Therapeutic baths for hemorrhoids help relieve pain, get rid of cracks and alleviate the general condition. Traditional medicine offers many recipes based on herbs, with salt, manganese and other therapeutic components, from which decoctions, infusions and solutions are prepared. But it is important to remember that such a treatment procedure has a number of contraindications, so to use it you need to get a doctor’s advice.
Description of the disease
Hemorrhoids are a disease that is associated with dilation, thrombosis and inflammation of the hemorrhoidal veins. Nodes form around the rectum, which prevent blood from circulating normally through the veins.
The disease is common among both men and women. Symptoms of hemorrhoids include:
- pain, which may be during bowel movements or constant;
- bleeding;
- itching;
- prolapse of hemorrhoids;
- mucus secretion;
- feeling of incomplete emptying;
- perianal edema;
- discomfort.
The disease develops gradually, ranging from itching and infrequent constipation, ending with prolapse of hemorrhoids, bleeding and constant pain. It is necessary to combat this problem in the initial stages, since advanced cases often cause the development of colon cancer, thrombosis or necrosis.
To determine what steps to take to get rid of hemorrhoids, you should consult a doctor who will recommend the best treatment option. Often, as part of complex therapy, doctors prescribe baths for hemorrhoids. It is worth considering what they are.
How baths at home help with hemorrhoids
Baths are useful for inflammation of the hemorrhoid. In general, we can highlight the following number of advantages from their use:
- Efficiency. After the first use, baths for hemorrhoids can relieve unpleasant sensations such as itching, pain and discomfort. They have a healing effect and relieve inflammation. When adding herbs, there is also an anesthetic effect. During the course of procedures, a cumulative effect occurs.
- Availability. Absolutely anyone can do baths for hemorrhoids at home. The procedure is accessible not only by the technique of its execution, but also by the components that are used to relieve pain and discomfort. In order to make a bath, you will need a basin or bath, water and a more suitable medicinal component, which may be potassium permanganate, chamomile or other herbs.
- Simplicity. To make a bath for hemorrhoids, you do not need to have any in-depth knowledge in the field of medicine. All additional ingredients that have a therapeutic effect can be purchased at pharmacies.
- Safety of the procedure. When a doctor prescribes baths for the treatment of hemorrhoids, as well as when following basic rules, it is simply impossible to harm the body. Of course, there are some contraindications, but they will be discussed a little below.
Baths are of great benefit at the initial stage of hemorrhoid development. A small number of procedures will help get rid of unpleasant symptoms and cure the disease.
How to take baths after hemorrhoid removal
High technologies in medicine have reached a fairly high level. This also affected operations to remove hemorrhoids. Today, you can get rid of a delicate disease using a laser, radio waves, or excision using special rings.
If the disease is not in a severe stage, the patient can be discharged home on the day of the operation. Then a long period of rehabilitation begins.
Important! Immediately after the operation you cannot sit; therefore, sitz baths are contraindicated in the first days. For the first two or three days, the patient should stay in bed, take leisurely walks around the house or on the street, monitor nutrition, and perform simple exercise therapy.
You can sit and take sitz baths on the third day. The patient usually experiences slight discomfort in the anal area. This is normal, because the integrity of the mucous membrane has been compromised.
In such a situation, it is advisable to take cold baths, and in the first days after the operation, apply ice to the anus. Such recommendations and the sequence of their application can only be given by the attending physician.
But it is worth remembering that a cold bath does not mean an ice bath. This can be a bath with water or broth, the temperature of which is slightly lower than the ambient temperature. If this is not followed, you can simply get a cold in the genitourinary system. You can sit in a cold bath for no more than five minutes.
During this period, it is good to combine treatment with baths, the consumption of herbal decoctions and the use of medicinal products that treat the anus inside and outside.
Such enhanced therapy will allow you to quickly complete the recovery process and return to normal life. But now you need to remember about healthy food and a normal lifestyle. It is necessary to introduce foods rich in fiber into your diet and drink more water. This will eliminate the possibility of constipation.
Methods of preparation and types of baths
There are several types of baths that can be prepared for hemorrhoids at home. Baths are:
Cold baths are recommended for exacerbation of hemorrhoids. Cold water helps stop bleeding, can reduce pain and improve blood microcirculation. For cooking you will need water whose temperature does not exceed 20 degrees. The water must be boiled, since, for example, tap water contains elements that contribute to infection.
Warm baths help relax the sphincter muscles, eliminate itching, and also help strengthen the vascular membranes and heal cracks. The temperature for such baths should be equal to natural body temperature.
