Womb Steams: A Traditional Way of Healing Reproductive Issues and Enhancing Fertility

Its interesting the response I receive when I ask women if they have done a vaginal steam before. I either hear that they have heard of them, or receive a look of shear horror at the thought of steaming the most private, and most important, part of the female body! It is fascinating that in western culture, we will clean the womb by douching with vinegar and water and sometimes even other chemicals, rather than allowing beautiful herbs and flowers to nourish our bodies. Oprah has even talked about them in her magazine before! This blog is for you, the ladies, to understand why this ancient herbal remedy is so beneficial for you and can help benefit your reproductive organs tremendously!
This is such a traditional and beautiful way to honor your womb. It is believed in the mayan culture that women have 2 hearts. The actual beating heart in your chest and your womb. If one is off center, then a woman is not in her power and not connected to her inner wisdom. Nourishing your womb, along with receiving maya abdominal massage, is the traditional way of bringing a woman back to her center and back to her power. Preparing her for conception, or bringing her more in touch with her intuition. 
So why steam? In the maya tradition, vaginal steam baths are called bajos. Steams consist of herbs specifically used to tone and nourish the womb. We pray when putting together the herbs and ask the plants to help the woman to heal her body and in any other way they may be used during steam time. Plants hold vital energy and are full of volatile oils, so it is important to honor them and thank them for the help they provide for us.
Bajos aid as an internal cleanser for the vaginal tissues, cervix, and uterus.  This is very important for chronic fertility issues and incomplete menstrual cycles. Issues that can be a sign of the these conditions are: PCOS, severe cramping, PMS, blood clots during menses, dark brown/purple blood at beginning of period, lingering cycles that are more like spotting for several days after bleeding heavily, endometriosis, shorter cycles than normal (under 4 days), longer cycles than normal (over 4 days), or absence of menstruation. All of these are a sign of old residue buildup in the womb. 
Women who have the following conditions could benefit from bajos: fertility issues, uterine fibroids, severe cramping and PMS, uterine weakness, uterine prolapse, irregular menstrual cycles, ovarian cysts, PCOS, endometriosis, reproductive adhesion/scar tissue, previous vaginal tear or episiotomy, and dark purple or brown blood at the onset or end of menses, postpartum, & women who have miscarried.
There are traditional herbs and flowers used in bajos that are cleansing, tonifying, and nourishing. In my practice, I put together specific herbs for each woman depending on what her body needs. These herbs and flowers include: Rosemary, Roses, Lavender, Marigold, Basil, & Oregano. Other herbs that may be used are: Chamomile, Cedar, Raspberry, Motherwort, Yarrow, Damiana, & Red Clover.
It is important for us to do all we can and take preventive measures in regards to our reproductive health. Staying connected to our bodies can be beautifully done using herbal medicine and just taking the time to sit and allow these powerful allies to do their work. This is especially important for women who are trying to conceive. When there is old and stagnant blood in the uterus, a women's cycle can become irregular and the egg cannot fully mature in time for conception. Her ovulation time is off and in order for everything to be in balance, she should be ovulating every 14-15 days. This is one of the main reasons for infertility in women who have irregular cycles. Another reason being if there is old residue in the uterus the womb is not fully cleansing, making implantation more difficult due to the walls of the uterus being congested. Steaming helps to cleanse and nourish making the womb ideal for implantation. It can also take up to 3 months in order to fully cleanse the womb, making steaming each month an important practice for fertility. This may not be the case for all women who are trying to conceive. Irregular menstrual cycles are another reason for difficulty in trying to conceive and steaming helps with this as well. 
Taking time for yourself, connecting to your womb and to your center should be a priority! It is an honor to work with the female body, to bring women back to where we came from, and to reunite women with our most precious gift.
To Purchase my custom made steams, click here. I do offer shipping!
In Beauty & Love,
Heather Leah

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