit in such a way that his anus and buttocks get submerged inside the warm medicated water. It greatly help in reliving the pain in ano-rectal diseases and gives a soothing effect.Sitz bath is advised in all patients suffering from fissures, piles or fistula in ano and also it is an important part of post operative treatment in ano-rectal cases.