Is inhaling vinegar steam good for sinuses? It’s that time of year again. The weather is cooling off, the leaves are turning brown and blowing all over, and sinus pressure in pain has made its appearance the same way it does every year at this time.
And just like clockwork, home remedies pop up all over offering a easy homestyle fix for every runny nose and congested chest all up and down the streets.
Congestion and head colds seem to be a problem that everyone has a home remedy waiting in the wings to cure and hope you get back on your feet.
Inhaling vinegar steam
One home remedy for clearing up congestion in your face and in your chest is the use of vinegar. More specifically the use of vinegar vapor and steam.
The ideal is to put apple cider vinegar in a pot of boiling water and breathe in the steam. Another way of doing it would be to add it to your humidifier/ vaporizer.
Another technique after you have the steam rolling is to place a towel over your head to trap in the steam so that you get the biggest breath of it you can.
Why does inhaling vinegar steam help clear sinuses?
Inhaling steam is a good way to irrigate the sinuses.
The main ingredient of vinegar is the substance called a acetic acid. Acetic acid is a natural microbial deterrent that can aid in the reduction and reproduction of bacteria in the sinuses.
Apple Cider Vinegar is also full of other nutrients like vitamins B,A, and E, as well as calcium and magnesium that can help reduce inflammation in the sinus cavities.
This is one remedy that does not have the wholehearted agreement of its effectiveness or safety.
There are proponents of it who say that breathing vinegar steam will burn your sinuses because of the acetic acid.
As with any home remedy, the best idea is to try it and if it doesn’t give you any results or worse gives you a bad reaction, then stop.
Though there are people who absolutely swear by the use of apple cider vinegar steaming, if the method is too strong for you, then you may be at a point where you need to see a doctor already.
Inhaling white vinegar steam
Inhaling white vinegar steamInhaling white vinegar steam is not the same as inhaling apple cider vinegar steam.
White vinegar is made with grain and basically is fermented alcohol.
That is one of the reasons why it is so effective as a cleaning solution or additive.
It is also good for killing weeds and deterring insects.
And unlike apple cider vinegar, it does not have the enzymes and vitamins that can account for the medicinal properties of apple cider vinegar.
Though distilled vinegar or white vinegar may not be as beneficial as a steam bath to relieve congestion, that’s not to say that it’s all together ineffective.
But when you consider the fact that it is good as a weed killer, I’d probably would rather just go with the apple cider vinegar rather than mess around with something that could be potentially harmful.
But people drink soda all day long and it is well known that you can clean corrosion off your battery post with soda as well as get the ring out of your toilet with it. So you be the judge.
Putting vinegar in a humidifier
Vinegar is one of the most popular natural substances that is known to remove mold and inhibit its production.
That is one of the reasons why it is a popular additive to humidifier water.
As you probably already know, humidifiers have for good reason, the reputation of also being dangerous when not well maintained.
The reason is, the device has all the ingredients: moisture, warmth, and dark corners to be a effective mold production factory made to spit out moisture into the air.
And when that device is not properly taken care of, the moisture it spits into the air can be full of mold and bacteria.
Adding vinegar to the humidifier, is a simple way of keeping a cleaner humidifier.
Though it doesn’t take the place of regular cleaning and replacing the purified or distilled water in the machine, it definitely makes a big difference in the amount of mold production that is able to take place in the machine.
Adding apple cider vinegar to a vaporizer will not only help inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria in the vaporizer, it also becomes a healthy and safe additive that can help in the elimination of head congestion and clogged sinuses.
Recap
Inhaling vinegar steam, more specifically apple cider vinegar steam is an old country remedy to relieve head and chest congestion.
Many people already keep water boiling in the winter to help alleviate symptoms caused by dry air.
Apple cider vinegar makes a great additive to the boiling water because of the enzymes and nutrients found in it can help with sinus inflammation and clearing.
But not all vinegar is the same. Apple cider vinegar is known for its medicinal properties and vitamins.
Distilled vinegar or white vinegar does not have the same nutrients and could be more acidic as a steam.
The main ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid. Proponents of using vinegar as a steam to clear out the sinuses usually note that acetic acid can be too strong and burn the sinuses.
For this reason, if you’re going to try inhaling vinegar steam to clear out your sinuses, it’s probably better to crawl before you walk and try it out slowly.
And remember A little dab will do you.
