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Inhalations for colds: how to do, recipes
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Each of us has encountered a cold, one way or another. This is a disease that spreads quite easily from one person to another. Children, adults, and the elderly are susceptible to it. The culprit is a virus that penetrates the human respiratory tract and starts a pathological process there. The disease causes weakness, discomfort to a person, and makes him incapacitated for some time. Getting rid of a cold can sometimes be difficult. Doctors try to prescribe a comprehensive treatment consisting of medications and physiotherapy. Inhalation works very well for colds.
Is it possible to do inhalations when you have a cold?
Inhalations should be done immediately as soon as you feel that you are getting sick. This will stop further progression of the disease, prevent a number of complications, and make you feel better. Inhalations are especially effective for runny nose and mild nasal congestion, as they help to alleviate the condition.
Indications for the procedure
Prescribed for viral and bacterial diseases affecting the respiratory system (upper and lower parts). Indications include cough, runny nose, sore throat, burning, pain in the throat, sneezing. The procedures are especially necessary for protracted illnesses when conventional treatment does not help. Indispensable for the purpose of restoration, normalization of microflora, removal of allergic edema, hyperemia.
[ Technique cold inhalations
Inhalations can be performed both in inpatient and hospital settings, using special equipment. Only a specialist who has undergone special training (physiotherapist) can work with it.
There are also several ways to carry out the procedure at home.
To perform steam inhalation, take a few tablespoons of the herb and pour boiling water over it. Brew for a few minutes, then pour into a wide basin. Bend over the basin and cover yourself with a clean towel. Begin to inhale the incoming steam through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Inhalation is carried out for 10-15 minutes, after which you need to quickly go to bed and cover yourself with a warm blanket. You can drink a herbal decoction or hot tea with honey and lemon before going to bed (lying in bed, under a blanket).
To prepare inhalations with a nebulizer, first prepare a solution of the drug according to the instructions. Then put on a special mask, which is included in the kit. The person begins to breathe the solution through this mask. The procedure is carried out for up to 10 minutes, after which it is advisable to lie down to rest.
What inhalations can be done for a cold?
When you have a cold, you can do various procedures; at normal temperatures, steam inhalations help well. Herbal decoctions are used as a basis, which help quickly relieve the symptoms of a cold and prevent further development of inflammation. You can use one plant or a mixture.
- Recipe No. 1. Chamomile, small-leaved linden flowers, and peppermint leaves are brewed in a ratio of 1:2:1.
- Recipe #2. Brew equal parts of linden flowers and raspberries. Honey can be added.
- Recipe No. 3. Use a mixture of licorice roots, linden flowers, marshmallow root, and oregano leaves in equal parts.
- Recipe No. 4. Use a mixture of marshmallow root, sage leaves, anise fruits, and oregano herb in a ratio of 1:3:2:1.
- Recipe No. 5. For difficult to separate sputum, prolonged wet cough, use a collection of eucalyptus, sage leaves and chamomile flowers in a ratio of 2:1:1. This collection is also effective for a runny nose, especially purulent, since eucalyptus acts as an antiseptic, destroying bacteria, and the other components have anti-inflammatory properties.
How to do inhalation for a cold?
To perform inhalation for a cold, you need to choose the best method. It is better to consult a doctor. Most often, inhalations are performed with a nebulizer and steam inhalations.
Inhalation with a nebulizer is carried out using medications. Only a doctor should prescribe medications, select a dosage and treatment regimen. The patient should do everything as the doctor advised.
When performing steam inhalations, first make a herbal decoction or a salt solution. Then pour the prepared solution into a basin, bend over the basin, cover yourself with a towel, and breathe for 10-15 minutes.
Inhalations at the first signs of a cold
There are many recipes for inhalations. Below are the recipes for inhalations that are most effective in the early stages of the disease.
- Recipe #1. To prepare a steam decoction, you will need black bergenia leaves, rhodiola root, forgotten kopecky root, lingonberry and blueberry leaves. The above plants are taken in the ratio 2:1:1:1:2.
- Recipe No. 2. Brew fireweed leaves, blackcurrant leaves and thyme herb in a ratio of 2:1:2.
- Recipe No. 3. Rhodiola rosea (root), stevia, nettle, zamaniha root in equal parts.
- Recipe #4. Rose hips, nettle leaves, hawthorn berries in equal parts. For men, you can add St. John's wort, for women it is recommended to use peppermint.
- Recipe #5. Chinese magnolia vine, marsh cudweed, horsetail in equal parts. In case of increased anxiety, restlessness, sleep disorders at night, it is recommended to add motherwort and/or valerian (roots).
Inhalations for colds at home
At home, you can use inhalations prepared on the basis of sea salt, which helps to effectively eliminate swelling and relieve signs of allergies. Such inhalations are used when a cold with signs of allergies appears, with severe swelling and hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat, with severe runny nose and increased lacrimation.
In case of strong inflammatory reactions, progression and severe course of the disease, inhalations based on medicinal preparations are prescribed. Most often, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antiallergic drugs are used. It is recommended to use a nebulizer for the procedure.
