How To Breathe Over Potatoes When Coughing For Children And Adults: Video

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

How to breathe correctly over potatoes with a cough and a runny nose

The content of the article:

Indications and contraindications for inhalation over potatoes when coughing
How to breathe over potatoes when coughing: a recipe
How to breathe correctly over potatoes when coughing
Inhalation of potato broth using a nebulizer
Video

Many adults remember well that when they had a cold in childhood, mothers or grandmothers tried to treat them not with pharmacy, but with folk methods, for example, they suggested breathing over potatoes when coughing. This method of treating colds has not lost its popularity today. Does it have a scientific basis? To whom can it be recommended? We will try to find answers to these questions.

Potato peel contains substances that can help treat coughs

Indications and contraindications for inhalation over potatoes when coughing

The effectiveness of potato inhalations in the treatment of rhinitis and dry cough has been tested by time. However, you shouldn't attribute any special healing abilities to this home procedure. In fact, it is a banal steam inhalation, the benefits of which for the human body are as follows:

moisturizing the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract;
dilution of sputum;
elimination of the feeling of dryness in the nose and sore throat.

In addition, inhalation of hot steam helps warm up the airways. Under the influence of heat, blood circulation is increased and leukocytes and immune cells begin to actively enter the focus of inflammation.

Why is it recommended to inhale over potatoes? What is the reason for this condition? The fact is that the peel of potato tubers contains many useful substances, including phenols and glycoalkaloids - substances with antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating effects.

Considering all of the above, potato inhalations can be recommended for the following diseases:

acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI);
bronchitis;
bronchial asthma;
whooping cough;
allergic cough.

Some people believe that breathing in a pair of potatoes is absolutely safe for their body. But this is absolutely not the case. In some cases, steam inhalation can be harmful to health. Contraindications to their conduct are:

Cough with profuse expectoration. During inhalation, the vapor that enters the bronchi dilutes the phlegm and thereby contributes to a significant increase in its amount, which, in turn, makes it difficult to expectorate and can cause complications.
Increased body temperature. At a body temperature above 37.5 ° C, any thermal procedures, including steam inhalation, are unacceptable, as this contributes to overheating of the body and an even greater increase in temperature. In case of fever, inhalation is allowed exclusively with the help of a nebulizer.
Acute purulent diseases of the respiratory system (purulent bronchitis, lung abscess) and tuberculosis. With these pathologies, warming procedures can increase the activity of the inflammatory process.
Hemoptysis. If, when coughing, sputum streaked with blood is separated, then steam inhalations cannot be done. They cause dilation of the blood vessels of the bronchial mucosa, and this can cause bleeding, sometimes massive.
Certain diseases of the cardiovascular system (arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease). In this case, steam inhalation can provoke an attack of angina pectoris, hypertensive crisis.
Neoplasms of the respiratory system. In physiotherapy, there is a rule: thermal procedures cannot be performed on patients with benign and malignant formations.
Childhood. The anatomical structure of the bronchi in children in the first years of life has certain features, which include loose hypertrophied mucous membrane, narrowness of the lumen of the bronchi. Hot steam dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow to the mucous membranes, causing them to swell. In an adult, such edema is practically invisible, while in a child it can lead to airway obstruction and the development of respiratory failure. Therefore, steam inhalation is not prescribed for babies under three years old. In older children, they can be carried out if there are indications determined by the doctor.

How to breathe over potatoes when coughing: a recipe

For inhalation to be of maximum benefit, the potatoes must be boiled properly. First of all, 4-5 medium sized tubers should be thoroughly washed under running water using a brush. Dip them in a liter of boiling water and simmer under a closed lid without adding salt for 15-20 minutes. Drain the broth, and mash the potatoes with a fork or a special crush in mashed potatoes. Cool to 50-60 ° C.

How to breathe correctly over potatoes when coughing

Steam inhalation must be performed correctly. Let's look at this process step by step:

Place the pot with mashed potatoes cooled to 50-60 ° C on the table. It is advisable to lay a cotton or linen napkin under it - this will prevent the pan with hot contents from sliding onto the patient's knees.
The patient sits down next to the table and bends over the pan, covers his head with a thick towel. It should be located so that the steam freely reaches the face, but at the same time it does not burn it and does not cause discomfort.
The duration of inhalation is 10-15 minutes. Inhale slowly through a wide open mouth and exhale through your nose. The procedure time cannot be increased; instead of greater benefit, it will only bring harm.
Inhalation should be repeated 2-3 times a day.
After the end of inhalation, thoroughly wipe the skin of the face with a soft towel with light blotting movements and apply any nourishing cream on it.
After the procedure, it is advisable to lie down for 20-30 minutes. You can go out into the fresh air no earlier than 2 hours later.

How many days should the treatment be continued? The answer to this question depends on the characteristics of the course of the disease. On average, the treatment lasts 5-7 days.

On request, the website contains articles with photos detailing other types of inhalation and their effects.

Inhalation of potato broth using a nebulizer

We have already said above that at elevated body temperature, as well as for young children, it is impossible to breathe hot steam. But this does not mean that they cannot take advantage of the healing power of potato broth. Inhalation can be done with a nebulizer.

Strained and cooled potato broth can be used in a nebulizer

For the procedure, you must prepare a decoction of potatoes. To do this, wash one tuber under running water and boil it until tender without adding salt in a little water. Strain the broth through several layers of gauze and cool to 37 ° C. 3 ml of the resulting broth is poured into a container for nebulizer drugs (for children, no more than 1 ml).

Potato inhalation is a time-tested method of treating colds. But only the proper approach to their implementation can guarantee a quick therapeutic effect, therefore, a cough should be treated while breathing in vapors of potatoes only after consulting a doctor.