This article is for educational purposes only. All reported benefits are based on personal accounts and are not based on scientific studies. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult a qualified health care professional if you think you may have a medical condition.
Herbal vaginal steams, also known as yoni steam baths, or bajos, as they are known in Spanish, or chai-yok in Korean, have been used for centuries to treat many conditions, including painful or irregular periods, infertility, cervical stenosis, and vaginal dryness. The bajos have been used in conjunction with the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® (ATMAT). Personally, I prefer to call them pelvic floor steams because the steam has a relaxing effect on the pelvic floor and warms the pelvic bowl and doesn’t actually enter the vagina.
The theory behind how vaginal steams work:
Because of the abundance of blood vessels and mucous membranes, it’s believed the essence of the plant compounds is more easily absorbed through the walls of the vagina. However, the vagina remains closed except for when pushing a baby through or during penetration, so the steam doesn’t actually go into the vagina. The V-steams are believed to act as a uterine lavage, softening and cleansing the uterine wall of accumulated debris. As I mentioned, the steam does NOT enter the vagina, so it can’t enter the cervix or womb either. Nor would you want it to! I see the benefit more from the warmth of the steam, with a softening and relaxing effect on the lower belly and pelvic floor, and increased blood and lymph flow. Proper blood and lymph flow is essential for the health of the cells.
In the first few months of combining bajos with Arvigo® treatments, women have reported that their menstrual blood appears different. Some women have reported blood that resembles coffee grounds (old dried blood) or even the passing of fleshy tissue. Usually, by the third month, women see bright red oxygenated blood. Even women who haven’t bled in years because they’ve been through menopause have reported a “cleansing” of old indurated blood. Improved blood and lymphatic flow enhances tissue health at the cellular level.
Energetic cleansing: Many women use vaginal steams as a symbolic cleansing to help clear the energy of sexual abuse, rape, past sexual partner, or miscarriage. I’ve witnessed the power of clearing rituals in other cultures as well.
AVOID doing the steams at the following times:
- AVOID steams when you’re pregnant or think you may be pregnant. In the Maya tradition, some midwives would use the steams during full-term labor. You should consult your midwife because situations vary.
- Don’t do steams if you have an IUD.
- Don’t do steams when an infection is present.
- If you have genital piercings, you must remove the jewelry first; otherwise, the metal would heat up and may cause burns.
- Avoid steams with a herpes outbreak (or other open sores), as herpes is a damp-heat condition.
- Don’t do steams with hormonal creams or rings.
How women are using steams:
- Three-month fertility protocol (ATMAT)-right before your period (this is if you are using a barrier method and know for sure you aren’t pregnant)
- One month fertility protocol, first day of your period or at the tail end of your period
- Hormonal migraines- Every other day up to three times in the week before your period.
- Dysmenorrhea or painful periods- the day before menses
- Menopause- as needed or four times a year at seasonal changes, for instance. Sometimes women who haven’t bled in years will report having what seems like another period, but it is actually a cleansing of old debris from the uterus.
- Postpartum- Timing of the steams or whether they are done at all depends on birth complications and other factors. Timing can range from 3 days to 6 weeks postpartum. Traditionally, oregano, marigolds, and basil are used at this time. Consult your midwife before doing a steam.
Vaginal steams are a pricey service option offered in some health spas (usually between $20-$75). DIY vaginal steam at home is convenient and inexpensive.
Women who do steam at home use a variety of set-ups.
Some use a U-shaped shower chair. It’s not as attractive as chairs designed specifically as vaginal steam chairs, but it’s convenient thanks to the adjustable legs. The back is removable, which is convenient for wrapping the blanket all the way around the chair to keep the steam in. You can also put hand towels on the seat for extra comfort.
The crockpot controls the heat. The water cools off too quickly when using a regular bowl.
Some women use their toilets, but you must clean them out really, really, REALLY well, then flush them, and then turn off the water shut-off valve while the toilet bowl is empty. Once your toilet is clean and empty, wrap the steaming bowl of herbs in a cloth to protect the porcelain and place the whole thing in the toilet bowl. The downside here is that you need to clean your toilet before your steam and make sure no one will need to use the bathroom for the next 20-30 minutes. And once you sit on the toilet, your body may signal that it’s time to empty your bladder. You can always get up and squat in the bathtub if you need to pee.
And finally, if you have a little money to spend, you may want to try a chair made explicitly for vaginal steams. This stool costs around $98 at the time of posting.
Hardwood Steaming Stool by Phil Reddick
Now that you have your stool, you need to collect or buy herbs. Make sure you collect or purchase organic herbs. Always collect herbs with prayer and gratitude, as ATMAT practitioner Tricia Weber is doing here. But she’s doing so for a Spiritual bath.
Collecting plants with prayers. ©
Here is a short list of herbs that have been used for v-steams:
*Note: Herbs used externally for v-steams do not have the same effect when used orally. Consult an experienced herbalist. Personally, I don’t see a benefit from the herb’s medicinal properties when used this way, but more from an energetic or aroma-therapy benefit.
Basil-antibacterial, spiritual cleansing
Oregano-antiseptic
Red Clover promotes healing (skin)
Rosemary- antiseptic, stimulates circulation
Motherwort- for suppressed menstruation
Lemon Balm reduces itchiness. Calendula- skin healing, vaginal fungus, lymph, spiritual healing
Calendula- skin healing, vaginal fungus, lymph, spiritual healing
Rose petals- gentle and astringent to the tissues of the genitals
Lavender- calms the mind and body and is antiseptic to the vaginal tissues. It also has phytoestrogens that have been reported to plump the tissue
Blue Malva- soothing, dry vagina
Marshmallow- soothing, dry vagina
Sage- moves blood and chi through physical and emotional obstructions
Traditional Formula from the Arvigo Institute: Basil, Calendula, Oregano, Yarrow, and Lemon Balm
IMPORTANT! Never use essential oils for a pelvic steam; they’re too concentrated.
Traditional Use:
Not to be used in pregnancy or acute infections.
- Collect organic plants with prayer and intention, or use dried herbs (1 quart fresh or 1 cup dried)
- Bring the water to a soft boil.
- Turn off the heat and move the pot off the burner.
- Crush the herbs into the water as you give thanks to the herbs and infuse them with your intentions.
- Steep for 10 minutes with the lid on.
- Place the pot under the chair you will use to steam.
- CAUTION: Test the steam on your wrist before sitting down. You want a gentle, comforting warmth, not hot, steam burns, which are very serious. Get undressed from the waist down (keep your warm socks on) and sit on the chair, wrapped in a blanket to keep the steam in.
- Sit comfortably for at least 20 minutes, meditate, or read a book. It should feel pleasant. I usually feel the warmth rise all the way up to my heart. If it feels too warm, remove the pot to let it cool a bit.
- Rest afterward, stay warm, and do something nurturing for yourself, like drink a warm herbal tea of raspberry leaf, nettles, oat straw, and rose petals, or take a warm bath. Protect yourself from drafts.
Author: Barbara Horsley has more than 26 years of experience as a licensed massage therapist. She specializes in abdominal massage and Visceral Manipulation™ and is an NCBTMB-approved educator. In addition to being certified in abdominal massage, she also studied biomechanics and restorative exercise. She is also a Certified Women’s Herbal Educator and a graduate of the IWHI Perimenopause & Menopause Certificate Program.