Natural Remedies for Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a respiratory disorder in which the air passages, that connect the windpipe to the lungs are swollen. In most cases, a viral infection is responsible for causing bronchitis. Symptoms include mucus producing cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Chronic smoking and exposure to toxic gases increases the risk of bronchitis. Apart from taking prescribed treatment, natural remedies too can contribute to relieve discomfort of the respiratory tract.

Drinking warm fluids that include water containing lemon juice and honey, chicken soup and chamomile tea, can work wonders to relieve symptoms of bronchitis.

Gargling with warm salt water frequently, can also help to relieve sore throat. Just 1 teaspoon of salt mixed in a glass of warm water is enough to alleviate the inflammation in the throat.

Eating raw almonds is another ways to effectively to deal with this respiratory infections. Nutritious stuffs like almonds contain calcium, magnesium, and vitamin E, that play a key role in keeping lung infections in check.

Honey is not only delicious but also acts as a natural antiseptic. The antiviral and antibacterial activity of honey is acknowledged worldwide. So, eating a teaspoon of manuka honey is an effective way to combat respiratory problems. Another way is to simply add a spoonful of honey to your morning tea to reap its benefits.

Lemons are excellent source of vitamin C, that helps to strengthen the immune system and combat infection. So, to ease the symptoms of bronchitis, drinking lemon tea would be a good option.

Bay leaf is believed to have expectorant qualities. Hence, drinking tea made from bay leaves can make it easier to expel accumulated mucus and relieve congestion. A poultice made from bay leaves can also be an effective remedy for bronchitis.

To make the poultice, boil water containing bay leaves. Now, remove the bay leaves and cover them with a clean cotton cloth. The poultice, thus prepared should be placed on the chest to get relief.

A mixture of warm water and mustard, when applied on the chest, provides immense relief from the bouts of cough.

A herb known as savory is often recommended to remove the mucus accumulated in the lungs. Usually ingested with tea, the herb is taken once in a day. Thyme (herb) can also help to eliminate mucus and fight lung infection.

Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder taken daily can improve the patient's condition to a great extent. One can consume turmeric powder by mixing it with milk. This treatment is more effective in fighting bronchitis, when patients have it on an empty stomach.

A successful treatment for bronchitis involves taking a mixture of ginger, cloves and pepper. The quantity of each, is half a teaspoon and the mixture should be taken thrice a day. Honey can also be a useful addition to the mixture.

• Drinking a glass of fresh cabbage juice daily, can assist in relieving symptoms of bronchitis
• Mix 50 grams of fresh spinach leaves with 250 ml of water. One should also include a teaspoon of honey and a little bit of ammonium chloride in the mixture. This combination is an effective cough medicine, as it causes mucus to be coughed up.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.