For hot baths, the water should not exceed a temperature of 40 degrees. It is important to remember that such procedures can only be carried out during the “fading” of the disease or in its initial forms. You should not use them during an exacerbation of hemorrhoids. A hot bath reduces pain, relieves inflammation, and promotes regeneration of damaged areas.
In order to understand how to take baths for hemorrhoids, you should know the basic rules:
- The water must be boiled.
- The basin should only be filled halfway with water.
- Before pouring water into the basin, you should prepare the ingredients in advance (herbal decoction, potassium permanganate solution, etc.).
- After the procedure, it is necessary to remove residual water from the skin using a soft, clean, lint-free cloth; it is better to avoid terry towels.
Baths for the treatment of hemorrhoids during pregnancy
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are common. And since during this period of life every woman wants to reduce the amount of medication she takes as much as possible, most turn to alternative medicine for help. But, despite the fact that baths seem safe at first glance, they are not recommended for use during pregnancy, since warm, hot and cold temperatures can negatively affect the condition of the uterus and its blood circulation. It is safer to make herbal compresses, but not baths.
Compresses based on:
- celandine;
- St. John's wort;
- calendula;
- chamomile;
- mumiyo;
- baking soda;
- onion peel.
The principle of preparing decoctions from these components is no different from the recipes described above. But they do not need to be diluted with water. You will need to take a small piece of gauze, soak it in the solution, apply it to the anus, and secure it with an adhesive plaster. It is recommended to leave the compress on all night.
How to make baths with potassium permanganate for hemorrhoids?
The procedure with manganese solution is very popular in the treatment of this disease. However, it is worth remembering that if you prepare the solution incorrectly and overdo it with the main component, you can get a skin burn.
In order to make a manganese bath for hemorrhoids, you first need to prepare a solution. Potassium permanganate should be diluted in a small amount of warm water so that the liquid turns crimson. Next, the resulting solution is poured into a basin or bathtub filled with warm water through a gauze cloth. This step is important because not all crystals can dissolve. As mentioned above, high concentrations of manganese can cause burns. If an undissolved crystal gets onto the area of skin affected by hemorrhoids, serious complications may occur.
The therapeutic bath should have a pinkish tint. It is worth noting that the properties of manganese disappear at high temperatures, so it is necessary to make a solution in warm or cool water.
After the procedure, the skin must be wiped with a gentle, soft cloth. You can also treat the anus with natural coconut oil - this will help accelerate the regeneration of skin cells.
Baths for the treatment of hemorrhoids during pregnancy
Many women are interested in whether it is possible to use baths to treat hemorrhoids during pregnancy.
Baths are widely used in the treatment of hemorrhoids in expectant mothers. It’s just important to follow some rules, namely:
- do not take hot baths;
- the duration of the procedure should not exceed 15 minutes;
- It is forbidden to carry out sitz baths if your mucus plug or water has come out;
- It is not recommended to engage in such treatment without consulting a proctologist, since not all herbs and minerals are allowed during pregnancy.
The algorithm for performing baths during pregnancy is no different from the one we described earlier.
I’m not working at the moment - I’m staying at home (on maternity leave), raising children, and running the household. I'm not a doctor, so don't judge strictly. But I love learning something new and sharing it with you. I try to convey as much information as possible to the reader. I hope you enjoy my articles!
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One comment on the article “Top 10 best folk remedies for baths for hemorrhoids: types of baths, recipes, features”
For a bath against hemorrhoids, potassium permanganate \ Potassium permanganate \ can cause colon cancer \ I do not recommend
Chamomile baths
For hemorrhoids, chamomile baths relieve inflammation, eliminate itching and promote rapid healing of the affected areas. This plant is a storehouse of useful substances, so it is used in the treatment of hemorrhoids as often as manganese.
To prepare the solution, you need to pour 3 tablespoons of chamomile with a glass of boiling water and leave covered for 60-80 minutes. Next, the strained broth is poured into prepared warm purified water and the procedure is carried out. For the best effect, it is recommended to do such baths 2-3 times a day.
Rules for preparing chamomile for hemorrhoids
When using a decoction, you need to know how to make chamomile baths for hemorrhoids and follow some preparation rules. Recommendations are taken into account to obtain the greatest benefit.
To obtain chamomile infusion you need:
- Pour chamomile into a glass.
- Pour boiling water over dried flowers in the proportion of 1 tbsp. l. for 1 tbsp. water.
- Cover the infusion with a glass lid and leave for at least an hour.
The cooled tincture must be strained, separating the used tea leaves from the liquid. The decoction is used only strained and cooled.
