Hip baths are very useful for stimulating the stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys, spleen and other digestive organs and for maintaining their effectiveness.
Hip Bath Equipment – You must have seen tubs specially made for hip baths. The tub is oval in shape and one end is raised so that the patient can rest their back against it. This is the ideal tub for taking a hip bath. Typically, the tub for a hip bath should be about 30 inches (75 cm) long and 20-22 inches (50 cm) wide.
Method for hip bath –
1. Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water. The water level should be so tight that it touches your belly button when you sit in it.
2. Drink a glass of warm water and sit in the bathtub.
3. Your feet will be out of the bathtub and your abdomen and part of your thighs will be submerged in the water. You can rest your back against the raised part of the tub and remain in that semi-supine position.
4. Take a rough towel and rub your abdomen from right to left. Do it gently so you don’t scratch the skin. Do not apply too much pressure when rubbing.
A hip bath can be taken from 10 to 20 minutes. Skinny people should take it for only 10 minutes and stout people can continue for 20 minutes. During the winter, the duration of the hip bath should be reduced by 25 percent.
At first, the sitz bath should only be taken for a minute or two; the time should be gradually increased to 10 or 20 minutes, as indicated above.
A hip bath should always be taken on an empty stomach. No food should be taken for half an hour after a hip bath. You can bathe a couple of hours after the hip bath and not before.
Hip baths with hot water are recommended if you suffer from abdominal pain, menstrual disorders or premature menopause. While taking a hip bath with hot water, a napkin moistened with cold water should be placed on the scalp.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the views of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.