Cough, runny nose and "cloudy" state of the body can happen at any time of the year. Many methods have been tried for treating colds. Some of them have a quick cure, but the consequences of taking shock doses of medications can be dire and not immediately apparent. But the methods that traditional medicine has long been offering, and now traditional, solve the problem gradually, but at the same time they do not harm health and strengthen the immune system.
Indications for use of inhalation
Inhalations at home with a runny nose, cough or catarrhal diseases seem to be the most affordable way to get the desired result. The method works if the patient does not suffer from another disease that causes similar symptoms. For example, for people new to allergies and experiencing a reaction to an irritating agent for the first time, symptoms may seem like the onset of a cold. Not with all allergic diseases, inhalation is possible. Before starting the procedure, it is worthwhile to consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis, otherwise the situation can be aggravated as a result of treatment.
Inhalations at home with cough and runny nose are used with the following indications:
- Exacerbation of chronic upper respiratory tract diseases.
- SARS with complications (laryngitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, etc.).
- Fungal diseases of the respiratory system.
- Pulmonary tuberculosis, asthma, bronchial bronchiectasis.
- Cystic fibrosis, pneumonia in the 3rd stage (sputum separation).
- Respiratory disorders in HIV.
- Prevention of congestion in the postoperative period.
Cough and runny nose are symptoms of the disease. Before starting treatment, you need to make sure that inhalation will contribute to a speedy recovery.
Contraindications
The use of any type of therapy has its contraindications. Neglect of them can lead to complications, the emergence of new diseases, and often irreparable consequences. Do not use inhalations at home for a cold, cough and other symptoms in the following conditions or diseases:
- Body temperature is above normal (more than 37.5 ° C).
- Any nosebleeds.
- Arrhythmia, cardiovascular failure.
- Hypertension (grade 2 and above).
- Pulmonary insufficiency.
- Pulmonary hemorrhage, pulmonary emphysema.
- Allergy to therapeutic agents (medications, herbal remedies, essential oils, etc.).
- Age (not recommended for children under 2 years old).
What is inhalation?
Inhalation is a treatment method in which crushed drugs are delivered using heated steam, aerosols when inhaling. The word “inhalation” is an analogue of the Latin “inhalo” (I inhale). Steam inhalations with a runny nose at home help fine particles of drugs to get directly into the focus of infection - the bronchi, nasopharyngeal mucosa.
The treatment is local in nature, but inhalation of vapors saturated with useful natural ingredients not only positively affects focal diseases, but also has a beneficial effect on the state of the immune and nervous systems. For women, you can add another positive aspect - moisturizing and cleansing the skin, which occurs while you have to breathe healthy steam.
Benefits
Inhalations at home with a cold have the following advantages:
- When breathing is blocked without a cold (dry rhinitis), inhalations saturate the mucous membrane and provoke mucus rejection.
- With abundant, but difficult separation of mucus, it helps to painlessly accelerate its evacuation.
- With a cold caused by allergies, they help to quickly remove the allergen from the nasopharynx.
- In cases of acute respiratory viral infections, they ease the general condition of the patient, saturate the tissues of the nasopharyngeal mucosa with moisture, and strengthen the immune system.
Cough inhalation is no less effective:
- Moisturizing the mucous membrane with steam, which facilitates the condition with an exhausting dry cough.
- Reduces the excitability of irritated receptors, enveloping the mucous membrane.
- Sputum stimulation and less painful coughing occur.
- Sputum liquefaction, rapid evacuation.
- Eliminates bronchospasm in case of allergic origin of cough.
- The gradual destruction of infectious agents, strengthening immunity.
Types of inhalation
In the arsenal of traditional and traditional medicine, inhalations with a cold at home are carried out in several ways:
- Steam inhalation, or heat and moisture. The temperature of the solution ranges from +42 ° C to +50 ° C. Safe and effective exposure time is 5 to 10 minutes. To create a medicinal solution, herbs and essential oils (for which there is no allergic reaction), medications prescribed by a doctor, soda, and antibacterial drugs are used. The greatest benefit from this type of treatment is at the initial stage of the disease.
- Oil inhalation. The oil is heated to a temperature of about 38 ° C, the exposure time is about 10 minutes. If desired, the oil can be added to hot water and breathed over the container with the solution. This type of inhalation helps with dry cough, lack of separation of mucus from the nose. Eucalyptus, olive oils are used, tea tree oil, peach, coniferous and many others have a positive effect. Before use, make sure that there is no allergic reaction.
- Dry inhalation. Plants with active antiviral phytocides are used: onions, garlic, horseradish root. Natural raw materials are crushed and placed in the room where the patient is located. The action is antibacterial.
- Hardware inhalation. Developed devices for home use allow inhalation both steam and without the use of steam. An inhaler device sprays a drug to an aerosol state.
Inhalations are divided into types according to the temperature regime:
- Cold The temperature of the solution for the procedure does not exceed 30 ° C.
- Wet . The solution is heated to 45 ° C.
- Steam . The temperature does not exceed 50 ° C.
