Viral and colds are diagnosed in patients of various age categories at any time of the year. The cough and runny nose observed with the disease bring a lot of discomfort and significantly worsen the general well-being. A proven method of treating similar symptoms is inhalation with eucalyptus. A medicinal plant has many useful properties and is used in various fields of medicine. Let us consider in more detail the main recommendations regarding inhalation therapy.
Eucalyptus Properties
The plant is used not only in folk, but also in traditional medicine for the treatment and prevention of many pathologies. Essential oil is produced from the dry leaves of eucalyptus, 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 cleanse the nasal passages with a runny nose and as an expectorant for 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 the mucous secretion and relieve swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. Plant essential oil can be used for aroma lamps or a few drops can be applied to a warm battery. This will saturate the air with useful substances and get rid of viruses.
What ailments are inhaled?
The healing properties of eucalyptus will be effective in acute respiratory viral infections, bronchitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, pneumonia. The substances contained in eucalyptus also have a detrimental effect on Koch's sticks. Therefore, inhalation with eucalyptus can also be used in the treatment of tuberculosis. It should be borne in mind that a runny nose with the help of a plant should be treated only at the initial stage. If the nose is completely blocked, therapy only by inhalation will be ineffective. For the procedure, you can use eucalyptus in any form. In pharmacies, dry plant leaves and essential oil are sold. Use them in the treatment of any pathologies is necessary only in the absence of contraindications.
Steam inhalation
The treatment of colds in all people is different. Some people prefer traditional drug therapy, others turn to traditional methods for help. The latter includes steam inhalation. The procedure is the inhalation of therapeutic agents in the form of steam 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 inflammatory processes in the lungs and bronchi. Steam inhalation can be carried out over the tank or use a special device. When treating a cold, inhale the vapor through the nose. To get rid of a cough, the suspension is inhaled by the mouth during the procedure.
Steam inhalation with eucalyptus for a child
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 inhale with fever. Local heating can provoke an even greater increase in temperature, which will only worsen the condition of the child.
Steam inhalation with eucalyptus at home will be useful for viral infections. If a secret of green or yellow color is secreted from the nose, then the cause of the disease lies in bacteria that reproduce better in heat. Therefore, inhalation over a saucepan should be discarded. The procedure is not suitable for a baby suffering from otitis media.
How to carry out the procedure?
To get rid of a cold cough or runny nose, you should use eucalyptus in dry form or in the form of essential oil. Cheaper is the first option. Previously, the leaves of the plant (15 g) are brewed with boiling water (200 ml). The broth should be infused for at least half an hour. Then, the resulting liquid is diluted with water, the temperature of which should be at least 55 ° C. It is better to do this already in the tank over which the procedure will take place.
Steam emanating from a pan with eucalyptus must be inhaled through the mouth or nose. For greater effect, cover your head 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, since you can get a burn of mucous surfaces. Therefore, it is better to use moderately hot water for inhalation with eucalyptus. If the procedure is carried out with essential oil, you must also adhere to the dosage. For a liter of hot water, take 3-5 drops of a liquid product. Vapors of essential oil disappear faster, unlike herbal decoction. Therefore, the duration of the procedure can be reduced to 5 minutes.
Inhalation Cough Treatment
For children (including newborns) and adults, it is best to carry out inhalation through a nebulizer. This is a modern device that can break down a liquid medicine into fine particles. This method has many advantages compared to steam procedures:
- High therapeutic efficacy.
- “Targeted” drug delivery.
- The lack of systemic effects on the body.
- Direct effect on the mucous surface of the respiratory system.
- The absence of side effects.
- Device security.
- Convenience of the procedure.
To manipulate through a nebulizer, you will need an alcohol tincture of eucalyptus. For inhalation, the drug 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 alcoholic tinctures of the plant. Keep in mind that essential oil is not suitable for nebulizers.
Warnings
Hot inhalations should be carried out one hour before a meal or an hour and a half after a meal. Also, do not drink liquid 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, such a method will be completely useless. Eucalyptus oil for inhalation can only be used if it is tolerated by the patient. This tool is not suitable for the treatment of bronchial asthma, whooping cough, bronchospasm, purulent tonsillitis or bacterial sinusitis.
With special care, steam inhalations with medicinal plants are prescribed for children. Doing this procedure is necessary only according to the doctor’s testimony, adhering to the dosage and all recommendations. The best option for treating babies is nebulizer therapy.