Viral and catarrhal infections are an unpleasant condition that almost every one of us faces every year, in particular during the off-season. Sore throat, bothersome perspiration, nasal congestion, cough are sure signs of a respiratory illness that can completely knock a person out of a rut. Inhalations for colds, which can be done at home, can significantly alleviate the condition, reduce the manifestation of symptoms, and also effectively eliminate the cause of the disease. Before you get acquainted with the most effective recipes, you need to understand in more detail how exactly inhalation affects the human body.
Action of inhalation
The meaning of inhalation for colds is that the medicine directly gets on the respiratory tract and the inflamed mucosa in the form of steam. When the product settles on the site of inflammation during breathing, it immediately begins to destroy all harmful bacteria. Inhalations for colds are usually divided into several types, which will depend on the source. These include:
- Natural inhalation. As you know, a person receives a dose of volatile when he is resting in the forest. When we breathe in moist air with an admixture of salts on the coast, it also has a positive effect on our body. Rest in such places helps to cleanse the whole organism from accumulated toxins. Due to the strong healing effect, being at sea or in the forest is recommended for children, as well as for those people who have a weakened immune system.
- Artificial inhalation. At home, you can inhale with a cold without leaving your home. For this, inhalation is used with a nebulizer or with the help of improvised materials. It is about this method that we will talk in our article.
Special inhalers
It should be noted that for inhalation with a cold at home, you can use special inhalers, which can be steam, compressor or ultrasound. Between themselves, they differ in the principle of influence. For example, ultrasonic nebulizers are able to create a small dispensary aerosol from drugs due to vibration, and compressor direct the air flow.
Steam inhalers produce steam from a liquid. To do this, in a special container, you must first fill in the prepared mixture of drugs. The disadvantage of such an inhaler is that the drug is exposed to high temperature, which sometimes reduces the effectiveness of the drug.
Do not be upset if you do not have such inhalers at home. You can use a regular basin or teapot with an impromptu spout for these purposes, through which you will inhale the vapor.
Rules for the treatment
In order for therapeutic inhalation to bring maximum benefits and at the same time not harm the body, it is very important to know how to carry it out. Many believe that this method of therapy is ineffective, in fact, there is no result due to the fact that a person simply makes a mistake during the event. The procedure can successfully eliminate the common cold if the patient adheres to these rules:
- 2 hours before the treatment, it is necessary to refuse to eat any food.
- It is also recommended not to eat food for 1 hour after inhalation.
- Compounds for the treatment procedure after preparation should cool for 10 minutes. The fact is that too hot steam can provoke a burn of the mucous membrane.
- After the implementation of such a treatment procedure, you should change into some dry clothes. The fact is that all patients with inhalation begin to sweat heavily. And this negatively affects recovery.
- To achieve maximum heat transfer, inhalation should be carried out, covered with a towel with his head.
- The duration of the treatment should be no more than 20 minutes.
- During inhalation, the patient should wear clothing without a collar that will not compress the chest.
- Inhale the vapors through the mouth, and exhale through the nose.
- During the procedure, breathing should be as slow as possible.
- After the treatment, you can not leave the room for 2 hours.
- It is unacceptable to talk during the procedure.
- Before inhalation in case of severe cold, thoroughly rinse your nasal passages.
If you did not make any mistakes during the treatment, you can hope for a powerful healing effect, as a result of which the recovery time will be significantly reduced.
Inhalation for adults
With a cold, you can do inhalation for both adults and children. However, note that the recipe and procedures may vary slightly. To begin with, you should familiarize yourself with folk remedies for inhalation against the common cold, which can be used by adults. The following remedies are suitable for people over 16 years old.
Tea tree oil
This tool is very effective, it is often used in the fight against viral infections, including colds. Such inhalation for colds can only be done by adults. To do this, pour 20 drops of oil with a glass of boiling water, then cool the composition for 10 minutes. During this time, the patient should inhale the vapors, but very carefully, not too close to the medicine. When the agent cools down, it is possible to carry out full inhalation, the duration of which is also about 10 minutes. It is not recommended to cover yourself with a towel too tightly, because due to the strong aroma a person can get burned.
