Colds, coughs, dry or oily, exhaustion can be attenuated with the remedies that our grandmothers adopted and that are effective to help breathing, fluidize the mucus, free the bronchi.

The fumigations are part of this tradition, they are the precursors of inhalations and aromatherapy.

Technically they are very simple to implement, you need a pot of hot steaming water, a towel with which to create a sort of Indian tent that covers the head and pot to convey the vapors and the precious help of some natural remedy to add to the water and to inhale.

Let's see some of them in detail.

Bicarbonate

In case of airway congestion bicarbonate is an excellent remedy for the nasal mucosa . Two tablespoons are enough in a basin of boiling water to breathe the vapors for at least 10 minutes.

It is precisely the heat that releases the respiratory channels, and the bicarbonate has the property of modifying the pH by adjusting the acidity peaks and thus creating an unfavorable environment for bacterial rooting.

It is possible to enhance the effect of bicarbonate with the addition of some essential oils : those most indicated for cough are the essential oil of Pine and the Cajeput, which play an effective emollient and antibacterial action. 2 drops are enough and the foresight to keep your eyes closed during fumigation.

Chamomile

Chamomile is often associated with sleep problems or digestive difficulties and little considered due to its beneficial effects on our bronchi and respiratory infections. In the case of cough it is an excellent remedy, soothing, moisturizing and calming .

In fact, it has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and even antipyretic properties in case of fever.

In hot water a soup spoon of dried chamomile flowers, to inhale softens both the olfactory and the mouth mucous membranes, disinfects the oral cavity and then you can drink some cups during the day enriched with honey.

Chamomile disinfects the throat, coughs and thins the mucus.

thyme

Thyme is a remedy to handle with caution, because it could be irritating to the eyes and in case of allergies irritate the mucous membranes. So except for interactions related to this aspect we can use the thymus in fumigations to quell the cough, disinfect the air and the oral cavity .

Thyme in both dried and essential oil is a balsamic, expectorant, mucolytic remedy . Particularly indicated for dry cough, it helps to move phlegm blocks and thin them. In the case of bacterial infection the thymus disinfects and creates an environment hostile to the proliferation of bacteria.

The foresight is to keep the eyes closed during fumigation to protect them and to breathe the vapors both through the mouth and through the nose to absorb all the beneficial balsamic effects.