Drink some warm water regularly. It helps to loosen out mucus which might be irritating the bronchi. The phlegm loosens and become less viscous, making it easier to be thrown out.
Drink 1 glass warm water every hour of the day. It seems trivial, but it is very relaxing in every congestion issue.
( Photo Courtesy: s_fox )
2. Eucalyptus oil steam
Eucalytus oil is excellent for bronchitis. It relieves sinus congestion as well as bronchial congestion. Inhaling steam of eucalyptus oil relieves inflammation in bronchi ( the tubes in our lungs ). Swelling reduces in the walls of bronchi. It relaxes and air passage is cleared. You can breathe better and discomfort is gone.
- IngredientsEucalyptus essential oil
Water
- Directions / How to use
Make some steam and put a few drops of eucalyptus oil ( 6 - 8 drops in a big bowl ) into it. The vapors of eucalyptus emerge along with the steam and enter into the lungs, relieving bronchitis. Put a towel over your head and be ready for an immersive experience. Inhale the steam deeply and exhale slowly.
- Why it works ?
Eucalyptus vapors are strongly antibacterial and antiviral. It also reduces inflammation. It is also relaxing for the senses, so you can sleep. It is also a strong natural expectorant, so phegm from deeper reaches of the lungs is detached from the mucus walls and expelled into the throat, from where you should throw it out.
This home remedy should start providing significant relief right away.
3. Honey
This home remedy is brilliant to
reduce coughing. In bronchitis, the person may keep coughing for longer periods at a time. Honey suppresses the cough and in this way, helps in controlling the inflammation.
Chronic coughing is damaging to the bronchi. Their inflammation can be aggravated by this. However, it is also not a good idea to forcibly suppress your cough. Take honey and it should suppress the throat.
Just take 1 tablespoon of honey every 3 - 4 hours.
Honey takes care of many things, viz the sore throat, inflammation and the excessive coughing.
CAUTION : Honey should not be given to babies less than 1 year old.
4. Drink Onion juice
Onion is a nice remedy for bronchitis. It can be taken in many ways.
- Drink 1 tablespoon of pure onion juice every 6 hours. It would taste disgusting, very pungent and very strong. So you can use a shot glass to throw it down your throat.
- If the above one is too strong for you, take freshly cut onions in salad. That should do the trick as well.
- Mix onion juice in equal amount of honey. This forms a powerful homemade cough syrup for all respiratory conditions.
Onions are champion expectorants. They are powerful natural antibiotics. Very small amount of onion is enough to overcome many infection. This goes to show how onions became a mainstay of ancient Egyptian medicinal system.
5. Slippery Elm Tea
If you can get slippery elm powder, then it makes into a yucky tea. It doesn't taste good at all, but it helps with the throat irritation and bronchitis.
- Ingredients
Slippery elm bark powder ( you can prepare your own if you have the bark, or get a commercial product )
Water
Coconut milk
Cinnamon
- Directions / How to use
Put 1 tablespoon of Slippery elm powder in 1 cup of boiling water. Add a pinch of cinnamon for sweetening. Add some coconut milk to get a milky feel to the tea. You can skip the milk if you do not like it.
( Photo Courtesy: 39794839@N03 )
6. Avoid Milk ( only for a few days )
Milk is known to increase phlegm production. People who are suffering from bronchitis may get some relief by avoiding milk for some time. This advice is especially helpful for kids.
Parents can give kids coconut milk, soy milk or rice milk for the duration of bronchitis.
7. Marshmallow root lozenges
Marshmallow is a wonderful herb for throat complaints. One can easily get real marshmallow lozenges. They are sweet and soothing for the throat. Eating these lozenges relieves symptoms of bronchitis.
Marshmallow root is a demulcent ( coats the throat ) and mild expectorant.
Please note that the marshmallows you eat actually contain marshmallow root, they should not be just sugar cubes bundled into a lozenge.
( Photo Courtesy: aidanmorgan )
8. Garlic In Soup
In most of my remedies, I advise taking garlic directly or in some recipe. But, for bronchitis, it works best in soup, especially chicken soup.
- Ingredients
Chicken Soup
Garlic
- Directions / How to use
Add some minced garlic to a warm chicken soup. Mix it for some time and then drink that soup. It should feel the garlic punch, quite warm and spicy. You can also add a clove.
