A new steam bath procedure is taking wave in the US. It is becoming a popular service in spa’s around the country for its various health benefits particularly in women. This is called the “chai-yok” which came from Korea and is now being promoted in the country. It is also called as the Korean steam bath.

Korean Steam Bath

According to a spa owner promoting the use of Korean Steam bath, the procedure helps in cleansing and detoxification of the body. It also offer other health benefits such as combating stress, infections, curing hemorrhoids, regulating menstrual cycles and aiding fertility.

This procedure is not new in Korea. In fact it has been part of the Korean traditional treatments for many centuries now. “It’s been around for 600 years in Korea, but it’s new to us in the west. Traditional Korean spas have always offered chai-yok, and Korean women get it done regularly,” said Niki Han Schwarz, owner of a spa in Santa Monica California.

The health effects of vaginal steam bath have not been scientifically studied but women who have tried the procedure reported positive effects.

What Doctors say About Korean Steam Bath?

The lack of clinical studies on the health benefits of Korean Steam Bath makes it hard to sell to some medical practitioners. A gynecologist from the Women’s Care of Beverly Hills Medical Group told the LA Times that it is hard to assess the real benefits of chai-yok or Korean Steam Bath. Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz said while steaming the vagina could improve the circulation and blood flow to the nether-regions, it’s hard to evaluate whether or not the procedure has any real clinical benefits. “Most of these kinds of treatments are not put through intensive clinical trials, so it becomes challenging to evaluate the actual impact they have,” said Dr. Gilberg-Lenz.

The Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, Dr. Manny Alvarez is not convinced about the health claims of this procedure. “There is absolutely no way this has any significant health benefit. The illusion that any hot air infused with some herbal spice would penetrate the vaginal barriers of your body and improve fertility, regulate hormones does not hold any water with me’” Dr. Alvares told the FoxNews.

He also stressed that Korean Steam baths may aggravate some health conditions even if it is considered by many women as an effective relaxation technique. “Vaginal irritation is a reality. If there is a precancerous condition in the vaginal area, vaginal steaming could exacerbate a potential deadly condition,” he said.

However, Schwarz countered her critics and said that she could attest to the effectiveness of the procedure. She became pregnant after trying the Korean Steam Bath for a few months. “It’s very soothing and relaxing, so it really can’t be bad for you. If anything, at least it’s a deep detoxification, steaming you from the inside out,” Schwarz added.

The Procedure and the Herbs

The Korean Steam bath is similar to sitz bath. The difference is the type of stool used during the procedure. A woman sits naked in an open seated wooden stool while a warm and steamy mixture of herbs rises up into her vaginal area.

The concoction of herbs used in the steam bath could be the main reason why most women experience its health benefits. Mugwort is brewed with other herbs like wormwood. Mugwort helps in detoxification and an antiseptic. It has also an ability to stimulate hormones and keep the uterus healthy. It’s also used for nausea, fatigue and headaches.

Wormwood, on the other hand, helps in treating bladder infections, constipation, fever and induces uterine contractions. The combination of these two powerful herbs will definitely help ease hemorrhoid symptoms like inflammation and pain.

“All of the herbs in the tea are antifungal and antibacterial. They rid your body of toxins and pesticides, fight infections and even help clear up hemorrhoids. Your body also aches less after you’ve had a few steams,” Schwarz told the media. There are also some cases where people use the steam bath before they undergo hemorrhoid surgery.

Cost

The cost of a Korean Steam Bath is around $50 to $75 per session. The health benefits are maximized when the steam bath treatment is done after a menstrual cycle and on a regular basis.

Everybody would agree that dealing with hemorrhoids is not an easy thing to do. Available hemorrhoid treatments may not offer permanent cure and some of them may even worsen the symptoms. One example is the use of creams and ointments. While creams and ointments may offer immediate relief to several hemorrhoid symptoms, there are some people who are allergic to its ingredients.

There are also surgical and non-surgical procedures available but these would cost you to a lot and may result to recurrence of the condition. These procedures are recommended to patients with severe hemorrhoids such as prolapse hemorrhoids.

