Yoni Steaming for Infections: Yeast Infections and BV

What This Page Covers

• ❓ What Causes Yeast Infections & BV?
• 🔎 Common Myths about Yoni Steaming for Yeast Infections & BV
• ♨️ How Yoni Steaming May Support Healing Chronic Yeast Infections & BV
• 🗓️ When to Yoni Steam for Yeast Infections & BV
• ⏰ How Long to Yoni Steam for Yeast Infections & BV
• 🌸 Best Products for Yoni Steaming for Yeast Infections & BV
• 💬 What Our Community is Saying
• 🌿 Disinfecting Yoni Steam Herbs for Clearing Yeast Infections & BV
• 🥦  Food, Teas & Lifestyle Considerations: Natural Relief from Yeast Infections & BV
• 🌟 Sex and Yoni Steaming for Yeast Infections & BV
• 💗 Emotional Considerations for Yoni Steaming for Yeast Infections & BV
• 🩸 Caring for Yourself During Your Period
• ➤ Yoni Steaming FAQs for Yeast Infections & BV

❓ What Causes Yeast Infections & BV?

Yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are both caused by an imbalance in the vaginal microbiome — the delicate ecosystem of bacteria and yeast that naturally live within the vagina. A healthy vaginal environment is typically dominated by lactobacilli, beneficial bacteria that help maintain an optimal pH and defend against overgrowth. When this balance is disrupted, by things like antibiotics, hormonal shifts, douching, sperm, tight synthetic clothing, or even stress, opportunistic microbes such as Candida albicans (in the case of yeast infections) or anaerobic bacteria (in the case of BV) can multiply and lead to symptoms.

While common, these conditions are often misunderstood or treated with shame. For many, chronic infections are not only a physical imbalance, but also a signal of emotional depletion, boundary erosion, or disconnect from inner guidance. Remember, your body is always inviting you into deeper connection and care and we are here to support you on all levels of your healing journey. 

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🔎 Common Myths about Yoni Steaming for Yeast Infections & BV

Myth: Yoni Steaming Causes Infections. 

Saying that yoni steaming causes infections is like saying aestheticians cause pimples because during a facial they (often with steam) facilitate the release of them. Do showers get blamed for causing dirt because post-shower there is grime in the drain? Of course not. Similarly, steam doesn't cause the infection, though it may indeed help your body to facilitate the clearing of it. 

Vaginal steaming does not cause infections but rather supports the release of the infection from the body. However, it is important to understand what to expect when yoni steaming for yeast infections and BV so that this distinction can remain evident. 

Myth: Vaginal Steaming is unnecessary because the uterus is self-cleansing.

All organs, of course including the uterus, are wonderfully and wisely self-cleansing. Saying the uterus is self-cleansing and therefore supporting that cleanse is unnecessary is like saying the skin is self cleansing, so don't bother exfoliating. Or how about the lungs are self-cleansing so never mind about deep breathing, it's not necessary. Or the colon is self cleansing so if you've been backed up for days, no need to do anything about it, right? Wrong.

When it comes to less controversial organs than the uterus, our dominant culture seems a-okay with things like detox tea for the liver, breathwork for the lungs, salt scrubs for the skin, and all sorts of other support for organ health. Yet when women have debilitating signs of stagnation, including painful periods, fibroids, yeast and other infections, they are met with this BS about how they shouldn't do anything because the uterus is already "self-cleansing." Instead they are handed a bunch of pills which may or may not offer symptom relief yet are incapable of addressing the root cause. 

So yes, of course, the uterus has a brilliant built in cleansing mechanism in place: menstruation. Sometimes, if not often, that natural cleanse could use some support and that's when steaming may be incredibly beneficial. Yoni steaming may work to support the complete cleanse and clear the stagnation which is the root cause of so many menstrual ailments, including the stagnation of built up yeast or bacteria that leads to vaginal infections.  

Myth: Yoni Steaming harms the pH balance or microbiome of the vagina. 

