How to Treat Bronchitis

Bronchitis is caused due to lung infection which may spread from one infected person to another through direct or indirect contact. Bronchitis can be bacterial or viral and both these types are referred to as serious health disorders. An acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis leads to the inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes(airways in the lungs). As a result, excessive secretion of mucus is noticed. The respiratory infection is usually followed by cold and flu. Acute bronchitis lasts for a few days or weeks, while chronic bronchitis, which is a type of COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can last for a few months. COPD is caused due to excessive smoking, smoke and fumes, inhalation of irritating dust and is associated with bronchial asthma. If left untreated, bronchitis can lead to pneumonia.

Symptoms of Bronchitis

• Headache and body ache
• Sore throat
• Chest pain
• Cough and cold
• Shortness of breath or dyspnea
• Chest congestion and tightness
• Wheezing
• Chill and fever
• Fatigue

How to Treat Bronchitis Naturally

• Put some fenugreek seeds in water and boil the water with some ginger. You can consume this water after straining and after adding some honey, 4-5 times daily. It is very effective for bronchitis.
• Eating almonds, which are loaded with vitamins, can definitely relieve bronchitis, by providing you more strength. You can try ground almonds mixed in orange juice for some long-term benefit.
• A spoon full of a mixture of ground ginger, cloves, pepper and honey can be heated a little and consumed 3-4 times daily.
• Drink warm liquids to ease the throat pain caused by constant coughing. Tea, coffee, warm water and soups work great.
• Including some of the herbs for bronchitis in your diet, like yarrow and marshmallow would be helpful for you.
• If the question how to treat bronchitis naturally is haunting you, you can use warm salty water for frequent gargling, as it is one of the natural remedies for bronchitis recommended to lessen the discomfort in throat.
• Tea with bay leaves is equally effective in treating acute bronchitis.
• To soothe the irritating throat, you can consume teaspoons of honey.
• To soothe the throat and to regain the energy, you can drink tea made from ginger root, clove and cinnamon.
• Morning cough and congestion can be relieved with a teaspoon of raw onion juice early in the morning.
• One of the traditional bronchitis remedies is rubbing garlic oil to the throat to get relief from itchy throat.
• Drinking plenty of liquids also helps flushing out the mucous fast.
• Drinking a glass of warm milk, after adding a pinch of turmeric can help relieve the congestion in the chest.
• Smoking should be strictly avoided as it can increase the risk of infection and thus worsen the condition.
• To treat bronchitis in children, a paste of ground almonds, poppy seeds and honey can be offered with milk, before going to bed. If the child follows some yoga exercises daily, it will be beneficial. Mixed mustard in warm water, rubbed on the child's chest is equally beneficial. Clear chicken soup with ginger and garlic in it; or fresh chicken stock with a lot of pepper and ginger in it would help improve the health of the child and help fight bronchitis.

You can follow these tips to treat bronchitis at home; but you should also consult your physician. His suggestions about bronchitis treatment are crucial, as he will take into consideration your age, health and health problems if any. Prescribed medications would help lower the symptoms of bronchitis. Avoiding intake of allergens, avoiding exposure to dust, pollens, gases, fumes, polluted air, etc. is essential; because these can worsen the symptoms.