Does beet juice help with a runny nose and how to prepare natural drops for children and adults
Juice beets for the common cold, it was used by our ancestors back in the days when people turned to healers and herbalists for help in treating illnesses. It would seem that the high level of development of medicine in modern society will leave this ancient knowledge unclaimed. However, in reality everything is different.
The negative impact of chemical drugs on the body prompts the search for alternative methods treatment illness. The remedies offered by traditional medicine are reliable and safe. They are even recommended for children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. In this article we will look at ways to treat a runny nose with beetroot juice.
The effectiveness of beet juice for a runny nose
Are you worried about itching in the nasopharynx and a feeling of congestion in the nasal sinuses, snoring and wheezing, turning into attacks of suffocation, disturbing sleep, and a debilitating runny nose and mucous discharge making it difficult to breathe?
All these are signs of trouble with the respiratory system due to the development of a number of diseases:
- sinusitis;
- inflammation of the adenoids;
- viral infections;
- flu;
- angina;
- allergic rhinitis.
But don't rush to the pharmacy! Beetroot juice is an excellent alternative to artificial nasal drops.
Effect on the nasal mucosa
With long-term treatment of a runny nose with medications, the nasal mucosa becomes excessively dry, and the walls of the blood vessels become thinner.A persistent disruption of protective respiratory functions occurs, which is fraught with the danger of a new portion of pathogenic microbes entering the body.
Beetroot juice, thanks to its unique combination of vitamins and minerals, will eliminate the painful condition of the upper respiratory tract during a runny nose without negatively affecting the nasal mucosa.
Using beet juice drops will help:
- clear the nasal passages of accumulated mucus by liquefying it;
- make breathing easier due to the vasoconstrictor effect and reduce swelling of the mucous membrane;
- stop the spread of infection by suppressing the proliferation of pathogenic microflora;
- strengthen the walls of blood vessels, restoring the natural protective mechanism of the respiratory process.
Medicinal use
The healing properties of beets make beet juice a universal remedy for treating a runny nose.
During pregnancy and lactation
Pregnant women are attentive to their health and careful in choosing medications for treatment. Their main concern is not to harm the baby. Beetroot drops will not only cure the expectant mother’s runny nose, but will also help her body resist the negative effects of free radicals on the cells of the placenta and embryo. Vitamins A, C, E, and the mineral selenium contained in beet juice give it antioxidant properties.
During pregnancy and lactation, any medications are taken with caution. Hence the special recommendations for pregnant and breastfeeding women:
- Be sure to dilute beet juice with boiled water (1:2) or unrefined vegetable oil (1:1).
- Adhere to the recommended dosage and duration of treatment:
- in the early stages of pregnancy, 1 drop in each nasal passage up to 4 times a day;
- in the last trimester and during lactation, 2-3 drops with the same frequency of instillation;
- Duration of treatment is 6-7 days.
Following the rules will help you avoid such unpleasant symptoms as itching and burning in the nose.
For the treatment of children
The use of beets in pediatric therapy has its own characteristics:
- refrain from mixing juice with products that often provoke allergic reactions (honey and all its derivatives);
- exclude additives from garlic and onions due to their irritating effect on the nasal mucosa;
- The safest beet juice is diluted with clean boiled water in a ratio of 1:2;
- for children under three years old, an increase in the proportion of juice and water is indicated (1:3);
- A mixture of equal proportions of beet and carrot juices with the addition of vegetable oil (preferably peach) has proven itself;
- a pronounced negative reaction of the body (severe burning, difficulty breathing) requires immediate cessation of treatment;
- The product should be instilled 4 times a day for 5-6 days (1-2 drops in each nasal passage for children under 6 years old and 3-4 drops for school-age children).
How to make nasal drops from beets
Only the best vegetables extract maximum benefits. When looking for a suitable root vegetable, opt for dark red beets without light rings. It is used without heat treatment.
Juice is obtained in two ways: using a juicer and manually. The second method involves pre-grinding the beets on a fine grater and then squeezing the beet mass through cheesecloth.
The concentrate, stored in the refrigerator (no more than a day), is used to prepare drops, diluting it with warm boiled water (for adults in a 1:1 ratio).
