Blog
Steam Inhalation: Comfort, Burns and What It Does Not Do
Breathing warm steam may feel soothing for a blocked nose, but trials found little real benefit for colds, and bowls of hot water cause burns, especially in children. Steam does not cleanse the lungs or treat disease. A warm shower or a cool-mist humidifier is a safer way to get comfort.
Written by the PureLung label deskUpdated · 5 min read
Why people try it
Warm, moist air can feel pleasant on a dry throat or a blocked nose. Many families use a bowl of hot water and a towel. The idea is that steam loosens mucus. Reviews of trials did not find steam to be a reliable way to ease colds or shorten them.
The burn risk
Spilled hot water causes serious scalds, particularly in children, who account for many injuries each year. A kettle, bowl or vaporiser on the floor is easily knocked over. Steam itself can scald the face and airways if too hot.
Do not use bowls of hot water for children. Sit with them in a steamy bathroom, with the shower running warm, and stay with them.
Safer comfort
Take a warm shower, breathe the humid air and keep the door closed. Use a cool-mist humidifier cleaned daily, and aim for moderate humidity. Drink warm fluids. Rinse the nose with saline, using a clean device each time, made with distilled, boiled and cooled or sterile water, since tap water can carry harmful microbes.
Asthma and lung disease
Steam can set off cough or wheeze in some people with asthma. Strong aromas add to the problem. If you have asthma or COPD, ask your clinician before using steam, and never let it delay use of your inhaler or medical care (CDC, About Asthma).
Additives
Adding essential oils, herbs or medicines to steam can irritate the airways. Some oils are toxic when swallowed and harmful to pets. See the essential oils post.
Myths
Steam does not detox the lungs, clear tar or remove nicotine. The American Lung Association finds no support for detox claims (ALA, Can You Detox Your Lungs?). It also does not kill a virus inside the body.
PureLung: 60 capsules a bottlePacks of 1, 3 or 6 bottles · live price shown at checkout · guarantee as printed on the live listing
See packsWhat a lasting cough needs
If the cough lasts, an exam is the answer, not another round of steam. See the chronic cough post.
A closer look at the evidence
Reviews that pooled trials of heated, humidified air for the common cold found no clear gain in symptoms or in how long the illness lasted, and some trials reported burns. That does not mean the shower feels bad. It means the effect is mainly comfort for a short time, and that nothing in the research supports steam as a treatment. People who find it soothing can keep using a warm shower safely, and people who do not should not feel they are missing a key step.
What does the PureLung label say?
The label shows 60 capsules, a serving of 2 and a 600 mg Proprietary Blend of eleven names with no single amount; it names no disease.
| Item | As printed |
|---|---|
| Form and count | Capsules, 60 per bottle; serving size 2 capsules; 30 servings |
| Blend per serving | Proprietary Blend, 600 mg: eleven names, no single amount printed |
| Inactive | Rice Flour, Magnesium Stearate, Silica Dioxide |
| Distributor | MJO, Sheridan, WY 82801 |
Summary
Steam is a comfort measure at best, with a burn risk. Choose the shower or a clean humidifier. A capsule such as PureLung does not substitute, and makes no such claim.
3-bottle pack
3 bottles: 180 capsules
Not listed on the packNot listed on the pack a bottle
Shipping shown at checkout · Guarantee as printed on the live listing
Order 3 bottles
6-bottle pack
6 bottles: 360 capsules
Not listed on the packNot listed on the pack a bottle
Shipping shown at checkout · Guarantee as printed on the live listing
Order 6 bottlesPrices are filled in once the live listing is confirmed. A single bottle is also sold. Check your medicines with your doctor or pharmacist before you order, and keep using every inhaler and prescribed medicine.
FAQ01
PureLung questions people ask
Does steam clear a cold?
No.
Is a steam bowl safe for kids?
Not advised, because of burns.
Do saline rinses help?
Many people find relief, using safe water.
Is steam good for COPD?
Ask your clinician.
Can steam cleanse lungs?
No.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label images, seller information and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. authorized retailer for PureLung. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about PureLung
U.S. authorized retailer for PureLung
Ready to look at PureLung?
Check your medicines first, keep every inhaler and prescribed medicine, read the directions on the bottle that arrives, then pick a pack of 1, 3 or 6 bottles. The checkout shows the live price, any shipping and the guarantee.
- Checkout runs on the sales site
- Guarantee as printed on the live listing
- Ships from the U.S.