What is Yoni Steaming?
⠀
Yoni steaming, also known as vaginal steaming, is a sacred feminine self-care practice deeply rooted in physical and emotional healing. It can support everything from menstrual flow, cramps, fertility and postpartum healing to clearing the energy of past lovers from the womb.
Practiced for thousands of years to tone and heal the vagina, womb, and ovaries, this sensual ritual can also help transform one’s relationship to their sexuality and divine feminine energy.
Using steam created from water and herbs, yoni steaming carries the medicinal properties of healing plants into the bloodstream and tissues of the vagina. These medicinal properties then circulate through the reproductive system, promoting balance and healing.
Many who practice yoni steaming also feel that this sacred act of caring for their vagina and womb-space can provide a sense of emotional healing or reclamation around their sexuality and health. It is common for women to experience feelings of deep connection with their bodies and emotions, as well as an ancient connection to the women in their lineage.
⠀
Benefits of Yoni Steaming
⠀
Yoni steaming benefits include a healthy menstrual cycle, fertility, and so much more.
- Relieve symptoms of PMS, including cramping and pain
- Regulate menstrual cycles and flow
- Increases fertility
- Relieve yeast infections, infection, and odour
- Postpartum healing
- Tone and heal the tissues of the vagina
- Heal and clear endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, uterine pain, and haemorrhoids
- Relieve vaginal dryness, tightness, or pain during intercourse
- Clear toxins of birth control pills and devices
- Balance hormones and mood
- Increase sexual libido
- Emotional and physical healing from miscarriage and abortion
- Energetically release past lovers and clear stagnant emotions
- Ancestral healing of the maternal lineage
- Clear trauma from the yoni and womb
- Reconnect to divine feminine energy
⠀
Precautions and Contraindications to Yoni Steaming
⠀
Do not yoni steam if…
- You are on your period
- You are prone to spontaneous bleeding
- You have an internal or external infection
- You have an IUD (consult a practitioner)
- You are trying to conceive or you are pregnant (consult a practitioner)
- You experience hot flashes or night sweats (consult a practitioner)
⠀
Choosing the Proper Herbs
⠀
Before you choose which herbs to use for yoni steaming, connect to your intention. When you know what you want to focus on healing on physical and emotional levels, you can better choose which herbs or blends will best serve you.
Many certified herbalists have created herbal blends which can help with a certain issue you’d like to heal, as well as yoni steaming blends for general wellness and nourishment. You can also create your own blends using beneficial herbs such as red raspberry leaf, rose, calendula, nettle, motherwort, and lavender.
Different herbs can create results such as cleansing, disinfecting, blood building, and hydrating.
Cleansing herbs such as calendula, motherwort, and rose can help you release your old uterine lining so that you have less cramps and a fresh start on energetic and physical levels.
Disinfecting herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and sage help clear toxins, promote healthy ph levels, and create a healthy microbiome for your vagina.
Blood building herbs such as motherwort, oat straw, and raspberry leaf help replenish the nutrients of your blood after each period.
Hydrating herbs such as nettles, hibiscus, and lemon balm bring the essential elements of water and moisture to your reproductive system.
There are many other herbs that have additional benefits as well. Find a blend from a certified herbalist or purchase organic herbs to create your own yoni steaming blend.
⠀
How to Yoni Steam
⠀
1. Set the space
Before you begin your yoni steam, create a sacred space for yourself. You may light candles, turn on music that feels related to your intention, and burn incense or herbs to clear the space for your healing. You may also choose to simply read a book, sit in the garden, or enjoy sacred silence — whatever feels most nourishing to you.
2. Create your seat
For your yoni steaming seat, you can purchase a steaming stool, or use either a big bowl or a 5 gallon bucket. If you use a bowl or bucket, create a comfortable seat for yourself with a towel rolled up as a cushion.
You can also turn your bathroom into a temple and your toilet into a steaming stool. Make sure to thoroughly cleanse the toilet before placing the bowl with your steam into it.
3. Boil your herbs and let them cool
Bring 3-5 quarts of filtered water to a boil, and add 1 cup of your herbal yoni steam blend. Then, reduce the heat and let the herbs simmer for 5-10 minutes. When this process of steeping is finished, turn off the heat and let the water and herbs sit and cool for 5 minutes.
You may feel called to speak your intentions for your pot as you stir your boiling herbs, to activate the healing even more.
4. Place herbs safely into your yoni steaming stool
After the herbs and water are steaming and emanating a gentle heat, pour them into a pot or bowl and place it below your steaming stool, or at the bottom of your bowl or bucket.
5. Get comfortable and situated
Get undressed from the waist down (or completely if you desire), and slowly sit on the yoni steaming stool to ensure it is a safe temperature. Be cautious not to touch the pot with your body. The steam should feel comfortably warm, and not overly hot. If the temperature is uncomfortable, wait several minutes and try again.
Drape a towel or blanket around both you and the stool like a tent. This way, the steam and moisture is absorbed by your vagina and does not disperse.
6. Relax and enjoy
Sit on your yoni steaming stool for between 15-30 minutes. You may choose to meditate, set intentions, tone, sing or allow yourself to do what feels right for you. Allow yourself to feel what arises, as emotions may come up to be released, and you may experience a feeling of liberation and empowerment.
After your yoni steam session, you may choose to thank yourself for this sacred experience. You may also thank the herbs, the water, or any other element that has helped create a healing space for you. When finished, you can offer the herbs to the compost or directly to the earth.
⠀
How Often to Steam
⠀
For full benefits of yoni steaming, it is recommended that you steam 1-2 times per month.
As there are many different uses for yoni steaming, and each woman’s body is different, ensure that you pay attention to the messages and signals your body is sending you. For instance, if yoni steaming makes an issue flare up, ensure you aren’t over-steaming. You may also take a break or adjust the herbal blend you are using.
Additionally, never steam during your period or during ovulation, without direct medical reasons. For example, an herbalist may advise that you steam during your time of ovulation to heal infertility or imbalanced hormones.
If you are experiencing a severe reproductive health issue or if you are postpartum, consult your midwife, doula, yoni steaming practitioner, or certified herbalist.
Enjoy your Yoni Steam!
Lets get connected. Join the tribe of 100k+ like-hearted souls and follow me on
Get your free ebook
Moon and Woman
Become even more connected to the incredible vessel that is your feminine body.