Important! Before use, the juice should sit for 2-3 hours.
Folk recipes
To enhance the therapeutic effect, beet juice is mixed with bee products, other vegetable juices and vegetable oils.
Remedy with honey
Honey is widely known for its anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, analgesic and absorbable effects. By mixing beet juice with honey heated to a liquid state (3:1), you get a natural, highly effective remedy against the common cold.
Important! The course of treatment includes no more than 10 procedures.
Beet-carrot medicine with honey
In terms of antibacterial activity, carrots are not inferior to onions and garlic, having a much more pleasant taste and smell. Unlike beet juice, carrot juice cannot be stored: it is prepared immediately before use.
A mixture of beet and carrot juices with the addition of honey (2:2:1) is a high-quality nasal drop with a pronounced bactericidal and regenerating effect.
Beetroot-carrot mixture with butter and garlic juice
Supplemented with 1-2 drops of garlic juice, a preparation based on beet and carrot juices greatly increases its antiseptic properties. However, the presence of garlic can have an irritating effect on the nasal mucosa.
Vegetable oil added to the mixture in equal proportions with juices (1:1:1) neutralizes this side effect by moisturizing the mucous membranes of the nasal passages.
Rules and methods of application
Following simple rules will make the use of beet juice for medicinal purposes effective and safe:
- Freshly prepared juice can cause a burn to the mucous membranes, so before use, leave it in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
- To avoid allergic reaction juice for instillation into the nose is diluted with water or vegetable oil.
- We adhere to the specified proportions when making complex mixtures.
- We follow the recommended dosage and duration of taking the drug.
Followers of traditional medicine use various options for treating a runny nose with beet juice:
- in the form of nasal drops;
- placing gauze swabs soaked in medicinal mixtures into the nasal cavity;
- rinsing the nasal passages with an aqueous solution of beet juice.
Each of these methods is effective on its own, and together it brings accelerated recovery.
Contraindications and adverse reactions
Treatment with beet juice has only one contraindication: individual intolerance. People prone to any allergic manifestations should also be careful with the ingredients of mixtures prepared on the basis of juice (honey, garlic). Therefore, it is recommended to start using each new drug with small doses, observing the condition of the body.
Adverse reactions (itching, redness, burning) occur as a result of violations committed during the preparation of mixtures. The use of freshly squeezed or undiluted juice, non-compliance with proportions when mixing various components contribute to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.
Reviews
Irina, Naberezhnye Chelny: “A one-year-old child has a cold. Against the background of general malaise, abundant mucous discharge from the nose appeared. The condition was aggravated by sleep disturbances, especially at night: the baby often woke up due to the inability to breathe through his nose. The pediatrician prescribed interferon and expensive drugs for rinsing the nasal passages. Experiencing financial difficulties, I decided to turn to traditional medicine.I found a recipe for making beet juice drops. The condition improved on the fifth day. After another two days, not a trace of the runny nose remained. I’m glad I didn’t have to expose my child to chemical drugs.”
Natalya, Grozny: “Mom has been suffering from a chronic allergic runny nose for many years. Due to constant nasal congestion, I used vasoconstrictor medications for a long time. As a result, dryness and burning in the nose began to bother me. We started looking for an alternative to artificial drops. Kind people suggested trying beet juice with vegetable oil. It turned out that it also has a vasoconstrictor effect. In addition, the nasal mucosa has been restored, and periodic bleeding due to damage to small vessels has disappeared.”
Tatyana, Belgorod: “I caught a cold in the seventh month of pregnancy. I was on the verge of hysterics, because I was very afraid of harming the child with the medications. My grandmother saved me: she prepared a solution of beet juice with honey and said that this was a proven grandfather’s method. I buried it in the nose and placed turundas soaked in the mixture. I felt relief on the second day.”
Conclusion
Modern pharmacology has an impressive list of nasal remedies that effectively fight the runny nose. However, all chemicals are addictive. People suffering from chronic rhinitis are forced to use them for many months in the hope of alleviating their condition. As a result, the structure of the mucous membranes of the nose is disrupted and nosebleeds may occur.
Folk remedies that are safe and reliable, such as beet juice, will help solve the problem.This healthy and accessible natural product is easy to prepare and effective for a runny nose.