A mixture of essential oils
With a cold, inhalation can be done from a mixture of essential oils. For this, 10 drops of eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, juniper oil, 5 drops of peppermint oil, as well as the same amount of clove oil, must be dissolved in 500 ml of boiled water. Inhale the vapors from the resulting mixture without covering with a towel. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes. If an unpleasant sensation occurs, the procedure must be interrupted. Repeat it should be three times a day. The duration of such therapy is 4 days.
Please note that this type of therapy is contraindicated for those people who are prone to allergic reactions.
Onion inhalation
Is it possible to make inhalations for colds with onions? The answer to this question will be positive. This medicine is no less effective than the above. To do this, you need two large heads of onions, from which it is necessary to squeeze the juice, dilute it with ten parts of boiling water. The composition must be poured into a wide bowl, after which it is possible to carry out full inhalation, observing all the rules. The duration of inhalation is 15 minutes. If there is a burning sensation in the eyes, as well as on the mucous membranes, then one should not be afraid, since such a phenomenon is absolutely normal. The procedure is repeated every 8 hours. The duration of therapy is 5 days.
Propolis
To prepare this remedy for inhalation, you need to take 2 grams of propolis and 2 tablespoons of natural honey. These products should be mixed with each other, and then dissolved in half a glass of a solution of furatsilina 0.2%. The effectiveness of inhalation with such a tool is immediately noted, because each ingredient has its own strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This recipe is one of the best for fighting pharyngitis.
Inhalation for children
Speaking about whether it is possible to make inhalations for colds for children, it should be noted that in this case it is important to use mild agents that are not able to harm the baby's mucous membrane. The same formulations can be used to treat adults. Consider a few effective recipes.
Sea salt and soda
If you mix sea salt and soda, the resulting product is able to cleanse the mucous membranes well, speed up the process of eliminating toxins that are produced by the virus from the child’s body. To carry out a similar procedure, it is necessary in one glass of boiled water, poured into a bowl, dissolve one tablespoon of baking soda, as well as the same amount of sea salt. When the composition has cooled, after about 5 minutes, inhalation can be carried out. The duration of the procedure should be 10-15 minutes, depending on the reaction of the child to inhalation.
You need to breathe under the towel, but if the baby is hard to tolerate too high a temperature, then you can not cover his head during the procedure, but in this case it will be necessary to extend the duration of the steam up to 20 minutes. Such therapeutic measures should be carried out three times a day. The duration of therapy should be no more than 1 week.
Potatoes
Jacketed potatoes are a classic tool that is used for inhalation in children with colds. To carry out the treatment procedure, it is necessary to take several root crops, boil them until fully cooked, then drain the water, put the pot and potatoes on low heat for a few minutes so that the remaining water evaporates. After this, the baby should be inhaled, the duration of which should be a quarter of an hour.
Please note that in this case, you can not refuse to use a towel. Throughout the day, 3 such procedures are carried out. The duration of therapy with this method is no more than 1 week.
Honey
We continue to consider what inhalations can be carried out with a cold at home for a child. A very effective method is inhalation, which is carried out using honey. However, you should pay attention to the fact that this product is used only if the child is not allergic. To do this, in 300 ml of hot water, but not boiling, put one tablespoon of natural honey. When the composition has cooled to a temperature of about 80 degrees, it must be poured into a wide bowl, after which inhalation should be carried out. The duration of the event should be about 10 minutes. Two inhalations are performed on one day. The duration of honey therapy is 5 days.
Eucalyptus
Very effective is eucalyptus in the form of inhalation from the common cold. For the implementation of measures it is necessary to take one tablespoon of dry leaves of the plant, pour them 500 ml of hot water, bring to a boil over low heat. Insist the product for 10 minutes, then pour into a bowl, dissolve a large spoon of soda. Inhalation is carried out, covering the baby with a towel. The procedure should be carried out once a day. The duration of therapy is 10 days.
Coniferous inhalation
Of course, it is mandatory to mention coniferous inhalations. To do this, take a handful of pine or spruce needles, pour two glasses of water, bring to a boil, cook for 10 minutes. After this, the product should cool slightly, after which it is used for inhalation. The duration of the treatment should be at least 15 minutes. Depending on the baby’s reaction to the effects of the medicine, you may or may not use a towel. It is necessary to carry out this therapy every morning and every evening. The duration of treatment should be 5 days.