To make the chamomile infusion stronger and more effective for treating hemorrhoids, you can use other preparation methods:
- infusion in a water bath;
- bringing to a boil.
The first method is as follows: dried flowers are poured with boiling water at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. for 200 g of boiling water. Then the container is placed in a water bath and infused over low heat for 30 minutes.
The resulting infusion should be cooled, strained and used for treatment.
The second method is to boil the inflorescences. To do this, the flowers are poured into an enamel bowl, poured with hot water and brought to a boil. After the broth has boiled, remove the dishes from the heat, allow the infusion to cool and filter for further use. The proportions are the same as in the previous recipe.
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Onion peel baths
Onions perfectly fight inflammation and help relieve itching, so a decoction of onion peels is used to treat this unpleasant disease. First, to prepare the decoction, you need to soak the husks for 10 hours in cold water. During this time, the liquid should turn yellowish-brown. Next, the broth should be boiled for 5 minutes.
Add the strained broth to a bowl of warm water and take a bath. At home, for hemorrhoids, it is easiest to make such a bath, since it is prepared from improvised means, but at the same time it has a good healing effect.
Recipe with chamomile
Hot baths with chamomile perfectly relax the anal tract, disinfect and heal small wounds and cracks.
To prepare a medicinal decoction, pour two tablespoons of chamomile flowers with half a liter of boiling water, cover with a lid and wrap in a towel. The broth should cool slowly and gradually. Then it is filtered and added to a bowl of hot water.
The remaining pulp can be successfully used as a lotion on inflamed nodes.
From chamomile in bags
If you only have chamomile in bags on hand, preparing a bath will be even easier. 3-4 bags of dry chamomile are brewed with two glasses of boiling water, left for an hour, after which the bags are removed (they can be used as ready-made lotions for inflamed nodes or applied to the eyelids to remove dark circles under the eyes), and the infusion is used in the same way, like a regular decoction.
Nettle bath
Rutin contained in nettle has a hemostatic effect. In addition, the plant has a positive effect on eliminating itching and discomfort.
To prepare the decoction, take 2 tablespoons of dry nettle, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 60-80 minutes. Next, the resulting broth is filtered and poured into a basin and bath with cool water.
Other baths for the treatment of hemorrhoids
Let's look at what other baths can be done for hemorrhoids.
With oak bark decoction
Baths with oak bark decoction are especially effective for external hemorrhoids and anal fissures.
Oak bark has anti-inflammatory, drying, antimicrobial, antipruritic, hemostatic and healing effects.
Recipe for oak bark decoction: 50 grams of oak bark is poured into six glasses of boiling water and simmered over low heat for 30-40 minutes. I remove the finished broth from the heat and let it brew for 2-3 hours under the lid, after which it is filtered through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Oak bark can also be combined with chamomile and sage.
With a decoction of string
Chreda perfectly soothes irritated tissues, reduces the severity of inflammation and destroys pathogenic microbes, preventing infection of hemorrhoids.
Recipe for infusion of string: one glass of dried string is poured with eight glasses of boiling water, cover with a lid and leave for 40 minutes. The finished infusion is filtered through gauze folded in several layers and poured into a basin.
With celandine
The healing properties of celandine are due to the presence of healing juice in it, which contains a lot of useful substances. This plant successfully relieves itching, heals damage, relieves inflammation and fights pathogenic microbes.
Recipe for celandine infusion: 150 grams of dry plant extract are poured with three liters of boiling water, cover with a lid and leave for eight hours. The finished infusion is filtered through a fine sieve, heated to a temperature of 37°C and poured into a basin into which the sore spot is placed.
With calendula infusion
Calendula, in addition to effectively relieving inflammation in the tissues of the anus, also quickly relieves itching and burning in the anus. Therefore, this plant is like a panacea for hemorrhoids.
Recipe for calendula infusion: pour four tablespoons of dry extract of the plant’s flowers into one liter of boiling water, and leave covered for 50 minutes. The finished infusion must be filtered.
With a decoction of bay leaves
Recipe for bay leaf infusion: 50 leaves of the plant are poured with five liters of boiling water, covered with a lid and allowed to brew for half an hour.
The resulting solution is poured into a basin and the procedure is carried out until it cools down. Traditional healers recommend taking warm baths with laurel before bed until hemorrhoids subside.
With baking soda solution
Baking soda is in every housewife's kitchen, so it will be an excellent remedy for hemorrhoids if there are no other medications at hand. Baking soda can quickly relieve tissue swelling, dry cracks, destroy bacteria, and reduce itching and pain in the anus.
Five liters of warm water (37°C) are poured into a wide basin and five tablespoons of baking soda are added to it, stirring it thoroughly until it dissolves.
