In winter, the number of colds increases, accompanied by nasal congestion, sore throat, and coughing. Difficulty breathing is a consequence of swelling of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, increased secretion of glands, and sputum viscosity. To help yourself at home, it is recommended to breathe over potatoes when coughing.
The inhalation procedure has a beneficial effect on the mucous membranes, thereby activating the local blood circulation. The increased blood flow allows for the full delivery of oxygen and biologically active substances. As a result, the sputum becomes less viscous, tissue edema decreases, and the drainage function of the bronchi improves.
In addition, active blood flow allows you to eliminate stagnation, removes toxic substances from the pathological focus.
Often, potato inhalations are recommended for bronchitis, when a dry cough is troubling or in case of poor sputum discharge. Therapeutic steam is used after the end of the acute period of the disease.
Inhalation is prohibited at elevated temperatures in order to avoid deterioration of the condition, increased hyperthermia.
In consultation with the doctor, inhalation can be used during pregnancy, which avoids taking medications. Thanks to plentiful warm drinks, inhalations, you can reduce the severity of intoxication, get rid of a painful cough. However, it is worth remembering that treatment during pregnancy is carried out under the close supervision of a doctor in order, if necessary, to change the treatment tactics, to prevent the occurrence of complications.
Potato recipes are widespread due to the simplicity and availability of the procedure. Each person, in the absence of contraindications, can use this method of treatment.
Inhalation rules
Before you cook potatoes for inhalation, you need to know what undesirable consequences can occur if the recommendations are not followed:
- Steam is allowed to be used only at temperatures up to 50 degrees. Hotter steam increases the risk of burning the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, which significantly worsen the course of the disease.
- Inhalation in children requires special care. This is due to the anatomical features of the bronchopulmonary system. The fact is that the bronchi and bronchioles in children have a narrower lumen, therefore, the risk of bronchospasm increases.
- The therapy is carried out in a seated position to maximize the tidal volume.
- After eating, at least an hour should pass.
- It is not recommended to smoke after the procedure.
- The duration is 5 minutes.
Contraindications
To avoid deterioration of the condition, to obtain the maximum therapeutic effect, the presence of contraindications should be taken into account. These include:
- Hyperthermia above 37.5 degrees.
- Sinusitis, tonsillitis of a purulent form (follicular, lacunar).
- Pneumothorax, when the content of air in the pleural cavity is increased, which leads to shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
- Severe violations of the cardiac rhythm.
- Bleeding from the respiratory system, including hemoptysis.
- Pathology of the blood coagulation system, when bleeding increases.
- Severe cardiovascular failure.
- Emphysema of the lungs.
- Acute period of impaired cerebral blood flow, myocardial infarction.
Inhalation is contraindicated for children under one year old; up to 7 years old, the procedure is prescribed exclusively by a pediatrician.
Potato recipes
Potato steam will help eliminate cough. There are several options for preparing the main component of the procedure:
- Potatoes in their uniforms. To cook, you need to select small vegetables, wash under running water, place in a saucepan, pour water a couple of centimeters above the potatoes. Peeling the vegetable is not required for this recipe. Once the water has boiled, reduce the heat, but keep it boiling. It is enough to wait 20 minutes for the potatoes to boil. This cooking method does not require draining the water. You can boil the vegetable with oat husks to increase the therapeutic effectiveness.
- Potato broth. Most recipes use boiled potatoes, but the decoction is equally effective. To prepare it, peel, wash a few potatoes, pour water 5 centimeters higher. Put the pan on fire, bring the water to a boil, wait until the vegetable is cooked. Then the broth is drained, it is expected to cool down to a temperature of 45 degrees, after which inhalation can be started. This method of preparation allows you to add essential oil, for example, eucalyptus in a volume of 1-2 drops.
- Potato peel. To prepare the main component of inhalation, it is enough to take potato peels. They are washed, filled with water and boiled in a saucepan for about 10 minutes. It is worth noting that it is allowed to cook the peel not fresh, but prepared in advance.
How is the procedure performed
Now let's look at how to breathe over potatoes. Usually one procedure in essence is enough, preferably in the evening. If necessary, it is carried out twice a day. The potatoes are left in a saucepan or transferred to a kettle, and a funnel is inserted into the spout.
Breathe over a container of steam, covering your head with a towel. Do not lower your head too close to the steam, independently adjusting the distance between the steam source and the mouth. If shortness of breath increases during the procedure,
dizziness, fever, increased heart rate, inhalation should be stopped.
In case of a runny nose, it is recommended to inhale the steam alternately through each nasal passage, covering it with the other hand. A similar treatment for rhinitis is carried out only in the presence of mucous secretions. When purulent discharge appears, the steam method is contraindicated. In this case, the inflammation can intensify, spread to the surrounding tissues.
How to breathe correctly with laryngitis, cough? For the effect of steam directly on the inflammatory focus, it is recommended to inhale the steam through the mouth. If you are worried about a runny nose against the background of tracheitis, then the steam is inhaled alternately through the nasal passages, then through the mouth.
Inhalation moisturizes the mucous membrane, reduces sore throat, hoarseness, and stimulates sputum discharge.
Inhalation potato recipes
To improve the therapeutic effect of potatoes, it is recommended to additionally use soda. Thanks to the properties of soda, an antibacterial effect is provided, which allows you to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms from the surface of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract.
In addition to soda, it is recommended to use essential oils such as sandalwood, cloves, lemon, tea tree. To prepare an inhalation based on soda and potatoes, you need to take 8 pieces of vegetables of about the same size. The potatoes are washed, filled with water, cooked until tender. Then cut the potatoes into large pieces, sprinkle with 30 g baking soda or add 3 drops of essential oil.
It is necessary to bend slightly over the pan, cover your head with a towel so that the steam does not spread along the edges, but gets directly into the respiratory tract.
The duration of the procedure is 5 minutes, however, if desired, you can inhale vapors for up to 15 minutes, depending on the state of health.
If there is no effect of potato inhalations for 3 days, you should consult a doctor.
General recommendations
In addition to inhalation, you should adhere to the recommendations for the general regimen:
- Drinking plenty of fluids helps to accelerate the elimination of toxins from the body, thereby reducing the severity of intoxication syndrome, and reduce hyperthermia.
- Bed rest is needed to restore the internal forces of the body.
- Complete nutrition with the exception of fatty, fried foods, spicy foods. The nutritious diet should be expanded as much as possible with vitamins, protein, dairy products.
- Regular airing of the room, wet cleaning.
- Using a humidifier.
- Adequate sleep, exclusion of the influence of stress.
- If a sore throat occurs, gargle with antiseptic solutions.
- Compresses (semi-alcoholic) are also shown to improve the discharge of sputum.
- Herbal decoctions will help reduce the severity of the inflammatory process, strengthen the immune system. The use of honey allows not only to increase the immune defense, but also to calm the nervous system. Taking honey is recommended at night.
Thanks to an integrated approach, it is possible to get rid of the manifestations of colds without the use of drugs. To achieve a quick therapeutic effect, treatment should be started as early as possible.
