What Is A Pelvic Smoke Bath?
Vaginal or Pelvic smoking is the practice of using the smoke from burning herbs as a treatment for the pelvic area. This is similar to vaginal or pelvic steaming. In Chinese Medicine, using herbs to smoke a certain area of the body is called Yan Xun Fa or “drug smoking”. This method has been used to treat alopecia, neurodermatitis and rheumatic arthritis. This is the principle used in moxibustion. (Jiang et. al 1998)
Moxibustion, the burning of prepared mugwort as a treatment, can be traced back to the Yin dynasty 1600-1046 BC. Many historians believe the use of moxibustion was instrumental in the discovery of acupuncture meridian pathways. (Huang et. al 2017). In Recipes for Fifty-two Ailments (五十二病方), it was recorded that moxibustion fume was used to treat anal itching by sitting over the fumes.
Sudan also has a practice of smoke baths, called dukhan, using acacia wood and charcoal. This is a therapy for women to detoxify the skin and thought of as a beauty treatment. It can also help with rheumatoid arthritis, uterine and menstrual pain conditions, postpartum recovery. Its detoxification properties are said to help improve body odor and overall metabolism.
Pelvic Steam Vs. Smoke
In the vaginal steam community, pelvic smoke is often referred to as a ‘dry steam’. Properties of herbs can be modified by how they are prepared. When herbs are burned or charred, it can generally cause substances to act as an astringent. Mugwort in particular is burned in the form of moxibustion because of its ability to create infrared heat as well as the healing properties of its resin. Additionally when moxibustion is burned it has the function to staunch or stop bleeding. Other herbs can similarly take on a stop bleeding function after being charred or burned.
Steaming can have more of a detoxing or draining effect, meaning it works to expel unwanted fluids. This is why you will hear many vaginal steam practitioners use the word ‘cleansing’ as a descriptor for the goal of steaming. Smoke has a more tonifying or astringing effect, meaning it helps to strengthen or keep things in. This makes it more useful for those who are experiencing too much discharge, bleeding or prolapse.
Clinically, I have found smoke to be more useful for those who have heavy periods, short cycles, mid cycle spotting or heavy uterine bleeding in general. Whereas steaming can sometimes be contraindicated in these situations.
Heavy Uterine Bleeding
Menorrhagia is the medical term for menstrual periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. (Mayo Clinic) Metrorrhagia is an increased duration of menstrual flow beyond 7 days and continuous with the cycle. (National Library of Medicine)
In many cases, these conditions are addressed with hormone therapy or birth control by medical doctors and OB/GYN’s. Though this might not be an ideal long term solution for everyone, it can control bleeding which can be very important. For those who experience heavy bleeding, it is important to take note of if and when this bleeding is interfering with daily life, accompanied by a lot of pain or bleeding that requires waking up in the middle of the night to prevent bleeding into your bedding. If bleeding is interrupting with your ability to function daily or your sleep it is important to seek a solution with your health care team.
Some general causes of abnormal uterine bleeding can be: hormonal imbalances, PCOS, thyroid disorders, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, polyps, certain medications, IUD’s and in some rare cases endometrial cancer. This is why having regular PAP screenings are important.
Pelvic Smoke and Safety
Pelvic smoking with moxibustion is generally safe for most people post period and before ovulation. Pelvic smoking should not be done during pregnancy, for those who have heat conditions and certain cases of high blood pressure and menopause. Please consult with a provider who is knowledgeable on pelvic smoke and moxibustion use to decide if this is right for you. Those who are allergic to mugwort should avoid the use of moxibustion.
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Written by Dr. Emily Siy, DACM, L.Ac. on 8/7/23
Sources
Long, W.N., (1990) Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 173.
MayoClinic.org Diseases & Conditions: Menorrhagia https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829
WebMD.com What is Menometrorrhagia? https://www.webmd.com/women/what-is-menometrorrhagia
https://www.romper.com/life/vaginal-steaming-smoking
Jiang, Z., Du, X., Chen, G., Ouyang, B., You, K., Wang, X. (1998) Complete External Therapies of Chinese Drugs, Foreign Language Press
Chang Huang, Jiankang Liang, Li Han, Juntian Liu, Mengyun Yu, Baixiao Zhao, (2017) "Moxibustion in Early Chinese Medicine and Its Relation to the Origin of Meridians: A Study on the Unearthed Literatures", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2017
Tast of South Sudan YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYnDTlLVu1Q
Hiwot Beine YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEqYNboiq80