Yoni/Vaginal Steaming in Nairobi. Is it worth it? What You Should Know

The instagram hashtag #Yoni caught my attention and led me down a rabbit hole of women steaming "down there". This trend has become wildly popular with women in Nairobi for it's supposed health benefits and libido enhancement.

What is yoni/ vagina steaming?

According to WebMd Vaginal steaming, sometimes shortened to V-steaming and also known as yoni steaming, is an alternative health treatment whereby a woman squats or sits over steaming water containing a variety of herbs like mugwort, rosemary, wormwood, and basil. It has been practiced in Africa, Asia and Central America for centuries.

How does it work?

It involves a woman sitting on a stool or other type of seat with a hole in the middle. Below the stool, there is a bowl or other container containing steaming hot water and a combination of herbs.

The woman being steamed wears no underwear, though usually is covered with a dress, skirt or towel. Typically, she sits atop the vaginal steaming seat for about 20 minutes per session.

Vaginal steaming promoters claim the herbal-infused steam not only softens and opens pores in the vaginal and vulvar skin, but also allows the herbs to be absorbed into the uterus.

What is it supposed to do?

Yoni steamers claim it has immense benefits like:

Increased fertility

Tightening the vagina

Cleansing after your period

Relief from menopause symptoms

Treatment of stress and depression

Faster healing after childbirth

Hemorrhoid relief

Treatment of fatigue and headaches

A "cleansed" or "refreshed" uterus, cervix and vagina.

What do Gynaecologists think?

It's pseudoscience and you can get your delicate "lady parts" burnt from the steam. There is no empirical proof that a Yoni steam does anything for your vagina except make it warm and fragrant.

" The vagina is designed to host a particular array of bacteria, vaginal steaming can alter this normal balance and may theoretically increase one's risk of vaginal infections. For that reason, gynecologists do not routinely recommend this practice"- Hope Ricciotti, M.D., and M.P.H. Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch.

Still, there are many Kenyan women who swear by it. Like Influencer extraordinaire Fashionable Step Mum. Check out this video of her reviewing a Yoni steam.