A woman was rushed to hospital with second-degree burns suffered while 'vaginal steaming' at home.
The 62-year-old had tried the procedure in an attempt to reduce a vaginal prolapse, according to an article in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada .
She was told by a traditional Chinese medicine doctor to boil herbs in a pan with water before sitting over it for 20 minutes, IFL Science quoted the report.
She reportedly tried it on two occasions before she rushed to emergency services at Calgary, Canada, with blood in her vaginal discharge.
Doctors said she also suffered second-degree burns on her cervix and the lining of the vagina.
She was given antibiotics as precaution and put on gauze on the affected area.
Vaginal steaming, also known as V-steaming or yoni steaming, involves squatting over a pot of herbs and steaming hot liquid to 'freshen' or 'cleanse' the vagina.
The traditional Chinese treatment has seen a surge in popularity after it was endorsed by celebrity Gwyneth Paltrow's wellness company GOOP.
A recommendation on the website in 2015 read: "You sit on what is essentially a mini-throne, and a combination of infrared and mugwort steam cleanses your uterus, et al.
"It is an energetic release - not just a steam douche - that balances female hormone levels. If you're in LA, you have to do it."
However, the journal mentioned in the conclusion that 'clinicians need to be aware of alternative treatments available to women so that counselling may mitigate any potential harm'.
Dr Vanessa Mackay, a consultant and spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, agreed on the potential harm if it's being handled incorrectly.
She told BBC : "Steaming the vagina could affect this healthy balance of bacteria and pH levels and cause irritation, infection (such as bacterial vaginosis or thrush) and inflammation.
"It could also burn the delicate skin around the vagina (the vulva)."
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