When signs of a viral, non-feverish course of the disease appear, as well as for recovery after an illness, herbal decoctions are used for inhalation. They are selected depending on the goal that needs to be achieved. One plant or a mixture of them can be used. Quite often, a mixture of plants and fruits is used. Anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, antiseptic herbs are used. In case of excessive excitability, nervousness, soothing, sedatives are added to the decoctions.
Sometimes a physiological solution is used, which helps to normalize the condition of the mucous membrane, relieve irritation and swelling, eliminate cough, and alleviate the condition with a prolonged dry cough.
Dry inhalations are also used. This is the simplest method. To do this, just drop a few drops of essential oil on a handkerchief, cover your nose and mouth with it, and breathe for 5-10 minutes. It is better to use antiseptic oils that destroy pathogenic microflora, disinfect, normalize microflora, and kill viruses.
You can also do salt inhalations. It is quite simple: breathe in heated salt for some time. It is better to use sea salt. Salt with the addition of various components, plant extracts is sold in stores. Salt with the addition of pine extract, lemon extract, seaweed helps well with colds.
Inhalations for colds with a nebulizer
Today, a special device, a nebulizer, is widely used in medicine. It provides the formation of inhalation dispersed dust from a medicinal substance. It replaces physiotherapy procedures. A fairly simple and convenient method.
The principle is to create cold steam inside the bottle. It is then sprayed using a compressor, like an aerosol. The particles of the substance easily penetrate into the inflamed areas, since they are quite small in size. The method is based on the principle of dispersion.
Usually, various medications are used in a nebulizer. Allows complete control over the ratio of medicinal components in the solution. It is important that this product is completely free of solid and large particles that negatively affect the condition of the respiratory tract. There are no essential oils that can cause allergies. Often, saline or mineral water (still) is used to prepare an inhalation solution.
It is necessary to remember: the ready solution can be stored for no longer than 24 hours, since the active components are neutralized during long-term storage. On average, 2-5 ml of the drug is required for one portion, at a temperature of about 20 degrees. About 30 minutes before the procedure, you cannot eat or drink. There are no contraindications even for hyperthermia, since dry steam is used.
This type of inhalation should be used with caution, as it can cause side effects and allergies. It is often used for rhinitis, colds, and fungi. It is a salvation for many children suffering from adenoids and severe cough. It is also often prescribed for various immune system disorders, as the product allows you to effectively restore the mucous membrane and local immunity. It is used to treat occupational diseases of chemists, miners, and singers.
The technique for performing the procedure is quite simple. First, take a deep breath through the mouth. Breathe evenly and deeply. Then hold your breath for 2-3 seconds, then exhale. This allows you to wash the mucous membranes, penetrate the larynx, and then into the deeper parts of the respiratory system. After the procedure, rinse your mouth with warm water.
Herbal decoctions are not used, as they can damage the nebulizer. Anti-inflammatory, decongestant, antimicrobial agents, bronchodilators, expectorants and hormonal medications, immunomodulators are used.
Inhalation of saline solution for colds
It has restorative properties. It softens, prevents the development of pathogenic flora, restores normal flora. It promotes self-healing and renewal, is effective for irritation, sore throat and burning. Eliminates dry cough. This method is also recommended for people with increased sensitivity or a tendency to allergic reactions, since it does not stimulate sensitization and allergization.
Inhalation in a bathhouse for colds
A mandatory condition for such procedures is the absence of temperature. It has been used for a long time to restore health, as well as to prevent and treat many diseases, especially viral and bacterial ones.
Increases immunity, endurance, resistance to infectious diseases. The body's well-being improves significantly, hearing and perception increase, it is a natural calming agent, normalizes hormonal levels, balances, and improves mood. A Turkish bath (hamam) may seem very useful and interesting. A person lies on a marble lounger, which is constantly heated. In case of a cold, special attention should be paid to massaging the chest, lungs, and using special movements aimed at stimulating the discharge of sputum. Then they move directly to inhalation: they ask you to take a comfortable position, close your eyes and breathe deeply for 5-7 minutes. You need to take a deep breath, hold your breath, and exhale as much as possible.
The Finnish sauna is characterized by dry air and low humidity. It is necessary to warm up in stages. During each warming up, it is necessary to perform inhalations. Take a deep breath through the nose. Hold the air for a few seconds, then exhale through the mouth. It is recommended to spray anti-inflammatory, antiseptic oils.
The Russian bathhouse is different in that the room is filled with humid air. You need to steam for 10-15 minutes. At first, over the course of 5-6 minutes, sweat gradually begins to be released. Then, at about 10-12 minutes, profuse sweating occurs. If you have a cold, it is recommended to breathe deeply during the steam room. Before leaving, sit in a comfortable position with a straight back, relax. Make several deep breathing movements. Repeat the procedure 3-5 times, leave the steam room.
It is recommended to steam three times when you have a cold. You can also use pure essential oils and special infusions for the bath. They are added to water, poured directly onto the stones, or sprayed into the air. They have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effects, relieve pain, irritation, allergic reactions, improve the general condition of the body, well-being.
