Pathologies of the respiratory tract are quite common. Herbal remedies are actively used to treat them. One of the most effective formulations is calendula tincture for gargling. It helps cope with infections, eliminates inflammation and reduces pain.
The composition can be purchased at a pharmacy or made with your own hands.
Composition and beneficial properties of calendula
The second name of the plant is marigold.
Its flowers not only attract the eye with their bright, cheerful petals and pleasant strong aroma, but also have medicinal properties. The active substances in the plant can have a beneficial effect on various vital systems of the body. The inflorescences of the plant contain:
- sterols – regulate cholesterol levels;
- flavonoids – relieve spasms, promote rapid healing of wounds;
- carotenes – help ensure reliable absorption of vitamins;
- salicylic acid – has an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, disinfecting effect;
- essential oils – eliminating pathogens;
- phytoncides – having an antibacterial effect;
- beneficial microelements – ensure the normal functioning of various body systems, strengthen the immune system, and promote overall well-being.
The medicinal properties of the plant have not gone unnoticed in official and folk medicine. Pharmacy tincture is very popular in the treatment of various diseases, including ENT organs.
Indications for gargling with calendula
As a medicine, tincture of plant flowers is used for:
- acute and chronic tonsillitis;
- pharyngitis;
- laryngitis;
- fungal infections of the oral cavity;
- acute and chronic bronchitis;
- pain and inflammation caused by allergic reactions;
- tracheitis and laryngotracheitis;
- pneumonia;
- diseases accompanied by pain and inflammation in the throat (ARVI, acute respiratory infections, influenza),
The use of the tincture helps relieve pain in the throat and nasopharynx, relieve the patient from inflammation, redness and soreness.
The positive effect of the plant is to create a protective barrier that prevents the further spread of pathogens.
Gargling with calendula tincture is also useful during epidemics of viral or infectious diseases as a preventive measure.
Gargling with infusions prepared according to various recipes is usually effective for pharyngitis and inflammation of various types, including tonsillitis.
For sinusitis or a cold, rinse the nasal passages and nasal cavity well with a tincture or decoction of the plant. Teas prepared from calendula flowers are drunk to strengthen the immune system.
Who is the procedure contraindicated for?
Despite the fact that this medicine is natural, there are some contraindications to its use. Rinse is canceled if individual intolerance to the components of the plant is detected.
Remember
You cannot use calendula infusion for the throat if the pathological condition is provoked by bronchial asthma, since the active substances in the composition can provoke an attack.
Contraindications also include the body's tendency to allergic pathologies, such as urticaria, Quincke's edema. Hypotension is another reason to stop using the tincture, since the drug has the ability to lower blood pressure.
There are certain restrictions on prescribing the drug for the treatment of children and pregnant women. They will be discussed below.
Can it be used by a child? From what age?
Many parents, knowing about the positive properties of calendula, are interested in whether it can be used for sore throats in children. Without denying the positive therapeutic effect, it should be noted that this procedure is undesirable if the child has not reached the age of three.
Children under three years of age do not yet know how to properly gargle for sore throat and other diseases and risk swallowing large amounts of solution and even choking.
When using this medicine for a child, you must carefully follow the dosage prescribed by the doctor and stay close to him during the rinsing procedure. Getting a small amount of solution into the nasopharynx does not pose a danger to the body. It is better for children to be treated with an aqueous rather than an alcohol solution.
Preparing to rinse
Bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms often multiply in the oral cavity. Large colonies of parasites form a covering layer on the tissues of the oral cavity, which interferes with the penetration of medications into the affected areas.
Before using calendula tincture for rinsing, it is worth taking hygiene measures. They are aimed at removing microorganisms from the oral cavity.
For the medication to act effectively on the mucous membranes of the throat, mucous secretions should be removed. The easiest way to do this is with ordinary water. To do this, just gargle.
If there is no pronounced inflammation, the cleansing effect can be enhanced. To do this, add half a small spoon of baking soda to the water.
Before rinsing your mouth with calendula tincture, you need to clean your teeth and tongue from plaque. This can be done with toothpaste.
