Steam

“Vahos de eucalipto: a bowl of hot water with eucalyptus leaves or a few drops of oil, a towel over the head, for a grown-up with a blocked head. Never for children: the three Dutch burn centres admitted 31 patients with steam-inhalation scalds in 1998-2007, most under 16, 29 of the 31 from a knocked-over bowl (Baartmans et al., Br J Gen Pract 2012). The EMA monograph for Eucalypti aetheroleum allows inhalation, skin or bath use from 4 years and oral use from 12, never for a child with a history of seizures. Swallowed eucalyptus oil can cause seizures and chemical pneumonia: 112.”

“Stomen. A bowl of hot water, a towel over the head, for a grown-up with a blocked head. Never for a child with a bowl: the Dutch burn centres admitted 31 people in 1998 to 2007 with steam-inhalation burns, 29 of 31 from the knocked-over water. A steamy bathroom gives the same comfort with no bowl to tip.”

“Qi (气, qì). What moves and warms all things: the breath, the warmth of the body, the push of growth in spring. The old character 氣 shows steam rising from cooking rice (米). A person's qi is made from two gifts: the breath taken in from the sky and the grain taken in from the earth. When it flows freely, the old teachers said, a person is at ease. Liang speaks of qi with love, and never claims to feel, read or move anyone's.”

“Damp (湿, shī). Damp comes from a humid climate and from heavy eating. In Guangdong, where the air is wet, Cantonese soups use Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) and Juncus against the humidity.”

“Lum, the medicinal bath. UNESCO describes Lum as bathing in natural hot springs, herbal water or steam to balance body and mind, within a view of health centred on the three dynamics, Lung, Tripa and Pekan. It is passed on through daily life, ritual, folk practice and medicine, with roles for the Manpa (physician), the Lum Jorkhan (pharmacist) and the Manyok (assistant), and it is now taught in medical colleges. Ang tells of hot springs in the mountains and old people soaking in the steam with great satisfaction. He gives no herbal bath recipes.”

“What they are. Aragh are the waters left from steam-distilling aromatic plants: the plant is steamed, the steam is cooled, and the fragrant water is bottled. A 2026 field survey of three industrial distilleries in Shiraz and Kashan and 35 herb shops in five cities recorded 53 species from 28 families, mostly from the mint, daisy and carrot families. The researchers asked for production standards and clinical testing.”

“Steam and dry heat. A Finnish sauna is often hot and fairly dry. A banya is a wetter heat, with water on the stones and the venik moving the steam over the skin. The wet heat feels hotter on the skin at the same temperature. "In Finland they sit. In the banya we steam. Both are good. Ours is wetter."”

“Steam. "Russians swear by steam in fighting off a common cold": the banya, or a towel over a pot of boiled potatoes. One line: the pot is for adults and never near children, it has scalded many.”

“Hydrogen inhalation: 2-4% H2 gas via nasal cannula. 30-60 min daily. Most potent delivery. Machines available for home use.”