Dr. Rosita Arvigo, DN on Vaginal Steams

This interview with Dr. Rosita Arvigo, DN explores the history of vaginal steams, why they work, and gives some pointers on when and how often we should do  them. It was conducted by Sierra Brashear, founder of Vibrant Souls, in 2014. A vaginal steam is also known as a yoni steam, v-steam, bajo or chai-yok.

 

Rosita Arvigo is a naprapathic physician, herbalist, international lecturer, author and teacher of Maya medicine. She is the director of The Arvigo Institute, Rainforest Remedies, The Traditional Healers Foundation and founding member of the Belize Ethnobotany Project. Having lived and worked among traditional healers for many years, she is dedicated to the preservation of the science and art of traditional Maya herbal healing for the benefit of the people of Belize and the world.

Rosita, how did you originally learn about the ancient vaginal steam remedy?

It would be hard to put a specific name to it, but since I have been working with traditional healers in Central America since 1970, I always heard about women doing vaginal steams. But I suppose that my use of it was perfected when I met my mentor, Don Elijio Panti, an old Maya herb doctor in Belize, and Hortence Robinson an herbal midwife in Belize. I was with Don Elijilo as his apprentice for 13 years and was with Hortence as an apprentice with for 10 years, simultaneously. The vaginal steam is as common in Belize and Central America as drinking Peppermint tea.

It’s also the result of my digging and digging through old books on women’s health. Vaginal steams were still known back around the turn of the century, even in America. Its one of the things that we lost at that time.

How and why does a vaginal steam work?

From my perspective, as a doctor of naprapathy, I think it works on different levels. One level is introducing warmth and heat in the form of steam into the cervix and into the vagina, the uterus and the fallopian tubes. The steam is expansive and it also has an affect of softening the tissue. From our perspective – from the Maya Abdominal Therapy perspective – women often have painful periods because they have indurated or encrusted fluids from previous menstrual cycles that have not been flushed. The combination of planet oils and steam moves into the uterine walls. The uterine wall is kind of like hills, valleys and mountains if you look at it under a microscope. In between the parts of the membrane that rise, are something called the “venous lakes”. In those venous lakes is where we find the accumulation of incompletely flushed menstrual fluids from previous cycles. It tends to accumulate and then harden there. So you can imagine, if you want to clean something really well, you heat it and steam it. Its steam cleaning! And then the plant oils have their own effect of breaking up, separating and moving things along. So that’s my take on it. I think it’s a combination of those, and the fact that it’s so soothing. Most everyone who tries it loves it. It’s so comforting, physically and emotionally, all at the same time. After the vaginal steam, when the cycle comes again, as I mentioned in my previous blog*, women may see what looks like chocolate syrup or coffee grounds. And that’s good! That’s what was built up in the venous lakes and causing issues.

Vaginal steams are said to support women with many issues including uncomfortable menses, infertility, ovarian cycts, fibroids, polyps, etc. Have you seen these types of things remedied by vaginal steaming?

Of course! It’s a woman’s treatment. It doesn’t really matter what the pathology is. The treatment is across the board, and universally effective for any aspect of uterine pathology.

There may be many reasons for infertility, but one of those reasons is induration of the uterine wall. When we combine vaginal steaming with abdominal therapy – the deep external massage on the uterus – we have a very dynamic approach with great results (if that happens to be that issue that is causing the infertility, which it may not be). After the treatments, after we really get the uterus cleaned out, what we would hope for is a pregnancy within 1-3 cycles. But even if that isn’t the issue, who wants to put a baby in a dirty crib? So we encourage all women to clean the uterine membrane before they get pregnant.

And of course, there is also postpartum. That is also absolutely great. It depends on the midwife, the culture and the country. Some say to do it immediately, some say 3 days after birth, others say 6 days, others say 9. I know the midwife makes a decision based on the individual case. Obviously, in cases of extreme bleeding or hemorrhaging, a vaginal steam would be contraindicated. But usually, very soon afterwards they use the vaginal steam to prevent the distended abdomen.

It is also very good in pre-ovulation, to make sure that the tissue is moist and that the cervical fluids are clear and copious. We use it preovulatory to improve ovulation and also to improve fertility.

Finally, women who are in menopause should still do their vaginal steams, especially in the year after ceasing menstruation. Women should steam three times a year, and will still pass some dryish fluid each time. We wouldn’t want that material to stay in the uterine wall for decades of time, because that of course, leads to bigger problems.

What are the precautions associated with vaginal steaming?

Women who have an Intrauterine Device (IUD), an internal infection (cervical, uterine or ovarian inflammation), or a fever should not do a vaginal steam. Nor should heavy bleeders, or women who think they might be pregnant.

Is there anything else you think women should know when it comes to reviving the practice of this ancient household remedy?

Everyone who wants to try a vaginal steam should be aware of the effects of bringing on more fluid. The menstrual cycle does change afterward. It looks strange and different because its part of the healing process. Cleansing can sometimes be untidy. Ultimately, though, there will be less menstrual fluid passed.

We have seen absolutely astounding and universal results from vaginal steaming. The results are clear. It’s right there! It really does a lot to relieve menstrual pain, and it doesn’t really matter what the problem is with the uterus, the vaginal steam is the classical Central American treatment. If anybody complains about any problem with the uterus, everybody says, “have you done your vaginal steam?” just like we would say, “are you drinking enough water?”

Try a Vaginal Steam

Vaginal steaming is easy, affordable and can be done at home. Learn more about the process of steaming in the Vibrant Souls Free Yoni Steam Training. Then order your yoni steaming herbs and convenient yoni steam seat to get started!

This transcript is excerpted from an interview originally conducted by Sierra Brashear (founder of Vibrant Souls) with Rosita Arvigo for Birth Institute.

*Rosita is referring to her article Vaginal Steams: Forgotten Ancient Wisdom for Women's Healing on the Birth Wisdom blog.