Don’t think our ancestors didn’t have colds! Indeed, the common cold is as old as mankind, as is the use of inhalation. The difference is in the ingredients put into the steam: some people swear by opium, others by roses.
Rose, minerals, salt water, eucalyptus and opium – strange as it may sound at first, they are all linked to inhalation. Throughout the history of mankind, different groups of people have believed in the effects of different herbs and concoctions. Many of these are no longer popular today, but some have endured for thousands of years.
Almost as soon as the first signs of winter arrive, the cold season is on its way. Most of us don’t rush to the doctor, preferring to use tried and tested home remedies such as honey and lemon tea or inhalation. Chamomile or some kind of menthol mixture is the most common, but many other methods have been used throughout history.
The ancient Egyptian civilisation is not only credited with architectural masterpieces and exciting beauty tips. Cleopatra’s people were the first to discover that inhaling the vapours of plants and minerals cleared the airways. Plants were steamed on stones heated over a fire, and the smoke was inhaled through a steam collector with holes. This method was also favoured by the Egyptian queen Nefertiti.
Bathing was an important part of their daily life
The Persians inhaled the vapours of roses and other flowers for respiratory ailments, but they did not despise musk or ambergris. In fact! They used it not only inhaled, but also in powder form, ingested. They were also the first to discover the beneficial effects of the still-popular menthol-eucalyptus mixture, which is now used as a rubbing ointment. The Romans are no exception. It is well known that bathing was an important part of their daily lives, so they soon discovered that salt water steam cleanses the airways and softens the skin, while rejuvenating it. It is no coincidence that steam rooms have been popular in various wellness centres ever since.
Even in 2000 BC people were inhaling
Like many other medical treatments, the Chinese were at the forefront of the development of inhalation. As far back as around 2000 BC, the Orientals were already inhaling the herb ma-huang, which was used to treat low blood pressure and improve concentration due to its high ephedrine content. But there have also been examples of people going further and using iron inhalers to get opium into their bodies. Although many people throughout history have experimented with many different forms of inhalation, it is worth being selective. The sea salt solution of the Romans or the eucalyptus and menthol mixture of the Persians can still be used today, but chamomile, sage or lavender steam baths and green shield products are also a great help in fighting colds and flus.