Vaginal Steaming: Ancient Practice or Modern Trend?

Vaginal steaming means that the steam coming out of the herb reaches the vagina directly. For this, the herb was heated in water till steam came out. This process is done in some spa centers. By the way, if you want, you can do this process at home as well. However, doctors do not recommend doing this at home. It is a different matter that the process of taking steam in the vagina is quite easy. For this, you just have to keep some useful herbs in a container and boil them. After this, the container has to be kept in such a place that you sit on it and the steam can reach your vagina. In the spa center, a chair is specially designed for this, which has a big hole, on which it is convenient to sit and the steam reaches the vagina from below easily. Generally, the following herbs are used in this process-

• Neem
• Chamomile
• Calendula
• Basil
• Oregano

Despite not being a scientific fact, some experts claim that this is the best option to reduce vaginal problems. Understand it as an example. For example, mugwort is used for vaginal steam. In the process of traditional Chinese medicine moxibustion, mugwort was burnt and applied on the affected part or pressure point of the body. Moxibustion is actually an alternative therapy that helps in reducing reproductive problems. In this way, the herbs used for vaginal steaming are quite effective. They have their own benefits. However, it is difficult to say how effective they are for vaginal health.

(Read more - Vaginal itching)

Benefits Of Vaginal Steaming

However, it is not completely clear whether steam should be taken in the vagina or not. But on the basis of what the elderly women have said, it can be said that the benefits of taking steam in the vagina are unlimited such as-

• It reduces stress
• Keeps away from depression
• Does not cause diseases like piles
• Risks of infection are reduced
• Improves fertility
• Hormones remain balanced
• Problems of headache are reduced
• Does not cause fatigue
• Improves digestive system

This remedy is also effective in various types of pain

• Reduces the symptoms of menstrual cycle
• Controls heavy bleeding
• Improves vaginal health after delivery
• Increases energy level

Some women claim that due to taking steam in the vagina, blood flow in the tissues of the vagina increases, due to which vaginal health is benefited.

(Read more - Things every woman needs to know about sexual health)

Keep in mind that the skin of the vagina is very sensitive, so all the things you are going to use for steam should be beneficial for the vagina. Apart from this, also pay attention to some useful things mentioned here.

• Let the herbs boil for at least one minute. Now remove the clothes below the waist. Place the container in the middle of the legs. Stand like this for an average of 20 minutes. Generally, a session of steaming is 20 to 60 minutes. The hotter the water is and the longer it stays hot, the longer you can take steam. Maintain a little distance from the steam container.
• To maintain extra moisture in the vagina, do not add anything to the water in which the herbs are heated. This increases the risk of bacterial infection or yeast infection. Call an expert at home for vaginal steam. Take the help of an expert for a few days. When you become proficient in this, then repeat this process alone. Know the benefits and disadvantages of vaginal steam thoroughly from the doctor.
• Keep the container or equipment used for vaginal steam thoroughly clean. A dirty container can cause vaginal infection or other negative effects. Therefore, the container or equipment used for taking steam must be cleaned before use. Even after use, clean it and keep it in a good place. Use of extra hot water can cause irritation in the vagina. If you feel this, stop taking steam immediately.
• Pregnant women should not take vaginal steam at home by themselves. It can harm your fetus. Generally, doctors also do not advise pregnant women to sit in a hot water tub, take a sauna bath and use a heating pad in the pelvic area.

(Read more: Vaginal dryness)

If you want to take steam in the vagina at home, then you must know some important things like-

• Do not completely trust the process of taking steam in the vagina available on the internet. Usually, there is incomplete information about it on the internet or different websites say different things which can confuse you. Most of the websites also say that if you suffer any kind of harm while doing this process, then they are not responsible for it. Obviously, such incomplete information is not at all right for your health. If you want to take steam in the vagina, then consult an expert only.
• It is not necessary to take steam in the vagina for better health. There are other alternative therapies available for this. On which a lot of studies have been done. Whereas there is not enough study on this process of taking steam in the vagina till now. Therefore, adopt those treatment methods which are more useful and safe.
• It is not yet clear what effect vaginal steaming during pregnancy has on the baby's health. Keep in mind that some herbs are such that their use can cause abortion. Therefore, do not use any kind of herbs in your vagina without complete information when you are pregnant. Ask the staff of the spa center from where you are taking vaginal steaming to clean the equipment. Only then the risk of infection can be reduced.

(Read more - Home Remedies for Vaginal Yeast Infection)

• Keep in mind that the skin of the vagina is very sensitive, so all the things you are going to use for steam should be beneficial for the vagina. Apart from this, also pay attention to some useful things mentioned here.
• Let the herbs boil for at least one minute. Now remove the clothes below the waist. Place the container in the middle of the legs. Stand like this for an average of 20 minutes. Generally, a session of steaming is 20 to 60 minutes. The hotter the water is and the longer it stays hot, the longer you can take steam. Maintain a little distance from the steam container.
• To maintain extra moisture in the vagina, do not add anything to the water in which the herbs are heated. This increases the risk of bacterial infection or yeast infection. Call an expert at home for vaginal steam. Take the help of an expert for a few days. When you become proficient in this, then repeat this process alone. Know the benefits and disadvantages of vaginal steam thoroughly from the doctor.
• Keep the container or equipment used for vaginal steam thoroughly clean. A dirty container can cause vaginal infection or other negative effects. Therefore, the container or equipment used for taking steam must be cleaned before use. Even after use, clean it and keep it in a good place. Use of extra hot water can cause irritation in the vagina. If you feel this, stop taking steam immediately.
• Pregnant women should not take vaginal steam at home by themselves. It can harm your fetus. Generally, doctors also do not advise pregnant women to sit in a hot water tub, take a sauna bath and use a heating pad in the pelvic area.

(Read more: Vaginal dryness)

It will not be easy to say whether the process of taking steam in the vagina is completely beneficial or it has disadvantages too? But according to experts, the vagina is not made for steam-cleaning. It means that cleaning the vagina with the help of steam is not completely correct. If the water is too hot during steaming, then it can give rise to bacteria in the vagina, yeast infection can occur or other problems can arise in the vagina.

Anyway, the skin of the vagina is very sensitive and can easily be affected by the use of any bad thing. Taking steam daily is not good for the vagina. This can cause irritation in the vagina which can make the woman uncomfortable.

Also know and understand that despite being natural, it is not necessary that all herbs are useful for the vagina. Some herbs can have negative effects. You may be allergic to a particular herb which is not good for the vagina.

Apart from this, there are no medical guidelines for taking regular steam in the vagina. Nor is it completely clear what kind of herbs should be used for this.

If you feel that it is necessary to use a particular herb to get relief from period pain, then you can choose other options instead of taking steam in the vagina. For example, take a hot water bottle and apply it in the pelvic area. Apart from this, drink herbal tea. Most importantly, clean your vagina regularly with plain water. Do not use any kind of chemical in this organ.

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Vaginal steaming, also known as vaginal steaming, is a traditional home remedy practiced in some cultures. It involves sending herbal-infused hot water steam into the vaginal area to improve women's reproductive health. It is believed to be beneficial for treating menstrual problems, vaginal infections, and hormonal balance. However, there is no scientific evidence, and some health experts are cautious about its use as it may cause irritation or infection. It is important to consult a doctor before doing it.