A sitz bath is a warm, shallow bath in which you sit so that your hips, buttocks, and anal area are submerged in water. The name comes from the German word “sitzen,” meaning “to sit.” It is one of the oldest and most consistently recommended home treatments for hemorrhoid relief.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower rectum and anus. They cause pain, itching, burning, and sometimes bleeding, especially after bowel movements.
A sitz bath targets those symptoms directly by using warm water to relax the muscles around the anus and push more blood through the tissue so it can heal.
You do not need a prescription, a pharmacy visit, or any special skill. A clean bathtub or a small plastic basin that fits over the toilet seat is all the equipment required.