Viral and colds are diagnosed in patients of various age categories at any time of the year. The cough and runny nose observed during the illness bring a lot of discomfort and significantly worsen overall well-being. A proven method of treating similar symptoms is inhalation with eucalyptus. The medicinal plant has many useful properties and is used in various fields of medicine. Let's take a closer look at the main recommendations regarding inhalation therapy.
Properties of eucalyptus
The plant is used not only in folk, but also in traditional medicine for the treatment and prevention of many pathologies. Dry eucalyptus leaves produce essential oil, which is rich in various beneficial substances. The plant helps to get rid of pathogenic microorganisms: staphylococci, streptococci and dysentery bacillus. It is used to clear the nasal passagesrunny nose and as an expectorant in diseases of the lower respiratory tract.
Essential oil and infusion can be used for inhalation with eucalyptus. This procedure helps to strengthen the immune system, remove mucous secretions and relieve swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. The essential oil of the plant can be used for an aroma lamp, or you can apply a few drops to a warm battery. This will saturate the air with useful substances and get rid of viruses.
For what ailments is inhalation performed?
Healing properties of eucalyptus will be effective for SARS, bronchitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, pneumonia. Substances contained in eucalyptus also have a detrimental effect on Koch's sticks. Therefore, inhalations with eucalyptus can also be used in the treatment of tuberculosis. It should be borne in mind that a runny nose with a plant should be treated only at the initial stage. If the nose is completely stuffed up, inhalation therapy alone will be ineffective. For the procedure, you can use eucalyptus in any form. In pharmacies, dry leaves of the plant and essential oil are blown. It is necessary to use them in the treatment of any pathologies only if there are no contraindications.
Steam inhalation
Treatment of colds is different for everyone. Some prefer traditional drug therapy, while others turn to folk methods for help. The latter includes steam inhalation. The procedure isinhalation of therapeutic agents in the form of vapor or fine particles. This allows you to deliver the medication directly to the focus of the inflammatory process, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract.
Inhalation with eucalyptus essential oil allows you to fight nasal congestion caused by sinusitis and rhinitis, and inflammation in the lungs and bronchi. Steam inhalation can be carried out over a container or a special device can be used. When treating a runny nose, it is necessary to inhale steam through the nose. To get rid of a cough, the suspension is inhaled through the mouth during the procedure.
Steam inhalation with eucalyptus for baby
Not all patients can use steam inhalation for treatment. First of all, this applies to young children, whose age has not reached 6 years. In this case, only a doctor can prescribe such therapy. Do not carry out inhalation with fever. Local heating can provoke an even greater increase in temperature, which will only worsen the child's condition.
Steam inhalation with eucalyptus at home will be useful for a viral infection. If a green or yellow secret is secreted from the nose, then the cause of the disease lies in bacteria that multiply better in heat. Therefore, inhalations over a saucepan should be abandoned. The procedure is not suitable for a baby suffering from otitis media.
How to carry out the procedure correctly?
To get rid of a cold cough or runny nose, you should use eucalyptus in dry form or in the form of essential oil. The first one is cheaperoption. Previously, the leaves of the plant (15 g) are brewed with boiling water (200 ml). The decoction should be infused for at least half an hour. The resulting liquid is then diluted with water, the temperature of which must be at least 55 °C. It is better to do this already in the container over which the procedure will take place.
The steam from the eucalyptus pot should be inhaled through the mouth or nose. For greater effect, the head should be covered with a sheet or towel. The duration of the procedure is 1-15 minutes. It should be borne in mind that breathing over boiling water is dangerous, as you can get a burn of mucous surfaces. Therefore, for inhalation with eucalyptus, it is better to use moderately hot water. If the procedure is carried out with essential oil, you must also adhere to the dosage. It is worth taking 3-5 drops of a liquid product per liter of hot water. Essential oil vapors evaporate faster, unlike herbal decoction. Therefore, the duration of the procedure can be reduced to 5 minutes.
Cough treatment with inhalation
For children (including newborns) and adults, it is best to inhale through a nebulizer. This is a modern device that is able to break down liquid medicine into fine particles. This method has many advantages over steam treatments:
- High therapeutic efficacy.
- "Targeted" drug delivery.
- No systemic effect on the body.
- Direct effect on the mucous surface of the respiratory system.
- No side effectsphenomena.
- Device security.
- Convenience of the procedure.
To carry out the manipulation through the nebulizer, you will need an alcohol tincture of eucalyptus. For inhalation, the agent is not used in its pure form, but diluted with saline. In 200 ml, for this you need to add 12-15 drops of tincture of a medicinal plant. If the solution is prepared for children, it is enough to take 10 drops of an alcohol tincture of the plant. Please note that essential oil is not suitable for nebulizers.
Cautions
Hot type inhalations should be done one hour before meals or one and a half hours after a meal. You should also not drink liquids or go outside immediately after the procedure. Breathing over a saucepan is recommended only for diseases of the lower respiratory tract and rhinitis. With pharyngitis, for example, this method will be completely useless. Eucalyptus oil can be used for inhalation only if it is tolerated by the patient. This product is not suitable for the treatment of bronchial asthma, whooping cough, bronchospasm, purulent sore throat or bacterial sinusitis.
With special care, steam inhalations with medicinal plants are prescribed for children. It is necessary to do such a procedure only according to the doctor's indications, adhering to the dosage and all recommendations. The best option for treating babies is nebulizer therapy.
