The Ancient Art of Yoni Steaming

A bowl of herbs, just-boiled water, and half an hour that belongs to you.

Yoni steaming is one of the oldest herbal rituals still practised. A woman sits over a bowl of steaming herbs, wrapped in a blanket, with nothing to do but be still. In Korea it is called chai-yok. In Central America, where it has long been part of the midwife's craft, it is known as bajos. Versions of it are found across Africa and South-East Asia. Women have passed it to one another for generations, most often as a ritual of rest: after a birth, at the turn of a cycle, or at the end of a long week.

The word yoni is Sanskrit. It is usually translated as womb or source, and it carries the sense of origin and creative power.

We share the practice in that spirit, as a ritual: unhurried time, the scent of herbs rising, and attention turned to a part of the body that seldom receives any.

Our three blends

Yonilicious: cinnamon, red rose petals, red raspberry, chamomile, rosemary, calendula, marshmallow and licorice. Spiced and floral, made for an evening you have set aside.

Healing: cornflowers, calendula, red rose petals, red raspberry, saw palmetto, peppermint, butterfly pea, wormwood and comfrey. The softest of the three, garden-scented, for the days you want to be gentle with yourself.

Shamanic Cleanse: sage, red lotus, frankincense, rosemary, thyme, catnip and vanilla. Resinous and smoky-sweet, for marking an ending or a beginning.

How to steam

1. Place two heaped tablespoons of the blend (about 5 g) in a heatproof bowl and pour over half a cup of just-boiled water.
2. Let it stand for a few minutes, then hold your forearm over the bowl. The steam should feel comfortable. If it stings, wait.
3. Set the bowl beneath you (three ways to sit are below), undress from the waist down, and wrap a towel or blanket around your waist to hold the steam in.
4. Stay for 20 to 30 minutes. If the steam fades, top up with a little more hot water and test it again before you sit back down.
5. Rest for a while afterwards. The herbs are for one steam only and can go in the compost.

Three ways to sit

The toilet throne. Our favourite, and more comfortable than it sounds. Clean the toilet thoroughly, set a large heatproof bowl inside it, add the herbs and water, and sit on the seat with a towel around you. A smaller bowl placed inside the large one directs the steam.

A pot on the floor. Kneel or squat over the bowl, or set it under a slatted stool or chair. Keep a blanket around your waist and the kettle within reach.

A steaming seat. A low wooden seat with an opening, made to sit over a pot. They can be bought, or built in an afternoon. A sitz basin that fits inside the toilet works the same way.

Making it a ritual

Steaming asks you to sit still for half an hour, which is rarer than it should be. Light a candle. Put on music, or enjoy the quiet. Some women write, some breathe, some set an intention for the cycle or the season ahead. There is no right way to spend the time, as long as it is yours.

Care

• Test the steam every time. Skin here is delicate and steam that is too hot can burn.
• Do not steam while pregnant, or if you may be pregnant.
• Do not steam during your period.
• Wait if you have an infection, open sores, broken skin or stitches. After a birth or surgery, or if you have an IUD, ask your midwife or doctor first.
• The blends are for steaming only. They are not made for drinking.
• Check the ingredients if you have allergies, and stop if you feel any irritation.

Happy Herb Co shares traditional knowledge about herbs and makes no therapeutic claims for its products. If you are managing a health condition, please speak with a health professional before steaming.