Cold balm
What is a cold balm?
A cold balm is a product that usually contains essential oils and other botanicals.
As the name suggests, it is used to relieve the symptoms of the common cold such as a sore throat, runny nose and cough. The ointment can be applied to the chest, back or neck and should then be gently massaged in.
Some products can also be inhaled dissolved in hot water. Regardless of the form of application, the cold balm has an expectorant, decongestant and anti-inflammatory effect.
For whom is a cold balm useful?
Colds or viral infections of the upper respiratory tract are usually harmless diseases, but the symptoms can be very annoying for those affected.
Therefore it makes perfect sense to get relief with a cold balm. This remedy with essential oils has a decongestant, anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect.
In principle, anyone who has had a cold can use cold balm. However, not all products are suitable for infants, children and pregnant women. It depends on the ingredients.
You should therefore read the package insert carefully. In addition, you should consult a doctor if you have a long-lasting cold with slimy sputum or a high fever.
Read more on the subject at:
- When do I have to see a doctor if I have a cold?
- Course of a cold
- How long is a cold contagious?
How does a cold balm work?
Thanks to its essential oils and other herbal ingredients, a cold balm is an effective means of relieving common cold symptoms such as coughs, runny nose and sore throats.
The cold balm is applied to the skin. The active ingredients are also absorbed through the breath. The essential oils have an expectorant effect in the bronchi.
This effect can be intensified by inhaling the cold balm. Because the essential vapors that get into the airways have a particularly expectorant and calming effect.
This is felt to be very beneficial by the patients. The cold balm also ensures that the irritated nasal mucous membranes swell in the nose. You can breathe a little more freely again.
Often menthol is also part of the cold balm. This has an antibacterial and disinfectant effect.
Read more on the subject at:
- Home remedies for a cold
- Inhaling if you have a cold
- Naturopathy for a cold
Which cold balm is suitable for whom?
Cold balms for babies
Not all adult cold balm can be used on children and babies too. You really have to be careful with babies.
Therefore, one should always read in the package insert whether the product can be used in children under 2 years of age. Essential oils can cause shortness of breath in babies. Even the smallest amounts are sufficient to trigger a life-threatening larynx spasm with respiratory arrest. However, there are special products that have been specially developed for babies. It is best to put a drop on the pillow or on a damp cloth and hang it over the cot.
The Babix® baby balm can also be applied in small quantities to the baby's chest and back.
Transpulmin® and Wick® also have a mild cold balm especially for babies. Most often, rosemary and lavender are used in these products.
In general, you should definitely seek advice from the pharmacy. You should also visit the pediatrician generously if the baby suffers from colds.
Read more on the subject at: Cold in the baby
Cold balm for children
There are quite a few cold balm products for children.However, here too, you should read the package insert carefully beforehand to see whether the product is approved and recommended for the appropriate age.
In addition, you should only apply the cold balm in small amounts, as essential oils can cause severe irritation of the respiratory tract, even in children. The cold balm from Transpulmin® can be used from 2 years of age.
However, care should be taken with children under the age of 6. The product must not be applied on the face and especially around the nose. This can lead to the described airway cramps. Pediatricians usually recommend that you only use cold balm from school age.
Table salt or sea salt nose drops are often better for younger children. If the bronchial tubes are congested, inhalation is still most useful. You shouldn't let the children inhale over a pot of hot water like adults, but get an appropriate inhalation device from the pharmacy.
Read more on the subject below:
- Therapy for a cold
- Inhaling if you have a cold
Cold balm during pregnancy
Even during pregnancy you can catch an annoying cold. The desire to alleviate the symptoms with a cold balm is quite understandable.
During pregnancy, however, special care should be taken with non-prescription drugs; you should always read the package insert to see whether the product is recommended for pregnant women. Usually, nothing speaks against a menthol-free cold balm. The inhalation of essential oils and juices based on plants is also allowed.
Depending on the severity of the infection, you should definitely consult a doctor, who can then decide whether symptomatic therapy (e.g. with cold balm) is sufficient, or whether an antibiotic may not even have to be prescribed. There are certainly antibiotics that can be taken during pregnancy without any problems.
Read more on the subject at:
- Common cold during pregnancy
- Medication in Pregnancy
Cold balm for breastfeeding
The same applies here as in pregnancy. Actually, nothing speaks against a menthol-free cold balm.
It is therefore definitely advisable to take a look at the package insert. However, one should be very careful that the infant does not come into contact with the essential vapors of the cold balm. Therefore, a certain restraint in terms of cold balm makes sense when breastfeeding.
Only products containing sage should be completely avoided during breastfeeding, because sage can inhibit milk production.
Read more on the subject at: Breastfeeding
These are the typical ingredients of cold balms
The ingredients in a cold balm differ from product to product. However, the combinations are similar.
Most cold balms contain essential oils and botanicals. Eucalyptus or pine needle oil are often used. Camphor and menthol are also often part of the recipe. There are also thymol and ribwort.
