If you’re looking for an effective form of hydrotherapy, a hip bath is one for you to try.
Hip Bath (Kati Snan)
Not sure what a hip bath is? A hip bath, also known as Kati Snan, is a type of hydrotherapy treatment that requires you to submerge your lower body into a tub of water.
In order for the hip bath to be performed accurately, you should fill the tub with ample water in order to submerge the parts of your body that include the hips and belly button. Whether you choose to have the water be cold, warm, or hot is up to you.
Your mind and body can benefit immensely from taking a dip in this type of a bath. Not only will you feel more relaxed as you unwind from a busy day, this form of hydrotherapy can also help to relieve you from symptoms of pelvic inflammatory conditions such as cellulitis, sciatica, and ovaritis.
Hip Bath Directions:
To take a proper hip bath, the following directions can be followed:
- Boil a cup of bitter neem leaves in water and bring it up to your tub.
- Fill up your tub with cold, warm, or hot water and add the boiled neem leaves, including the water, into the tub.
- Get into the tub and take an easy seated position with your feet on the ground.
- Clear your mind from all your stress and relax all your muscles in the body.
- Stay in this relaxing position for about six minutes and focus on your breathing.
Benefits of Hip Bath:
Whatever temperature you choose to take your hip bath in, you will reap immense health benefits from this form of therapy.
Cold Water Hip Baths
Cold water hip baths usually last 10 minutes. Cold water is known to provide relief from a number of ailments such as constipation, indigestion, inflammation and ultimately promote healthy digestive function.
Hip baths in cold water can also help alleviate symptoms of chronic uterine infections, pelvic inflammation, and painful menstrual cramps.
Lukewarm Hip Baths
Lukewarm or warm hip baths usually last for about 20 to 60 minutes. A warm bath can help to relieve all kinds of acute and sub-acute inflammatory conditions related to the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
Hot Hip Baths
Before engaging in a hot hip bath, make sure to drink a glass of cold water before your bath and ensure the hip bath does not last longer than 10 minutes. A hot hip bath should be followed by a cold shower or cold bath afterward.
Hot hip baths help benefit the body in numerous ways, including relief from enlarged prostate glands, sciatica, and painful contractions.
Hip Bath Do’s and Don’ts:
Do adjust the temperature of the water according to your personal preference.
Don’t sit in the hip bath longer than the recommended period of time. Doing so will only make the bath less effective.
Don’t take a hot hip bath if you struggle with high blood pressure.
Don’t forget to take a cold shower or cold bath after a hot hip bath.
Hip Bath Follow-Up Poses:
After you’ve taken your hip bath, sit in a meditative posture and focus on your breathing for some time. If you are looking to cool down after your hip bath, the corpse pose is a handy pose to help you relax as you perform the Savasana.
Hip Bath Recap:
Hip baths can help to regulate your menstrual cycle and relieve symptoms of painful menstrual cramps. However, hip baths are not recommended if you suffer from high blood pressure, diarrhea, or nerve damage.
Make sure to consult your doctor before engaging in a hip bath to find out if this therapy is right for you.
Quick FAQs
1. What is a hip bath?
A hip bath is an effective form of hydrotherapy to induce relaxation and provides ample benefits to the body.
2. How can one take a hip bath?
In order to take a hip bath, your lower body should be submerged in a tub filled with water that comes up to your hips and navel. You have the option to choose the temperature of the water as long as you keep in mind the recommended amount of time for each water temperature.
Updated by Siya Rajan on 05/16/2018
