The benefits of iodine for sore throat
Iodine mesh for acute tonsillitis is used as an adjuvant as part of complex therapy. It promotes:
- Reducing swelling.
- Slowing down inflammation.
- Pain relief.
- Reducing the growth of germs and bacteria.
- Dilatation of small blood vessels.
- Improving blood circulation.
Why do many people lack iodine in their bodies and how does this affect human health? Dr. Komarovsky will tell you about this:
Iodine has a positive effect immediately after application. Thanks to the warming effect of the drug, stagnation in the affected area disappears. In addition to acute tonsillitis, iodine is also effective in treating runny nose, sinusitis and colds. However, the medication can only be used at an early stage of the disease. For purulent and chronic sore throat that appears against the background of another disease (measles, scarlet fever, chicken pox), the drug is not used.
Possible side effects from using iodine
Iodine mesh for angina is applied only in the early stages of the disease. As the pathology progresses, it is not only useless, but can also aggravate the situation.
The main danger of using the drug is the body’s adverse reactions to the medication. In order for iodine to be beneficial, several rules are followed:
- Due to the warming effect, the product should not be applied at temperatures above 38 °C.
- Use iodine nets no more than three times a week.
- Do not lubricate damaged skin.
- It is forbidden to apply iodine to children under one year of age.
- Do not use for diseases of the thyroid gland, liver and kidneys.
In addition, you cannot draw an iodine grid on the legs, except for the feet, on the back in the spine area, on the mammary glands, in the area of the heart and thyroid gland.
Interesting video: how to compensate for the lack of iodine in the body and is it necessary to do it?
Another contraindication to the use of the medication is excess iodine in the body. They check as follows: a small amount of the substance is applied to the wrist. If after 24 hours it remains on the skin, then the drug cannot be used.
However, today this condition is rare due to regular stress and poor nutrition. But if iodine is completely absorbed within 3 hours, this indicates a lack of the element.
Why is it believed that iodine mesh helps with sore throat?
There are no theoretical justifications for the effectiveness of the iodine network for angina. Iodine itself is known as:
- A product for external disinfection of the edges of wounds, cuts and abrasions. Moreover, applying it specifically to the wound is not only not useful, but also harmful, since it increases the time for tissue restoration. Only the edges of the wound need to be smeared with iodine to destroy germs here;
- A chemical element necessary for the full mental development of a child, as well as for the normal functioning of the nervous system and endocrine glands in all people.
How these properties might be beneficial when applying iodine to the skin during a sore throat is not known.
Iodine felt-tip pen, specially designed for drawing “grids”.
How to use iodine mesh?
To treat sore throat, use a 5% iodine solution. It is applied to the throat at the location of the tonsils. During inflammation, it is easy to determine where to draw a mesh - the lymphoid tissue becomes denser, and two painful formations are felt on the neck.
Iodine is applied according to the following scheme:
- The skin is pre-cleaned and dried.
- Using a cotton swab, draw 3 to 5 vertical lines.
- Then horizontal stripes are applied.
- The finished meshes should consist of lines located 1–2 cm from each other.
Before use, you should make sure there is no allergy. Apply the product to the skin on the bend of the elbow. If after 15–20 minutes no discomfort, burning or redness appears, the medication can be used for its intended purpose.
Iodine can cure not only sore throats. You will learn about the beneficial properties from the video below:
It is best to apply iodine before bed. Overnight it will relieve acute symptoms, and the pattern will completely disappear. People with sensitive skin should dilute the drug with clean water in a 1:1 ratio or purchase a 2.5% solution.
On average, it is enough to carry out 2-3 procedures every other day. If treatment with this method does not help or causes side effects, it is canceled.
Why is an iodine grid useless for a sore throat?
Once in the blood, iodine is not able to destroy bacteria that cause sore throat. These bacteria will die only if they are immersed in a concentrated alcohol solution of iodine. Therefore, it is completely pointless to believe that an iodine mesh on the throat will help suppress infection in the tonsils.
Iodine does not have any anti-inflammatory, analgesic or softening effect. If a patient has a sore throat, an iodine mesh will not alleviate his condition in any way and will not reduce the manifestation of various symptoms.
Features of treatment of sore throat with iodine in children
The use of iodine for sore throat in children under 1 year of age is strictly prohibited. And also use the product with caution for preschool children. The age of a child from 6 years is considered relatively safe.
However, iodine can only be used as an additional therapy.
In the absence of proper treatment, angina is complicated by diseases of the heart, joints, kidneys and meningitis. In addition, the child cannot fully understand the risk of this drug, and responsibility for his health lies with the parents.