- Why it works ?
Garlic is nature's powerful antibiotic. It helps the body kill virus or bacteria causing the bronchitis.
9. Taking Epsom Salt Bath
Epsom Salt bath is very warming and relaxing. Soaking your entire body in an epsom salt bath should provide relief from symptoms of bronchitis.
- Ingredients
Epsom Salt
Bath water
- Directions / How to use
Set up some really warm bath water in a bath tub. Add 1 cup of epsom salt to it. Then lay down in the bath tub and rub your chest gently. A lot of the congestion and phlegm accumulated in the lung passages gets released and you should experience relief enough to sleep. It reduces chest pain due to bronchitis.
10. Sesame seeds
These seeds are used as topping on many food, like bread and notably burgers. One can get sesame seeds and eat them directly. They taste good, so even kids would like it. They are a good remedy for bronchitis. Sesame seeds are an ancient remedy. These seeds ( both black and white sesame seeds ) have been held in high esteem by ancient Indians and Egyptians, mainly because of their medicinal value.
( Photo Courtesy : quinnanya )
11. Drink coffee
For some people, coffee relieves the incessant coughing caused by this condition. In many common ailments, coffee is not recommended. However, in bronchitis, it really helps. Coffee acts as a
natural cough suppressant. So, when you drink a cup of strong coffee, incessant coughing should subside down. This therapeutic action is due to high caffeine content in coffee.
( Photo Courtesy: alisdair )
12. Ginger
It helps in almost all kinds of respiratory tract infections. Grind some ginger and add it to tea while it is forming. Drink ginger tea more often if you are suffering from bronchitis. You can drink like 6 - 8 cups of ginger tea. It is very soothing and very relaxing.
Ginger is a strong cough suppressant and a mild expectorant.
13. Holy basil
This herb is well reputed in India and mentioned in Ayurveda for treatment of numerous conditions. Holy basil leaves can be chewed directly. One can also make a tea from its leaves and drink it for bronchitis.
Some herbal remedies for bronchitis.
- Thyme tea : Make an infusion of thyme as a tea and drink it to get relief from coughing in bronchitis.
- Cowslip : It is a flowering plant with yellow flowers which grows in England. It was used by Celts as a remedy for bronchitis.
- Turmeric in Milk : Adding a teaspoon of turmeric in milk and drinking this milk is a simple remedy for bronchitis that is used in India. Now, I mentioned that bronchitis sufferers avoid milk, so why milk here ? Well, plain milk is not good for cough, but when turmeric is added to it, then it becomes a potent home remedy.
The reason for giving turmeric with milk is unclear, but it is probably because curcumin ( the chief anti-inflammatory nutrient in turmeric ) is better absorbed in presence of fats.
- Echinacea : This herb is known to boost immunity. It is also used as a remedy against bronchitis.
- Eating juniper berries is a simple herbal remedy for bronchitis. It tastes somewhat like black pepper.
According to ancient Chinese medicine, there are numerous herbs for treatment of chronic bronchitis. They use a combination of herbs to address most of the symptoms and the synergy of the herbs provides relief.
If the simple home remedies do not help, one should go to a doctor, preferably a specialist in respiratory disorders. Bronchitis quickly becomes chronic. Also inspect your house and surroundings for known irritants of lungs, like very dry air, very humid air, smoke, animal hair and molds. Investing in air filters and humidifier is a helpful option in bronchitis.
For chronic bronchitis, one can take the help of natural bronchodilators. These are things that help your bronchi to dilate ( expand ) and prevent spasms in bronchi. Some of these are foods and some are herbs. Here is the list :
Boswellia
Gingko
Green Tea
Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade
These herbal remedies are noted to be bronchodilators. They are effective in asthma as well. However, do not use them yourself. Make sure you visit a trained herbalist for their use and consult with your doctor so that they do not interfere with any medication.
Remedies for dog bronchitis ?
Pets suffer a lot in bronchitis. This discomfort can be relieved to some extent using natural remedies. Give the dog some steam. Give it a very healthy diet and lots of rest. Massage the chest and back of the dog.
Please do not use herbal remedies for canine bronchitis, as herbs may be extremely dangerous for dogs. Even common things like grapes and ginger may be harmful for dogs.