A bath with soda is carried out until the solution has cooled, after which the skin is wiped with a soft cloth and lubricated with vegetable oil or rich cream.
With sea salt solution
Sea salt has a number of healing properties, including:
- hemostatic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- decongestant;
- painkiller.
To prepare a bath, pour three liters of hot boiled water into a wide basin and dissolve 500 grams of unflavored sea salt in it. When the water has cooled to body temperature, the anus is immersed in it for 20 minutes.
With mumiyo solution
You need to pour three liters of warm water into a wide basin and dissolve 10 mummy tablets in it. After this, you need to sit in the tub so that the water completely covers the problem area. The procedure is carried out for 15 minutes twice a day. Throughout the entire period of exacerbation of hemorrhoids.
With cool water
3-4 liters of boiled water, cooled to 20°C, are poured into a wide basin, and they sit in it so that the back is covered with water, and the genitals are covered with the hand. The procedure should be carried out no longer than five minutes twice a day - morning and evening.
Garlic bath
To prepare, you need to chop one medium head of garlic using a blender or a regular grater, add 5 liters of purified water and leave for 5-6 hours. After a while, the solution needs to be filtered to get rid of the cake.
Garlic baths should be taken in cool water. It is important to remember that garlic can cause serious irritation when cracked or during an exacerbation of the disease. Therefore, this option will only be really useful in the initial stages of hemorrhoids. In general, the antibacterial properties of garlic can relieve itching and eliminate discomfort.
Steam bath with herbal infusion
This procedure is very effective, but it should be carried out with great caution, as you can get burned, which is absolutely undesirable for hemorrhoids. To carry out the procedure, you need to take a container, the volume of which should be at least 3 liters. Next, you need to select a wooden lid that fits the size of the container with a hole of approximately five centimeters (for steam to escape from the container).
You need to pour a hot decoction of medicinal herbs into the container and sit down so that the steam hits the anus area. The procedure should take from 10 to 15 minutes.
Herbal baths
Medicinal herbs can have a healing, hemostatic and calming effect on the affected area. In addition to the already mentioned nettle and chamomile, doctors recommend preparing infusions from herbs such as calendula, sage, string, burnet, St. John's wort and yarrow.
It is not necessary to mix all the herbs at once; you can take, for example, sage and chamomile, string and St. John's wort, or any other combination of herbs. To prepare the infusion, it is recommended to use 2-3 tablespoons of herbs purchased at the pharmacy, pour a glass of boiling water over them and leave for 60-80 minutes. Next, the liquid is filtered, poured into a basin of warm water and a sitz bath is taken.
Baths after surgery to remove hemorrhoids
After surgical removal of hemorrhoids, for speedy wound healing and tissue regeneration, doctors recommend taking antiseptic sitz baths with chamomile or potassium permanganate in combination with rectal suppositories with hemostatic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects (for example, with methyluracil). Patients of proctologists respond positively to taking these medications. Since we are talking about a complex and responsible postoperative period, all recommendations regarding the dosage and use of sitz baths can only be given by the attending physician.
Contraindications
Any medical procedure has its own number of contraindications. In the case of using baths, there are not many of them. However, it is worth remembering that hot baths are contraindicated in cases of thrombosis, bleeding and pinched nodes. Also, such procedures should not be performed on pregnant girls.
Cool baths are contraindicated for those who suffer from problems with the genitourinary system. You should not take cold baths if you have an infection in the genitals. Just like hot, cold procedures are contraindicated for pregnant women.
It is worth noting that warm baths have absolutely no contraindications. In this case, the most important thing is to choose the right components for the decoction or infusion.
Reviews
Experts note that it is almost impossible to cure hemorrhoids with baths alone. However, their use has a positive effect on the overall dynamics of treatment and an increase in the period of remission. Therefore, they can be considered a good accompanying remedy to help fight this unpleasant problem. Doctors recommend carrying out the procedure in a more traditional way, in the form of sitz baths, and without unnecessary need to resort to steam or smoke baths. This is due to the fact that if the procedure is carried out incorrectly, the situation can be further aggravated.
You can often find positive reviews about baths for hemorrhoids from patients suffering from this disease. Many note that when using them, itching disappears and pain decreases.
Forms and stages of hemorrhoids
The development of this disease can occur in two forms; they differ depending on the location of the formation of hemorrhagic nodes.
- The internal form of hemorrhoids is characterized by the location of nodular cones above the anorectal line.
- The external form is characterized by the formation of nodes near the anus.
