Vodka compress for angina

Compresses of any type, in terms of their functional characteristics, belong to the group of warming dressings. The use of ethyl alcohol or vodka in the composition of such a compress enhances its warming effect, since ethanol is an irritant to the skin. The effect of this type of treatment for angina is local and this is one of its advantages - the effect does not occur on the entire body, but directly on the area affected by the disease.

The main result of using a vodka compress is to warm the sore throat and intensify the healing process. Achieving these goals becomes possible due to the joint work of two factors: the irritating effect of alcohol and the heat retained by the compress itself. Their simultaneous effect on the skin leads to expansion, first, of the capillaries lying on its surface, and then of deeper vessels.

Thus, blood circulation in the throat area is sharply increased. And this, in turn, helps to relieve swelling from the tonsils and accelerates the elimination of toxins. As a result, for the patient himself, this is manifested by a decrease in the severity of inflammation and a decrease in pain, which improves his general condition. Moreover, intensive blood circulation in one local area of the body leads to the activation of local immune reactions in it. And this means that the fight against infection due to internal defense mechanisms will be strengthened precisely in the area where angina is most needed.

We put the compress correctly

It would seem that it is not difficult to build a warming bandage on the throat. But at the same time, many do not know how to do this in such a way as to achieve the greatest efficiency of the procedure and at the same time not to harm their own body. So, in order to properly install a vodka compress, you will need:

A piece of dense, clean and soft fabric made from natural materials. It should be as smooth and pleasant to the touch as possible. Coarse wool will not work in this case, but a piece of cotton or flannel would be ideal. Its dimensions should be such that it can completely cover the patient's throat from one corner to the other of the lower jaw.
Vodka poured into a container with a wide open top (for example, into a deep plate), or alcohol diluted with warm water to 38-40%.
A piece of not very thick plastic wrap, the dimensions of which should slightly exceed the area of u200b u200bthe fabric.
Lots of cotton wool, flannel, or a small terry towel.
Long, wide and thick woolen scarf or shawl.

The vodka compress is "assembled" in layers:

The first layer will be soft tissue. It must be thoroughly soaked in vodka, and then squeezed out so that the liquid lingers in the fabric itself, but does not drain from it. The cut is applied to the throat in the submandibular region and on the anterolateral surfaces of the neck.

Important! When applying a vodka compress, try to position it so that it does not affect the area where the thyroid gland is located.

The second layer of the compress is a plastic wrap, which must completely cover the fabric soaked in alcohol. This film will act as a barrier to the rapidly evaporating ethanol, trapping it and prolonging its effect on the skin.
The third layer is formed from several turns of flannel fabric, a thick cotton layer or a terry towel wound around the neck. Its main task is to prevent heat loss, to create a kind of "greenhouse effect".
Finally, the last, fourth layer will be a woolen scarf or shawl. It, to some extent, also contributes to the preservation of heat, and in addition, it reliably fixes and fixes the entire compress on the throat.

Each of the layers should be several centimeters wider than the underlying one. In this case, a tight fit of the wet tissue to the skin is ensured, which does not allow it to dry out. In addition, it will prevent heat loss. If, about 45 minutes after applying the compress, you gently insert your finger under its lowest layer, then you should clearly feel that the skin under the bandage is moist and very warm. Using this technique, you can easily assess the correctness of all actions.

Important! The patient can determine the literacy of the installation of the compress by his own feelings. If after a quarter of an hour he feels that his throat has begun to hurt less, then the procedure was performed correctly and the compress is having an effect.

In order to prevent unnecessary ethanol irritation of the skin, you can lubricate the throat with vegetable oil before applying the compress. After the bandage is removed, the skin under it should be washed with warm water, the remaining liquid should be gently blotted with a soft dry cloth, and a cream with a soothing effect should be applied to the throat. The effectiveness of the warming dressings is quite high - the clinical improvement of the patient's condition is usually observed already on the second day after the start of such treatment.

Duration and frequency of compresses

Most often, a compress on the throat with angina is placed no more than once a day. In some cases, it can be used twice a day, but it is imperative to make sure that there is at least a two-hour gap between these procedures.

The duration of the installation of warming vodka dressings is usually about 6-8 hours. It is most convenient to use them in the evening before going to bed, leave them on overnight and remove them only in the morning. If the compress is used twice a day, then you need to remember that the total duration of its use for 1 day should not exceed 12 hours. For children under the age of 7-8, it is better to put the compress on for only 1-2 hours, then repeat it again after about 6 hours.

Contraindications

In the treatment of angina, vodka compress is one of the most effective and at the same time safe methods of auxiliary therapy. But, like all other therapeutic methods, this procedure has a number of contraindications:

The compress can be used only if the patient's body temperature does not exceed 38 ° C. When this threshold is overcome, the risk of tissue overheating increases significantly.
A compress on the throat is not applied if a sore throat has a purulent component. This means the presence of an active infection, and additional warming will create suitable conditions for the further multiplication of microorganisms.
Warming dressings are also contraindicated in thyroid disorders. Local heat exposure can provoke an exacerbation of the pathology.
Do not put a compress on skin affected by furunculosis, dermatitis or allergic rashes. Warming will increase the severity of all these disorders, lead to additional irritation and the appearance of new pathological elements.
With great care it is necessary to use compresses in people suffering from various diseases of the cardiovascular system. These are pathologies such as atherosclerosis, persistent high blood pressure, thrombophlebitis, blood clotting disorders, etc.
It is also not recommended to use warming for angina in women during pregnancy. The compress itself is capable of reflexively provoking an increase in blood pressure, and this is a danger in terms of disrupting a pregnancy.

Do children use vodka compress?

As you know, vodka is a strong alcohol with increased volatility.But with a bandage correctly applied to the throat, the likelihood that ethanol vapors inhaled by a child will cause alcohol poisoning of the body is negligible.

Important! But in children under the age of 3 years, it is forbidden to use vodka compresses or dressings with diluted ethyl alcohol for angina. For the development of intoxication in a very young child, ethanol may be enough, which is absorbed through the skin.

Therefore, when performing this procedure in children aged 8 to 18 years, there are no special restrictions. And to install a compress, a child from 3 to 8 years old is recommended to additionally dilute vodka with an equal volume of warm boiled water, bringing its concentration to 20%. This is guaranteed to protect the child from the development of ethyl alcohol intoxication.