Do I need a special chair?

No! And that’s the beauty of it. You can steam with things you find at home in the kitchen- a bowl, a casserole or a big cup would do. Watch out for materials- trying to stick to ceramics, glass, stainless steel, earthenware and avoiding Teflon and plastic, anything that could make leach the compounds you wouldn’t want your tissues to meet. Making sure to have something to place over it- a lid or a plate- for the time herbs are steeping, and voila! Grab some towels to wrap around the pot of choice to make sure your skin wouldn’t touch the unit in which the steam tea is, and you are all set to steam at home. Of course, there are so many ways to fine tune this for every body – that is why there might be several trials & errors and that is also why, a consultation with peristeam facilitator/therapist can come in handy. We do not have to do this all on our own. For the detailed how to steam at home- check out the freebies.

This being said- having a unique chair- set up for steaming- can make the experience much more comfortable and unique. Especially once we integrate the practice into our everyday life, having a special dedicated space gives it a very different layer of quality. You will have there your altar, your space for ritual. And this can be magical on its own.

Can I use toilet for steaming?

Using toilet is not recommended.

Can I steam with the herbs from the garden or kitchen herbs? What about ginger?

Absolutely so! Herbs growing around us and those we have in the kitchen can hold so many amazing qualities and potency! Make your research first- to know the quality of herb you are working with- get to know her (for example first getting used to smell, drinking a tea, having a sitzbath etc). Knowing the properties is very important- users with short cycles might want to avoid certain herbs that are promoting circulation, or ones prone to dryness would want to avoid herbs that are drying in nature.

As steaming brings heat to the pelvic bowl on its own- we also want to avoid herbs hot in nature- so ginger & cinnamon, for example, we would suggest to avoid. To know more about how to make your own well balanced blend look here or get in touch with me or another certified steam facilitator.

Can I steam with water only?

Yes, you can! Steam on its own bring in the circulation which is the key. You can use natural sea salt too or/and apple cider vinegar instead of herbs.

Can I use essential oils?

Definitely not. Use of essential oils is contraindicated for steaming- they are way too strong and toxic and could cause lots of harm to the tissues. Use of essential oils is questionable on its own- in any area of life. For more information check April Graham’s resources. Ariel de Martinez has a free guide on how to go EO free(scroll a bit down to find it - is the 3rd freebie on the page).

Can I steam during the period?

Steaming during the menstruation or any other part of the cycle– while having fresh (red/pink/orange/purple) blood/spotting is contraindicated. Steaming can be resumed once the bleeding/spotting stopped (good practice is to wait 24h), alternatively, once it turned brown/black.

Can I steam during the pregnancy?

Pregnancy is another contraindication for steaming. Steaming can be brought back as a supportive practice at week 38. Its a good idea to contact a trained peristeam hydrotherapy practitioner for the guidance. Same goes for steaming during labor.

How to know the temperature is right?

It is suggested to wait around 10’ for the herbs to steep/water cool down (if herbs are not used). Taking the lid off and placing the inner part of the wrist- with the thin skin over the pot in the area where the vulva would be, is a good way to assess the temperature. There is no one right temperature for all users. The sensation is very individual, so some might end up loving and benefiting from steaming with warmer water, while others would be more sensitive and milder steams would be just great.

Is steaming safe?

Yes – but, there are few things to consider:

• such as the setup (making sure the skin wouldn’t touch directly the pots for example, making sure the vulva is far enough from the water etc),

• duration (some users are more sensitive and show imbalances to consider- so not everybody would be fine with longer set ups. Generally, we work with 10’ and 30’ set ups).

• There are times when steaming is a contraindication and it should not be done- such as when fresh bleeding/spotting is present, during pregnancy (before 38w), immediately post surgery, when there is an active infection (especially when the sensation of burning itch is present)

• timing- when to steam during the cycle (different protocols apply for short cycles and for long ones, for example)

• herbs to use (some herbs might aggravate certain imbalances while others not)

• tools to use (steaming with a safe equipment)

When can I steam?

This really varies so much! Different imbalances & histories call for different protocols. Generally, weekly steams can be a good idea, and so steaming after and before the menstruation. However, it really is unique and thats where a consultation comes in so handy. At the same time- its essential to know when not to steam- see the contraindications for more info.

Some prefer to steam before going to sleep - as its so relaxing and sleep tends to be so good after. Others would steam in the morning. While others during the day. Some need/want to steam once a month, others follow protocols that require steaming several times a day for certain period of time.

From which age can girls steam?

Beautiful time to introduce steaming can be before entering the Menarche- before starting to menstruate. However, if a girl sees her mum, auntie, older sister, friend to steam, and shows interest, there is no lower/upper age limit. Steaming can be also useful in cases of UTIs, labial adhesion and other cases as a support for young girls. Great resources for Menarche steaming have Chantal and Julia.

I don’t menstruate anymore, should I still steam?

Absolutely so! Steaming can provide support in so many occasions – even for challenges such as insomnia, hot flashes, low libido, painful sex, vaginal dryness. Also- we stay women after this rites of passage, and our tissues crave and deserve the attention and care, regardless of time of our lives. It can be a ritual emphasizing the cyclical nature of female bodies- even once the monthly bleed is not present. For a tailored protocol/learning more, get in touch with certified peristeam hydrotherapy practitioner.

Can I steam when trying to conceive?

Yes – but woman needs to know when and and how (that can be very individual in nature). If one is trying to conceive- in this case, steaming should not be done anymore once woman is in her fertile window & beyond. Specific protocols can be applied based on the imbalances present- this is something that could be consulted with the peristeam hydrotherapy practitioner.

Can I steam for pregnancy loss?

Yes, in fact, steaming should be there for every women going through it at one point. We are looking at different stages of the loss- impeding, active and post pregnancy loss. Steaming can be done in the first and the last, but not during the second phase.  Working with a practitioner who could offer support to navigate this is also recommended.

Basic rule applies- steaming is contraindicated when there is fresh bleeding/spotting. It is not unusual, that the bleeding stops and starts again. Hence being supported by somebody/having right information/training on our own is the best practice in this case.