Compress is an integral part of effective treatment of many diseases. Taking into account the various components of the compress, the temperature of the components used, they distinguish between a dry, wet look with a warming or cooling effect. Often, the procedure is carried out using several layers of gauze, plastic wrap, and a warm scarf.
A good result for ENT diseases is given by an alcohol compress on the throat. To understand in detail how to do it and how it helps, you need to figure out what compresses are.
Hot procedures are shown for:
- chronic pathology of the respiratory system;
- after the end of the acute stage of pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis;
- damage to the ligamentous apparatus due to overload;
- chronic lymphadenitis.
The effectiveness of the warming method is based on the thermal effect on a specific area of the body. This ensures the activation of local blood flow, vasodilation, increased delivery of biologically active substances, which reduces edema, pain, and the severity of the inflammatory process.
Cooling compresses, in turn, activate local immune defenses, stimulate local blood flow, lymph flow. The analgesic effect is due to a decrease in the sensitivity of the nerve endings.
Dry procedures are recommended during the daytime, wet procedures at night.
- Dry treatments are recommended after removing the wet compress. After removing its components, a layer of cotton wool is applied to the neck, which is fixed with gauze and a bandage. This bandage has a slight warming effect, which is used at the beginning of the disease. The duration of the procedure is about 8 hours, while it is advisable to avoid drafts and cold air.
- Wet compresses provide warming of superficial and deeply located tissues, as a result of which an anti-inflammatory effect is provided. For the method, homemade wine, oil, goat fat, alcoholic tinctures of plants, for example, eucalyptus, calendula, are used.
Pure alcohol is not used for compresses due to the high risk of burns.
The action of the alcohol compress
The occurrence of perspiration, pain in the throat when talking, swallowing indicates the development of an inflammatory process. Recurrent symptoms indicate a chronic course of the disease with periods of exacerbation.
The warming effect that the alcohol compress provides activates many processes. The expansion of blood vessels at the site of the disease leads to the activation of local blood flow. As a result, the delivery of biologically active substances, oxygen, as well as the elimination of toxic elements is enhanced. Thus, the inflammatory focus gradually decreases, the intensity of pain, tissue swelling decreases.
Improving blood circulation ensures the work of local immunity, which is activated using the warming method.
How to make an alcohol compress?
One of the simplest compresses is alcohol. It does not require large material costs, but its effect is equivalent to that of some physiotherapy procedures. In the absence of alcohol, it is allowed to use vodka. The only difference between these components is the need to lengthen the procedure when using vodka due to its lesser effect.
Medical alcohol must be used, 96%, but the concentration should be reduced by diluting with boiled water (1: 3). If vodka is supposed to be used, then the dilution is 1: 2, also with boiled water.
For the procedure, you will need gauze folded in several layers, plastic wrap, a warm scarf (handkerchief), and a bandage. The duration of the compress is 7 hours (when using vodka) or 5 hours if alcohol was used.
The method is recommended during the first week of illness, when clinical symptoms are just beginning. During the procedure, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the skin of the neck. With strong burning sensations, severe skin hyperemia, the gauze should be removed. The next compress is done with a higher dilution.
In the absence of the effect of the alcohol compress, increased pain, swelling, you should stop using the procedure, consult a doctor.
Compress rules
To obtain the maximum effect without side reactions, it is necessary to follow some recommendations for setting the compress.
- The most suitable type of fabric is cotton, for example, gauze, chintz. The fabric is folded in several layers for sufficient absorption of the medicinal solution. To improve the effect, it is recommended to heat the solution to 40 degrees.
- The fabric is well soaked in the solution, wrung out a little to keep the gauze damp, but the solution did not drip from the fabric.
- The gauze is placed on the sides of the neck, leaving the front open. The area of the thyroid gland should not be warmed in order to avoid the appearance of its dysfunction, glandular transformation.
