A vaginal What?!
Perhaps you have never heard of vaginal steaming or perhaps you have heard of it but you weren’t sure what it was all about.
I’ve been meaning to write this blog post about vaginal steaming for quite some time(well over a year to be precise!) and decided there is no time like the present.
So first of all what is it?
Vaginal steaming is the use of herbs that have been simmered in hot water to release their properties and then you sit over this steam and allow the healing and soothing properties to work their way around the yoni area.
How do you do it?
Once you’ve got your herbal steam ready in your saucepan or bowl and the warmth is just right for you, there are many ways to actually do the steam. Some people choose to purchase a fold away commode they can put the steaming herbs into and sit over it; some use a wooden squatty potty that has a nice curve for a bowl to fit into. Others will put a bowl with the herbs and water into the toilet bowl and sit over it this way and still some people choose to kneel on either side of the bowl while leaning forward onto a sofa or the side of a bed (it’s advisable to wrap your bowl in a towel to do this and perhaps have two cushions for your knees). Whichever way you choose, it’s important to wrap some blankets around your lower have over the bowl to keep the warm in and also keep your feet warm throughout. So as you can see you can be very elaborate with your set up, or just use a saucepan, a towel and some blankets.
How long do you need to steam for?
Around 10-15 minutes is usually fine, although some people enjoy steaming for longer. It may just require topping up the steam bowl with extra hot water.
How often do you need to steam?
A bare minimum of twice per year in spring and autumn is good, but ideally aiming for once per menstrual cycle is greatly beneficial. This should be done in the days leading up to a bleed or after the bleed. Fertility wise steaming leading up to ovulation would be best.
How does it work?
The active ingredients can be absorbed through the skin of the perineum and the steam brings warmth to the area which in turn increases the blood flow.
Are there any contraindications to steaming?
Yes there are a few instances where steaming is not recommended.
These include: pregnancy
During menstruation
If you have an IUD fitted (use with caution in this instance)
Fever
Rash
Active Herpes (can do a herbal soak instead)
Avoid adding essential oils to your steam as these can be too harsh and strong.
Why would you even want to steam?!
Perhaps you’ve got this far and are thinking, “Cool, but how will this benefit me?”
Some of the benefits of steaming can include the following:
Helps to regulate irregular, heavy, scant or absent menstrual bleeds.
Can have a favourable impact on PCOS, endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids and menopausal symptoms.
Helps to alleviate vaginal dryness and painful sex.
Reduces cramping/pain during menstruation.
Great for womb cleansing both at the physical and the energetic/emotional level.
Can help to reduce digestive issues like bloating.
Can help to ease issues with haemmerhoids.
Decreases in stress/improved sleep after a steam.
Improvement in libido.
Increase in cervical mucus.
Can be beneficial with various organ prolapses.
And postnatally it can aid the healing of any perineal trauma (bruising etc) and well as bring warmth to the womb area in general as it recovers. This can be done from day 3-4 onwards(if there have been stitches etc wait until the skin has closed).
What herbs should I use?
There are many herbs used for steaming including lavender, rose petals, chamomile, comfrey, shepherds purse etc. We have some specific Mizan blends designed to be used for different purposes:
Steam Clean: This is a general purpose blend that is good for everyone. It can help alleviate heavy bleeds, cramps etc, is anti inflammatory and deeply cleansing.
Mama Love: This blend is great for postpartum use to help with postpartum bleeding, haemorrhoids, muscle pain and wound healing.
Nourish: For anyone suffering from vaginal dryness, nourish is the blend to go for. It soothes, softens and tones, increases circulation and stimulates cervical fluid.
Restore: A wonderful blend for anyone suffering with excessive discharge. This blend is antibacterial and hormone balancing.
Vigour: This blend is useful in cases where one is suffering from particularly heavy bleeding and uterine fatigue. It helps to calm the blood flow, relieves menstrual pain, acts as a good toner, helps with PMS and relieves congestion.
Calm: As the name suggests, it helps to calm the womb, reduces cramps and relieves anxiety.
I was first introduced to steaming over 3 years ago when I went on a womb health workshop. I was intrigued, so I purchased the herbs and got home but then did nothing with it. I felt it would be overly complicated so I kept putting it off. I then ended up with really bad kidney pain and stinging when going for a wee and no natural remedy was cutting it. One night it got so bad I had decided if there was no improvement I would need to call the GP. I suddenly remembered my steam clean blend that I had purchased, so I got it out, simmered the herbs and squatted over my bowl for about 15-20 minutes. I went straight to bed as it was quite late and when I woke up the following morning all my kidney pain and stinging was gone! That was it. I was sold on the vaginal steaming and I began doing monthly steams in the days leading up to my bleed. It has made a difference to my bleeds as well. They are so straightforward now, the flow is regulated, I don’t have lots of clots, and the menstrual cramps I learned to accept and mostly non-existent.
If you would like to know more about where to get started with steaming or you would like to purchase a steam blend to try, do get in touch. I’d love to help!