Inhalations for children with colds
Steam inhalations are not recommended for children. It is also not recommended in a bathhouse, as they put a significant strain on the body. The best option for children would be inhalation with a nebulizer, as well as dry and salt inhalations.
Various medications are used for the nebulizer. They can only be prescribed by a doctor, since medications can have contraindications and numerous side effects. Herbal decoctions are not used for the nebulizer.
You can use dry inhalations, for which a handkerchief is applied to the nose and mouth, previously moistened with essential oil. It is better to use antiseptic oils: lavender, anise, eucalyptus, fir, thuja, juniper.
Sea salt with large particles is best suited for salt inhalations. It is heated in a frying pan. After that, you can simply lean over the salt and inhale the vapors, or place it in a thin linen bag, tie it and apply it to your nose and mouth. You can add a few drops of essential oils to the salt. Sometimes dry grass is placed in a bag with salt. It is better to use herbs with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Inhalation for pregnant women with colds
Pregnant women are not recommended to use steam inhalations, as they create additional strain on the heart. They are used only in cases of extreme necessity, if the disease is progressing and other methods are ineffective. Pregnant women are better off using dry, salt inhalations or using a nebulizer. You should first consult a doctor.
Consequences after the procedure
The procedure often has no negative consequences. In rare cases, the load on the heart and respiratory system may increase, which manifests itself in the form of increased heart rate, respiratory rate, and shortness of breath. Blood pressure may increase, and dizziness may occur.
In case of intolerance to some components, an allergic reaction may develop, the severity of which depends on the degree and severity of the immune response and the level of sensitization of the body. In mild cases, mild irritation, swelling may develop, cold symptoms and cough may intensify. Rash, itching, redness, irritation of the skin and mucous membranes often develop. In severe cases, urticaria and swelling develop. The most severe form is anaphylactic shock, which is accompanied by loss of consciousness and a sharp drop in pressure.
Complications after the procedure
The main complications are considered to be a worsening of the condition, in which the cold progresses, sometimes descending along the descending airways into the bronchi, lungs, causing bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy. Allergies, heart problems, and increased blood pressure are considered dangerous complications.
Care after the procedure
After the procedure, you should rest for 10-15 minutes. If the procedure was performed in a medical facility. You need to sit for 10-15 minutes, wrapping your throat, and if possible, your back, chest with a scarf, shawl or blanket made of any warm material. It is better to use woolen fabric. If possible, lie down, you need to lie down for this time.
When performing the procedure at home, you need to go to bed as quickly as possible, covered with a warm blanket. It is better to do the procedures at night so that you can go to bed right away. You can drink a glass of hot tea or milk with honey or cocoa butter before going to bed.
Inhalations for the prevention of colds
Inhalation is not recommended for prevention, since it is a therapeutic procedure that has a healing effect on the body during illness. It has a negative effect on a healthy body, creating an additional burden on the heart and lungs.
For prevention, you can visit a sauna. It has a healing effect on the body as a whole, stimulates the immune system. It is a reliable means of preventing many diseases, including colds. A sauna combined with a massage is especially useful.
It is important to follow the basic rules of visiting a bathhouse, otherwise you can only harm your body. You cannot enter the bathhouse after a heavy meal or when overtired. The bathhouse is recommended during the period of absence of illness, and not in the midst of a cold. Then it will have a preventive and restorative effect, without creating an unnecessary burden on the body. In case of overtiredness and in the acute phase of the disease, you cannot visit the bathhouse. It is also not recommended to visit the bathhouse with an elevated body temperature. In case of epilepsy, tuberculosis, the presence of neoplasms, as well as heart disease, hypertension, angina, you cannot visit the bathhouse. It is not recommended for pregnant women, children under 3 years of age.
When you come to the bathhouse, you need to take a warm shower, after which you can go into the steam room. It is better not to wet your head. You should not try to stay in the steam room as long as possible. If you feel hot and tired, it is recommended to immediately leave the steam room, take a cold or warm shower, dry yourself with a towel. Then you need to sit. The time spent in the steam room is individual and depends on the state of the body, well-being, air temperature, humidity. It is not recommended to stay in the steam room for more than 20-25 minutes. It is recommended to visit the bathhouse no more than once every 7-10 days.
Reviews
If you analyze reviews of various inhalations, you can see that almost all of them are positive. Inhalations are an effective means of treating and preventing colds. They are also often used for recovery after an illness. They help to quickly overcome a cold, effectively relieve inflammation, eliminate cough, runny nose, and nasal congestion.
Many types of inhalations help fight the signs of allergies, relieve swelling and irritation. Inhalation for colds alleviates the condition with a dry, painful cough. It converts unproductive forms of cough into productive ones, in which sputum is released, separated and removed. As a result, the bronchi and respiratory tract are cleared, recovery occurs. It is more convenient for children to use a nebulizer. For many adults, it is also convenient. This method allows the use of medicines. For steam inhalations, many use herbal decoctions and extracts.