According to Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, women all over the world who want to get pregnant easily should steam their vagina. For some reason, the heat, moisture, and compounds in the steam all work together to create a conducive environment for sperm and egg in your uter…—wait, what?!
Some Filipino moms may have heard old wives’ tales about steaming our whole bodies after giving birth “para mawala lahat ng lamig.” Elderly wisdom goes on to say that women (especially those who gave birth months ago) should do this every six months to maintain good health. But what is this vaginal steaming business?
Why Gwyneth Paltrow wants you to steam your vagina
Information trails and incredulous moms on the Internet lead us to find that there is this small movement in Los Angeles (LA) spas advocating vaginal steaming that Paltrow featured on her website, goop.com. The successful actress and entrepreneur gushes about how a vaginal steam can do the following:
- Maintain the health of the uterus
- Aide in the alleviation of pain during difficult menstruation
- Regularize periods
- Help you get pregnant easily
- Treat endometriosis, which involves uterine lining growing in the ovaries and causing pain and infertility
How does it work exactly? Find out on the next page!
How does it work?
The Tikkun Holistic spa in LA says that the ‘vajacial’, as other women call it (i.e., “vagina facial”), has roots in traditional Korean medicine and involves this process:
- Sit on a mini-throne inside the spa that puts your vagina in the path of the steam.
- Using infrared, a bath of water and herbs are heated.
- The steam is directed at your delicate area for 30 minutes.
How to set up a DIY vaginal steam
One lifestyle writer goes on to say that you’re basically sitting on top of a cup of tea. This means you can experience a vaginal steam right at home with this DIY process:
- Prepare about eight cups of filtered water and a handful of herbs (mugwort and wormwood).
- Bring the mixture to a boil in a pot for five straight minutes.
- Remove the mixture from heat and cover the pot for another five minutes to steep it.
- Pour half the water into a plastic or non-conductive bowl. You may want to perch the bowl on the seat of your toilet for the most comfortable steaming position.
- Sit above the steaming water sans underwear.
- Wrap a large blanket or towel around your waist as you sit so none of the steam escapes
- A rolling heat from the steam should start after ten minutes of sitting on your home vaginal steam.
- When the heat dies down, dispose of the water in the toilet and redo steps 4-6 with the rest of the water from your pot.
Keep in mind that it’s best to warm the rest of your body while you steam so wearing a scarf and socks may also be a good idea. You should also make sure that the temperature of the water isn’t too high when you sit above it—you don’t want to burn your vagina.
Disclaimer: Ask a doctor before performing this or any other treatment on your body. theAsianParent is not responsible for adverse effects on you and your body if you undergo this treatment without the advice of a medical professional.
Medical experts weigh in on this new trend on the next page!
Doctors cannot agree on this treatment.
Conflicting medical advice
Nothing is more perplexing than doctors who contradict each other on the same treatment—except perhaps the thought of steaming your vagina.
According to reports by The Guardian and Women’s Health Magazine, vaginal steaming is a big no-no because:
- It can burn your vagina.
- It messes with the good bacteria already present in your vagina.
- It doesn’t balance any hormones.
- It can dry your vagina and leave you more prone to cuts, lacerations, and irritation.
The same medical experts go further to say that hormones cannot be affected through vaginal steaming. Water is also not absorbed so steaming may even strip your vagina of natural and essential oils. It is also a known medical fact that vaginas and other orifices in our body are self-cleaning.
But what about the mugwort and wormwood? US-based gynecologist and blogger Dr. Lissa Rankin says that she’s prescribed these herbs for countless women since they do have proven therapeutic qualities:
- Mugwort
WebMD says that this herb is used mostly for gastrointestinal and colon problems. While not the primary use of this herb, it is also used to relieve menstrual problems. Other experts go as far to say that it’s used to deliver breech babies and for other birth-related benefits.
- Wormwood
The same source does not give any vaginal-specific effects of this herb. What it does is apparently induce sweating and relieve digestion problems.
Ask your doctor before undergoing any medical treatment at home or in a spa.
Find out what alternative medicine practitioners have to say on the next page!
More positive response from alternative medicine practicioners
But Dr. Rosita Arvigo, an alternative medicine practitioner, along with Mount Sinai School of Medicine director of gynecology Charles J. Ascher-Walsh, says that there are even more benefits to the procedure aside from the ones mentioned in the previous page:
- The herbs in the steam can help you destress and get pregnant easily.
- The steam can treat uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, uterine weakness, and uterine prolapse.
- It can assist with the healing of hemorrhoids.
- It can treat chronic vaginal/yeast infections and maintain healthy odor.
In complete conflict with other medical doctors, alternative medicine experts say that the compounds in the herbs can be absorbed by the uterus and transferred to the bloodstream!
To steam or not to steam
What experts do agree on is that this treatment should never be used on pregnant women. With wormwood sometimes being used for childbirth, you might be putting your baby at risk.
In the end, it’s ultimately your decision if you want to believe or try vaginal steaming based on whatever advice you read or hear. While this treatment may help you get pregnant easily, it could have adverse side effects.
Talk to your OB/Gyn before undergoing any treatment for yourself. Your doctor knows your body possibly more than you do, and is the best person to consult about the effectivity of this treatment.
Would you steam your vagina? Leave us a comment and let’s discuss this hot topic!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dana Santos
If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!