We thought the problems of the “V steam” were widely understood, but recently Chrissy Teigen posted on Instagram that she’s trying a vaginal steam despite not being sure whether it will work or whether, perhaps, her vagina might dissolve.


The procedure, done at a spa, involves sitting over a steaming bowl of herbs. Gwyneth Paltrow once endorsed the mugwort steam at a Korean style spa in Santa Monica, saying the process “cleanses your uterus, et al. It’s an energetic release.” Other V-steam proponents have claimed that it balances your hormones, cures cancer, and other things that it is not proven to do.


There’s no reason to believe the “can’t hurt” idea, either: if actual steam contacts your vulva or vagina, you could get burned. “I’d hate to be dealing with intravaginal burns,” gynecologist Mary Jane Minkin told Self. And if there’s enough plant material to possibly be absorbed through your skin or mucous membranes (doubtful) then there are potential harms, too. Mugwort is a close relative of ragweed, and you don’t want an allergic reaction in your vagina either. Bullshit-busting gynecologist Jen Gunter concludes, “If you want to feel relaxed, get a good massage. If you want to relax your vagina, have an orgasm.”