How to breathe correctly over potatoes with sinusitis and is it possible to do it?

Sinusitis is accompanied by impaired respiratory function of the nasal passages. To alleviate the condition, they resort to medications and folk remedies. At the initial stage of the disease, inhalations over potato broth are effective.

In the article we will tell you what their benefits are, whether there are contraindications and how to carry out the treatment procedure correctly.

What are the benefits of using potato inhalation?

Potato inhalations have been practiced for many years for the treatment of diseases respiratory tract. Due to the non-contact method of exposure, beneficial substances are not absorbed into the blood and do not affect other organs, while at the same time they work effectively on the mucous membrane, affecting the inflammatory process.

Inhaling wet steam relieves pain and restores mucosal tissue, as blood circulation is stimulated.

How does potato inhalation work for sinusitis?

Potato steam contains phytoncides and ethyl alcohol. Phytoncides are natural antibiotics; they can kill or inhibit the development of microorganisms, that is, potato steam has an antimicrobial effect. Ethyl alcohol has an antiseptic effect.

Breathing over potatoes during sinusitis helps:

• vasodilation of the mucous membrane;
• normalization of blood flow;
• eliminating swelling;
• relief of inflammation;
• liquefaction and removal of mucus;
• improvement of metabolic processes in mucosal tissues.

You can add a few drops of essential oil (anise, eucalyptus) to the potato broth, which will increase the effectiveness of the procedure.

Attention! Before adding essential oils, make sure you are not allergic to them. Exceeding the norm of essential oils can lead to dryness of the mucous membrane and cause soreness.

With severe swelling and hyperfunction of the mucous glands, it is difficult to deliver medicinal substances to the paranasal cavities. Their localization also makes transportation difficult. Inhalation allows you to deliver drugs to the site of inflammation in almost full volume.

Inhaling therapeutic steam is a means of preventing the development of complications provided that therapy is started in a timely manner. Steam inhalations allow you to warm up the tissues of the nasopharynx, nose and sinuses, making breathing easier.

Recommendations for the procedure

Despite the simplicity of the procedure, it is important to follow the recommendations:

1. Before inhalation, measure body temperature. If it is +37°C or higher, the procedure cannot be performed.
2. Before medical manipulation, the nose must breathe freely. Place vasoconstrictor drops into your nose within a few minutes.
3. Inhale medicinal vapor correctly. For diseases of the nose, inhale through the nose; for diseases of the lower respiratory tract, inhale through the mouth. Breathing is calm, without deep breaths.
4. The duration of inhalation for adults is no more than 10-15 minutes; children are not recommended to breathe for more than 3-5 minutes.
5. The steam temperature should be comfortable, and the water should not be boiling.
6. The procedure is carried out an hour after eating.
7. Upon completion of inhalation, refrain from drinking, eating, and talking for 30-40 minutes.
8. Potato broth must be freshly prepared.
9. Inhalation of potatoes in children should be carried out under the strict supervision of parents.

Rules for inhalation for sinusitis

Is it possible to breathe over potatoes if you have sinusitis? The attending physician decides. Self-medication can worsen a person’s condition. Any steam inhalation can intensify the inflammatory process. It is also important to understand that inhalations at home are part of a comprehensive treatment and their effectiveness should be expected only during the period of remission for chronic sinusitis.

In the absence of contraindications, the rules for inhalation for sinusitis do not differ from the general ones.

Stages of potato inhalation

You can achieve a mild therapeutic effect and avoid burns to the mucous membrane by following the steps of inhalation:

1. For potato inhalation you will need 8-10 pcs. medium tubers. Wash the vegetables thoroughly. Green, dirty, rotten tubers are not suitable. Instead of whole potatoes, you can use large quantities of peelings.
2. Unpeeled potatoes are cooked for 20-30 minutes after boiling. Boiled potatoes do not strain. If the peelings have been cooked, they need to be mashed with a fork.
3. The temperature of the broth should be around +45-60°C, so wait a few minutes after removing the pan from the stove. For treating children, the acceptable temperature is +35-40°C. Inhaling too hot steam can cause burns to the mucous membranes.
4. Usually the procedure is carried out over a saucepan, but if you do not want to completely steam your face, use a funnel made of thick paper. A teapot is suitable for this manipulation. Fill it ⅓ full with medicinal decoction, insert a funnel into the spout and breathe the steam through it.
5. Place the container with the hot solution on the table, bend over it and cover your head with a towel.The distance between your face and the pan should be at least 20-30 cm. When the liquid has cooled, you can bend down lower.
6. It is recommended to carry out the procedure once a day; with the doctor’s permission, you can breathe over the steam in the morning and evening. Duration of treatment is 7-10 days.

