Disrobing: People need to take off their clothes from the waist down or wear a robe that allows access to their vulva.The herbs are steeped in the water for a few minutes before you apply the steam to your vulva. Boiling hot water and adding herbs: People use herbs like mugwort, wormwood, basil, rosemary, chamomile, or calendula.Some people do vaginal steaming at home or in spas. Here's what you need to know about vaginal steaming and what women's health experts have to say about taking care of your vagina. Instead, Ross recommends using a gentle, unscented cleanser to wash only the outside genitalia, i.e., the vulva. If the steam is too hot, you could also burn yourself as the vulvar and vaginal tissues are quite sensitive. Moreover, practices like steaming and douching that attempt to clean the inside of the vagina could introduce harmful pathogens into the vagina that could lead to bacterial or yeast infections. Ross says that the inside of the vagina doesn't require any cleaning because it produces discharge that helps it self-clean. This could do more harm than good, however. Most of the steam will probably be to the outside of the vagina, referred to as the vulva, although some of it may make its way into the vagina as well. "There is no doubt an herbal steam on the outside of the vagina can have a relaxing and calming effect," says Sherry Ross, MD, an OB/GYN with her own private practice. Vaginal steaming is often referred to as a "facial" for the vagina, since it is purported to cleanse the vagina, relieve period cramps, and improve fertility. However, according to Harvard Medical School, there is no scientific evidence that it works. While it is an ancient custom in several parts of the world, including Asia, Africa and South America, today you can find it in many spas and wellness centers worldwide. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.īy clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.You may have seen celebrities or influencers practice something called "vaginal steaming," which involves sitting over a tub of hot water steeped with herbs. This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and I urge you to put the kettle away, throw the mugwort in some soup and consciously uncouple from this website. Steaming the vagina cannot possibly impact on hormone levels. Hormones are produced by organs such as the brain and ovaries, travel in the bloodstream and have specific effects on their target organs. The claim that the steam clean could balance hormones is irrational.
Infection can happen from sexually transmitted infections, contraceptive coils or other surgical procedures. The pH of the vagina, natural mix of bacteria that live in it, mucus plug that sits at the top of the vagina and lining of the womb all work harmoniously and effectively together to ensure that bugs from the outside world generally don’t invade upwards from the vagina to the fallopian tubes.
Thrush, caused by an overgrowth of candida, thrives on warm, damp conditions, so is a definite risk from steaming.Īll of our orifices, including ears, nose, anus and vagina, are essentially self- cleaning.
On the contrary, water can wash away natural oils, leaving the vagina poorly lubricated and more prone to cuts and irritation. The vagina is kept naturally well lubricated with oily substances. The water vapour in steam isn’t a good idea either. Any hotter and unwanted bacteria and yeasts such as candida will proliferate, normal enzymes start to get sluggish and increased blood flow due to the heat will make the vagina itchy. The vagina is more matt black than shiny white so will absorb heat to an extent.īut heating the vagina isn’t necessary it’s kept at body temperature (37C), which is perfect. Hot objects like the sun emit infrared energy, which is absorbed by black matte surfaces and reflected by light, shiny surfaces. Infrared is electromagnetic radiation with longer wavelength than visible light and it makes up about half of all sunlight.
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