Ulcerative Colitis: Can Saunas Help with Flare-ups?

Ulcerative colitis is a very personal disease. By that, I mean that it affects every sufferer differently. In my case, my ulcerative colitis is currently in remission but, I still vividly remember my struggles to find ways to cope with my ulcerative colitis.

One suggestion that I got during a support group meeting was to go into a sauna with a wet towel placed under my bottom and one on my stomach. I was told that this would help with the abdominal cramps and with the rectal pain.

I went to a local health club one day to try this technique. In my case, it did not work. It seems that the heat from the sauna made my symptoms worse. I only lasted a few minutes before I was off and running to the bathroom.

At my next doctor's appointment, I asked him about my reaction. It turns out that some people with ulcerative colitis cannot take the intense heat that saunas produce. He explained to me that when I would breathe in the very hot air, my abdomen would tense up which would make my ulcerative colitis seem worse than before I went into the sauna.

On the plus side, my experience in the sauna gave me one of favorite remedies for rectal pain. I learned that wet heat like a warm wet wash cloth helped my rectal pain. After that day in the sauna, I started using warm wet wash cloths at home to wipe off after an ulcerative colitis flare up. I also discovered, as an indirect result of my sauna trip, that a sitz bath also helped my rectal pain.

If you do try this technique, I suggest that you locate the bathroom before you get into the sauna. You should also ask your health care professional if the sauna is a good idea for you. Some medications will cause you to have a negative reaction to extreme or dry heat.

I must say now that I do have some friends who suffer from ulcerative colitis who do find the sauna to be very helpful in dealing with their flare ups. As with most techniques to cope with an ulcerative colitis flare up, you have to try it for yourself to see if it works for you.