A medical gas mixture which comprises from 20 to 70% oxygen, from 1 to 10% carbon dioxide and the balance, except for incidental constituents not adversely affecting the basic properties of the gas mixture, being helium. The subject mixtures are useful in the treatment of asthma and in enhancing magnetic resonance imaging.

Apparatus, methods, and kits for treating symptoms associated with common ailments, such as headaches, rhinitis, asthma, epilepsy, nervous disorders and the like, are provided. The apparatus comprises dispensers for carbon dioxide and other therapeutic gases. The methods comprise delivering small volumes of these gases to patients in a manner where the gas infuses a body region in order to bathe the mucous membranes therein. It has been found that even very short exposure of patients to small volumes and high concentrations of such gases can provide significant relief from symptoms.

Apparatus is provided herein for inhalation rewarming for the treatment of victims of hypothermia. The apparatus includes a water reservoir. A steam chamber communicates with ambient air. A heater means is associated with such water chamber, for the generation of steam into such steam chamber. An opening is provided admitting air to the steam chamber, thereby to provide an air-steam mixture. A first conductor is connected to the steam chamber for the conducting of the air-steam mixture from the steam chamber in a first direction. A valve is provided in the first conductor for varying the inflow of the ambient air while simultaneously reciprocally varying the inflow of the air-steam mixture and providing a substantially constant volume flow into the first conduit means. The valve includes actuated operator means for initially introducing sufficient ambient air into the air-steam mixture in the first conductor means to provide a continuous flow of the water-saturated air at the temperature of about 35.degree. C.-about 45.degree. C. A flexible conduit leads from the valve means for conducting the water-saturated air in the first direction. Finally a breathing mask is connected to the flexible conduit means downstream of the valve means. The breathing mask includes one-way valves therein to permit the water-saturated air to flow only in the first direction to the breathing mask, whereby the water-saturated air at the temperature of about 35.degree. C.-about 45.degree. C. is drawn into the breathing mask by the negative pressure produced by human inhalation, and exhaled air produced by human inhalation is vented. Thus, a simple, effective apparatus for inhalation rewarming has been provided which has special relevance to first-aid treatment of accidental hypothermia.

Apparatus, methods and kits for treating symptoms associated with common ailments such as headaches, rhinitis, asthma, epilepsy, nervous disorders and the like, are provided. The apparatus includes dispensers for carbon dioxide and other therapeutic gases. The methods include delivering small volumes of these gases to patients in a manner where the gas infuses a body region in order to bathe the mucous membranes therein. It has been found that even very short exposure of patients to small volumes and high concentrations of such gases can provide significant relief from symptoms.