As hemorrhoids develop, they go through several stages, which differ in symptoms and size of the formations. Each degree of development of hemorrhoids has its own treatment method.
- 1st degree. In the internal form, the disease occurs without any manifestations. External hemorrhoids can manifest themselves as small elastic bulges in the anal area that appear when you try to push and then disappear on their own. At this stage, only conservative treatment is used, mainly with folk remedies.
- 2nd degree hemorrhoids. At this stage, the nodes begin to become inflamed and become swollen with obvious signs of hyperemia. The consistency of the affected tissues becomes significantly denser, and touching them causes severe pain. Inflamed nodes are reduced only with the help of hands. Mandatory drug therapy is indicated in combination with folk remedies and physiotherapeutic procedures.
- 3rd Degree. The surrounding tissues of the perianal region are involved in the pathological process. The anus and rectum turn into a single, swollen, painful tumor. The pain intensifies to the point of unbearability when trying to touch the affected area, and can even torment a person at rest. Every movement is given with great difficulty. The nodes themselves increase to significant sizes. They acquire a bluish-purple color due to filling with blood. Reduction of the nodes becomes impossible; they constantly bleed during defecation or sudden movement. Treatment is carried out only by surgery.
Baths in the treatment of hemorrhoids - how are they useful?
Before telling you how to make baths for hemorrhoids, and what significance they have in the treatment process, you should dwell on one very important point.
It is important! For any form of hemorrhoids, regardless of the stage of the disease, treatment begins with a correction of the diet. This is necessary in order to eliminate the main irritating factor – constipation or hard stool. Without stabilizing the normal functioning of the intestines, all methods of treating hemorrhoids may be powerless.
Local impact directly on the source of pathology has shown excellent results at almost all stages of treatment of the disease. And with the help of baths you can influence not only the medicine, but also the temperature regime. Therefore, sitz baths for hemorrhoids are as necessary as following the diet prescribed by your doctor.
Depending on the preparation method, execution method and composition, baths contribute to:
- relief of pain symptoms;
- restoration of normal tissue structure;
- relieving pathological muscle spasms;
- stopping bleeding;
In addition, most sitz bath recipes have a positive effect on intestinal motility and facilitate bowel movements.
In practice, the following types of baths are used in the treatment of hemorrhoids:
- Cool, helping to quickly stop bleeding and reduce pain.
- Warm, strengthening the walls of blood vessels, relieving itching and burning, as well as stimulating tissue regeneration processes.
- Hot, with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Steam (smoke), which has a relaxing and analgesic effect.
Devices and methods of performing the procedure
Before you make baths for hemorrhoids at home, you need to prepare a basin or buy a special medical bath at the pharmacy.
A specialized device is installed on the toilet, it is equipped with a gutter for draining excess water, and is very convenient to use. You can also use a regular enameled shallow basin. It is better to put it in a stationary bath and carry out the procedure there. In addition, prepare a clean piece of soft cloth in advance. It is better not to use terry and waffle towels. The former can cause villi to get into the wounds and cause inflammation. And the latter will cause pain and discomfort due to their rigidity.
Fill the basin with water at the desired temperature to about half, add the selected product, and sit in it for 15 - 30 minutes, depending on the recipe.
Hot baths
For this type of bath, water is poured several degrees above body temperature. It should not be scalding, since the skin and mucous membranes of the anus are delicate and very sensitive. The comfort of the water temperature can be checked in the old way, as our grandmothers used to do before bathing our parents. Namely, immerse your elbow in the water. Sensitive receptors on the skin of the elbow will tell you the permissible temperature with maximum accuracy.
Hot procedures help relieve inflammation and relieve pain. It is recommended to use them in the treatment of hemorrhoids of the first and second stages during periods of remission. The most effective hot baths are those with ingredients such as:
- onion peel;
- chopped garlic;
- mumiyo;
- chamomile;
- Oak bark.
The course of taking hot baths is at least 10 procedures, then a break is necessarily taken for 3 to 4 days, and the procedures can be repeated, changing or alternating the main components.
Baths with onion peels
To preserve the maximum amount of beneficial substances in onion peels, it is recommended to soak them in cold water for 8 to 10 hours. After the water becomes saturated in color, the infusion should be brought to a boil, but not boiled. Strain the resulting mixture and add to hot water. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.
Chamomile baths
Pharmaceutical chamomile has excellent antiseptic and healing properties.
To prepare one bath you will need two tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers per 500 ml of water. Pour boiling water over chamomile and wrap tightly in a warm towel or blanket so that the cooling process occurs slowly. Strain the finished infusion and add to hot water. The duration of the procedure is from 30 minutes.
