How to make an alcohol compress?

All of us in childhood, moms and grandmothers put a compress on colds. This remedy has always been considered very effective and effective and has been used for a long time. This method of treatment is considered folk, but it is often prescribed by pediatricians and doctors for various diseases.

What is a compress?

Compresses are different, and the effect is also different. Compress is nothing more than a medical dressing. This is how the word is interpreted. Compresses are wet and dry. Dry is used by doctors to protect the injury or damage from contamination, cooling. They are prepared very simply: several layers of gauze and cotton wool are fastened with bandage on the affected area of the body.

Wet compresses are a kind of physiotherapy procedure. Gauze with cotton wool is impregnated with a suitable solution and applied to the place of injury. Wet compresses are divided into cold, hot and warming. To all of us, the alcohol compress known since childhood is warming. What is it used for? How to properly do it, under what conditions? You will learn all this from our article.

How to make an alcohol compress?

With colds, probably, the most often used and available home remedy is exactly it - a compress. Despite the simplicity of preparation and cheapness, this remedy is one of the most effective in a number of diseases.

So how to make an alcohol compress? It's quite simple. From its very name it becomes clear that you will need alcohol. It can be replaced with the most ordinary vodka. You will also buy gauze (you can replace it with a wide bandage) and cotton wool in a roll. Also need a plastic bag and scarf, preferably woolen and old. After all, from alcohol, if it gets on a thing, it may well shed tissue.

So, the process itself:

1. Alcohol dilute with water in a proportion of 1: 3. If you use vodka, then for adults it is not necessary to dilute, but for children the situation is different: you need to dilute it also (in a 1: 1 ratio).
2. Preheat the mixture to such a state that it is hot, but the hand "tolerated" the temperature.
3. Wet gauze in a hot solution. A piece of it should be thick, folded into several layers.
4. Press the gauze so that it remains rather wet, but drops to prevent it from flowing.
5. Spread the desired place (for example, the skin of the neck) with oil or a very greasy cream. This will save you from possible burns.
6. Attach the gauze to the sore spot.
7. From above put the bag so that it covers all the gauze with a margin of 2-3 cm on each side.
8. Put a thick piece of cotton on the package. It is convenient to cut off the roll, these are sold in any pharmacy.
9. On top of the cotton wool, a warm bandage in the form of a scarf must be secured. It is convenient to do this if the compress is placed on the throat or knee. Scarf will enhance the warming effect.

If the throat hurts

Colds are very often accompanied by pain in the throat. This can be caused by tonsillitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis. Each sip is accompanied by pain, which you want to get rid of as quickly as possible.

And one of the most effective methods of treatment is the compress! It is done by the course, for 4-7 days, but, as a rule, significant relief comes after 1-2 procedures.

How to make an alcohol compress on your throat? The instruction in this case is the same as that described above. One procedure should last from 6 to 8 hours, so make such a compress is better at night.

If the pain in the throat is accompanied by a runny nose, then it is very useful to add a few drops of eucalyptus oil in the compress.

If the ear hurts

How to make an alcohol compress if the disease struck the ear? In this case, the procedure is somewhat different, and the mixture for preparing the compress will also be different. To treat otitis (not purulent!) Camphor oil is mixed with alcohol in a ratio of 10: 1. The bandage is applied directly to the site of inflammation, that is, to the ear itself.

How to do it?

1. Take a square piece of gauze, folded into several layers (5-6) measuring approximately 10 x 10 cm.
2. In the middle of the gauze make a cut.
3. Dampen the cloth in a pre-prepared alcohol solution with camphor oil.
4. Marlen is fastened to his ear. At the same time, the auricle turns out to be outside, passes through the made slit.
5. Above the gauze and ear impose a cellophane bag.
6. Put the cotton on the packet.
7. On top of cotton wool, you can also put a piece of flannel or woolen cloth to enhance the warming effect.
8. The entire bandage is fixed with a bandage, wrapping it around the head.

This compress is left for 6-8 hours and done once a day.

As a solution, you can use other mixtures: ordinary vodka, all the same diluted alcohol. About which means will be most effective in each particular case, of course, it is better to consult with the attending physician.

If he overcame a cough

What to do if an evil cold spreads to the lungs and cough does not let you sleep peacefully?
And in this case, the compress can help. However, it is not recommended to prescribe such treatment for oneself, after all, cough is coughing - it's different. For example, with a bronchitis the compress is contraindicated. But if the doctor has given good, let's find out how to make an alcohol compress when coughing?

1. Dissolve in one tablespoon of hot sunflower oil the same amount of honey. Add one tablespoon of vodka or diluted alcohol (in a 1: 3 ratio), mix.
2. Take a thick piece of cloth, better canvas (not thin cotton or gauze, to avoid burns).
3. Cut the fabric to the size of the back.
4. Moisten the linen cloth in the prepared mixture in advance, squeeze a little and put on the upper back (on the lungs).
5. On top of the tissue in the lung area, place 4 mustard plasters along the spine. Mustards must lie on their backs to the back (that is, not "hot").
6. Cover it all with a package.
7. Tie a criss-cross in a scarf, preferably woolen.
8. Lie on your back and hold the compress for 2-3 hours.

Such a procedure should be done 1 time a day for a course of 3 days.

Indications and contraindications for alcohol compresses

When it is possible and necessary to make an alcohol compress? It is indicated for such diseases and troubles as:

• tracheitis;
• laryngitis;
• Otitis (but not purulent!);
• gout;
• Cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis;
• Bruises;
• Inflamed injuries;
• rheumatism;
• radiculitis.

You can not do an alcohol compress:

• at a temperature;
• On the places affected by depriving, fungus;
• On places that are damaged mechanically (scratches, wounds);
• With purulent otitis;
• With bronchitis;
• To children under the age of 1 year.

To small children from one year to three years, the alcohol compress is not recommended. If your child is more than three years old, but you still doubt whether it is possible to do a compress (alcohol) to a child, be sure to consult your pediatrician!

Basic Errors

What are the mistakes people make, the first time putting yourself or a loved one an alcohol compress? Let's once again focus on this, in order to avoid them and not cause the body harm instead of benefit.

1. Do not smear the skin on the spot with a cream or butter compress. Do not neglect it, and then burns do not threaten you!
2. Forget or change the sequence of layers of the compress, in this case losing the entire effectiveness of the procedure. Do not forget: wet gauze must be covered with a waterproof film! So you avoid evaporation of alcohol.
3. Incorrectly bred alcohol. Remember - alcohol dilute with water more than less. Then the skin will thank you. Children dilute with water you need not only alcohol, but even vodka (1: 1)!

And always remember the basic rule: an alcohol compress is only an additional method of treating colds and other diseases. Such treatment, despite the many years of experience of our mothers and grandmothers, it is desirable to use under the supervision of your doctor.