Actually, vaginal steaming may help to restore the natural pH balance and microbiome of the vagina. Unlike the harsh and often toxic "cleaning" products found in drug stores and in recent decades recommended by OB-GYN's, vaginal steaming is — and always has been — a gentle, restorative, and all-natural practice. 

If there is a shift in the pH or microbiome of the vagina after yoni steaming, it is due to the practice supporting the natural cleanse of the uterus, restoring balance, harmony, and health to the pH and microbiome. 

For more about the difference between a tired view of "cleaning" the vagina in juxtaposition to our reverence of the uterus and desire to support the innate wisdom of the cycles, please check out: Your Vagina is NOT Dirty. 

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♨️ How Yoni Steaming May Support Healing Chronic Yeast Infections & BV

Yoni steaming offers deep, holistic support for one off and recurring yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. The practice may offer welcomed relief from symptoms whilst also guiding the body towards healing the root cause.

Through the clearing properties of the steam and disinfecting herbs, yoni steaming encourages the release of what no longer belongs: excess yeast, bacteria, infection, and the stagnation that allows them to thrive. Rather than disrupting the vaginal ecosystem like many over-the-counter and prescription treatments, yoni steaming may help restore harmony to the body’s natural microbiome and pH — gently facilitating a full clearing that supports long-term resolution.

With yoni steaming, the healing can go beyond the physical. Steaming invites you to sit with your womb, to listen. Over time, it becomes a ritual that can strengthen your ability to attune to your inner yes and no and the instincts and boundaries that keep you aligned, safe, and healthy. For many, chronic infections are not just a physiological imbalance, but also a signal of emotional depletion, boundary erosion, or disconnect from inner guidance. Yoni steaming becomes a way home: supporting not only the physical clearing of infection, but also the remembrance of your womb’s rhythm, her intelligence, and your ability to sync with and honor her wisdom. 

Many women who yoni steam for infections begin to notice relief or shifts within 1-3 steams, with some experiencing a full clearing after a single 10-day protocol.

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🗓️ When to Yoni Steam for Yeast Infections & BV

When yoni steaming to support the natural clearing of infections, we advise you to steam daily for ten consecutive days. It is not safe to steam while bleeding so please avoid doing so. This includes the monthly period and any fresh red spotting between periods. 

Example Rhythm of Steam Protocol for Infections:

🌗 Start steaming at earliest availability after noticing symptoms of infections. Steam for a minimum of 10 consecutive days.

❌ Do not steam while bleeding. If your period/bleed starts in the middle of this protocol, stop steaming until your bleed is complete and then finish up your ten days of steaming.

While avoiding days when menstruating, please steam for as many consecutive days as needed to fully release dampness, yeast, and thick discharge. Often this is accomplished in 1-3 steams. However, even if you feel relief or complete clearing of the infection before ten days, please still complete the full ten day protocol. This is to ensure that your body has fully released the infection.  

For others, it could take up to 10 days or more to clear everything. You will eventually be discharge free, so keep steaming until that day! If after 10 days you're still experiencing symptoms, continue with daily steams until everything is clear. Some people dealing with chronic infections may need 1-3 cycles of a full uterine reset protocol - steaming daily-ish outside of menstruation. 

Maintenance Steams for Infections: 

Once everything is clear, for maintenance, please steam at least once a week (except when bleeding), and 1-3 days before (but not necessarily immediately before)* and 1-3 days immediately after your period. 

*Steam 3 times after ovulation and a few days before your period. Ex: If you have a 28 day cycle, steam on days 23, 24, 25. 

Once everything is clear, for maintenance, please steam at least once a week (except when bleeding), and 1-3 days immediately after your period and 1-3 days before (but not necessarily immediately before)* your period. *Ex: If you have a 28 day cycle, steam on days 23, 24, 25. 

