Inhalation for the throat is one of the most effective ways to treat colds, which are often accompanied by sore throat. The procedure was first described by the Roman physician Galen, who already then proved their therapeutic effect. The method allows you to introduce drugs into the body by inhaling steam. The procedure does not always require the availability of medical equipment and special devices, because steam inhalations that can be done at home are often used.
In which cases inhalation is used
Inhalation with a sore throat is most often carried out for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections and all complications. Pharyngitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, rhinosinusitis and laryngotracheitis are successfully treated by inhalation of medicinal vapors. Inhalation helps with coughing, sore throat and runny nose. Especially successful is the treatment of pharyngitis, tonsillitis and chronic sinusitis.
Inhalations are a mandatory component of the treatment of bronchial asthma. For the treatment of this disease, special inhalers have been developed that help quickly stop the attack. Inhalation procedures accelerate recovery in acute bronchitis and exacerbation of chronic forms of this pathology. The procedure is used to treat patients with pneumonia, fungal infections of the respiratory tract, pulmonary tuberculosis, tracheitis, accompanying HIV infection. Inhalations are prescribed for the prevention of postoperative complications.
This therapeutic and prophylactic method is widely used in medical practice. Carrying out inhalations can pursue different goals, including those aimed at healing the body and strengthening it.
Pros of the procedure
Inhalation for the throat improves respiratory function and helps to reduce swelling of the respiratory tract. An effective measure to improve the bronchial tree and in general the respiratory tract allows you to deliver drugs directly to the place of therapeutic effect. This allows you to effectively and quickly eliminate spasm. The procedure positively affects local immunity, improves microcirculation and regeneration of the mucosa, and also protects the inner membranes from the harmful effects of various aggressive chemicals.
Contraindications for inhalation
At home, inhalations are often carried out with red throat and pain, but since this is a medical procedure, there is a very specific list of contraindications that patients often ignore. The procedure is contraindicated in some lung diseases, namely, with pulmonary emphysema, traumatic or spontaneous pneumothorax, pulmonary hemorrhage, severe heart failure, an allergic reaction to drugs used to prepare solutions, cardiac arrhythmias. Inhalation is also contraindicated for young children, because the mucous membrane of the airways is still very tender and can be damaged as a result of aggressive steam exposure.
Inhalation and fever
An important contraindication to inhalation for the throat is fever (above 37.5 ° C). It is forbidden to use inhalation to treat people who have a tendency to nosebleeds, as well as patients with respiratory tract diseases. The procedure is strictly prohibited in inflammatory processes with the formation of pus, including purulent tonsillitis.
Inhalations for the treatment of sore throat
What to do with inhalation? The throat needs to be heated not just with steam, but with medicinal solutions. This allows you to generally improve the condition of the patient and effectively stop the inflammatory process. Before preparing the solution, you need to remember a few rules, following which will make the procedure more effective.
Inhalation should be done at least an hour after the next meal. In case of a sore throat accompanied by a runny nose, half of the respiratory movements should be done through the nose, if the method is used only to treat a sore throat or coughing attacks, then you should breathe during the procedure only with your mouth.
After any load, at least one and a half hours should pass, and after that it is recommended not to drink or eat food or smoke for another hour. Smoking is generally undesirable during treatment. After the procedure, you need to stay at least fifteen minutes in the room.
Carrying out the procedure at home
To carry out the procedure at home, it is not necessary to buy special devices. A regular pan is enough. Steam solution stimulates a rush of blood to the mucous membrane of the throat, relieves pain and normalizes the functioning of the nasopharynx. To achieve maximum effectiveness, it is recommended to do a light massage of the chest with essential oils after the procedure. For this purpose, juniper, eucalyptus, pine or fir oils are suitable.
If a sore throat, inhalation at home, as a rule, is used with essential oils, decoctions of herbs, sea salt, onions and garlic, iodine, honey, potatoes. To carry out the procedure with essential oils, add at least ten to fifteen drops for every 100 ml of water in the pan. You can use not only the above oil of eucalyptus, juniper, fir or pine, but also peach, olive, sea buckthorn, rose hip, anise, almond, sea buckthorn, menthol. Water needs to be heated to 60-65 degrees, and then breathe steam for fifteen minutes. In this case, you need to cover yourself with a terry towel.
