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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The most common type of\u00A0sitz bath is to use a special plastic sitz bath bowl that sits on top of your toilet seat. It has a cutout so that overflowing water will return to your toilet bowl. You can find such a sitz bath bowl at your local drugstore or medical supply store or online.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There are costlier systems that provide the option of hooking up to your faucet or a solution bag, but the old school sitz bath should get the job done for you.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;An alternative option is to use your bathtub. Just fill the tub up with three to four inches of warm water and slowly lower yourself in, making sure that the water is not so hot that it will cause a burn. You will want to bend your knees to take the pressure off of your perineal area, so that the tissue down there can benefit from the warm water.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you decide to go with the more common sitz bath option, you will appreciate the following tips.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;You will be sitting for a period of time and the whole point is that you want to relax. You may want to have access to something to occupy your mind - a magazine, a good book or a crossword puzzle.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It might be tempting to bring in your smartphone or tablet, but it could be a costly mistake if you get it wet! If you do choose to bring your mobile device in with you, be very, very careful!&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;You will get great benefit just from plain old warm water. But you may want to add some other ingredients that are thought to be effective i soothing the sensitive area and to further promote healing. Here are some options:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Epsom salt&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Sea salt&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Vinegar&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Baking soda (possible antibacterial qualities)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;How much to add is a personal preference. \u00A0You may want to start with a quarter of a cup of the add-in and adjust accordingly. If you are using your bathtub as opposed to a sitz bath, you will want to increase the amount of the added substance due to the fact that you will be using more water.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Before filling the sitz bath, there are a few things you can to do to prep your bathroom:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ol&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Make sure your entertainment is within arm&amp;amp;#39;s reach of the toilet.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Put the toilet seat up.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Have a clean towel nearby for drying.\u00A0&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ol&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Before filling the sitz bath,\u00A0run the water until it is quite warm. You want it to feel warmly soothing, but not so hot that it burns. As you are filling it, you can add in salt, vinegar or baking soda if you would like.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Once the bath is filled, carefully transfer it to the top of your toilet. Remember that your toilet seat needs to be up.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sit yourself down on the sitz bath. You will see that the water that is displaced by your body will drain out the top of the bath into your toilet.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Assess the water temperature: If the water is too hot, add a little cold water. If the water is too cold, add a little hot water. Like Goldilocks, you want it to be just right.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Once the water temperature is to your liking, settle in and relax. Enjoy the restorative powers of a few moments spent sitting quietly. Plan to sit on the\u00A0sitz bath for approximately 15 to 20 minutes.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If necessary, you can add some more hot water to keep the bath at just the right temperature.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Once your 15 to 20 minutes is up, don&amp;amp;#39;t go rushing off to do the next thing on your to-do list. Get up slowly. This is important because dilated\u00A0blood vessels caused by the warm water may result in dizziness. Make sure that your head and body feel fine before moving on to the next step.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Ideally, you will let the area air dry.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If that is not possible, then gently pat the wet areas of your body\u00A0dry with a clean cotton towel.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you are using a cream or ointment to soothe a hemorrhoid or anal fissure, this is a good time to apply it.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Before you leave the bathroom, \u00A0be sure to wash your hands thoroughly in warm soapy water.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;How often to take a sitz bath depends on how severe your symptoms are. The general recommendation is to take sitz baths one to three times a day.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/how-to-take-a-sitz-bath-1944927>