No wonder the potato is considered the second bread due to its rich nutritional value. At the same time, this vegetable can be used not only for preparing various kinds of dishes, it has another useful application - compresses. And all again thanks to its properties and components. This is the best traditional medicine in the fight against various diseases. In addition, potato compresses help eliminate coughs in adults and children. And it is not at all necessary to start taking medicines at the first signs of a cold - you should resort to the help of this mild and effective remedy.
Useful properties of potatoes
Boiled potatoes are able to retain heat for a long period of time, which is important for using this vegetable as a warming component for a compress.
The tubers containa whole variety of useful substances and minerals that have a beneficial effect on the processes of cellular metabolism. Accordingly, regeneration processes in tissues improve.
The we alth of potatoes is hard to imagine:
- iamin;
- calciferol;
- lactoflavin;
- folacin;
- pyridoxine;
- phosphorus;
- calcium;
- choline;
- iron;
- magnesium;
- ascorbic acid.
In this case, it is not recommended to apply a warming compress to the heart area. Otherwise, the cardiovascular system will experience a strong load, which is undesirable.
In addition, raw or boiled potato compresses are valuable because this vegetable is included in the list of foods that have a low level of allergenicity. In this regard, this vegetable can be used as a therapy for both adults and children with increased skin sensitivity. A potato compress can be used to treat bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis and other diseases of the ENT organs.
How do compresses work?
The effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment is based on the reflex and local effects of heat. Due to this, blood circulation is stimulated, as well as metabolic processes of the mucous membrane of the lower respiratory tract. Due to the heat in the affected tissues, infiltrates resolve, an outflow of excess interstitial fluid is produced, due to which the internal diameter of the bronchi increases.
Potato warming compresseshave a number of useful and necessary therapeutic properties:
- pain relief;
- normalization of lymph outflow from tissues;
- increased tissue reactivity;
- normalization of the trophism of the ciliated epithelium;
- neutralization of toxic substances in the body;
- elimination of inflammatory processes;
- restoration of the secretory function of the mucosa;
- dry cough becomes productive.
In addition, due to the local effect of thermal energy in the body, interferon is produced. And this element plays a key role, as it is able to prevent the development of pathogenic microflora in the area of inflammation. And an increase in the concentration of neutrophils in the ENT organs helps to strengthen the immune system, which in turn speeds up recovery.
General rules for all compresses
Compresses are relevant for the treatment of many diseases. But despite the fact that there are many recipes using different kinds of raw materials (potatoes, butter, etc.), they have a single principle of proper location. How to make a potato poultice?
Important factors that should not be discounted when using a compress:
- All ingredients of any warm compress should not come into direct contact with the patient's skin. In any case, they are laid on the fabric, only after that they are used.
- Each next layer should be 15 mm wider than the previous one (no less).
- The place on the skin wherea compress will be located, needs pre-treatment with petroleum jelly or any vegetable oil. This is done to avoid the risk of burns.
- If the compress needs to be left overnight, it should be well fixed to prevent it from shifting. At the same time, the zone of the heart should remain open.
- After removing the compress, the skin should be wiped dry with a towel. After that, it can be softened with any nourishing cream.
- You can go outside after the procedure no earlier than 2 or 3 hours later.
It should be understood that only a potato compress for bronchitis or any other disease is not enough, since this cannot be called a full-fledged therapy. In other words, such funds must be used in combination with taking medications and undergoing procedures prescribed by a doctor.
Regarding potato compresses, one more important point should be taken into account. It is clearly not worth applying it immediately after the vegetable has cooked (as they say - from the heat, from the heat). The risk of burns is too great, and, in addition, most of the nutrients will leave the potatoes along with the steam.
How to position the compress
In addition to knowing the general rules for any compress, you should also understand how to properly position it.
It should be on the chest of the patient (child or adult) in the place where the trunk of the bronchial tree forks. This is especially true in the case of tracheitis and bronchitis. Fightingdisease must be carried out across the board! That is, one should not forget the interscapular space - a compress should also be applied to this place. Its layout is a projection of the main bronchi, upper and lower lungs.
At the same time, potato compresses can be alternated:
- breast warming session;
- spinal warm compress session.
However, in order to achieve maximum efficiency, it is better to combine both sessions into one. That is, to expose the chest to therapeutic effects from both the chest and the back.
Intensifying the effect
Wrapping the back and chest with a woolen cloth, scarf, handkerchief will enhance the warming effect, as well as securely fix the compress. Then the patient is covered with a blanket, and this is just the beginning of the procedure. At the end of it, the patient should change into dry clothes.