Cleaning teeth and tongue
How to dilute calendula tincture for gargling? Proportions
Pharmaceutical companies produce the drug in the form of an aqueous or alcoholic tincture. They can both be used to treat throat and bronchitis. Aquatic water rarely causes negative symptoms or allergic reactions because it does not contain alcohol.
Before diluting the calendula infusion, you need to accurately determine the optimal proportions for this. The usual dosage for adults is a teaspoon of the drug per 200 ml of warm boiled water.
The resulting solution must be thoroughly mixed before starting the rinsing procedure. It is highly not recommended to use an alcohol solution in its pure form, due to the high risk of burns to the mucous membranes.
In case of severe, inflammatory diseases, accompanied by an increase in temperature and the formation of purulent foci, the solution can be made more saturated. To do this, the dosage is increased to 1.5 teaspoon (or one dessert) spoon.
How many drops will be most optimal for children with coughs and sore throats? In this case, the dosage should be lower and be 0.5 teaspoon per 200 mg of water.
Result of rinsing:
- eliminating swelling and redness of the throat;
- relief from pain and soreness;
- outflow of purulent discharge;
- elimination of coughing attacks and shortness of breath;
- removal of gray-white plaque on the tonsils;
- softening of mucous membranes.
Due to its medicinal properties, the product is included in some medications. For example, the drug Rotokan is used to treat inflammatory diseases of the nose and throat.
In addition to calendula, it also contains chamomile and yarrow. Contraindications for use: individual intolerance, brain dysfunction, liver pathologies, chronic alcoholism.
Alcohol tincture can be prepared at home. To do this, 2-3 tablespoons of plant flowers are infused in 0.5 liters of alcohol or vodka for two weeks. To enhance the therapeutic effect, you can add chamomile, plantain or wormwood herb to the resulting tincture.
How to dilute calendula tincture for the throat
It is strictly forbidden to use alcohol tincture in its pure form! There is a risk of getting a burn to the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and pharynx, which will ultimately lead to increased pain and the spread of the inflammatory process.
Prepare a solution for gargling based on the following calculation: 1 tsp. (5 ml) tincture per glass of water (200 ml). In children under 12 years of age, the mucous membrane of the pharynx is not yet sufficiently developed, so it is necessary to prepare a less strong solution: add only 1/2 tsp to a standard glass of water. alcohol tincture.
For purulent formations in the oropharynx, as well as if the calendula was infused with vodka, you can make a more concentrated solution: 1 dessert spoon (10 ml) per glass of water.
We list the important nuances of how to dilute calendula tincture for the throat:
- use only clean, slightly heated water;
- after mixing, stir the solution thoroughly and very intensively (due to the fact that liquids have different densities, there is a risk of getting burned);
- prepare the solution right before the procedure;
- when treating various diseases, always dilute the tincture in one concentration;
- Before rinsing, drink warm water: this will facilitate deeper penetration of healing substances into the mucous membrane of the throat.
The rinsing procedure itself is recommended for 10 minutes 5-6 times a day. Use only one glass of diluted tincture at a time. After completing treatment, do not eat or drink for 15–20 minutes (this will interfere with the action of the active substances deposited on the mucous membrane of the throat).
Important information!
Rinsing with calendula tincture must be carried out for at least 7 days. This is due to the fact that even after all symptoms disappear, pathogenic organisms may remain in the throat.
How to brew calendula?
The blooming flowers of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. They are picked and dried in order to preserve the beneficial properties of the plant as much as possible. You need to dry flowers in a dark, dry, well-ventilated area. Properly prepared raw materials can be stored for up to two years.
If you decide to collect calendula flowers yourself, you must follow some rules. The best places to stock up on medicinal flowers are areas located away from industrial enterprises and livestock grazing.
Collection is carried out on a dry day, in the morning. To ensure that the flowers of the plant do not lose their beneficial properties, the drying process should be carried out at a temperature no higher than 40 C (this is especially important if drying is carried out in an oven).
There are several folk recipes on how to properly brew a throat solution. Let's give examples of some of them.
- A tablespoon of dry raw materials is poured into a glass of boiling water, the mixture is placed in a container and wrapped. After 1-2 hours, the mixture is filtered and used for rinsing.
