What is Steam Inhalation?
Hot water steam inhalation is one of the most used home remedies in order to clear the nasal passage and get relief from the symptoms of a cold or sinus infection. Steam therapy is another name for this.
Steam therapy is mainly done by inhaling water vapor. The worm, moist air is able to loosen the nasal passage, throat, and lungs. This may give a satisfactory relief to the infected areas and symptoms of a cold.
Steam inhalation, though it doesn’t cure an infection caused by flu, gives you high relief and makes you feel a lot better while your immunity fights the infection off. As a home remedy, it is important to be aware of the accurate practices of steam inhalation so you can lessen your body exhaustion.
What are the Benefits of Steam Inhalation?
Discomfort caused by swollen blood vessels in the nasal passages can be remedied by inhaling moist and warm steam. The mucus in sinuses gets thin through moisture and gets emptied more easily. This helps your breathing turns to normal, at least for a short while.
Steam inhalation can only provide you a subjective relief for the cold or upper respiratory infection-related symptoms while it is not a way to heal the infection any faster.
Steam inhalation doesn’t have the ability to killing the virus, but it might make you feel better when your body fights the infection.
Steam therapy had been evaluated through six clinical trials using adults with the common cold, which gives a review of mixed results. Some participants had experienced relief while others had experienced discomfort inside the nose from steam inhalation.
Another recent clinical trial gives the results for the use of steam inhalation in treating chronic sinus symptoms. However, the study fails to find that steam inhalation helps the most of sinus symptoms except for headaches.
Even though the clinical studies give mixed results, some of the subjective evidence prove steam inhalation is beneficial.
You can get relief for the following symptoms through steam inhalation.
- The common cold
- Headache
- Nasal allergies
- The flue (influenza)
- Throat irritation
- Sinus infections (infectious sinusitis)
- Bronchitis
- Congested (stuffy) nose
- Dry or irritated nasal passages
- Cough
How should you inhale steam?
What are the things you need?
- 2 liters of water
- One lemon fruit or lemon leaves
- A pot to heat the water
- A big towel or cloth to cover your entire body
Process of steam inhalation
- Add a minimum of 2 liters of water into the pot.
- Cut the lemon fruit into 4 pieces and add into the pot. (If you have a big lemon fruit, half of it will be enough). In case if you don’t have lemon fruits, add some lemon leaves; at least four.
- Close the pot with the lid before boiling (this is because when water starts boiling, the steam should be concealed inside without coming out).
- Let the water boil well with the lemon inside it.
- When the water boils, the steam starts to come out, and you can turn the flame off.
- Keep the pot on a surface. Then cover your entire body with the big towel/ cloth. Making sure it seals all the opens, not letting the steam go out.
- Inhale and exhale the steam comes out of the boiled water mixed with lemon essence. This will surely make you relieved of any cols related illness. Even better for the skin.
- For better results, keep your face, neck, and chest approximately 15 inches above from the pot (this will help you to steam the water vapor directly that can touch your face, head, neck, and chest)
- Remember to close your eyes when you open the lid of the pot and during the inhalation process.
- You can inhale slowly and deeply through your nose and exhale through the mouth.
- Do this Inhaling and exhaling until the steam gets lessen. This will cause you to sweat on your face, neck, and chest.
- After you finished steaming, do not remove the towel/cloth and remain for 5 minutes covering your head, face, neck, and chest.
Things to do after inhalation
- Remember to do this at least two times daily (morning and the evening). You will feel the real relief.
- Drink Hot Water every time every day. (fallow the health benefits of drinking hot water)
