When a child is tormented by a cough, adults try to help the baby by any means, resorting not only to taking syrups or mixtures, but also to various procedures. One of these procedures recommended for coughing in a child is rubbing with ointments. Turpentine ointment is often used for her.
Turpentine is called an ointment, the main ingredient of which is gum turpentine. It is a natural plant substance obtained from the resin of coniferous trees. Its active ingredient is represented by turpentine oil.
This ointment is produced in glass jars, as well as in aluminum tubes of 25, 30 or 50 g. In addition to turpentine, this 20% ointment contains water and petroleum jelly.
Operating principle
Due to the presence of turpentine, the ointment has an anesthetic, antiseptic, warming and anti-inflammatory effect. It acts on skin receptors, has a distracting effect, dilates blood vessels and causes blood flow to the site of application. When coughing, such an ointment warms up the bronchi, relieves inflammation and pain. This drug has also shown its high efficiency for pain in muscles and joints, neuritis and neuralgia.
Contraindications and adverse reactions
Ointment containing turpentine should not be used in children with:
- Hypersensitivity to its components.
- Diseases of the liver.
- Kidney disease.
- Dermatitis.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Increased body temperature.
- Skin lesions at the site of application.
The most common side effect of using turpentine ointment is skin irritation at the site of application. The development of allergic reactions is also possible.
The child begins to complain of itching and burning, the skin may redden, become covered with a rash or become swollen. More rare adverse reactions to rubbing with turpentine ointment are choking and convulsions. Also, in some children, after such rubbing, blood pressure may drop.
Instructions for use
- Turpentine ointment is used only externally, applied to the required areas of the skin with a thin layer.
- When coughing, the back, chest and feet are most often treated with this drug.
- The ointment is applied in the evening before going to bed.
- When rubbing the chest, avoid the area of the heart, and also do not apply the drug to the nipples.
- After applying the ointment, the child is put on underwear made of natural fabric. If you rubbed your feet, wear woolen socks on top.
- The duration of the application of the ointment should be no more than 7 days.
If, after application, the child's well-being worsened, immediately wash off the ointment and show the baby to the doctor.
Reviews
The attitude of both doctors and parents to rubbing with turpentine when coughing is very different. Someone is satisfied with such a drug and uses it quite often, but there are parents who, like some doctors, strongly dislike rubbing with turpentine.
Parents who use turpentine ointment from rubbing most often follow the advice of a pediatrician or older relatives. They note that such procedures can cure a cold in the early days of the onset of the disease. Literally 2-3 rubbing - and a slight cough goes away.
Many people use turpentine ointment not only for procedures with a child, but also for their own treatment. Of the disadvantages of using turpentine ointment, parents note that the procedure often causes skin irritation or an allergic reaction.
Usage tips
Before using turpentine ointment for coughing, it is important to show the child to the doctor. Usually, the use of such a medicine before the age of 2 years is limited only to the treatment of the feet, and only two-year-olds and older can rub the chest and back. At the same time, doctors do not recommend the use of turpentine in children under 7 years old without urgent need.
Since turpentine is a possible allergy, it is advised to do a test on a small area of skin before the first use. If a slight redness appears, you can stir the turpentine ointment 1 to 1 with any baby cream. This diluted version will be the best choice for the first use of turpentine ointment on a cough.
With a strong cough, it is effective to use a mixture of turpentine ointment and honey or a mixture of such an ointment and badger fat. To enhance the effect of using turpentine ointment before rubbing, it is worth giving the child hot tea with raspberries or currants.
You will learn even more information about turpentine by watching the following video.
Komarovsky's opinion
A popular pediatrician considers rubbing with turpentine ointment to a group of distracting procedures that he considers ineffective. According to Komarovsky, such procedures only help parents calm down, but do not in any way affect the speed of the child's recovery.
When coughing, a well-known doctor advises to pay attention to sufficient ventilation of the room in which the child is staying, a sufficient amount of drinking and walking in the fresh air.
Komarovsky is sure that such available methods are much more effective than rubbing or using expectorants.
