Mustard plasters cause activation of blood circulation and the appearance of a sensation of warmth and burning in the places of application. This effect is used in the treatment of colds or as a distraction for intense pain in the joints and muscles (for neuralgia, neuritis, osteochondrosis). It is also recommended to carry out this procedure in case of a hypertensive crisis or a heart attack (in these cases, a doctor's recommendation is required).
The technique of setting mustard plasters is simple, but you need to know the basic rules. They can be applied to any area except the spine, palms and soles of the feet. It is impossible to put mustard plasters with existing lesions of the skin, oncological diseases, bleeding, in the presence of allergic reactions. Sheets covered with mustard can be applied to the chest (excluding the breast and nipples), to the area of the upper shoulderbelts, hearts, on the legs (excluding the feet). Putting mustard plasters on the chest is used mainly for tracheitis, pneumonia and bronchitis.
You can distinguish a good mustard plaster from a bad one by smell: a normal one has a sharp characteristic smell and the coating does not crumble from its surface.
Technique for setting mustard plasters:
- take the leaf by the edges, without touching the coating, dip for a few seconds in a container filled with warm water;
- shake off excess water;
- on a bare area of the skin lay a sheet of mustard to the skin;
- cover mustard plasters with a towel, cover the patient;
- after burning and redness appear (5-15 minutes), remove and remove mustard residue.
At the end of the procedure, the patient must be carefully covered. He should spend about an hour in bed. The technique of setting mustard plasters for children is similar. The only difference is that it is necessary to regularly check the condition of the skin and stop the procedure at the first sign of redness. For younger children, the check should be carried out every 30-60 seconds, it is enough to examine the skin of older children every 2-3 minutes. The availability and simple technique of setting mustard plasters led to their widespread use and popularity in the treatment of colds.
Mechanism of action of mustard plasters
The active substance is mustard essential oil and phytoncides, which improve blood circulation and dilate blood vessels. At the same time, the excitability of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves increases.systems, there is an accumulation of adrenaline and norepinephrine in the blood, which stimulates the immune system.
Mustard plasters are also used to weaken the blood supply to the diseased organ, which helps to reduce the intensity of inflammation. To create a distracting effect, they are placed on another part of the body, activating blood circulation in it.
Types of mustard plasters
There are two types of mustard plasters in the pharmacy chain: sheets of paper covered with a layer of mustard powder, or bags divided into four cells, into which mustard powder is poured. For all their similarity, they have a different effect: the bags irritate the skin less, providing a better warming effect. The technique of setting mustard plasters is absolutely similar, but the procedure is carried out for a longer period of time (10-25 minutes) due to their softer effect.