Can it be used for coughing?
Iodine mesh is applied to the skin when coughing for adults and children. This method is contraindicated for babies under one year old. The sensitivity of children's skin is higher than that of an adult. Even a small drawing on the body can cause a severe burn. If the child is 1 year old, the mesh is applied to the chest and back with a weak solution.
Important! During pregnancy, iodine solution is also used to treat cough. But gynecologists and therapists say that the effectiveness of this method is questionable. It is better to see a doctor than to self-medicate and miss the complications of a cold.
To treat cough, a mesh is drawn on the skin of the chest - thin lines are drawn with a solution at a short distance from each other. In this case, you need to avoid the heart area. You cannot completely paint over the skin with iodine solution. This may cause burns.
You need to know how to use the medicine correctly:
- For children under 5 years old, the grid is drawn with a 2.5% solution.
- If the child is over 5 years old, use 5%. Apply the design with a cotton swab.
- Adults are recommended to draw with a 5% alcohol solution no more than once a day for 5 days.
If the baby is 2 years old, the mesh is done every other day. Young children can be treated with iodine solution no more than three times a week. This product should not be used at body temperatures above 38 degrees.
Dr. Komarovsky does not consider cough nets useful for children. In his opinion, this is just a calming and distracting method. Although other doctors, on the contrary, believe that this remedy is beneficial for the child’s body. If it does not cure the cough, it will definitely replenish the body’s reserves of iodine. But the drug is effective only in case of microelement deficiency in the body, which needs to be confirmed by tests.
Before using iodine, do an allergy test. To do this, draw a thin strip on the wrist with a solution and wait about half an hour. If irritation does not appear, it can be used.
Important! The solution should be used with caution to treat children under 3 years of age. Excess iodine is no less dangerous than its deficiency. Too much of it can cause problems with the thyroid gland.
Is it possible to use iodine during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Treatment of sore throat with iodine is considered a safe remedy. Therefore, it is often used for acute tonsillitis in pregnant and lactating women.
However, after application, iodine is absorbed and distributed throughout the body through the blood. And its effect on the fetus and, in particular, on the developing thyroid gland of the embryo, has not yet been precisely studied. Therefore, the medication is used only after prior consultation with your doctor.
But a sore throat can be treated completely safely using a gargling solution with the addition of iodine:
It is also not recommended to resort to iodine treatment for nursing mothers. The drug can pass into breast milk, and with it into the baby’s body.
Features of treatment for pregnant women
During pregnancy, women should use only safe treatments. Doctors believe that iodine therapy is not harmful to them, but it must be used extremely carefully and after consultation with a doctor. Even if a woman was not allergic to iodine before, during pregnancy the solution can give a negative reaction.
To rinse the larynx, you can prepare a tincture by taking safe ingredients in the appropriate quantities:
- 1 small spoon of salt;
- 2 drops of iodine;
- 250 g warm water.
It is better to take sea salt, and if it is not available, then iodized salt will do. The gargle should not be too hot, otherwise it can burn your already sore throat.
Attitude of official medicine
Doctors are skeptical about the use of iodine mesh and classify this remedy as a placebo. There are no studies on drug treatment for acute tonsillitis. And there are also no theoretical prerequisites for using the medication.
Interesting video: proper use of iodine grid...
It is believed that iodine is effective only for the resorption of bruises, hematomas and as a disinfectant for cuts, abrasions and wounds. However, doctors themselves recommend it for colds at the initial stage.
Iodine is truly unable to cope with viruses and infections. Only antibiotics are effective against them. But its warming and vasodilating effects have a positive effect on a sore throat. Therefore, there are no direct instructions for the use of the medication by adults.
But the ban on the use of iodine in children is scientifically justified. The fact is that the thyroid gland is the only organ that accumulates and converts iodine. And its excess at an early age can lead to thyroid pathologies. In addition, babies have more delicate and sensitive skin. Application of the drug easily causes burns to them.
Video Exposure: Is Iodine Beneficial or Harmful?
Iodine mesh is one of the many aids for sore throat. It helps relieve inflammation, swelling, improves blood circulation and alleviates the patient's condition. However, iodine cannot be considered as the main drug of therapy. Treatment should be comprehensive and carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
Iodine throat mesh
Almost every home medicine cabinet contains an antiseptic such as iodine. It is used for various diseases, to lubricate the surface around wounds and bruises to reduce inflammation.
Due to its properties, iodine has also found application in the treatment of nasopharyngeal diseases.
