Soda for coughing adults and children with dry and wet coughs

Fine white crystalline powder is present in every home and its name is soda or sodium bicarbonate. It is unlikely that there is another product in our everyday life that has such a wide range of applications. We use it for baking, we clean dishes with it, we treat ourselves. In medicine, soda is positioned as a disinfectant, so they rinse the mouth with it for problems with teeth and gums, the throat - for pharyngitis, tonsillitis. But is soda used for coughing and does it help with this symptom?

Indications baking soda for a cough

Cough caused by infectious lesions of the respiratory tract mucosa is an indication for the use of the remedy, since it has the ability to fight bacteria and viruses. Treatment with soda is carried out for dry barking and exhausting cough caused by tracheitis and bronchitis, and can also be used for pain and sore throat, hoarseness.

• Soda for bronchitis

The antiseptic properties of soda allow it to reduce the source of infection in the respiratory tract, liquefy the inflammatory contents with the facilitation of its removal. Under its influence, unproductive cough, its painful attacks become less intense, painful sensations in the muscles of the chest and diaphragm decrease, it becomes easier to breathe, sputum begins to leave. In order for the effect of soda to occur, you need to know how and in what form to use it. [ 1 ]

Release form

The pharmaceutical industry produces cough tablets Thermopsis, which contain soda and no chemical components. This is an effective antitussive, the basis of which is the plant Thermopsis lanceolata. It is known for its medicinal properties, helping with various colds. Its pharmacodynamics consists of increasing the tone of the respiratory tract muscles, the activity of the ciliated epithelium, and increasing secretion. Soda reduces the viscosity of sputum, which contributes to its rapid discharge.

Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of the drug is such that it is absorbed in the digestive tract, from where it enters the bloodstream. Together with the blood, it ends up in the trachea and bronchi, irritating their mucous membrane. Thermopsis is effective for both dry and wet coughs.

Treatment with tablets can be used for children over 12 years of age (half a tablet three times a day) and adults (a whole one). The drug is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women due to the presence of alkaloids that can stimulate the vomiting center. Other contraindications include peptic ulcer, hemoptysis, liver disease, and allergy to the drug.

Dosing and administration

In folk medicine, there are as many recipes as there are people. Here are the most commonly used ones:

• the simplest and most common "grandmother's" cough recipe is boiled, warm milk with soda. There are some peculiarities in preparing such a drink: milk does not need to be brought to a boil and removed from the heat in time, pour into a 250g cup, add half a teaspoon of soda, wait until the drink becomes warm and drink in small sips. The effect of such a potion is characterized by an enveloping, softening, expectorant effect;
• the addition of honey enhances the therapeutic effect. The bee product itself is the first remedy for colds and coughs. It owes this to its composition, rich in numerous vitamins and microelements. Its antimicrobial properties have been scientifically proven and are beyond doubt. Natural honey is not subjected to any processing technologies, but is formed in the crop of bees from the flower nectar they collect. Therefore, honey and soda are worthy "partners" in the fight against colds. Adding honey to a solution of milk and soda will improve its taste and enhance the therapeutic effect;
• Another option for using soda is with milk and butter. Butter has a greasy consistency. By adding it to a drink (less than a teaspoon per glass), you get a well-enveloping, anti-irritant composition;
• cough is often caused by a sore throat. In this case, soda and salt dissolved in warm water will come to the rescue. For gargling, you will need half a teaspoon of each per glass of liquid. The procedure should be carried out at least 4 times a day. You can also drink a weakly concentrated solution of water with soda. Its effect is similar to heated alkaline mineral water. Soda is also added to teas. The only caveat is not to drink it too hot, but to cool it to a warm state, and you can sweeten it with honey;
• Milk, yolk and soda for cough - this unique milkshake is in the storerooms of many people. A beaten raw yolk of a chicken egg and a quarter of a small spoon of soda are poured into a cup of warm milk while stirring. It would not be superfluous to add a little oil, honey.

Application for children

If we are not talking about very small children, then treatment with soda is quite acceptable, but with a caveat - observe the proportions in the preparation of solutions. For children, a quarter of a teaspoon or the tip of a knife of soda per cup of warm milk is enough, and adding honey will "mask" the presence of the former and enhance the healing effect of the mixture.

Other ways to use baking soda for coughs

If for some reason it is impossible to use soda internally to get rid of a cough, then there are other medicinal recipes using it. For example, inhalations with soda. This can be an elementary procedure over a pan with steam or using a nebulizer. For a liter of water heated to 50ºС, a teaspoon of powder is enough, its duration is 3 minutes for children and 7-10 for adults.

Gargling with a soda solution is good for relieving a sore throat that causes spasms of the respiratory muscles and the severity of inflammation of the larynx.

All these methods can be used in the treatment of cough, keeping to the time interval. [ 2 ]

Use baking soda for a cough during pregnancy

The undesirability of treating cough during pregnancy with medications makes women look for an alternative. Soda can be used for this, especially since it helps with heartburn - a common concomitant factor of this period. A small amount of it, dissolved in warm liquid, will not hurt, but you should not get carried away with it.

Contraindications

Soda should not be taken internally for stomach upset, wet cough with copious phlegm, or allergies.

Side effects baking soda for a cough

Soda can cause stomach upset. But since other components are also involved in cough treatment with soda mixtures, they can also cause side effects. For example, lactose intolerance when consuming a milk-soda solution will manifest itself as flatulence, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and honey can cause allergic reactions.

Interactions with other drugs

Soda can interact with other medications, so its intake should be separated from them by 2-3 hours.

Storage conditions

Soda is not a perishable product if stored properly: in a dry place, away from direct sunlight. The packaging says: "Shelf life is unlimited."

Analogues

Borjomi carbonated mineral water can replace soda in cough treatment. Medicinal herbs have a similar effect: coltsfoot, licorice, eucalyptus, linden, raspberry, chamomile, elderberry, marshmallow, yarrow.

Reviews

Soda mixtures, according to reviews, are most often used during home treatment of cough. Doctors also have nothing against their use in complex treatment, if the diagnosis allows. Big supporters of soda recipes are older people, who have been getting the effect of such treatment for decades. Young people do not bother with them much and prefer ready-made pharmaceutical forms.