Yoni steaming as a self-health practice to restore health and balance your physical feminine cycles, ease the transition through life phases, unlock the intimate magic of your womb, and release toxic emotions such as stress, tension, and stagnation.
Yoni steaming is a powerful ancient self-care practice used by women worldwide to support deep wellness, women's wisdom, herbal medicine, and feminine power. Yoni steams, also referred to as V steams, vaginal steams, pelvic steams, chai-yok, or bajo's, are a part of ancient womanly healing arts that are becoming popular again. Yoni steams are holistic self-care practices in which a woman allows the warmth of herbal steam to permeate the exterior of her vagina gently.
Yoni steams are part of the Maya healing lineage and used mainly to cleanse the uterus when there are menstrual difficulties, after birth, and with menopause to completely clean the womb when finished bleeding. They are popular in Central America, India, eastern Europe, parts of Africa, and in Korea, where women commonly incorporate them as part of their self-care routines.
Let's start by talking about the word yoni
How do you refer to your vagina, to the depth of your body's wisdom and intelligence and most "sacred place"?
Studies show that we can improve our heart space by merely being kinder, more gentle, and loving to ourselves. We can change our physiology based on our level of self-love. I believe that this is true for our entire body, especially our female and reproductive organs. We can improve our vaginal health based on how we love and respect our bodies.
Yoni is the Sanskrit word for the female genitalia, the womb, and the vagina. It means "sacred place" and symbolizes our divine nature and its sacred portal to life.
In ancient, Taoist tradition it is referred to as "golden lotus," "gates of paradise," "precious pearl," "treasure."
In medical terms, the vagina is referred to as the muscular tube leading from the external genitals to the cervix of the uterus in women and most female mammals.
The word "vagina" is a Latin word meaning "a sheath or scabbard", a scabbard into which one might slide and sheath a sword. The "sword" in the case of the anatomic vagina was the penis.
Other definitions that come up when Googled are:
The reason life exists
"p*ssy", "down there", 'kitty"," goodness" a portal, and so on.
A source of addiction for even the most tough-minded men
A tool used by women to control men and force them to submit to their insane demands
The only place a man truly feels at home
The only thing that makes life worth living
Did you notice how you felt in your body as you read the descriptions? Some of them made you smile, some of them made you close off. This is an example of what I'm trying to communicate. How we refer to our body, influences how we feel. How we feel and how we talk about our body influences how our body functions!
What is a yoni steam?
Yoni steams are a holistic health practice in which a woman allows the warmth of herbal steam to gently permeate the exterior of her vagina. Between menstruation, sexual intercourse, and childbirth, the vagina withstands a lot. When you add changing hormones and pelvic floor issues to the mix, sometimes the vaginal area is anything but comfortable. That's why the ancient practice of yoni steaming is coming back. Essentially, herbs are brewed in a steam pot, and the container is placed under you or under your open seated chair. Blankets and sheets are wrapped around your torso to create a kind of sweat lodge for your lower torso. You sit and receive the moist warmth of the healing steam. It enters your body directly through your yoni and penetrates to your uterus, pelvis, and even up through a deep central channel connecting to your heart so you can feel better in your body and your life.
Potential benefits of yoni steams
There are many possible benefits to yoni steams. Here I will list them out and will elaborate on a few that I think are important.
Regulate menstrual cycles, reduce painful periods, bloating and exhaustion associated with menstruation
Decrease menstrual flow as well as reduce dark purple or brown blood at the onset of menses
May promote fertility
Postpartum recovery by aiding in the repair of vaginal tears, episiotomy, or c-section scars.
Pain with intercourse
Heal from emotional or sexual trauma
Reduce uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts PCOS, uterine weakness and prolapse, & endometriosis.
Assist with the healing of hemorrhoids
Relieve chronic yeast infections and UTI's
Ease menopause symptoms including dryness or pain during intercourse
Detoxify the womb and remove toxins from the body
Release stored emotions
Stronger and more frequent orgasms
Tap into our creative potential, art, projects, service and soul work
Increase libido & reignite sensual passion
Deepen connection to your feminine essence
An act of self-love and self-care
Let's go a little deeper into some of these topics and how often you should steam.