Rules of procedure
The success of the treatment process directly depends on the correctness of its implementation. Inhalations at home with a cold, cough, SARS have features, and they should not be neglected:
- The procedure should be carried out one hour after eating. The patient should not be hungry.
- After the procedure, you can not eat and drink for 30-40 minutes.
- Do not talk after treatment for 30-60 minutes.
- It is contraindicated to go out for two hours after the procedure.
- If medications are used for inhalation, then you need to know the formulation and observe it to the nearest 1 gram.
- During the inhalation process, it is necessary to take deep, smooth breaths and exhalations.
- For children from 2 to 5 years of age, the inhalation time is 3 minutes, from 5 to 12 years, the procedure is 5-10 minutes.
- A solution of the inhalation agent is prepared before use.
- With a runny nose, breathing should be through the nose, with cough and respiratory diseases through the mouth.
- When prescribing several types of inhalations for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, runny nose, inhalations with bronchodilator drugs are first applied, followed by expectorant properties.
- When using industrial inhalers, it is necessary to flush the device before and after the inhalation session.
Therapeutic agents
For inhalation, vegetable raw materials, medicines, oils are used. There are many recipes, but some of them are time-tested and show effectiveness in use:
- Inhalation with a runny nose at home with soda. Recipe for a stock solution: 1 teaspoon of baking soda is added to one cup of hot water (up to 50 ° C). Breathe over the solution for 5-10 minutes.
- Alkaline mineral waters - Essentuki-17, Narzan, Borjomi, etc. are well suited as a solution for inhalation . Water is heated to 50 ° C and a therapy session is conducted.
- Inhalation with a runny nose at home with chamomile. First you need to prepare a chamomile broth, for this it is enough to pour one tablespoon of dried herbs with one glass of boiling water and let it infuse for 20 minutes - the solution for inhalation is ready. If the infusion has cooled, it is enough to add hot water and carry out the procedure.
- Needle inhalation. To prepare the solution, the needles must be soaked for several hours in water at room temperature, and then heated until steam appears. If there are no needles at hand, you can do with essential oil (2 drops per glass of warm water) pine, spruce, cedar, etc. A few drops are added to hot water. For young children, you can leave a bucket or pot with hot solution in the room for a period of sleep. The container is closed with a lid, leaving a small gap for steam to escape. In order for the solution to give healing steam longer, the container must be thermally insulated (wrap with a blanket, a thick towel, etc.).
- Inhalation with a runny nose at home by potatoes. One of the common and effective ways to carry out the procedure. The potatoes are boiled in their uniforms, the water is drained, it is necessary to breathe, bending over the tubers. If desired and necessary, you can add eucalyptus essential oil.
How to carry out inhalation at home
There are three ways to create an inhaler at home. The easiest is to use a pot for these purposes. Warm or hot therapeutic solution is poured into the container, so as not to lose steam, you need to cover your head with a towel, while closing the pan borders. In general, it is necessary to create an enclosed space in which steam will circulate. In order not to burn the skin on the lips, the skin around the eyes must be applied to open areas with a protective cream. After 5-10 minutes, the procedure is completed.
The following method uses a kettle. A hot composition with medicinal ingredients is poured into it, a funnel is inserted into the spout of the kettle, through which steam is supplied. The method is good for those who do not tolerate the influence of hot steam, as in the previous method described. The funnel can be made of thick cardboard.
For carrying out inhalation procedures at home with a cold or cough, there are devices - household inhalers. To date, there are a lot of techniques of this kind, with different methods of carrying out the procedure. The question is only in the choice, before use you should read the instructions.
Features of the procedure for children
Inhalation at home with a cold in children is carried out with caution. For babies up to two years, the procedure is not recommended. It is difficult to persuade a child to breathe steam over a pot, potato or teapot. Using the device simplifies the task, since the process can take place in a game form. But there are ways to help the child and arrange an inhalation in a somewhat expanded form.
One way is to put the child in a small room and fill it with healing steam. An important condition is ventilation. If there is a bath, then the question is solved simply. You can persuade the child to breathe over the potatoes, and as an entertainment element to use a large umbrella, which close the container with potatoes. In this case, it is worth making sure that the child does not get burned. The time frame for home inhalation is 10 to 20 minutes.
Features of the procedure for pregnant women
Inhalation at home with a runny nose for pregnant women is carried out with some features. In expectation of a child, the expectant mother tries to observe the daily regimen, to avoid diseases, but a runny nose overtakes almost everyone. It is dangerous because it provokes a lack of oxygen, which can harm the child. Inhalations are the safest way to treat, in which there are limitations:
- Do not use drugs that have an allergic reaction or a predisposition to it.
- During pregnancy, it is forbidden to use essential oils: cypress, rosemary, cedar, dill, nightshade, marjoram.
- During the procedure, iodine should be excluded from the list of ingredients used.
- General contraindications apply to pregnant women, you should refuse inhalation if you feel unwell.
Conclusion
Inhalation at home with cough and runny nose is a simple and effective way to get rid of stuffy nose and throat. It stimulates the internal reserves of the body, does not force the nature of man, but helps to quickly and easily regain lost health.