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Is it efficient to breathe over the potatoes when cold

Folk medicine says that to breathe over the potatoes when cold is a very effective and simple treatment for the common cold. And there are still many mothers and grandmothers used this method as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. The curative effect of inhalation of vapours hot potato is based on the fact that the steam helps moisturize and softening of the mucous fluid in the sinuses of a diseased person and helps her to come out.

problema nasmorka

According to doctors, this effect is not dependent on breathing or on potatoes during a cold, or to inhale the vapors of hot water, or just drip the nose with salt water or saline solution. Instillation of nose is safer, especially for a child. But it is the opinion of doctors, and people have long used this method and it helps.

The action of potatoes in the cold

polza kartofelya pri nasmorkeSteam, which is released from the pan contains moisture, a small amount of aromatic particles and volatile. But the Foundation, which operates the treatment itself is vapor. Steam with its high temperature penetrates into the nasal passages and promotes strong warming of the nasal mucosa. The beneficial effect of steam:

  • increases blood circulation in vessels and capillaries of the mucous membrane;
  • greatly increased secreted phlegm;
  • blood vessels increase in size;
  • the mucus swells and moistened;
  • steam settles on the mucosa of the nasal passages, liquefies the thick liquid and helps it to flow out of the nose.

If we talk in medical language, the steam dilates blood vessels and capillaries, mucous membrane moisture, increases edema.
Inhalation of the person intensively the liquid is released from the nose, and an increase in congestion, and the man expects the opposite effect. He was sure that as soon as you blow your nose, all mucus will emerge. For the time that the person is breathing over the steam, changes occur in the nose, increased swelling, and when the procedure ends, the person with pleasure mismarketed, and it seems that the effect is very good. But studies have shown that this procedure doesn't help the treatment of rhinitis. These are the opinions of scientists, but in practice it's different.

Use steam treatments

polza ingalyacij kartofelnym paromIf a person has a runny nose, to moisturize the nasal passages is very useful and important way of hydration, whether it's a pair of inhalation, over a pair of boiled potatoes, saline or salt solution. The effect is to release mucus from the sinuses and normalize the normal functioning of the ciliated epithelium. Sodecreases the risk of infectious process.

No wonder when ill, doctors recommend that adults and children moisturizing the sinuses. Hot moist steam promotes blood flow to the upper respiratory tract, helps to thin the mucus, eliminates stagnation. Steam inhalation potatoes bring enormous benefits in cough and bronchitis. If you do them in the treatment of cough, easier sputum departs exempt upper respiratory tract. Inhalation using potatoes will make it easier overall condition with rhinitis and hasten the recovery.

If the rhinitis appears in a pregnant woman, such procedures are saving, because in the first trimester of pregnancy is not recommended to use medication. A slight cold right steam inhalation will help to cure, relieve dry cough and help bring the phlegm in wet coughs. Hydration is a good support the body in times of illness, helping to cope with other symptoms. But there is this method and disadvantages, which, in the opinion of modern physicians, exceeds the benefit from such procedures.

How dangerous steam inhalation with potatoes?

Physicians focus on the fact that the negative effects of breathing vapors over potatoes exceed its curative effects. The danger is the following:

stroenie nosa

  1. Warms up the mucous membrane of the nasal passages and sinuses, the mucus swells, increases in size, and there is a high risk of development of inflammatory process of the middle ear (otitis media). This disease to treat much more complicated than the common cold.
  2. In such procedures there is a serious risk of burns of the mucous membranes with hot steam. It seems that this is impossible, but if you remember how we cover your head with a towel and lean very close to the pan of the person (especially a child), it is possible and burn can be quite strong. There are data from burn centers on the flow of patients after such inhalations at home.
  3. Sometimes people get burns that accidentally turn on the pot of hot potatoes, and if in a pot, and water, it is very dangerous, especially for children.
  4. For kids useful properties of hot steam can worsen their condition may develop obstruction of the (overlapping) upper respiratory tract. So it can happen, because in young children the lumen in the bronchi is much narrower than the lumen of an adult, and when the viscous mucus swell from the steam, the lumen can be narrowed to the maximum or even be overlapped. Remember, the younger the child, the greater the danger from such procedures.

All risks are much more serious than the sniffles, and they can keep many people from such a steam inhalation.Especially need to be careful to kids. Better to wash the nose with salt water, than to blame themselves for carelessness.

Breathe over the potatoes correctly

If you have decided to treat this method, then you need to follow the following procedure:

vred parovoj ingalyacii dlya detej do 6 let

  1. Boil some potatoes in their jackets.
  2. Remove the pan from the fire, drain all the water.
  3. Crush the potatoes with a fork, so it will proceed more vapor.
  4. Place the container on a hard flat surface.
  5. The wheezy man leans over the pot at a level below the vapor does not burn, but warms the nose.
  6. The patient is covered with a towel head.
  7. The procedure lasts as long as the potatoes cool down (10 minutes). Then you need to remove the towel.

Prohibited during this procedure:

  • to put a hot receptacle on one edge of the towel to save a couple, one sharp movement, and a container of hot contents on his feet;
  • leave in a pot of boiling water, it should be drained (especially if the child breathes).

It is recommended during the procedure to put on the knees of the patient something bulky, such as a blanket, this will protect you from possible dangers.

Contraindications for steam inhalation

Remember that hydration of mucous with a cold is not in all cases. It is prohibited to carry out the procedure if:

temperatura - protivopokazanie k ingalyacii parom

  • in humans, increased body temperature;
  • potential patients - young children (under 6 years), because such actions can help to ensure that the inflammation from the nasopharynx will go to a hearing aid;
  • in the nozzle there is a green or pus;
  • the organ of respiration is diagnosed with a bacterial infection, warming up the nose, you only increase its reproduction;
  • there are discomfort or pain in the ear passages or otitis media, the warming will only exacerbate it;
  • the mucous membrane is not dried and it has a lot of liquid;
  • a person has problems with the cardiovascular system;
  • a nasal hemorrhage;
  • in the nasopharynx and nasal sinuses has purulent processes;
  • people suffering from changes in blood pressure, heart disease;
  • diagnosed inflammation of the lungs;
  • there are disorders in cerebral blood circulation;
  • child under 7 years of age.

Replacement of such procedures

Steam inhalation with a cold can be replaced by instillation into the nasal passages saline solution (you can cook for yourself or buy a ready-made product). It is recommended to apply lavage or instillation of saline. Canto use products based on sea water, the downside is their cost.

Flushing with saline helps to moisturize the mucous membranes, washes out excess mucus that can get stuck deep mucus and expel it away.

Steam inhalation over a pot of potatoes have their own risks and contraindications.

But it is an effective way to moisturize the nasal passages during a cold.