About steaming
Vaginal steaming or yoni (the Sanskrit word for vagina) steaming is an ancient way of healing and one of the main ways that women would look after their health. It was and still is a powerful, simple and free remedy for gynaecological needs.
You might be wondering why you haven’t heard of vaginal steaming. In a nutshell, the church and the medical industry were allies during the medical industrialisation. Surgery and pharmaceuticals were up and coming and churches started preaching that herbal use and vaginal steaming, in particular, was affiliated with witchcraft. Therefore, vaginal steaming became taboo and thus silenced in western culture.
What happens when you steam
The warmth of the herbal steam softly penetrates the exterior of the pelvis. During the process, which should last for about 10 to 30 minutes, the steam dilates the blood vessels, increasing blood circulation, providing oxygen, and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles.
Steaming brings heat to the womb. The combination of herbs works to nourish, tone, heal, bring in fresh oxygenated blood, and promote cleansing. The moist heat opens the pores of the tissues it comes into contact with. The water vapour carries the medicinal benefits of the plants, which is absorbed into the tissues, enters the bloodstream, and has a direct healing effect on the reproductive system.
Vaginal tissue is one of the most absorbent of the entire female body.
How to steam
The herbs (2Tbs) are placed into a pot with boiling water and steeped for a 5 minutes. You can either squat or kneel over the bowl, or sit on a seat above the steaming water (e.g. use a chair with a hole cut out in the middle or a commode chair – whatever you have access to). The steam should feel 100% comfortable and relaxing.
Steaming is very powerful and some women only need to steam for a short amount of time in order for it to be effective. As a general rule of thumb, allow 10 to 15 minutes for the steam as well as time to rest afterwards. The best time to steam is at night right before bedtime because is can induce relaxation and deep sleep.
When to steam
It is ideal to steam for 6 days, 3 days prior to your period and then 3 days after your period has finished. Vaginal steaming before helps prepare the uterus for the period and by steaming after it makes sure all the old residue is cleared out.
Who should steam?
Vaginal Steaming is used by women in all the various stages of development. Signifying self-love and care to their bodies. Used in such situations as pre-menarche preparation for girls, so that their first period is not a painful or discomforting experience. Steaming is used by adult women who have had specific gynecological concerns, for women who have just given birth and are in recovery, women who have miscarried and are also in recovery, women who have difficulty conceiving, and women experiencing menopause can use it to alleviate menopausal symptoms.
Steaming can also remedy the following: cramps and pain, clots, fibroids, cysts,
endometriosis, infections, dryness, absent cycles, adhesions, polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, postpartum, and preparation for birth.
According to various case studies, vaginal steaming appears to improve symptoms in over 90% of all gynecological problems and shows tremendous potential as an alternative to invasive medical procedures. Most gynecologists will tell you not to try it, with the premise that the vagina is self-cleaning and exposing the perineum and surrounding area to heat will upset the “delicate” balance and flora of the vagina. This line of thinking is faulty and simply untrue.
Medical practitioners are misinformed about the practice because it is beyond their scope of
training and expertise, as this is a cultural wellness practice. The Peristeam Hydrotherapy
Institute has commissioned the following study to provide a foundational design to explore the impact of vaginal steaming on postpartum recovery.
Hopefully, this will foster interest and additional medical research into the use of steam in preventive and reproductive care and maternal health.Please take a look at the Fourth Trimester Vaginal Steam Study.
Who should not steam?
NEVER STEAM DURING THE FOLLOWING TIMES:
- Pregnancy
- Menstruation
- Fresh spotting
- Extremely hot weather
- Burning itch
- After insemination (or IUI/IVF transfer) and when trying to conceive
- When prone to continual heavy or spontaneous bleeding between periods
IN THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS STEAMING MAY CAUSE A REVERSAL OF PROCEDURE OR INTERVENTION:
- Endometrial ablation
- Tubal cauterization
- Essure
- Patch hormonal birth controls that prevent pregnancy by thickening the uterine lining
SITUATIONS WHERE STEAMING IS OK.
- IUD
- Hormonal birth control
- Depovera shot
- Lichen sclerosis
- Viruses
- Bacteria or yeast infections
- Interstitial cystitis
- Bladder infection
- High blood pressure
- Autoimmune disorders
- Gynecological disorders
- Retrofitted uterus
- Breastfeeding
* Yoni steaming is an alternative therapy and should not be used to diagnose or treat serious medical conditions. If you have a serious medical condition, please consult your GP or healthcare physician.