by Boitumelo Makobosheane
Yoni steaming is a process that involves exposing the yoni (vagina) to steam as a cleansing routine and to also enhance its health. This is an ancient practice. Our grandmothers and their mothers used it after birth as treatment to tone and contract the uterus to its original size. The difference between then and now is that, there were no herbs then and only salt was added to the water, whilst we now have tested herbs.
What are the benefits?
- Fibrosis shrinkages
- Improve fertility
- Regulates irregular menstrual cycles
- Healing after birth
- Reduces stress
- Increases energy and reduces fatigue
- Treating headaches
- Detoxifies
- Tones and natures
- Healing sexual trauma
- Helps with Endometriosis
- PCOS
- Cysts
- Dryness
How to yoni steam?
This process involves sitting over a steaming pot or squatting or even placing your bowl or bucket into the toilet sit (this is called the toilet method) of water that contains added herbs, exposing the yoni to steam. Always remember to use certified organic herbs seeing that you are inserting a foreign thing into a sacred and sensitive area. The herbs may include basil, mugwor t, rosemary and wormwood.
When steaming many individuals often know what they are steaming for, so there are suitable herbs for every kind of steam. These herbs are:
- Anti-fungal
- Antibacterial
- Toning
- Nourishing
Yoni steaming requires you to have a dress on or a blanket that will be able to trap the steam. The water must not be too hot because if it is to hot it could burn the sensitive yoni tissues. You can yoni steam every 6 months as a preventative for some of the benefits mentioned above. Some individuals often do it every two weeks which is not advisable seeing that too much of it can be harmful unless it is treat something or after child birth. Yoni steam for at least 20- 45 minutes if you do it every 6 months or 10 minutes max if you are doing it every two weeks.
Always keep the yoni steaming equipment clean, because if the equipment is not kept clean, a person could also be at risk for infections and other side effects. Therefore, it is essential to clean all equipment thoroughly before using it
Yoni steaming is not advisable to pregnant women (causes the uterus to contract and could lead to early birth or affecting the foetus), when you are on your period or on an IUD (these are contraceptives that are inserted into the yoni for example, loop. However, there is not any scientific evidence to prove that vaginal steaming works. No research studies have tested vaginal steaming or its benefits.
