WHAT is Yoni Steaming?

Yoni isn’t just a cute name for vagina. It’s actually Sanskrit, translating from Hindu more literally to “abode,” or womb, or even “source,” which we love. We all hail from it, afterall! That being said, yoni steaming is precisely what it sounds like. A steam, for your yoni.

We steam our faces to nourish and purge our skin, we sit in sweaty saunas to detoxify our organs, so why wouldn’t we give that kind of TLC to our precious source of all mankind? What entails, is a woman sits over a bowl of steaming water infused with specific herbs. It’s been used in modes of ancient medicine like Traditional Chinese Medicine as well as Ayurveda, claiming that it cleanses the reproductive organs such as the uterus, cervix, and vagina.

In ancient medicine, this practice is meant to restore vitality and balance to female cycles, as well as help transition through significant life phases like dealing with a painful breakup, having unsatisfying intimacy, promoting fertility, and releasing toxic emotions and tension from stress and stagnation.

While there is a lack of hard-wired studies that are able to demonstrate with no variables that yoni steaming breaks up stagnation or boosts fertility, we can attest to it being used for centuries with only positive accounts from women themselves. It feels warm, nourishing, and protective.

The heat from the steam brings circulation to the area, which does have some proven positive effects. Boosted circulation means nutrient-rich blood is brought to the surface of the skin, feeding our cells and tissues vitamins and oxygen. This promotes healing, so if we are recovering from birthing, or hoping to get pregnant, healthy blood flow can encourage optimal function of our cells, down there.

Better circulation in our nether regions also has a positive effect on our libido. When aroused, we experienced heightened blood flow to the vulva which promotes pleasurable sensitivity. When we are aroused, we are more likely to orgasm. When we orgasm, we are more likely to conceive during that sexual activity, due to blood flow and oxytocin-induced muscle contractions. So indirectly, regular yoni steaming is beneficial in more ways than one, even if the majority is just feeling good!

So when should we yoni steam, and with what? Herbs like mugwort, wormwood, rose, licorice, chamomile, calendula, basil, raspberry leaf, and oregano are all cleansing for our skin, and gentle enough for the delicate skin and tissues in our vulva and vagina. It is suggested to yoni steam around 3 days prior to one’s projected period, as well as 3 days after to clear stagnation and stress.

There are special yoni-steam pots you can purchase, or simply boil some herbs in a pot for 5 minutes, and squat over it. Make sure to cover yourself with a large towel or sheet so that no steam escapes. It’s extremely important to wave your hand over the pot to check the temperature— it needs to be warm enough to produce steam, but not so hot that we burn ourselves. If it feels too hot at first, let it cool a moment before hovering so as not to burn yourself.

Another, more comfortable option is to find a bowl that can sit in your toilet bowl. Many mixing bowls are the right shape to hug the sides of the toilet without touching the water below. This allows you to relax and sit for the duration of time. Twenty minutes is ideal. Take this time to read, or just breathe and relax. It’s truly a practice of feeling grounded and connected to our root source, and harness a deep, cleansing, feminine energy.