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⏰ How Long to Yoni Steam for Yeast Infections & BV

With the occurrence of infection, the body is already running hot in order to kill off the infection. Your yoni steam may help to release the infection, but we don't want to overly heat the body in the process. So for yoni steaming for infections, we advise opting for the Gentle Steam Set-up, with shorter yoni steams at a lower heat. 

💛 Steps for Gentle Steam Set-up:

This Gentle Steam Set-up, with the pot off the burner, is best for steaming for infections. 

• Heat yoni steam herbs on moderate heat for 10 minutes
• If using a burner inside your seat, turn off the burner. If using an alternative heat source, remove your yoni steam pot from the heat and transfer to your seat. 
• Wait for steam to settle and appear at a safe heat level. 
• Test the heat level by hovering the back of your hand over the steam. 
• If the heat level feels soft and gentle, slowly position yourself on your seat/over your steam pot. 
• Check in with yourself and your body. If at anytime you wonder if the temperature of the steam is too hot, stand up immediately and then re-evaluate. It should feel good. 
• Inhale, Exhale, Enjoy. 

For more about yoni steam set-ups and how long to yoni steam →

Always remember to check the temperature before steaming. If the temperature ever feels too hot or at all uncomfortable, stand up immediately, reduce the heat, and wait for the steam to cool. 

🎥 Watch Our Video “Don’t Get Burned” – Learn How to Yoni Steam Safely →

🤍 What to Expect: Yoni Steaming for Yeast Infections & BV 

Cool, but also maybe a little gross...

A lot can be released! You may even see things that you have never seen before. This is success though, because it is coming out! 

Remember... 

Steam doesn’t cause an infection or create mucus or debris. The steam may however loosen the mucus, increasing the amount of discharge, all in service of supporting the release of the infection from the body. 

Addressing Discomfort:

As you pull the infection down and out, it can create discomfort and maybe some itchiness and inflammation too. 

You can wear an organic panty liner to catch the discharge or change your underwear more frequently. We also love using peri-bottles to keep the vulva and vaginal opening clean throughout the day. For this, fill the bottle with water and a little sea salt and spray yourself clean after going to the bathroom. This way the discharge isn’t sitting on the skin causing further irritation. Furthermore, you might want to shower more frequently, twice a day to get mucus off the skin. 

🌸 Best Products for Yoni Steaming for Yeast Infections & BV

Kitara’s handmade yoni steam seats and set-ups include everything you need to begin steaming for yeast infections and BV.

Explore our offerings: 

Kitara Steam Seats and Set-ups
Handmade in Maine, USA — a beautifully crafted seat for yoni steaming at home with ease. Set-ups include a safe steam pot, a burner, and your choice of herbs in a discounted bundle.

Renew: Organic Disinfecting Yoni Steam Herbs
Formulated to clear vaginal infections.

Thrive Womb Wellness Tea
A nourishing blend of nettle, red raspberry leaf, and supportive herbs to restore vaginal wellness and balance. 

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🌿 Disinfecting Yoni Steam Herbs for Clearing Yeast Infections & BV

Herbs can be a powerful part of your yoni steam practice, particularly when steaming for the intentional release of infection. 

Choose the blend that best supports your considerations for yoni steaming for infections: 

Renew Blend
Designed specifically for clearing yeast infections and BV. Intended for use in a ten day steaming protocol to release an active infection and for ongoing maintenance steams to prevent future infections.

Womb Wisdom Blend
A nourishing, universal blend, inclusive of disinfecting herbs. For maintenance steams to prevent infections when intention is to strengthen your trust with the womb and live in alignment with her boundaries with grace and ease.

Not sure which blend is right for your body at this time?

Book a 1:1 Consultation

Our certified steam practitioners are here to help you with sustainable support for clearing infections and receiving the most from your yoni steam practice.

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🥦 Food, Teas, and Lifestyle Considerations: Natural Relief from Yeast Infections & BV

Vaginal infections, from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Science prospective too, are signs of excess dampness in the body. Your vaginal steaming protocol for infections, including 10 consecutive days of yoni steaming, is designed to address the clearing of this dampness. To work in tandem with steaming and to address the root cause of infections, please consider the following food recommendations.

