In 2011, researchers from Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine published a study looking at the effects of vaginal steaming on patients undergoing radiotherapy for cervical cancer or high-risk HPV. Researchers worked with 80 patients — group 1 received vaginal steaming plus radiotherapy and group 2 just received radiotherapy. The vaginal steam group also received oral herbal medicine and a topical vagina wash called “xunxi no.1” consisting of the following herbs: Equiselum hienale, Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata, Coicis Semen, Oldenlandiae Herba, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma and Desmodii Herba.
Results: In the vaginal steam group, the HPV-positive rate was lower, the 5-year tumor-free survival rate was better, and the pelvic lymph node metastasis rate was lower.