Saab Magalona Shares A Home Remedy From Her ‘Grammy’ That Helps Relieve Clogged Nose Due To Colds

“With age comes wisdom” often rings true for our grandparents. The endless pieces of wisdom they generously share with us are something that can be gained only through time and experience.

These include practical skills — or life hacks if you will — that we carry onto our own lives. For Saab Magalona-Bacarro, singer and mom to two young boys, one practical life hack is steam inhalation.

Saab, through an Instagram post, previously shared how her grandmother taught her about steam inhalation as a home remedy to help relieve sipon and ubo. Her mom Pia Magalona affirmed this by saying in the comments, “[It’s] one of our most trusted remedies, always!”

SmartParenting.com.ph reached out to Saab to talk more about her experience with steam inhalation growing up. Here are some of her insights about this trusted family remedy.

“Our grammy lived right beside our house growing up. And whenever she felt — yes, FELT, because grandmothers are like that — that any of us started to have a clogged nose, she’d tell us to go to her house,” she recalled.

“As a teenager, it wasn’t the most glamorous thing to walk over to your grandmother’s house to have some steam blown into your face, but I totally got it later on in life,” she added.

Steam inhalation is easy. As Saab has learned from her grandmother (and from her mom, Pia), she prepares a bowl of hot water and mixes two spoonfuls of Camphor, Menthol, Eucalyptus Oil (Vicks Vaporub) in it. Then, she places her head near the bowl, covers herself with a towel, and breathes in the warm steam for 10 to 15 minutes.

Today, Saab continues to do this practice whenever she suffers from coughs and colds. She has also stressed the importance of doing it at home and at a spot where it’s safe – aka, away from curious and ever-active kids.

Aside from steam inhalation, Saab and her family make fair use of Camphor, Menthol, Eucalyptus Oil (Vicks Vaporub) to help give them relief. Saab herself rubs the balm on her chest and back and uses the inhaler version (“The keychain variant was a hit when I was in high school,” she shared) whenever she has a stuffy nose. She also rubs the balm on her neck whenever her throat itches.

“Vicks Vaporub has been a longtime household staple for all of us,” she said.

Of course, these tips are only for immediate relief. Remember to always consult your doctor if you experience symptoms and practice a healthy and active lifestyle, especially during this time.

Now a mom herself, Saab definitely knows how important it is to make sure every family member’s health and well-being are well taken care of.

So, from one mother to another, Saab says, “Wash your hands with soap, drink lots of water, turn off your phone notifications, and get enough sleep!”

Follow Vicks Vaporub on Facebook for more updates and information.

If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

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