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Herbs & Cultures

Monastic and folk knowledge →

Steaming with chamomile or mint

Your head under a towel over a bowl of hot chamomile or peppermint: the old remedy for a blocked nose.

Traditional use

Time
15 minutes
Makes
1 session
Chamomile

Steaming over a bowl of hot water with chamomile flowers has been a household remedy in the Netherlands and Germany for generations. The European Medicines Agency lists inhaling chamomile steam as a traditional use for colds, and peppermint oil may also be inhaled for coughs and colds.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp dried chamomile flowers, or a handful of fresh peppermint leaves (or 2–3 drops of peppermint oil)
  • 1 litre water just off the boil
  • A large bowl and a towel

Step by step

  1. Put the chamomile or mint in the bowl and pour the hot water over it.
  2. Sit in front of it and drape the towel over your head and the bowl.
  3. Breathe in calmly through your nose for 5–10 minutes, keeping your face well away from the water.
  4. Repeat two or three times a day.

Tips

  • Keep your eyes closed while steaming, especially with peppermint.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 19

    Chamomile

    Matricaria chamomilla (Duitse kamille)

    Flowers are used in teas and topical or oral products. Reliable evidence is insufficient for most claimed conditions.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+7Folklore
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 3

    Mint

    Mentha × piperita

    Peppermint oil has been studied in irritable bowel syndrome and may reduce abdominal pain. The tea is used for a full stomach and nausea. With heartburn peppermint can make complaints worse.

    Greco-Roman medicine+4Folklore

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

The herbs in this recipe also appear in these traditions.