Steam Inhalation

HYD

from Hydrothermic Remedies...

Warm moist air directed toward the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract will often help to loosen the dry cough or stuffiness which is commonly felt.

Effects:

Relieve the chest and throat symptoms of colds and flu

Definition

Supplying of warm, moist air to congested mucous membranes.

Physiologic Effects

To relieve inflammation and congestion of upper respiratory mucous membrane
To relieve irritated throat by moistening the air
To relieve spasmodic breathing
To loosen secretions and stimulate discharge of mucous from the throat and lungs
To relax muscles and relieve coughing
To keep mucous membranes from excessive drying

Indications

Coughing
Nasal Congestion, Throat Congestion
Dry throat, Throat Inflammation and Naso-Pharyngeal Irritation
Spasmodic breathing in Croup
Loosen dry or thick secretions

Contraindications or Cautions

Extremely young children or the very aged who may not be able to respond to heat

Equipment

Tea kettle with boiling water
Newspaper cone - Newspaper rolled into a cone shape.
Hot plate
Electric rice cooker can be used instead of the above 3 items
Medication, pine oil, eucalyptus, menthol (optional)
Sheet
Umbrella

Procedure

Important Considerations

Check inhalation frequently
Be careful not to burn patient
Be extra careful when treating children

Preparation for Treatment

Assemble equipment
Make sure there are no drafts in the room and that it is warm.

Treatment

Fill tea kettle with boiling water; add medication to water
Carry to bedside and place on hot plate
Cover spout with a cone made of rolled newspaper in order to carry steam directly to person's nose and mouth

Place a towel over the head and catch the stream with the towel.
If the patient is in bed, use umbrella to make a tent, place umbrella at head of bed, just above the patient's head and drape a sheet over it, making sure the paper cone is under the 'tent'.
Do not completely enclose the patient.
Have patient breathe slowly and deeply
Continue for 30 minutes to 1 hour at least 2-3 times per day
For continuous inhalation, place tea kettle and hot plate on the floor without the paper cone. This will saturate the air of the entire room. Or use a vaporiser beside the bed.

Completion of Treatment

Make sure patient is warm and dry
Encourage patient to rest for at least 1/2 hour after treatment

This treatment may be given following other treatment such as Fomentation to the chest

Normally, air passing to the lungs during breathing courses through the nasal cavity where it is warmed and humidified since in the nose it is exposed to a large surface of warm, moist mucous membranes. Turbulence caused by the turbinates increases these effects. In the case of a cold, the nasal cavity becomes congested so that breathing has to be done largely through the mouth which does not warm and humidify the air as well. The dry, cold air irritates the passages and thus aggravates the inflammatory processes, which makes mucous in the air passages thick and even forms plugs. The mouth is constructed for food passage rather than for breathing. Steam inhalation treats these problems by humidifying and warming the air breathed.

JHK

from Dr JH Kellogg's Hydriatic Techniques...

10-15min hourly, mild temperature, soothing in acute conditions such as ...

10-15min hourly in chronic conditions as hot as the patient can bear by deeper breathes in

Chronic Tonsillitis
Throat Congestion

Face-bath 15min, iced towel to face 30sec to finish, 3X daily in

Nasal Congestion
Congestive Headache and Irritable Cough in Coryza

Face-bath 1min, Ice Compress to face 15sec, 10X in atony of nasopharynx

Face-bath 2-3min alternate with cold blast 30sec in

Rubbing cold blast in

Inactive Skin of Debility until skin can react alone, daily decrease rubbing and increase air flow

Traditional Hydrotherapy