Regular cycles- For those who have healthy, pain-free periods, I suggest a seasonal vaginal steam once every three-four months with the changing of the seasons just before menses. The full and new moon are the perfect time to reconnect with yourself as you leave one season and enter the next.
Cramps- The herbal steam soothes and relaxes the pelvic muscles and loosens the endometrial lining. One reason yoni steams are so helpful for women suffering from endometriosis. Women who suffer from pain, bloating, or exhaustion during menstruation can steam once a week a week or two before menstruation to aid shedding of the uterine lining. After, you will likely see a change in the fluid you pass when your period begins. You may also steam once after your cycle ends, to clear out any excess materials. To learn more about how to enjoy your menstrual cycle, We also have an herbal tincture blended especially for cramps.
For fertility- If you are actively trying to conceive, you can yoni steam during your pre-ovulation phase up until ovulation. Yoni steam helps moisten uterine membranes so they are more receptive and may improve the conditions for conception to occur. Women who are experiencing fertility challenges may steam once per week, and twice during pre-ovulation, to make sure that the tissue is moist and that the cervical fluids are clear and copious. Expect to steam for at least three months before seeing results. Do not steam after possible conception or if you think you are pregnant. To support your fertility journey, check out our herbal blend and see if it is right for you.
After miscarriage- Experiencing a miscarriage is a big deal, and having a healing experience where you pamper your body and womb is essential to full healing. Creating a yoni steam ceremony is a beautiful way to support your body and emotions. It is best to prepare your yoni steam once your bleeding has stopped. The healing process after a miscarriage is an important and emotionally charged journey. I've written more about the path to recovery in this article.
Postpartum- Yoni steams after birth brings nourishing heat, supports the body to release fluids, and aids the womb in shrinking back to pre-pregnancy size. Postpartum herbal steams help all the fluids of birth have flowed out of the body. Mayan midwives recommend steams to postpartum mothers within the first nine days after childbirth. A healthy woman with a natural birth would have three steams within the first nine days postpartum. Maya midwives use the number 9 as a spiritual tradition. They usually do three vaginal steams during the first 9 days postpartum to facilitate healing and toning of the uterus and vagina.
Menopause and postmenopause- The yoni steam can revitalize vaginal tissue, moisten vaginal dryness, and offer emotional support. For those going through menopause, a yoni steam is recommended a few times a year in the first couple of years of menopause to ensure that the uterine membrane is very clean when it stops menstruating. -Some menopausal women report passing clots and dark, thick blood even a year after menses have ceased.
After Hysterectomy- The heat and warmth is a soothing therapy for scar tissue and can be a fantastic way to connect with your femininity after the surgery.
After a sexual trauma- Anytime your body feels violated a yoni steam can be a gentle way to recover. The yoni steam offers you a quiet time to meditate and send love to your body and to feel like you are being taken care of.
After a breakup or separation- If you are separated from your sexual partner, and you feel like clearing the old or toxic energy that no longer serves you a yoni steam is a beautiful way to close and cleanse that chapter of your life. It helps clear and opens you for your next chapter.
When is the best time for a yoni steam?
Mainly, you can steam at any time of the month, as long as you are not menstruating. It is nice to do your steam later in the evening so that you can go lay down in bed shortly after finishing the steam.
When shouldn't you do a yoni steam?
Yoni steams are not always recommended! There are reasons and seasons of our lives that we should not do the steam. Please do NOT do a yoni steam if you are:
Don't steam during ovulation if you are trying to conceive
Pregnant or if you think you may be pregnant
If you have an Intrauterine Device (IUD) (some say you can for only 5-10 minutes
Have an active internal infection (cervical, uterine or ovarian inflammation) with a fever
Have any open herpes sores or blisters present- Soak infected area AFTER the blisters have burst, until the infected area has healed
Menstruating
information from : https://www.birthsongbotanicals.com/blogs/birth-song-blog/yoni-steaming-the-sacred-origin-how-to-steam-choosing-your-herbs