Yoni Steaming: Ancient Medicine for the Modern Woman

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"There is wisdom worth exploring in practices that have been passed down for centuries."
— Rosita Arvigo

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There is a renewed buzz in the world of Women’s Wellness, and it centers around an ancient and deeply sacred practice: vaginal steaming. Though it may sound like a new trend, vaginal steaming is anything but new. It is an ancestral healing tradition practiced by cultures across the globe for centuries—and still thriving today. In the Mayan tradition that I practice, it is called bajos, meaning "low" in Spanish, often referencing the lowlands where this form of healing is rooted. Today, it's making a vibrant return in Western wellness circles as a powerful support for reproductive vitality, menstrual health, and fertility.

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Vaginal steaming, also called Yoni steaming or V-steam (with Yoni being a Sanskrit word meaning "sacred space," encompassing the vulva, vagina, and womb), is a holistic practice in which a woman sits or squats over steaming water infused with medicinal herbs. This gentle, yet potent treatment is still embraced in many Indigenous, African, Asian, and Latin American cultures as a regular part of feminine self-care. These lineages use herbs both internally and externally—in teas, washes, and steams—to maintain vaginal and reproductive health.

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Yoni steaming is a non-invasive way to clear infections, tone tissues, regulate menstruation, increase cervical fluid, support fertility, and soothe the womb space. It invites the body’s innate healing intelligence to awaken.

Even Hollywood has caught wind of this ancient wisdom. Gwyneth Paltrow brought widespread attention to Yoni steaming after visiting Tikkun Holistic Spa in Los Angeles. Writing about her experience for Goop, she described it as a deeply cleansing energetic release, not just a steam douche, and noted its ability to balance hormones. While some may have dismissed it as a celebrity fad, we must give credit where it’s due—Gwyneth helped return this practice to the modern conversation.

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My own path with Yoni steaming began long before its pop culture resurgence. I first heard about it in 2002 while in Acupuncture school, when a friend suggested it would beautifully complement my midwifery practice. But it wasn’t until 2011, during a weekend self-care workshop in the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®, that I truly embraced this medicine. That was the moment I found both my teacher—Dr. Rosita Arvigo—and my path.

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Dr. Arvigo was a student of Don Elijio Panti, a revered Maya shaman of Belize, with whom she apprenticed for a decade. From him, she learned that “a woman’s center is her uterus. If her uterus is out of balance, so is she.” Through Rosita’s devotion, the sacred practice of bajos was reintroduced to the Western world with reverence and integrity. For that, I offer deep gratitude.

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Today, Yoni steaming is becoming widely recognized as a powerful form of self-care and preventative medicine. It works by stimulating circulation, nourishing tissues, and helping the uterus clear residual blood, stagnation, and tension. When paired with Arvigo® Maya Abdominal Therapy, Yoni steaming becomes a deeply restorative treatment for a range of uterine and pelvic conditions.

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The warmth of the steam combined with the healing properties of herbs creates a uterine lavage—a cleansing and softening of the womb space. This process helps to dislodge indurated menstrual residue and accumulated stagnation, softens scar tissue, nourishes the endometrial lining, and revitalizes the pelvic bowl.

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But to me, Yoni steaming is not just physical. It is a spiritual ritual. A ceremony of remembrance. A time "out of time" that invites us to pause, listen, and return to the wisdom of the womb. When we enter the steam, we enter a sacred space where we can let go, release old emotions, and come back to our power, our softness, and our truth. It is a portal into self-love, creative energy, and feminine embodiment.

I invite you to come steam at Agape Healing Arts or begin your own sacred self-care at home. Experience this timeless tradition and celebrate the sacred woman you are. May we all return to the creative power of the womb—the source of life and beauty.

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why would I want to steam?

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Regular Yoni steaming can help cleanse the uterus and pelvis of stagnation and congestion. This includes:

• Old indurated matter in the uterus

• Dark blood at the beginning or end of menstruation

• Endometriosis

• Fertility issues

• Migraines with menstruation

• Hemorrhoids

• Irregular cycles or ovulation

• Low libido

• Menopausal symptoms

• Ovarian cysts

• Painful menstruation or ovulation

• PMS

• Uterine fibroids or prolapse

• Vaginal dryness

 

What are the health benefits of Yoni steaming?

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• Eases menstrual pain, bloating, and fatigue

• Decreases heavy flow

• Balances and regulates menstrual cycles

• Enhances fertility naturally

• Detoxifies the womb and supports liver function

• Tones reproductive organs post-birth

• Softens scar tissue and adhesions

• Restores pH and healthy flora to prevent infections

• Soothes menopausal symptoms: dryness, hot flashes, painful sex

• Heals emotional trauma stored in the pelvic bowl

• Awakens feminine energy and creative potential

• Induces deep relaxation and bliss

 

Your birthright is to feel whole, radiant, and deeply connected to your feminine center.  Yoni steaming is one way to return home.

With love and steam,
Dr. Bella Lauren
Agape Healing Arts