To say the
list, menstruation, sexual intercourse, childbirth hormonal changes and pelvic
floor issues put the vagina through a lot.
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What is vaginal steaming?
Vaginal steaming, also called v-steaming and yoni steaming is an age-old practice that involves the exposure of one’s vagina to steam to cleanse or detox and enhance its health naturally. The practice surged in popularity when the celebrity Gwyneth Paltrow gave it high praise.
The Importance of Vaginal Steaming
People
engaged in vaginal steaming believe the practice offers multiple health
benefits and even consider it a kind of “facial” for the vagina.
Importance
of vaginal steaming:
- Decreasing
menstrual symptoms like exhaustion, bloating, cramps and heavy bleeding
- Regulating
menstruation
- Boosting
fertility
- Relief
from menopause symptoms
- Detoxify
the womb
- Enhancing
healing after childbirth
- Reducing stress
- Treating haemorrhoids
- Boosting
energy and reducing fatigue
- Treating headaches
- Treatment
for stress
- Enhancing
blood flow to the vagina and promoting its health
Herbs
used alone or in a mixture:
- wormwood
- mugwort
- chamomile
- basil
- calendula
- oregano
Spas
offer a special seat which Paltrow called a “throne” with a hole for steam to
come through.
How
to steam your vagina at home
Before
you try this suggested at-home vaginal steaming method below, please consider
its supposed benefits as well as the possible safety issues I have also discussed
further below.
- Add
a cup of your preferred herbs to a 2 or 3-litre basin of hot water
- Allow
the herbs to steep for about 1 minute
- Take
your clothes off from the waist down
- Now
stand or squat over the basin directly. You can as well stand the basin in
the toilet to sit on the toilet
- Wrap
a big towel around your waist and legs so that the steam cannot escape.
- Stay over the steam for 20 to 60 minutes. The steam may cool sooner if the water is not hot enough.
What are the safety concerns?
The number one safety concern is the risk of burning the
sensitive tissues of your vagina if the steam is too hot. So, avoid using
excessively hot water or getting too close to it.
·
Adding more moist heat and certain additives within the steam to
your vagina can increase your risk for yeast or bacterial infections.
·
If you don’t keep the vaginal steaming equipment clean, you risk
getting infections and other side effects.
·
Remember to always ask the spa staff about their steam equipment
cleaning methods and measures to reduce the risk of infection.
·
If you’re pregnant, don’t steam your vagina. The steam can
affect the growing fetus.
Note that doctors generally warn pregnant women against using saunas, hot tubs, and heating pads around their pelvis for this same reason.
Naturally, the vagina
is a self-cleaning organ designed to maintain pH balance regularly. So subjecting
it to additional interventions like vaginal steaming or douching may not be
necessary. But if you have to steam, do your best to exercise extreme caution
to limit the risk of burns and infections.
If you’re practising v-steaming, please share your experience with
other readers in the comment section below.
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