By the sea

The most perplexing but sad part of COVID-19 Pandemic is, aside from patients, doctors are also dying due to the  virus. Sometimes, they die ahead of patients. As of now, Philippines has nine (9) doctors dead. Nurses, midwives and other health workers in the field and hospitals, police personnel, Bureau of Fire personnel, military and other uniform personnel are not exempted from the risk.

One policeman was reported dead due to the virus and one DOH Director was confirmed positive of COVID-19. This latter incident may finally convert the Department of Health into DOI or Department of the Infected, if given the traditional measures to prevent being infected or developing a full-blown disease.

Lockdown or extended community quarantine, surely, is a failure, based on one Senator’s behavior in spreading the virus in one hospital. As of now, what the government and the private sectors, are offering to protect frontliners are masks, with PPE suits still to be seen worn by them. And perhaps, nothing more, today and in the days to come.

Are they ready to face the virus? No. Hence, given the circumstances, an alternative remedy must be resorted to, one of which is Steam Inhalation Therapy, which was observed by the author to have both preventive and curative effect on pollutants, infection and damaged lung tissues, which cause cough.

The therapy is based on the coughing reflex mechanism of a human body, wherein cough is managed with steam or water vapor to produce mucusal fluids in the lungs or throat to facilitate the coughing out of offending microorganism or elements. Likewise, it has anti-inflammatory property just like in a warm compress, hence, it aids in the healing process of the lungs by way of controlling or getting rid of inflammation caused by dry cough or offending microorganism or foreign elements, which is manifested by bearable pain when inhaling.

Here is the Procedure:

1. Boil water in a kettle.
2. If it is already boiling, take out the kettle from the burner and open it.
3. Wait for few seconds until the heat of the water vapor is already bearable then place your mouth and nostril above the water vapor.
4. Inhale the water vapor, if you want to cleanse the lungs, with deep breathing or maximal expansion of the chest and lungs. If itchiness, pain or cough is present while inhaling, continue the process until the itchiness, pain or cough is gone. Sometimes, you need to rest but see to it that you repeat the process, until the itchiness, pain or cough is gone.
5. Cough out, expectorate or expel the phlegm in a secured container containing ethyl alcohol, if there is and dispose it properly.
6. If you want cleanse the throat or nasophrynx, sip in, forcefully, with deep breathing or maximal expansion of the chest and lungs, the water vapor through the mouth. Repeat if itchiness, pain or cough persists until it is gone.
7. Cough out, expectorate or expel the phlegm in a secured container containing ethyl alcohol, if there is and dispose it properly.
8. Observe the cough, itchiness or pain if it recurs. If positive, then repeat the therapy.

NOTE: The basis of repeating the therapy, which is manifested by cough, itchiness or bearable pain during inhaling or forceful sipping in of water vapor into the lungs or throat, respectively, is the presence of the offending microorganism or elements.

To know how steam inhalation therapy was discovered applicable to COVID-19 and other details, you may click this link.

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