In addition, you need a fat-soluble ointment base such as Vaseline or beeswax.
These cold balms are there
There are really numerous cold balms, so only a rough overview of the most important products can be shown here.
For example, the cold balm Transpulmin® is known, it contains cineole, menthol and Camper and is used for colds of the respiratory tract. Pinimenthol® cold ointment is also a frequently sold product. It contains eucalyptus and pine needle oils as well as menthol. It is only approved for adults and children from the age of 12.
Wick also produces the cold ointment VapoRub® with mentol, camphor, turpentine and eucalyptus oil.
The white Tiger Balm® also improves cold symptoms and bronchial ailments. It contains peppermint essential oil. Tetesept also offers a cold balm with eucalyptus oil and camphor. This clears the nose and congested airways.
There are certainly numerous other highly effective products that cannot be mentioned here for reasons of space. It is therefore worthwhile to seek advice from the pharmacy.
Read more on the subject below: Wick VapoRub®
Pinimenthol®
The cold products from Pinimenthol® are real classics. The cold ointment has enjoyed great popularity since the 1950s.
The ingredients are eucalyptus and pine needle oil and the name suggests - menthol. This combination promotes the mobilization of tough mucus in the bronchi and makes it easier to cough up.
You can apply the ointment 2-4 times a day on your chest and back. The ointment can also be used for inhalation by dissolving it in hot water.
Also read the article: Pinimenthol cold bath
Tetesept®
The company Tetesept® offers numerous products against colds. In addition to cold baths and capsules, there is also a cold balm. This contains eucalyptus and pine needle oil as well as camphor and is freely available. It is suitable for adults and children from 12 years.
The cold balm is applied 1-3 times a day. It loosens the mucus in the sinuses, clears the bronchi and soothes a stubborn cough. You can breathe more freely through the rising vapors.
If the cold symptoms have not improved significantly after 4-5 days, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Transpulmin®
The Transpulmin® cold balm is also a popular product that is used to relieve cold symptoms. The balm contains menthol, cineole and camphor as active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The menthol contained in peppermint oil has an expectorant effect in the paranasal sinuses and in the bronchi. Camphor and cineole promote blood circulation in the mucous membranes. As a result, the cold symptoms subside faster. The cold balm can be used for inhalation or for rubbing on the skin.
There is also a cold balm from Transpulmin® for children, but this does not contain camphor.
Can I also inhale with my cold balm?
Most cold products can also be inhaled. To do this, simply add a bit of cold balm to hot water and stir until the ointment has dissolved. You can start inhaling.
It is easiest to use the saucepan method. However, this is not recommended for children but only for adults.
You bend your head over a bowl with the hot inhalant and cover your head with a towel. It goes without saying that the inhalation should not be carried out with the pot on the still hot stove but on a stable surface (e.g. at the table). Now you can breathe in the hot steam through your mouth and breathe out again through your nose.
If it gets too hot under the cloth, you can pause for a few minutes. Depending on the symptoms, you can inhale 3 times a day. If you shy away from this type of inhalation for fear of scalding, we recommend an inhalation set from the pharmacy. There are systems here in which the hot water is tightly closed; these are also recommended for inhalation in children.
Read more on the subject below: Inhaling if you have a cold
This is how I make cold balm myself
Cold ointments are popular products for relieving cold symptoms. They work quickly and usually have no side effects.
The advantages of a homemade cold balm are obvious. You can decide for yourself which ingredients you choose. It is not an industrial mass product. All ingredients are caring and skin-friendly, and it is usually much cheaper than buying a finished product in the pharmacy.
Basically you need essential oils and a fat-soluble carrier. So you can make a soothing cold balm from olive oil, beeswax and a few drops of essential oils. Depending on your taste, you can choose eucalyptus, peppermint or lavender oil. Instead of beeswax you can also use cocoa or shea butter.
The production is very easy. Bring the ingredients to a boil over the water bath, and add the essential oils last. Then you let the mass cool down in a small container and the homemade cold balm is ready.
Why should I rub cold balm on my feet?
Rubbing your feet with cold balm helps against cold feet. Products with menthol in particular promise this effect.
The menthol increases blood flow and the body increases the heat supply at this point. The cold balm works like a warming poultice. The skin can regenerate better thanks to the improved blood circulation. This is why some people apply the cold balm to bruised and sore heels.
However, one should be careful with open wounds. Use here is not recommended.
Does a cold balm also work against nail fungus?
In fact, there is evidence that cold balm also helps against nail fungus.
Products with camphor and eucalyptus in particular prove to be particularly anti-fungal. Experts therefore advise applying a cold balm with these ingredients to the affected toenails once a day with a cotton swab.
Here, too, however, if the nails are already severely damaged by the fungus, it is not advisable to use them, as this can also irritate the nail. In this case, a visit to the dermatologist is recommended. If only parts of individual nails are affected, it is worth trying this home remedy.
Read more on the subject at: This is how the nail fungus is treated
