Health expert Dr Xand van Tulleken has warned that steam inhalation, a popular home remedy for colds and flu, carries a "very high risk" of burns and scalds. Appearing on BBC Morning Live, he highlighted the dangers of the practice, which involves inhaling steam from boiling water, often with a towel over the head.
Popular Remedy Under Scrutiny
Dr Xand explained that steaming is a classic home remedy for nasal congestion and cold symptoms, with roots dating back to Victorian times. He acknowledged its appeal, saying: "This is an old practice, and it does have a sort of almost intrinsic appeal of drawing some sort of medicinal vapour into your lungs and the idea that it would heal you. I don't think you should feel foolish for thinking that this might be a good thing to do."
He noted that social media users are sharing videos demonstrating the technique with added herbs and boiled water, including concerning clips of people "putting a towel over the saucepan on the hob."
Evidence and Official Guidance
The NHS states that many people use steam inhalation to soothe and open nasal passages, as warm, moist air is thought to loosen mucus and relieve symptoms. However, it does not cure a cold caused by a virus. Dr Xand argues there is "quite good evidence" that steaming neither relieves cold symptoms nor nasal congestion.
Official health guidance, such as the NHS Common Cold Guide, also cautions that boiling water carries a significant risk of accidental scalding and burns.
Risk of Severe Burns
Dr Xand warned: "If you go on social media, you will see people with a pot of boiling water with a towel over their head, so you are at very high risk of burns. The British Burns Association have said they've already started to see people coming in with burns, often children who may need skin grafts."
He explained the difference between burns and scalds: "It's worth saying that, although they can be burns from splashing water, they can also be scalds. So a scald is from steam, not a burn, and even though steam's at 100 degrees and boiling water's at 100 degrees, steam can carry so much more energy than hot water that it gives you a far, far more dangerous burn."
Safer Alternatives
Dr Xand warned that inhaling steam risks burning the respiratory tract, damaging the inside of the lungs, nose, and throat, which can be "very dangerous indeed."
According to the NHS website, inhaling steam may help relieve a blocked nose, though it will not cure the underlying problem. The health service recommends sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running as a safe way to expose yourself to steam, without being confined to the traditional bowl-and-towel method. Steam can help thin thick nasal and sinus mucus, making it easier to clear, and can temporarily alleviate the sensation of a blocked nose and rehydrate a dry or irritated throat. The NHS in Fife claims there is some evidence that steam inhalation can also be helpful, and it adds that alternatives to the towel method include steam-inhaling mugs available at most large chemists or online.
