Essential oils
Essential oils are often used as bath additives in cold baths. When bathing, the ingredients are partially absorbed through the skin, so their anti-inflammatory effect can spread throughout the body. In addition, however, the essential oils are also inhaled together with the water vapour.
In this way, the ingredients reach the respiratory tract directly, where they also have an anti-inflammatory effect. They also have a moisturizing and expectorant effect there. Thus, blocked noses and mucous-filled bronchi can be freed again.
Frequently used essential oils for the cold bath are peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, camphor, pine and spruce needle oil, thyme oil and myrtle oil. Pinimenthol is a bath additive that contains several essential oils. When pinimenthol is added to the water, a foaming cold bath is formed, which contains eucalyptus, camphor and mentol.
There is also a version of pine wood suitable for children, but this cold bath only contains eucalyptus.The steam with the added pinimenthol is especially good for the bronchial tubes and the upper respiratory tract, where it has an anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect. The interaction of the three ethereal components further enhances this effect. Due to its gentle effect, eucalyptus is suitable not only for adults but also for children.
Eucalyptus-containing sweets are often taken with colds. In this form, eucalyptus mainly develops its cough-relieving effect. As an additive for a cold bath, eucalyptus oil works mainly via the steam inhaled.
This moistens the mucous membranes and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Coughs and sore throats can thus be combated well. A runny nose and mucusy bronchial tubes are also affected by eucalyptus, as it also has an expectorant effect.
Tea tree oil is used in many shampoos and bath additives. Due to its antibacterial effect, tea tree oil is especially popular for cold baths. However, it is important to use the right amount of the oil when applying it.
Too small a dose is usually not strong enough to fight the bacteria and tends to cause them to multiply more aggressively. However, too high a proportion of tea tree oil can be toxic to the body. For this reason, Tea Tree Oil should not be prepared on its own but purchased as a finished product.