As for the duration of therapy, everything here is largely due to the severity of the disease. Residual effects can be eliminated within 2-3 sessions. But to eliminate a strong cough, at least 5-7 procedures will be required. To speed up the removal of pathological exudate, every morning you should start with breathing exercises.
Heat potato treatment. List of indications
The advantage of potato cough compresses is obvious - everything you need is at hand.
You have already familiarized yourself with the beneficial properties of this vegetable, and thus it can be understood that the list of indications for warmingprocedures will be quite impressive. Therefore, it is worth mentioning the most common situations:
- pharyngitis;
- bronchitis, including its mixed forms;
- any form of pneumonia;
- pleurisy - only with the approval of the attending physician;
- tracheitis.
At the same time, for any disease, before using this or that method of treatment, it is necessary to consult a specialist. The potato compress is no exception, despite being an invaluable cough aid.
Contraindications to consider
Despite the wide scope of the potato for medicinal purposes, this vegetable has certain contraindications. And they should never be discounted! No matter how significant the benefits of potato cough compresses for children or adults, the following contraindications can serve as serious restrictions:
- with pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- active tuberculosis;
- skin diseases, including violation of its integrity;
- fresh subcutaneous hemorrhages;
- malignant tumors.
It is worth noting that in relation to pregnant women and children, the potato procedure does not have serious contraindications. This is due to the fact that the vegetable itself has a beneficial effect on the respiratory tract. In accordance with this, potatoes are not capable of causing irreparable damage to human he alth.
At the same time itconcerns those cases when the compress is done and fits correctly. In addition, such procedures should not be performed if the patient has a fever. And if the body is weakened, then complications may develop after another additional dosage of heat.
Recipe for kids
Now we can move on to how to make a potato poultice for young patients. And since we are talking about children, you should first obtain permission to carry out this procedure from a pediatrician. He, after examining the child, will issue an appropriate conclusion and determine the duration of warming therapy and the number of sessions.
This measure is due to the fact that if the cause of the cough is an infection of a bacterial nature, then it is strictly forbidden to warm up the ENT organs! The procedure can be carried out only in case of catarrhal processes of the upper respiratory tract. And then, in the absence of hyperemia and infectious complications. Moreover, it is worth considering that warm compresses should not be given to children under 1-1.5 years old.
To perform the procedure correctly, the child must do the following:
- Take a few potato tubers and boil.
- Knead the boiled vegetables with a fork.
- In the resulting mass, add 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil.
- Make a cake out of gruel and be sure to place it in polyethylene.
- Place the compress on the back or on the chest (or even on both sides) and fix the application well (for example, with a scarf).
- Cover the baby with a warm blanket.
- Compress can be removed after 3 or 4hours.
To speed up the discharge of sputum from the bronchi, a potato compress for a child should be done at least 3 times during the day. At the same time, it makes sense to take breast preparations that have a mucolytic effect.
This will bring the cough to a productive form, which helps to clear the child's bronchial tubes from mucus. Accordingly, recovery will come faster.
Useful compress for adults
Local therapy of diseases of the ENT organs helps to increase the tissue reactivity of the ciliated epithelium. This, in turn, allows you to accelerate the rate of regression of catarrhal processes. In addition, thanks to this treatment, the inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the lower respiratory tract is eliminated. Due to this, a spasmodic cough is eliminated.
You can enhance the therapeutic effect of a warming compress by adding mustard powder, medical alcohol, honey, lemon juice to potatoes. As a rule, among adult patients, the following warming application recipe is used:
- Boil 1 potato, onion, green apple
- Chop boiled raw materials with a blender.
- In the resulting mass, add 2 tbsp. l. vodka and 2 times less mustard (1 tablespoon).
- After that, you should form a cake, it is best to place it in a plastic bag.
- Treat the surface of the skin with a nourishing cream or vegetable oil.
- Put the applique on the chest and close it with a scarf forkeep warm.
- After 2 hours, the potato compress can be removed.
If discomfort occurs, the medical dressing can be removed. In addition, when using local irritating ingredients (mustard, lemon, alcohol and other options), the duration of one treatment session should not exceed 2-3 hours.
Finally
The heat treatment in the form of a warm compress using potatoes should not be considered a panacea for a cold or any other disease. It should be part of complex therapy. In addition, as we now know, even such a useful folk remedy has certain contraindications.
Therefore, you should first consult with your doctor about the use of warming applications. In particular, caution must be exercised with children due to the still fragile body. In addition, it is imperative to discuss the possibility of conflict with prescribed medications with a specialist.
