Health & Wellness

Steam Inhalation Therapy:

ABSTRACT

During the change of seasons, congestion in the nose is common and can happen due to a variety of reasons. If the person has caught an infection, the congestion lasts for around 3 days and is accompanied by some physical symptoms such as fatigue and slight fever. Common respiratory infections are caused by some viruses that are not harmful for life. But, they can be a symptom of other illnesses that are more serious and last for more than a week. Steam inhalation therapy is practiced to ease symptoms of such infections. In this article, we shall see what steam inhalation is, how it works on our upper respiratory tract, the right way to do it and the care and precautions everyone should know and follow while giving someone or taking steam inhalation therapy.

Introduction
Steam inhalation is practiced as a therapy for relieving common cold and similar discomforts of our upper respiratory tract. Almost all the uncomfortable conditions of the nose are first characterized and brought to our notice by congestion in the upper respiratory tract and sometimes by dripping mucus in the throat.

Our upper respiratory tract
The ‘upper respiratory tract’ includes the nose, the nasal cavity, the sinuses (small spaces in the skull for facilitating breathing and housing optic and olfactory nerves) at the sides and back of the nose, the pharynx, the larynx, and the part of the wind pipe until here. Inside the upper respiratory tract there is a healthy lining of mucus at all times so that it can trap and expel any foreign particles or microorganisms that enter it through the nose or the mouth. When a particle of dust, dirt, mold, hay, or a microbe such as a virus (most respiratory infections are caused by viruses only) enters the upper respiratory tract, the mucus –producing cells in the sinuses and the throat increase its production and makes it thinner, so that the foreign particle or microorganism can be flushed out before it harms the body. This is seen by us as congestion since it makes respiration through the nose difficult.

The mechanism of steam inhalation
The flooding of nasal passages and throat with mucus makes us very uncomfortable since we think of it as a disorder, while it is a part of the natural response of the body’s immune system. Nevertheless, it makes breathing uneasy. To get rid of this uneasiness, sometimes oral medications in the form of syrup and tablets are used so that the mucus dries up; while at other times nasal sprays are used. But, one method involving no medications is steam inhalation. A bowl with a wide mouth is filled with boiling water and the sick person is required to bend over it and cover the space between the bowl and their head with a towel. The steam rising from the bowl enters the upper respiratory tract on its own during inhalation by either the mouth or the nose.

Importance of steam inhalation during an infection
When a potential virus enters the body through the nose or the mouth, it takes some time for symptoms to show up. This time is called the incubation period of the virus and is counted in the number of days. If you know you have been exposed to some virus or have come in close contact with someone who is sick, steam inhalation should be started as soon as possible at home. The reason is that while the virus is still in its incubation period, steam inhalation will work best, because the virus may still be hanging out in the upper respiratory tract struggling with the mucus. It gives you a chance to kill or weaken the virus and prevent severe symptoms and also reduce the severity of the infection.

The right method of steam inhalation
Steam inhalation is commonly practiced by people all over the world, but, if you’re new to it, care should be taken to never blindly follow the instructions written by someone over the internet. The climatic and individual healthy conditions differ in every case, therefore, the ambient temperature, the water temperature, and additions in the water should be modified according to individual needs.

Caution is required!
Young children get stuffy noses easily and steam inhalation therapy might seem the only safe option to parents. Children and the elderly, and those who cannot move their limbs efficiently should be supervised throughout the duration of the therapy. Recently, many children have severely burned themselves during steam inhalation.

1.       Some other tips
Steam inhalation therapy is an effective and easy practice in itself, but some tips can make it even more efficient. Follow these tips while preparing for steam inhalation for yourself or someone else:

✔    Before beginning the inhalation, wash your face with hot water. This is recommended because steam is hotter than boiling water and when it touches the face, it may scald the skin mildly. This will condition the face and prepare it for the therapy.

✔    Add mint oil to the bowl of water. Mint is a natural decongestant and also eases inflammation.

✔    Boil herbs like ginger, holy basil, black pepper, cinnamon or clove while preparing the water for steam inhalation. In this way the extracts of these herbs will enter the mucus clad lining of the upper respiratory system and ease pain, inflammation and congestion.

✔    After the session, keep sitting inside the towel and in the same room with closed doors for a few minutes. You may remove the bowl. This is recommended because exposing the face and the nose to air may not be adjusted by the body immediately, and congestion may worsen.

CONCLUSION
We have learnt all about steam inhalation and its benefits for common infectious disorders of our respiratory system. Steam inhalation is indeed therapeutic, especially for eliminating an infection that is still in its incubation stage. It can be practiced at home and is safe for individuals of all ages. However, extra care should be taken while administering steam to children along with the elderly, the pregnant, and those who suffer from chronic bleeding in the nose. If done with care, steam inhalation can be very beneficial as an at-home therapy for common cold, cough and congestion in the upper respiratory tract.

By: Dr. Vikram Chauhan
MD (Ayurveda) CEO & Founder of Planet Ayurveda