Prevention Still Better than Cure

Sometimes we have to blame ourselves for letting hemorrhoids to worsen. It is true that most Americans are prone to hemorrhoids. However, with proper hygiene and living a healthy lifestyle this condition can be avoided. How many of use lives a sedentary lifestyle? How about the number of people eating frequently in fastfoods? Do we exercise at least twice a week? Do we drink at least 8 glasses of water a day? Hemorrhoids can be avoided if we only take good care of our body.

Proper Bowel Movement

Having regular bowel movement will also help prevent the occurrence of hemorrhoid symptoms. Doing a bowel movement at least once a day is okay. But there are two more things to consider when doing your daily toilet habit. Avoid straining and adopt the squatting position when doing a bowel movement.

Straining will surely worsen your hemorrhoids. Doctors recommend you only go to the toilet when there’s an urge to defecate. Sitting for long periods will put more pressure in your rectal area. So reading a newspaper or magazine while in the toilet is not recommended since you tend to spend more time in the toilet.

Squatting Position Better than the Sitting Position

Based on the study of Dr. Sikirov, the squatting position relieves hemorrhoids symptoms. In the 20 patients who participated in the study, more than 90 percent showed no recurrence of the symptoms. The patient’s progress was recorded and after a few weeks to a few months, most of them did not complain of any symptoms associated with hemorrhoids. The two patients with no improvement in condition was due to the ligation of their hemorrhoids before they participated in the study.

Dr Sikirov’s Suggestions

The patients were told to change their toilet habit in the next two days and they should only go to the toilet when there is an urge to avoid too much straining. Second, they have to follow the squatting position while doing a bowel movement rather than the more popular sitting position. Dr. Sikirov’s study was published in the Israel Journal of Medical Sciences.

The hemorrhoid symptoms such as pain, swelling and itching were not reported after a few months. Squatting helps in the easy elimination of feces and straining is avoided. If you are suffering from mild hemorrhoids, you can also follow the suggestions of Dr. Sikirov. In just a few weeks you will already notice an improvement in your condition. Hemorrhoid symptoms will not be a problem annymore.

The Western diet is very popular to a lot of people, especially the busy ones. However, no matter how fast these foods can go to your table and no matter how tasty they are, foods included in this diet can offer you a lot of health problems. One of the most common, though not popular is the hemorrhoids. More and more people are suffering from hemorrhoids because of eating foods that are highly processed, sugary, and high in fats. Hence, if this diet is your usual meal, you must know what its implications are to your health especially when speaking of hemorrhoids.

The Western Diet

A Western diet is a kind of food selection that often includes highly processed foods, less water, and too much sodium. Among the most popular Western diet foods include fast foods such as burgers, French fries, deep-fried meats, hotdogs, and the like.

If you are a heavy eater of red meat, refined grains, high fat foods, and sugary desserts, you are in this kind of diet. Little that you may know, you are already prone to the number of medical conditions that this diet can offer to your health.

Western Diet and Hemorrhoids

As it is said, Western diet foods are not healthy. With barely any fiber, high sodium, and less water in the diet, it can easily lead to constipation. And since there is a straining during the bowel movement when you have constipation, hemorrhoids will more likely occur.

Moreover, the rich sodium content of processed foods in Western diet can make the blood vessels to swell up all throughout the body. If the blood vessel near the anus becomes swollen, it can lead to hemorrhoid easily. If there is not enough water in your body, the stools will become dry and compacted. This will worsen your hemorrhoids if not given the proper solution.

Avoiding Hemorrhoids

It is not recommended that you undergo a Western diet as it can offer you serious symptoms of hemorrhoids. If you cannot get rid of this diet, it is important that you eat other healthy foods like foods rich in fiber.

Make sure that you reduce your intake of processed foods such as candies, chips, cereals, salty snack foods, fast foods, and canned foods. In contrast, you must increase your intake of vegetables and fruits. The rich fiber content in vegetables and fruits will make the stool become soft. Meaning, constipation will be prevented and so as hemorrhoids.

Moreover, it is recommended that you increase your water intake. Water can also soften the stool, which in turn will help you get rid of constipation and hemorrhoids.

Most of us are accustomed to the Western diet because of the kind of lifestyle and work that we have. However, this habit is not at all worth it as it is medically proven to cause health problems such as heart diseases, kidney problems, diabetes and hemorrhoids. As much as possible, you get rid of this diet and exchange it with a healthier diet plan. A simple change in your diet can help you avoid hemorrhoids and can also offer your better health results.