Inhalation for pregnant women with a cold
Above, we made it clear that inhalations can be done both for adults and children. But is it possible for pregnant women to take inhalations for colds? At this time, the immune system in the female body is greatly reduced. A woman becomes vulnerable to infections. Even a simple cold can turn into a mysterious rebus, since many methods of therapy are contraindicated. However, inhalations are an excellent alternative to medications. Therefore, a pregnant woman can inhale at the first sign of a cold using medicinal herbs. However, the choice of medicinal plants must be approached quite carefully. Some of them can harm the fetus, as well as provoke a miscarriage, premature birth. To such herbs should be attributed St. John's wort.
A pregnant woman can use exactly the same inhalations for colds for adults that have been described above. However, it is best to consult your doctor first.
Inhalation nebulizer
And how is inhalation performed with a cold nebulizer? This device is very convenient in operation, it can be used both for inhalation for adults and children. You should also pay attention to the fact that currently in pharmacies you can buy special nebulizers that are designed for children. They are made in the form of toys. The following remedies can be used as medical preparations for colds.
Alkaline Mineral Water
For inhalation with a nebulizer for colds, you can use mineral alkaline water. This tool fully moisturizes the mucous membrane, cleanses it of mucus, and has a softening effect. In addition, water can eliminate the sensation of tickling in the nasopharynx. It is best to choose Borjomi or Essentuki water for these purposes. If you carry out a similar procedure to a child, then 4 ml of mineral water is taken. Adults can use 6 ml. Inhalation is necessary using a nebulizer with a mask. The duration of one procedure is 10 minutes.
Furatsilin
Many people use inhalation to prevent colds. For these purposes, furatsilin is excellent. Currently, you can purchase this solution in finished form. Antiseptic effect allows you to get rid of pathogenic bacteria in the nasal cavity and pharynx. Thanks to this, any pain is eliminated, nasal congestion passes, and the risk of infection entering the lungs is reduced. The duration of inhalation should be 7-10 minutes. In case of a cold, events are carried out no more than 3 times a day. In order to prevent inhalation, you can carry out 1 time per week.
Physical solution
Inhalation with a cold with saline is no less effective than the above. This tool accelerates the removal of sputum from the lungs, which during a cold provokes a strong cough. In addition, this tool cleanses the sinuses of the nose, as well as the mucous membranes of the crusts of dried secretions. Therapeutic activities are carried out every morning and evening. The duration of one procedure is 10 minutes.
Contraindications
So, now you know what inhalations to do with a cold. However, before such a therapeutic event, it is necessary to follow the rules, as well as take into account some contraindications. If you neglect these rules, then a medical event can cause serious harm to your health, regardless of which oils you used for inhalation for colds. To refuse such an event should be if the person has observed:
- Frequent nosebleeds.
- Fever.
- Tendency to pulmonary hemorrhage.
- Arrhythmia.
- Heart failure.
- Impaired brain function.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Neoplasms in the respiratory system.
- Severe respiratory system diseases.
- Any neoplasms in the brain.
If a person has no contraindications, then inhalation is not only possible, but necessary. Such measures will contribute to the speedy cleansing of the entire respiratory system, and also will not allow complications of the disease.
Conclusion
The common cold is a very unpleasant ailment that everyone faces. Many of us suffer colds quite hard, as they provoke a cough, runny nose, and lead to a deterioration in the general condition. The peak of the disease occurs in the off-season, when dampness, cold weaken our immune system, and viruses that provoke a cold, reach a maximum of activity, as well as vitality. Most people who have a cold have a disease on their legs, which is a fatal mistake, leading to dire consequences. Doing this is strictly prohibited, since a cold can cause a wide variety of complications. One of these is pneumonia.
In order to cure a cold as quickly as possible, as well as qualitatively, inhalations must be added to the main treatment methods. They can have a strong therapeutic effect on the respiratory system, as well as the pharynx. This is very important in the fight against colds. In addition, therapeutic measures may be suitable for both adults and children.