Traditional medicine recommends it as a component in solutions for rinsing, inhalation, as an ointment for tonsils and for creating an iodine mesh.
Efficiency of the procedure
Due to the properties that iodine has, the use of an iodine grid helps:
- reduce inflammation and reduce pain;
- relieve swelling;
- suppress the growth and development of pathogenic microorganisms, penetrating even through the skin.
Important! The use of iodine mesh may be contraindicated if you are individually intolerant to this substance.
In order to check whether you can smear your throat with iodine and whether you are allergic to this substance, you need to apply a small amount of the solution to your hand and observe the reaction for an hour. When redness or itching appears at the site where iodine was applied, treatment of the throat with iodine is contraindicated. If no reaction occurs, you can safely begin treatment.
When treating diseases, it has a beneficial effect immediately after its application to the skin in the throat area, negatively affecting pathogenic microorganisms. An iodine throat mask promotes the death of a large number of viruses and bacteria that cause the disease, so as a result of its use, recovery occurs faster.
Also, iodine at the site of its application has a warming effect, expands capillaries and improves blood circulation. That is why this procedure is successfully used for various diseases of the ENT organs, including tonsillitis, tracheitis and tonsillitis.
It should be remembered that any treatment using traditional medicine can be used as an auxiliary or additional remedy and should be carried out under the supervision of a physician. Only an integrated approach to treating the disease can lead to a complete recovery without the development of complications.
It should also be remembered that bacterial infections that cause a sore throat, such as acute tonsillitis, are dangerous due to their complications. Therefore, after the symptoms disappear, you should undergo additional examination to exclude possible damage to other organs and tissues.
Methods of application
Iodine is an effective anti-inflammatory agent and is also used to treat ENT organs. If you have found out whether you can do an iodine mesh on your throat, then you can safely begin the procedure. To do this, you will need a 5% iodine solution, which can be purchased at a pharmacy.
There is a certain technique for applying an iodine mesh to the skin in the throat area. To do this, you need to soak a cotton swab or swab in the solution, then draw a mesh, alternating horizontal and vertical lines.
If pain in the throat is caused by a sore throat, then in this case the lesion will be localized on the tonsils.
Most often, the cause of sore throat and other diseases is weakened immunity, hypothermia, and the presence of chronic diseases.
Therefore, in order to avoid dangerous complications, it is necessary to use iodine mesh exclusively in the early stages of the disease or as one of the ways to relieve symptoms.
Despite the fact that for throat diseases, an iodine mesh is applied to the skin in the tonsil area, this method of treatment is also effective when other areas are covered with iodine. So, for acute bronchitis, an iodine grid can be drawn on the chest or back, avoiding the spine area.
Use in pediatrics
As noted above, the skin on the throat is highly sensitive, and it is especially tender in children. Therefore, pediatricians do not recommend applying iodine mesh in childhood to avoid burns. However, the procedure is fraught with burns only if carried out incorrectly, as well as in case of an excess of iodine in the body.
If we take into account WHO statistics, then most people, due to chronic fatigue, have a lack of iodine in the body, so complications are unlikely.
An iodine mesh can harm the body only in case of overdose and abuse of the drug. It should be carried out no more than once or twice a week, in complicated cases – three times.
Important! At elevated temperatures, the use of iodine mesh is contraindicated!
A good alternative to an iodine mesh is to treat the throat by gargling with an iodine-based solution.
It is simple to prepare such a solution: you need to dissolve 2 mg of salt, baking soda and a few drops of iodine in a glass of warm water. The solution can be used three times a day.
Use gargling in the complex treatment of throat diseases, combining it with the use of other folk methods.
Features of treatment
The use of iodine mesh for various throat diseases is an effective remedy that helps get rid of pathogenic and extremely dangerous microorganisms. However, it should be noted that throat diseases are often accompanied by high fever, at which iodine procedures are contraindicated.
The thing is that iodine has a warming effect. Also, the iodine mesh can provoke a sharp rupture of purulent follicles, which can lead to infection of other organs and tissues.
Now you know whether it is possible to make an iodine mesh on the throat, and in what cases it should not be used. Treatment of the throat with an iodine mesh is a highly effective remedy that helps to quickly cope with pain. Its careful and competent use guarantees a speedy recovery and the absence of side effects.
Nadezhda Chernobay
Sources: medscape.com, health.harvard.edu, medicalnewstoday.com.
Source: https://globalmedclub.ru/terapiya-gorla/narodnye-sredstva/jodovaya-setka.html