Indications and contraindications for the procedure

Any physical procedures should be carried out with the permission of a doctor.

Steam inhalations are prohibited when:

• acute stage of the disease caused by a bacterial infection;
• temperature rise above +37°C;
• stuffy ears and pain in them;
• the patient's predisposition to nosebleeds;
• hypertension;
• the presence of malignant tumors in the respiratory tract.

Warming up can worsen the condition in severe cases of cardiovascular failure and exacerbation of diabetes mellitus.

Is it possible for pregnant women

The pregnancy period requires abstinence from most medications. Potato inhalations allow you to get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of the disease without harming the fetus. It is better to find out how long to sit over potatoes by consulting a doctor, but a pregnant woman should also listen to her own feelings.

If dizziness occurs, the procedure should be stopped. In this case, you can replace it with cold inhalations. For example, breathe over freshly chopped onions or garlic.

Is it possible for children

The main advantage of inhalations is their painlessness, which is important when treating children. The safety of steam inhalation in this case is questionable. It is better to give preference to treatment with a nebulizer. If it is not available, steam treatment at home should be carried out exclusively under parental supervision in compliance with all rules.

Steam inhalations should be carried out in a state of complete rest. The procedure becomes ineffective if the process of normal breathing is disrupted (crying, whims).

Is it possible for a cough?

Due to the fact that the inhaled particles during steam inhalation are larger in size, they settle in the nasopharynx. Therefore, for bronchitis or other pathologies of the lower respiratory tract, it is better to use devices with fine spray.

Warming up with potatoes when a child coughs will be ineffective - this method of treatment is more suitable for a sore throat or nasal congestion.

For diseases of the bronchi and lungs, there are positive reviews about treatment with potatoes, soda and salt. How to steam over potatoes when you cough? To do this, add 1 tbsp to the potato broth. l. soda and salt.

But each case of the disease is individual, so rely on common sense and the recommendations of a specialist.

For sinusitis

Most often, sinusitis is a complication of an acute runny nose. The inflammatory process can be acute or chronic. In the first case, it is better to give preference in treatment to conservative methods; in the second, you can use steam inhalations with potatoes and achieve relief.

For reference. Sinusitis is one of the types of sinusitis.

For a sore throat

A sore throat may be a sign of an allergic reaction or an infectious disease. Therefore, before looking for information on how to soar your throat, you need to identify the cause of the unpleasant sensation.

If the cause of soreness is an inflammatory process in the pharynx, inhalation over potatoes can be used in complex treatment.You can further enrich the steam with beneficial elements by adding mint leaves, sage leaves or adding a few drops of essential oils to the mixture.

Reviews

Many people use potato inhalations for treatment; reviews are mostly neutral and positive.

Marina, otolaryngologist at a private clinic: “I do not support home treatments, especially with steam. The patient may not notice how a mucosal burn occurs. And the risk of middle ear inflammation increases. I advise you not to resort to old-fashioned methods, but to be treated with medication using devices specially designed for inhalation.”

Valentina, 56 years old: “I constantly breathe over potatoes at the first sign of a runny nose, one procedure is enough for me. This is how I treated my children and helped my grandchildren get back on their feet when they had a cold.”

Anna, 43 years old: “I prefer the dry method of warming the nose, but I don’t rule out warming it over potato steam. I don’t see anything negative in this procedure, the main thing is to be careful and control the temperature of the steam.”

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Is it possible to eat potatoes if you have high cholesterol?

Conclusion

Professional medical care is required when treating sinusitis. A complex respiratory disease can develop into serious pathologies if treated incorrectly. Potato inhalations should be considered as an auxiliary method of influencing the disease and the procedure should be started only with the permission of a doctor.