BRONCHITIS
BENEFICIAL HERBS
Alternate among several of the following herbs to get all of their medicinal benefits.
- Lobelia is a very effective expectorant and is used in the treatment of bronchitis
- Hollyhock, marsh mallow and pleurisy root are good for irritated conditions of the mucous membranes, especially bronchitis
- Inhaling the vapors of eucalyptus oil from a vaporizer produces a stimulating expectorant and helps to relieve chronic bronchitis.
- Other herbs that may help relieve bronchitis include cinnamon, thyme, wall germander, ginger, rosemary, and cloves.
- Alcohol-free echinacea and goldenseal extract helps to fight viruses and bacteria and enhance the immune system. Goldenseal relieves congestion and is soothing to inflamed mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes, throat, nasal passages, and sinuses. Caution: Do not take goldenseal on a daily basis for more than a week at a time, and do not use during pregnancy. Do not give goldenseal to children under two. Do not use goldenseal without consulting a physician if you have had heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, a stroke, or high blood pressure.
- Grindelia, yerba santa, fenugreek tea and horehound are all good expectorants relieving mucous congestion of the lungs and bronchia
- St. John’s wort is a good expectorant and has a calming effect on the body
- Catnip may help relieve bronchitis
- Mullein reduces irritation due to bronchitis
- Astragalus strengthens the body’s resistance to disease. Caution: Do not use astragalus in the presence of a fever.
- Boneset is good for inflammation of the mucous membranes. Drink it hot and mix with brown sugar to make it palatable. Caution: Do not use boneset on a daily basis for more than one week, as long-term use can lead to toxicity.
- Licorice is an excellent demulcent and is soothing to the mucous membranes and respiratory passages. Licorice also has immune-enhancing and anti-viral properties. Caution: Do not use licorice on a daily basis for more than seven days in a row, and avoid it completely if you have high blood pressure.
- Slippery elm bark lozenges or raspberry tea may help to soothe a scratchy throat.
- For a sore and irritated throat, gargle with tea tree oil or fenugreek.
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Drink lots of fluids. This helps loosen up any mucus in your lungs and helps you to breathe easier.
- Chicken soup can help clear airways
- Chew on a chili pepper or eat a spicy Mexican meal. Do so three times a week if breathing problems are chronic.
- Sprinkle ten to twenty drops of Tobasco sauce in a glass of water and drink it or gargle with it.
- Add whole peeled garlic cloves to your soup. Heating the garlic in a microwave oven first helps preserve alliin, the primary therapeutic substance.
- Decrease your salt intake
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTATION
A well balanced diet is a more natural source of nutrients and it is best to get as much as possible from food. If you are not eating a varied mixture of the main food groups or foods high in a certain nutrient needed for your health situation then make up the remaining through vitamin and mineral supplementation.
- Vitamin C: 200 milligrams
NON DIETARY TIPS
- Blowing up balloons could help you relieve some of your symptoms
- Take a hot shower. The steam helps loosen up mucus in your lungs.
- Do not smoke, smoking irritates the bronchiole tubes and causes vessels to constrict.
- Try to exercise daily.
In some cases, herbal products can interact negatively with other medications. Such interactions can be dangerous. Herbal remedies are not regulated and their quality is not controlled. Moreover, while there is an abundant supply of information circulating about herbs, not much of it has been scientifically proven. Consult your physician. Informing your doctor and pharmacist of what herbal products you are using is just as important as letting them know what drugs you are taking. Your physician and the pharmacist on duty at your pharmacy can assist you in deciding which herbs
are safe.