Happy Easter. Happy Fanny.

 As an Easter treat for our fannies, my sister and I decided to give our lady gardens a herbal vaginal steam.

Vaginal steam baths, or “Bajos”, as they are known in Spanish, are an old, respected treatment for women used to assist in the cleansing of the uterus, in conjunction with the Mayan Massage for the treatment of numerous female symptoms. It’s basically like a nasal steam, but for your fanny.

If you’d like to try one, here’s what you’ll need:

Large pot of hot water            
Warm fluffy socks
Large blanket
Fresh or dried herbs*
Slatted chair
Book or meditation CD

*HERBS: Most commonly used are marigold, oregano, basil, and rosemary. Motherwort, St John’s wort, chamomile, damiana, red clover, dandelion, yellow dock, squaw vine (partridgeberry), horsetail (bottlebrush), epazote (Mexican wormseed) and lavender can also be used.

We used three of the above herbs, added marjoram and substituted chamomile with a tea bag and lavender with a few drops of essential oil.

The idea is to collect your herbs using prayer and intention of healing. I was praying for a happy, healthy vagina, but you might like to pray for something else. It could be a prayer for healthy ovaries, a baby making uterus or a prayer to get your mojo back. If using fresh plants, use about four cups. If using dry, about a cup.

DIRECTIONS: In a large pot of hot water place your choice of herbs. Crush the herbs into the water thanking them for helping with your healing.

Offer prayers nine times. These prayers can be to whatever spirit offers you guidance; Goddess, Jesus, Christ, God, Mother Earth, Father in Heaven, etc. It is the prayer and the intention that is important.

Bring this to a soft boil for ten minutes, then steep for five minutes with the lid on. Place the pot under a slatted chair, lawn chair, etc.

Remove your underwear, but wear socks to keep your feet warm and drape yourself fully with a blanket around your waist to the floor. Be careful not to allow any draft underneath you. Be sure you are enclosed by the blankets from the waist down, and wear something warm from the waist up.

Sitting quietly over your pot of herbal steam for 20 minutes, meditate, read, enjoy and pleasure in the herbal healing. Be careful not to burn yourself. The heat should feel pleasant. If it is too warm, remove the pot for a few minutes. Rest quietly after the herbal steam bath in a warm room, free of drafts.

You can expect changes in your vaginal discharge and menstruation; these are normal cleansing reactions. Inform your natural therapy practitioner if you have any unusual discharge or response to this treatment.

Vaginal steam baths are best done just prior to or after your period.

So happy Easter everyone and a happy, healthy vagina to you x

 

Comments

[Alana Nixon]

Shazzy, I'm learning so much from you.

[Caitlin Grace]

I saw this on a tv programme - I think it was Joanna Lumley who took part in one. Sounds like a lovely rituaal to do any time. I actually have motherwort growing in my garden and lavender, rosemary and red clover so might just have to give myself a Xmas treat!!!