Home Remedies for Chest Cold

Chest cold is a common term, which is used to denote the symptoms of bronchitis. It starts with a common cold or an upper respiratory tract infection, but, soon it transforms to chest congestion, accompanied by cough and phlegm. These symptoms can be really bothersome, especially, in the night. Such a condition is called bronchitis, which is caused by the inflammation of the mucus lining in the bronchial tubes. The most common cause of acute bronchitis is viral attacks, but, this condition may also be caused by fungal or bacterial infection too. Other causal agents include smoking and pollutants. A chest cold can be either acute or chronic. While most of the acute cases can be effectively controlled with home remedies, chronic ones require medical attention.

Chest Cold Home Remedies

This condition denotes chest congestion, cough and other related symptoms like low-grade fever, throat irritation and tightness in chest. As the bronchial lining gets inflamed, mucus will be produced in large amounts and this will be expelled as phlegm. These symptoms may aggravate at night, with severe cases developing wheezing and breathing trouble. If such severe symptoms are not treated, they may lead to complications like pneumonia. As mentioned above, severe and chronic chest cold requires medical attention, as natural remedies may not be sufficient to control the condition.

• One of the popular home remedies for chest cold is honey, which can be taken along with warm tea. You may also mix equal amounts of honey and slightly warm ginger juice (you may also use a few drops of holy basil juice), before bedtime. This home remedy can prove beneficial for controlling cough as well as chest congestion.
• You may also use turmeric as a home remedy for chest cold. A teaspoon of turmeric can be added to a glass full of warm milk, before bedtime. You may also use it two to three times daily. This home remedy is said to be more effective if taken on an empty stomach.
• It will be better to increase your water consumption, so as to tackle a chest cold. Apart from water, you can go for other fluids like soups and broths (no caffeinated and carbonated drinks). Make sure to use slightly warm fluids. Fluids may be useful in loosening the mucus and in keeping the mucus lining moist.
• Home remedies for chest cold include onions too. You have to consume one teaspoon of raw onion juice in the morning, in an empty stomach. It is believed that onion juice aids to loosen the mucus and prevents phlegm production too.
• There are many other natural cures like sesame seeds. An infusion can be prepared with one teaspoon each of sesame seeds, linseed, honey and some salt. This infusion has to be taken before bedtime. It has to complimented with ground sesame seeds (half teaspoon) mixed with water (2 tablespoons), twice a day.
• You may also add almonds as one of the home remedies for chest congestion. You have to mix powdered almonds (around seven) in a cup of orange or lemon juice and consume it before bedtime. Use of vitamin C is also said to be a home remedy for this condition.

You may resort to these chest cold remedies, if your condition is acute and mild, but, severe and chronic symptoms need medical attention. Even if the symptoms are mild but do not improve with home remedies, consult your doctor at the earliest. You may also use some of the above said remedies, along with the conventional treatment. In that case, it will be better to seek the opinion of the doctor regarding the use of these remedies.