- For two tablespoons of flowers, take two glasses of water and keep the solution on low heat for 30-40 minutes. The finished solution must be cooled and filtered through gauze or thick cloth.
- Infusion with oil. 3-4 spoons of flowers are poured into 100 ml of olive oil and the contents of the container are left to infuse in a dark place for a month.
Infusions of calendula flowers are best used immediately after preparation. This way they retain maximum of their nutrients.
If there is a need to prepare a solution “for the future,” the prepared tincture should be stored in the refrigerator in a dark glass container. It is advisable to consult a doctor before treatment.
How to gargle with calendula? Instructions
The rules for rinsing with calendula are simple, but they must be followed.
- Pre-rinse your mouth immediately before the procedure. This will help cleanse the mucous membranes of dirt or food debris.
- Prepare the infusion. It must be warm (but not hot!)
- For the procedure to be effective, after taking the solution into your mouth, you need to throw back your head and pronounce the sound “uh-uh”. Water should thoroughly wash the inflamed areas.
- The duration of each rinsing procedure is at least 30 seconds.
It should be remembered that rinsing with calendula tincture does not give an immediate positive result. The duration of the course of treatment should be at least a week, subject to rinsing 4-5 times a day.
For tonsillitis, pneumonia and complicated acute respiratory infections, it is possible to increase the number of procedures to 7 per day. The weakening of signs of the disease 2-3 days after the start of treatment should not be a reason to stop treatment.
It is better for children to rinse not with alcohol, but with an aqueous solution of the product. You should not start treatment without checking with your doctor about the dosage of this drug. This method of treatment is affordable, quite effective and safe for health, provided that the instructions are followed.
On topic: Sore throat; painful to swallow; no fever. What to do? Treatment
How to gargle with Furacilin? How to properly dilute? Instructions and reviews
Use during pregnancy. Is it possible?
Pregnancy, especially its first weeks, is a difficult period in a woman’s life.
The body's immune forces begin to fail, which often leads to infectious diseases. Colds and other diseases that cause cough, sore throat and redness can often be triggered by stressful situations, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, and exacerbation of chronic pathologies.
Many mothers do not want to be treated with medications, rightly believing that these drugs will have a negative impact on the unborn child. You need to be especially careful when choosing medications in the early stages, when the formation of various fetal organs occurs.
The search for natural remedies that cause a minimum of side effects and have virtually no contraindications leads expectant mothers to choose a calendula solution for rinsing. How effective and justified is such treatment?
Gargling with a calendula solution for coughs and sore throats is one of the most acceptable treatment methods for an expectant mother. For treatment, an aqueous rather than an alcohol solution of the product is recommended. Otherwise, the treatment regimen is similar to conventional therapy.
Indications for use
Calendula is a plant that is grown commercially for medicinal purposes. Flowers are used as medicinal raw materials, which are collected from the beginning of flowering until the onset of autumn. The inflorescences contain:
- tannins;
- alkaloids;
- essential oils;
- organic acids;
- carotenoids;
- flavonoids.
Medicines prepared from this plant have a calming effect on the central nervous system and have a pronounced antibacterial property. The drugs showed the greatest effectiveness in the fight against staphylococcus and streptococcus. Recommended for therapy:
- tonsillitis;
- periodontal disease;
- pharyngitis;
- laryngitis;
- tonsillitis;
- toothache;
- stomatitis;
- gum damage;
- prevention of other infectious diseases.
The drugs help get rid of pathogenic microflora of the oral cavity, purulent ulcers, relieve inflammation and reduce toothache.
It is advisable to use medications to soften and reduce a sore throat, improve expectoration of mucus from the lungs during a cold, and also reduce pain, for example, after tooth extraction or treatment.
Possible side effects from use
Although the solution is a natural remedy, its long-term use can cause some side effects. In quite rare cases, the following negative phenomena may occur:
- nausea and heartburn;
- feeling of bitterness in the mouth;
- pain and discomfort in the abdominal area;
- the appearance of a rash on the body, accompanied by itching.