Decoctions of herbs for the procedure
For inhalation, decoctions of medicinal herbs are often used. Pour dry raw materials into an enameled pan and fill it with water. For one tablespoon of grass, you need to add a glass of water. For brewing, coltsfoot, St. John's wort, eucalyptus, chamomile, oregano, lavender, thyme, St. John's wort, sage are suitable. You can use oak bark or mint leaves, birch buds. The mixture is brought to a boil, then the composition is removed from the heat and cools to 60-65 degrees. You need to hide in a towel or blanket, bend over a pot of broth. Inhale the vapors for fifteen minutes.
Onion-garlic inhalation
Effectively relieve sore throat onion-garlic inhalation. Such inhalations are often carried out with a throat for children, but you should always consult a doctor about the treatment of small patients. It will take one head of garlic and one onion. Grind vegetables and squeeze juice out of them. The juice is squeezed using a juicer or gauze, but previously onion or garlic is rubbed on a fine grater. The juice is diluted with water in a proportion of one part to ten. The mixture is brought to a boil in a water bath, and then it should cool to 60-65 ° C. Inhale the vapors for fifteen minutes. Such inhalations are used very often. User reviews say that such procedures really help to cope with the problem.
Soda and saline solutions
You can prepare a solution of soda. To do this, half a teaspoon of soda is dissolved in one glass of water. The composition must be put in a water bath and boil. Saline is also used. For inhalation of the throat, saline solution can be prepared independently. You need a teaspoon with a slide of salt and one liter of boiled water. The result is a ratio of 1: 100. The liquid should be stored in the refrigerator, and the shelf life of saline is one day. The home will not be sterile, so microbes can enter the mucosa during the procedure. For this reason, it is recommended that you purchase the product at the pharmacy.
Inhalations with sea salt work well. One teaspoon of salt is diluted in 0.5 liters of water. This solution relieves sore throat. It can be used for throat inhalation in children. The traditional way is boiled potatoes. Potatoes are boiled until cooked, and then the liquid should cool to 60-65 ° C. Inhale the vapors for fifteen minutes, leaning on the pan.
The procedure with iodine or honey
Honey inhalations are used to relieve pain. The solution is prepared from one tablespoon of honey, diluted in a glass of water. The composition must be heated in a water bath to 60-65 ° C, and then breathe over it for fifteen minutes. An iodine solution for inhalation is also prepared. About a liter of clean water is poured into enameled dishes, which must be brought to a boil. Then four to five drops of iodine are dripped into the water. When the mixture cools down to 60-65 ° C, inhalation can be done. The procedure is repeated twice a day for one week.
Inhalation with the help of special devices
For inhalation, it is advised to use medical devices, such as a nebulizer. This device is used for aerosol inhalations, which facilitate the penetration of the drug into the respiratory tract.
For inhalation with a sore throat, a nebulizer uses medicinal substances, which, under the influence of an air stream, are converted into aerosol and are metered into the respiratory system. Using this device, inhalation of combined solutions can be carried out.
Regular procedures can speed up the recovery of the patient several times, but do not stop them after the first improvements. The device is actively used to treat patients with asthma in order to facilitate breathing. Inhalation with a nebulizer allows you to quickly and effectively improve breathing.
What to use medications for a nebulizer
The modern pharmaceutical industry offers many ready-made solutions for procedures using this device. Most often, inhalations for the throat with a nebulizer are carried out with the help of "Chlorophyllipt", "Tonsilotren", "Flimucin" or "Rotokana".
"Chlorophyllipt" is a natural remedy that is widely used in the treatment of ENT diseases. Oil and alcohol solutions are used in pediatrics, as well as for the treatment of adults and pregnant women. To breathe “above the saucepan”, the alcohol form of the drug is suitable, while the oil form is used for a nebulizer. For dilution of "Chlorophyllipt" you will need a saline solution. In 10 ml of saline, 1 ml of Chlorophyllipt is diluted. Only then can the solution be added to water. Reviews about this drug are positive. Many note ease of use, high efficiency.
To reduce the period of an acute illness, inhalation with Rotokan will help. The procedures help in the treatment of bronchial asthma, laryngitis, bronchitis and lung diseases, promote the elimination of sputum, moisturize cough, and reduce swelling. The facilitating effect is fast enough. To 40 ml of saline add 1 ml of "Rotokan". You can dilute 5 ml of the extract in one glass of water. The dilution tank for the nebulizer is pre-sterilized. The finished mixture can be stored in the refrigerator, but not more than two days. For one inhalation, 4 ml of solution is enough. Due to the natural composition, the drug is used to treat children. The dosage is prescribed the same as for adults. Before carrying out inhalations, you must always consult a pediatrician.