Inhalations with eucalyptus for cough and bronchitis: how to do, proportions

Eucalyptus is an evergreen tree with a distinctive smell that comes from the essential oil in its leaves. In medicine, it is known for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory properties and is used as a component for inhalations. Any inhalations, including those with eucalyptus, are a way to deliver a remedy against the disease directly to the site of inflammation using steam or gas. Based on the popularity of such treatment, it is effective and efficient.

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Indications for the procedure

No cold season is complete without colds, epidemics of viral infections, and flu. This pattern is explained by a sharp decrease in immunity against the background of hypothermia. Nowadays, many medicinal methods have been developed to combat such diseases, but in order for the symptoms to pass faster and not turn into a protracted chronic form, folk medicine methods are used in parallel with drugs: warming up, rubbing, inhalation. With the help of the latter, eucalyptus oil is sprayed onto the entire surface of the mucous membrane of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Indications for their implementation are:

• dry cough - after the main symptoms of the disease disappear, it happens that a dry, tearing cough torments for a long time. The main task is to transform it into a wet cough and allow the phlegm to come out. Inhalations with eucalyptus for dry cough are the best way to achieve this;
• bronchitis - inflammation affects the mucous surface of the bronchial tree, dangerous for its consequences: pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular diseases. Any essential oils, getting on the inner surface of the organ, have a beneficial healing effect, and eucalyptus oil promotes expectoration;
• A runny nose is an unpleasant companion of colds, it bothers you at first with a continuous runny nose, then with the inability to breathe freely. Inhalations with eucalyptus for a runny nose allow you to clear the nasal passages of mucus and phlegm.

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Preparation

The preparatory stage before inhalation involves stocking up on everything necessary to carry out the procedure in a calm environment, purchasing a dry eucalyptus leaf or essential oil from a pharmacy, washing your hands and the device well, and heating the water to the desired temperature.

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Technique eucalyptus inhalation

The technique of inhalation depends on the devices used for it. It can be done over a pot of water with the plant added, or you can use a special inhaler, a nebulizer, or an improvised one: insert a funnel into the spout of a teapot. To treat a runny nose, you need to inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, for coughs and sore throats - vice versa, but there is no need to breathe deeply and strain. The duration of inhalation for children is 10-12 minutes, for adults - 15. After eating, you need to wait about an hour and only then begin, and after the end of 20 minutes, do not drink or eat, in cold weather - do not go outside immediately. How to make a solution for the procedure at home? For this, you can use dry eucalyptus leaves: three tablespoons of raw materials are poured with half a liter of water, brought to a boil and kept on low heat for another quarter of an hour. You can also use the plant oil or its tincture.

Inhalation with eucalyptus using a nebulizer

The most effective way to deliver the medicinal composition deep into the bronchi is to use a nebulizer - a specially designed inhaler in which, with the help of pressure, the liquid is split into tiny particles, penetrates the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs, eliminates inflammation and removes mucus. But only eucalyptus alcohol tincture is suitable for a nebulizer. Add 10-12 g of drops to 200 g of saline, and a sufficient portion for one procedure is 3 ml.

Steam inhalation with eucalyptus

Steam inhalations are based on the property of hot water to evaporate, and the medicinal substance enters the body along with the steam. Essential oils, tinctures, and simply eucalyptus leaves are used for them.

The most basic steam inhalation is performed over a pot of water, the temperature of which for an adult should not exceed 50ºС. Covering your head with a towel, you need to inhale the warm and aromatic vapors. A steam inhaler will make the procedure more comfortable, but you can also use a simple kettle, inserting cone-shaped paper into it or a watering can. Even spraying eucalyptus essential oil in a sauna or bath will bring a similar effect.

Eucalyptus inhalations during pregnancy

Pregnancy requires expectant mothers to be careful about drug treatment, which is why it is preferable to use folk methods if necessary, and inhalations with eucalyptus for colds and dry coughs are the most effective remedy. It is still not superfluous to consult a doctor, but a nebulizer is completely safe in this case, its use will lead to a quick recovery without unpleasant consequences for the fetus.

Eucalyptus inhalations for children

For mothers, the most common recipe for children's ailments associated with viral infections, flu, cough, are inhalations. The use of eucalyptus as a remedy for children is rightfully considered one of the best: inhalations with it clear the nose from mucus and allow free breathing at night, soften the painful sensations in the throat, help cough up.

Steam procedures should use water at a temperature no higher than 37ºС, and its duration should not exceed 5 minutes. It cannot be used for the smallest children, but a nebulizer will allow them to be treated. Twice a day is the optimal frequency of the procedure. Even a regular container of hot water with the addition of a plant, placed next to the baby's crib, will bring results.

Contraindications to the procedure

It happens that rhinitis or cough arises due to an allergy to something, in which case any inhalations are contraindicated. They are also not done if there is a tendency to nosebleeds, high body temperature, high blood pressure, cardiovascular pathologies, individual intolerance to eucalyptus.

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Consequences after the procedure

The most unpleasant consequence after the procedure can be a burn of the mucous surfaces of the nose and throat. Other complications are associated with ignoring contraindications: an allergic reaction, rashes on the body, swelling, redness, headache may appear.

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Care after the procedure

Eucalyptus inhalations do not require special care after the procedure, but there are some precautions. You cannot eat or drink for the next 40-60 minutes, or cool down. It will be more useful if a person relaxes, covers up warmly and lies down.

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Reviews

Eucalyptus inhalations are a long-proven method to speed up recovery after the temperature drops. Therefore, the reviews of people who use the method both for themselves and for their children are purely positive. Their safety and effectiveness are noted, they are called good old folk recipes.