Cold & cough12 min
Clove and Cardamom Steam
A clove and a cardamom in a bowl of hot water give a fragrant steam to breathe from a safe distance. This steam is not for small children, and the face should not hover over the bowl.
Clove and cardamom steam at a safe distance
Clove and cardamom scent a bowl of hot water, and some people sit back and breathe that steam when the nose feels heavy. The bowl stays on a steady table. The face stays back. A cloth may be held loosely, not wrapped into a tight tent over boiling water.
Small children should not take this steam. Hot water scalds if it spills. A blocked nose can still need rest, and a cough past a few days needs a doctor.
Ingredients
- 1 clove
- 1 green cardamom
- A bowl of hot water
- A clean cotton cloth
How to prepare
- Set a stable bowl of hot water on a table and add the clove and the cardamom.
- Sit back and breathe the steam from a safe distance, holding the cloth loosely if you want, never sealed over the face.
How to use
- Use the steam once, for a few minutes, only if it feels comfortable.
- Keep your face well back from the water. Do not lean into the bowl.
- Do not offer this steam to small children.
Helpful habits
- Let very boiling water settle for a moment so the bowl is hot, not splashing.
- Stop as soon as the steam feels too warm on the skin.
Precautions
- Breathe steam only at a safe distance. Do not put your face close to the water.
- This steam is not for small children.
- A cough past a few days needs a doctor. Chest pain, high fever, or hard breathing needs care sooner.
Frequently asked questions
Can small children take clove and cardamom steam?
- No. This steam is not for small children.
How close should my face be to the bowl?
- Not close. Sit back and breathe from a safe distance so the hot water cannot scald you.
What if the cough lasts more than a few days?
- A cough past a few days needs a doctor. Steam is only a short comfort.