The presence of alcohol in the alcohol solution should be taken into account.
During treatment, it is advisable to limit driving and performing work that requires extreme concentration. If the patient regularly takes other groups of drugs, he should inform the doctor about this fact, since the combination of some drugs can cause an additive effect. [ads-pc-1][ads-mob-1]
Contraindications and side effects
There are no potent substances in calendula tincture, but even if you make the solution correctly, there is always a risk of developing side effects. In particular, doctors recommend abandoning homeopathic remedies in the following cases:
- with frequent nosebleeds;
- when taking sedatives;
- at body temperature above 39 degrees;
- for cardiovascular diseases.
Even a slightly diluted tincture can provoke an allergic reaction in the form of skin rashes and swelling. If individual intolerance occurs, you must stop using the solution and consult a doctor to select an alternative remedy.
Questions
Is it possible to rinse your nose with calendula if you have a runny nose?
An infusion of the plant can be used to rinse a stuffy nose caused by acute or chronic rhinitis. Both aqueous and alcohol solutions are suitable for washing.
The temperature of the water for washing should not exceed 30-32 C. For greater convenience, you can use a pipette or a syringe that does not have a needle.
In order for the rinsing process to give positive results, the tincture is prepared according to the same rules as for gargling and the solution is used immediately after preparation.
The alcohol tincture should be diluted with boiled water. Calendula rinsing may be recommended for children. For greater effectiveness in fighting a runny nose, a complex of herbs is used for rinsing.
Is it possible to drink?
The use of infusions and decoctions of calendula orally is indicated for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and high blood pressure.
An infusion for internal use is prepared according to the usual recipe: the previously prepared raw materials of the plant’s flowers are poured with boiling water and infused in a dark place for several hours. Drink the prepared tincture half a glass 3-4 times a day before meals.
It is not recommended to drink decoctions and infusions of calendula for children under 12 years of age.
What is better to gargle with: calendula or chamomile?
Both plants are widely known for their medicinal properties. Chamomile also has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and softening effects. Prepare a chamomile decoction according to the usual recipe, brewing the inflorescences of the plant with boiling water.
The most effective remedy for relieving sore throat and cough is a combination of these two medicinal plants. To do this, combine dried flowers in equal proportions (for example, one tablespoon each) in a container and pour 0.5 liters of boiling water.
After infusion, the mixture is filtered, a little boiled water at room temperature is added and used for rinsing three to four times a day.
The product effectively eliminates pain, dryness and irritability of the mucous membranes, helps relieve swelling and redness, and relieves cough.
Related articles: How to gargle with baking soda? Proportions. Salt and iodine. Full description
I have a sore throat and want to cough: how to treat it? What to do?
How to prepare a decoction?
To prepare the decoction you will need dried flowers of the plant. The raw materials are placed in a fireproof container, filled with warm water and kept in a water bath for 30-40 minutes.
After removing from heat, wait 10-15 minutes and strain the resulting solution. The decoction for rinsing or oral administration is ready. They can treat not only diseases of the respiratory system, but also stomatitis, colitis, skin pathologies, and cardiac diseases.
Thus, infusions and decoctions of calendula can be successfully used in the treatment of throat diseases and give good results.
Pharmacy equivalent
Modern pharmacology offers a wide range of products with calendula extract. The most common drug is alcohol tincture. The medicine is sold in dark glass bottles of different sizes: 25, 40, 50 and 100 ml.
How to breed correctly
Whether it's a pharmaceutical drug or a medicine made at home, the same question often appears online - how to dilute calendula tincture for gargling. Juice, decoction or alcohol-free infusion does not need to be diluted with water - they are used in finished form.
Alcohol tincture must be diluted in cooled boiled water. Otherwise, you can burn the mucous membrane and thereby worsen the patient’s condition. An infusion with an alcohol content of 70% is diluted in the following proportions: 1 tsp. products for 200 ml of water. When diluting a tincture prepared with vodka, take 2 teaspoons per glass.
For each specific disease, the patient’s age, concomitant chronic diseases and other factors, the dose of drugs and the frequency of procedures may vary. Only the attending physician can give precise instructions for use.
