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The healing power of heat was appreciated by doctors in ancient times. One such solution is an alcohol vodka compress, which has a deep warming effect. Diluted ethyl alcohol does not burn the skin and does not have a sharp unpleasant odor, like some other warming preparations, so vodka compresses are suitable for almost everyone. They can be put even to pregnant women and children over 3 years old (if there are no additional contraindications).
The choice of alcohol base. At home, a compress is made from vodka or diluted with water up to 40% pure ethyl (can be medical) alcohol. Moonshine in this case is undesirable, because it contains harmful impurities. To avoid skin irritation, the strength of the alcohol base should not exceed 40 degrees. Further in the course of the article, the terms vodka (from vodka) and alcohol (from alcohol) mean one remedy.
Operating principle. In the area to which the alcohol compress is applied, the vessels dilate, the blood flow increases, the removal of toxins accelerates, and the tissues are saturated with oxygen. Such compresses relieve pain, inflammation and swelling.
In addition, alcohol is an excellent solvent. If you add healing herbal extracts to the vodka (alcohol) intended for compress, then the beneficial substances will be absorbed into the blood vessels much faster.
What helps. Vodka (alcohol) compresses are recommended for the following diseases:
- cough, sore throat and sore throat (except for the purulent form);
- colds and hypothermia, if there is no temperature;
- otitis (except for the purulent form);
- joint pains;
- bruises, sprains of ligaments and muscles;
- bumps that occur after injections;
- the appearance of corns;
- thrombophlebitis, varicose veins and gout;
- sciatica and back pain.
Contraindications to the use of vodka compresses
You can not put vodka compresses in cases where the body temperature is above 36,9 ° C, children under 3 years old, and also in the presence of:
- oncological diseases;
- purulent otitis;
- purulent tonsillitis;
- bronchitis;
- acute thrombophlebitis;
- hypertension;
- heart disease;
- damage to the skin, open wounds, abscesses, trophic ulcers;
- allergic rashes.
How to make an alcohol compress
Vodka compresses, regardless of which part of the body they are applied to, have the same structure:
- the bottom layer is cotton or linen fabric, which is moistened with vodka or ethyl alcohol diluted to 40 degrees, and then squeezed well;
- the middle layer is polyethylene or special waxed (so-called compress) paper;
- the top layer is a warm woolen fabric.
To keep the wet layer warm, the middle layer should be 2 cm wider and longer than the bottom layer, and the top layer should be 2 cm wider and longer than the middle layer. If the patient felt chills, it means that the alcohol compress was placed incorrectly: the lower layer is not tightly closed by the upper ones.
When treating a child or a person with sensitive skin, the place where the vodka compress will be placed is pre-lubricated with olive oil or baby cream. For children from 3 to 7 years old, vodka can be diluted with water up to 20-25 degrees. From above, the compress is fixed with a bandage so that all three layers are firmly held, but the bandage does not squeeze the vessels and does not interfere with blood flow.
The duration of any alcohol compress is 2-4 hours. If it is put on at night, then a person can keep the bandage until the morning, but during the day it is advisable to periodically renew the alcohol base.
Features of vodka compresses for various diseases
With angina. A vodka compress is placed on the neck. In no case should it cover the area in front where the thyroid gland is located. After the compress is removed, you need to stay warm for 12 hours. An alcohol compress promotes the transition of a dry cough into a wet one, improving sputum separation.
With a cold. If, during hypothermia or a cold, the body temperature does not rise above 36,9 ° C, you can put a vodka compress on your chest or back. To enhance the action before the procedure, you can lubricate the corresponding area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe skin with goose fat.
In otitis (on the ear). To warm the ear with otitis media, the most important thing is that the liquid does not enter the ear canal. Therefore, it is better to make the compress not solid, but to cut a hole in it for the auricle.
A square with a side of 7–9 cm is cut out of cotton or linen fabric, a hole is made in the middle, the fabric is moistened in vodka (alcohol) and put on the ear. Waxed paper is placed on top, and a cotton pad is placed on it. The front of the compress can be attached to the cheek with adhesive tape. The compress is fixed with a bandage, which is wrapped around the head and tied under the chin. A warm scarf or a wide woolen scarf is put on top. It is recommended to keep such a compress for no more than 4 hours.
For pain in the joints. Due to the warming effect, vodka compresses are good for inflammation and pain in the joints. If the pain is very strong, you can use the method that is often recommended by sports doctors:
- smear the sore spot with Vishnevsky’s ointment (balsamic liniment according to Vishnevsky);
- apply a vodka compress on top.
With bruises, sprains of ligaments and muscles. A vodka compress can be placed no earlier than a day after the injury: on the first day, only cold lotions are applied.
On bumps that occur after injections. As a result of injections on the buttocks, there are very painful hardenings – bumps. They will dissolve much faster if you lubricate problem areas with baby cream at night, and stick small alcohol compresses on top with a plaster (a cotton pad is used as the top layer of such a compress). The tool will work more effectively if you alternate it with the application of cakes of honey and rye flour. Such cakes should be kept no more than 2-3 hours.
From footpads. In order to get rid of corns, you need to dissolve 5 grams of table or sea salt in 40 liters of water heated to 100 ° C in the evening before going to bed and hold your feet in this bath for 15-20 minutes. Then wipe your feet well, attach a piece of cotton fabric soaked with vodka to both soles, put plastic bags on your feet, cotton socks on top, woolen socks on them. In the morning, corns can be easily removed with a pumice stone. Feet after the procedure should be lubricated with a nourishing cream.
With thrombophlebitis, varicose veins and gout. Vodka compresses not only relieve pain in subcutaneous thrombophlebitis, varicose veins and gout, but also contribute to the resorption of “asterisks”. It is recommended to put compresses at night, after a contrast shower. It is best to use not ordinary vodka as a liquid for a compress, but a tincture of flowers or fruits of horse chestnut, acacia flowers.
With radiculitis. Alcohol compresses quite effectively relieve pain in sciatica. After a warm compress for 12 hours, it is not recommended to leave the room.
A mixture of 150 g of vodka, 100 g of honey and 50 g of aloe juice has an even stronger effect. A compress with this composition is applied to the back and lower back in the evening, before going to bed, and washed off with warm water in the morning.
Attention! Self-medication can be harmful to health. Before use, consult your doctor.