- 1. Misting with shower water
- 2. Misting with herbal tea
- 3. Nebulization with saline
- 4. Nebulization with medicines
- When nebulization should not be performed
Nebulization is a great home treatment for sinusitis, whether acute or chronic, dry or with secretion, as it helps to humidify the airways and fluidize secretions, clearing the airways and facilitating breathing.
Ideally, nebulization should be done 2 to 3 times a day, for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, and preferably in the morning and before bed.
There are different ways to nebulize, the most common of which include breathing steam from the shower water, nebulizing with saline or breathing vapor from some types of herbal tea, such as eucalyptus.
1. Misting with shower water
A good form of home treatment for sinusitis is inhalation of water vapor from the shower. Just stay in the bathroom with the door closed and leave the water in the shower very hot, so that it generates a lot of steam. Then, just sit comfortably breathing the steam, there is no need to get wet.
It is important that this procedure is done for about 15 minutes, several times a day. The relief of symptoms is immediate and can help the patient fall asleep more easily.
But this is not a very economical procedure, since a lot of water is spent. In addition, if the bathroom is not properly cleaned and if it has mold or mildew, this procedure is contraindicated due to the risk of inspiring fungi and bacteria harmful to the body, which can aggravate sinusitis.
2. Misting with herbal tea
The inhalation of herbal vapor is also another form of natural treatment for sinusitis, which manages to relieve its symptoms, bringing a better quality of life.
Just prepare a tea of chamomile, eucalyptus or orange peels with lemon, wait for it to warm up a little and then inhale the steam for approximately 20 minutes. Care must be taken not to inhale very hot air, as it can cause burns in these tissues.
A good way to use this tea is to inhale it, placing the tea in a bowl, positioning it on a table and sitting on the chair, leaning slightly forward to be able to inhale the steam. See how these nebulizations should be done by watching the following video:
3. Nebulization with saline
Nebulization with saline is a great aid in the treatment of sinusitis, because in addition to facilitating breathing, it can serve for the administration of inhaled drugs prescribed by the doctor.
To do the nebulization at home, you should place about 5 to 10 mL of saline in the nebulizer cup, place the mask close to your nose and then breathe that air. You should keep your eyes closed and be seated or leaning comfortably on a bed.
This nebulization can be done for 20 minutes or until the serum runs out. It is not recommended to do nebulization lying down, due to the risk of aspiration of secretions. Discover other uses of saline.
4. Nebulization with medicines
Nebulization with drugs, such as Berotec and Atrovent, is usually diluted with saline, and should only be done if prescribed by a doctor.
You can also nebulize with Vick Vaporub, placing 2 teaspoons of Vick in a bowl with 500 mL of hot water and inhaling the steam. However, its use should only be done under the guidance of the doctor, because in some cases, Vick can increase nasal mucus or inflame the airways. This medicine should not be used in pregnant women, breastfeeding women or children under the age of 2 years.
When nebulization should not be performed
There are no contraindications for nebulization with saline and it can be done on babies, children, adults and even during pregnancy. However, when it comes to using medications, you should always talk to your doctor before starting treatment. In addition, before using medicinal plants to treat sinusitis, the physician should also be informed, due to the risk of drug interactions and toxicity.
See more about treating sinusitis and how to identify signs of improvement.