- To prevent the alcohol from eroding quickly, cover the fabric with plastic wrap for insulation. Its dimensions should exceed the area of the neck covered with gauze.
- To retain heat, it is necessary to make thermal insulation. This can be achieved with a cotton pad or warm shawl, scarf. Vata is fixed to the neck with a bandage, controlling the degree of its compression in order to avoid disturbances in blood flow and breathing.
Contraindications
We focus on the presence of contraindications, in which the use of warming methods in the neck area is prohibited. These include:
- subfebrile hyperthermia, when warming procedures can provoke a deterioration in the general condition, an increase in the severity of the inflammatory process, and an increase in hyperthermia.
- the acute phase of diseases, the cause of which is streptococcus, staphylococcus, for example, tonsillitis. Warming the pathological focus leads to an increase in the multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms, the spread of infection.
severe cardiac defects;- uncontrolled hypertension;
- thrombosis of various localization;
- violation of the integrity of the skin in the area of heat use;
- oncological diseases of benign, malignant origin;
- purulent inflammation in the tonsils, nasopharynx, oropharynx;
- tuberculosis;
- skin diseases in the area of the compress (pustular eruptions, dermatitis, irritation).
severe cardiac defects;Before using compresses, it is necessary to establish the cause of the disease in order to avoid the development of complications.
Using camphor alcohol
Many natural substances are used in the treatment of diseases of the oropharynx, which are accompanied by painful sensations, perspiration. One of these medicinal agents is camphor, the action of which has been proven for decades. The therapy uses camphor alcohol, oil.
Camphor oil is a 10% solution in sunflower oil. Both funds are widely used for rubbing, compresses in the treatment of bruises, inflammations, for the prevention of pressure sores.
A compress made of oil is often used. It is heated in a water bath. A gauze swab is moistened in oil and applied to the lateral surface of the neck. A plastic bag, cotton wool, which is fixed with a bandage, a warm scarf, is superimposed on top. The duration of the procedure is approximately 2 hours.
Compress of camphor alcohol on the throat is performed as follows. For cooking, you need several layers of gauze for more saturation.The skin should be lubricated with baby cream. In alcohol, you need to blot the fabric, squeeze it a little, and then apply it to the lateral surfaces of the neck, leaving the front zone open.
Above, you need to apply a plastic wrap to retain alcohol, as well as a layer of cotton wool. Fixation to the neck is carried out with a bandage or warm scarf. The duration of the procedure is about 3 hours.
Alcohol compress for children
For medicinal purposes, vodka, alcohol compress is strictly prohibited for children under 3 years old. This is due to the high risk of developing severe intoxication due to the penetration of alcohol components into the bloodstream. The child's skin does not provide sufficient protection against the negative effects of negative factors, so the skin under the compress may suffer (burns, irritation).
In addition, alcohol brine, if inhaled by a child, can lead to poisoning. If the procedure is performed for children over 3 years old, its duration is halved, and a lower concentration of alcohol is used.
It is worth noting that self-treatment of a child with the help of vodka compresses can lead to a deterioration in the condition, the progression of the disease. In this regard, a mandatory doctor's consultation is required before starting treatment.
Alcohol compress during pregnancy
Treatment of diseases in a pregnant woman requires a preliminary examination by a doctor, on the basis of which the treatment tactics are determined.
When using a vodka compress, no worsening of the condition of a pregnant woman was recorded, however, its use is sharply limited.
To date, there is a huge variety of medicinal products, which have been proven to have no adverse reactions to the fetus, the expectant mother. It is not worth experimenting for 9 months, so it is recommended to use proven medicines.
Note that a compress as an independent therapeutic method cannot provide a full recovery, therefore, it is imperative to use complex therapy. For this, it is recommended to rinse the throat with solutions with antiseptic, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic effects. Also, do not forget about systemic treatment with antibacterial drugs, however, the appropriateness of their appointment is determined exclusively by the doctor.