🫚 Reduction of Dampening Foods for Yeast Infections and BV:

Please move at your pace. If you're someone who eats quite a bit of dairy and your inner knowing is that puling back a bit from the brie is of service to you, then go for it. However, if you're someone who struggles with yeast infections but is in pure pleasure around an occasional piece of high quality outrageously delicious cheese, my goodness, savor and enjoy it! Although culturally we might not take a ton of time to honor these nuances, there is a difference here. So when we write here "reduce/eliminate dairy" for yeast infections and BV, feel into what that really means for you.

Only you know where you're alignment is with reduction and elimination and we are here reflecting back to you our trust. 

So when we write here "reduce/eliminate dairy" while you are healing from yeast infections or BV, feel into what that really means for you. If a big shift in your eating is going to cause stress (which effects your body's natural ability to heal), be gentle with yourself and time your time. Only you know where you're alignment is with reduction and elimination, every body is different, and we are here reflecting back to you our trust.  

Consider cutting back or eliminating the following dampening foods: 

Sweets: processed, all natural, fruits, and really any kind of sweets
Dairy: cheese, milk, yogurt, ice cream
Alcohol: spirits, wine, and beer

“Cutting back, let alone eliminating, any or all of these dampening foods can be challenging. Depending on the extent of that challenge, it might even be unproductive or ironically harmful. This is why I ended one consultation with a woman who LOVED an occasional agave based cocktail and had a bit of a sweet tooth with "Cutting back 50% will be very helpful. Keeping it to a moderate piece of dark chocolate and an occasional Tequila/Mezcal is great;)”

This isn't the time for the "perfect" plan that causes stress and rebellion. This is the moment to check-in, reduce where you know is of service, and exhale into the trust that you and your body are partners on the path. 

🫖 Herbal Teas for Yeast Infections and BV: 

Receiving herbal medicine through yoni steaming can be mirrored and illuminated through drinking drying teas, 2-3 times daily. Depending on the seasonal temperatures and the heat of your body, you may want to drink these hot or iced. For extra drying, helping to reduce the excess dampness in the body from a build-up of yeast, infection, or BV, we love cornsilk, dandelion leaf, and sage teas.  

🫧 Use of All Natural Products for Yeast Infections and BV:

Check your soaps, washes, and even laundry detergent to make certain that they are made of 100% all natural ingredients. This is an exercise in focus. The front label, though likely beautiful, is not directing you to the info that is most meaningful. Flip to the back label and make sure you can pronounce, understand, and would eat anything that is listed as an ingredient. 

🛀🏿 Herbal Infused Water Wash/Soaks for Yeast Infections and BV:

As your steam practice draws the infection out of the uterus, you may experience itchiness on the exterior of the vulva. For relief, consider putting your yoni steam herbs in a muslin tea bag before putting them into your steam pot. Let them infuse your steam pot for 10 minutes as you prepare your steam as usual. Then, before you steam, remove the herb pouch, and fill a coffee/tea mug with the infused water. Set it aside to cool. Do your steam. After your steam is complete, test the temperature of the infused water in your coffee/tea mug to make sure it has completely cooled. Then take a shower and pour some of the infused water into the cup of your hand to rinse/soak the exterior vulva. 

🪡 Acupuncture for Yeast Infections and BV:

For many seeking to address and heal from vaginal infections, acupuncture and yoni steaming work beautifully together.

The acupuncturist will have recommendations for supportive herbs to take orally and be able to look at what organs need support in order to clear the infection and prevent it from coming back. They will also usually have a yin herbal rinse that will support the clearing of infections.

As with any practitioners there can be a wide range of experience and ability with acupuncturists. Ask around for a recommendation. It's okay to try out a few and important to always to work with practitioners of any kind with whom you feel a strong trust and resonance.