How To Treat Bronchitis In A Natural Way

There are natural remedies both for oral consumption and for topical use that can be very useful when it comes to fighting the symptoms of bronchitis and improving the condition

Inflammation of the lower airways (bronchi) is a very common problem in winter. It can arise from a viral infection or abnormal mucus production. Even smokers can get it chronically. In this article we tell you how to treat bronchitis naturally.

What to know about bronchitis

It is an inflammation or obstruction in the bronchi caused by the same virus that causes coughs and colds, as well as by fungi or bacteria. In many cases, bronchitis is the continuation of a common flu when it is not treated properly or when the patient has low defenses.

If it is not cured in time it can lead to pneumonia which, in some patients, can be fatal.

Bronchitis can be acute (lasts a few weeks and is caused by a virus or bacteria) or chronic (as a result of continuous irritation of the lungs, such as smokers or those who are in contact with pollutants).

The main symptoms of this disease are:

• Phlegm
• Dry cough
• Itchy throat
• Noises and breathing difficulties
• Fatigue and malaise
• Chest pain and fever

Home remedies for bronchitis

If you suffer from several of the symptoms related to this disease, it would be advisable to consult a doctor. In addition to resting and following the professional’s instructions, you can improve the picture through natural recipes.

Eucalyptus oil

It has the ability to reduce headaches and unclog the airways.

• Put a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil on a handkerchief and smell it several times a day. Fight germs and eliminate coughs.

• You can also do eucalyptus steam inhalations. Heat a saucepan with water and a few drops of the oil. Breathe as closely as possible through your nose.

In a few minutes you will get relief by expelling the phlegm.

Onion soup

When we have the flu we can take advantage of the antibacterial properties of the onion. The same happens if we suffer from bronchitis.

Ingredients

• 3 onions
• 1 clove
• 2 teaspoons of brown sugar (12 g)
• 1 sprig of thyme
• 4 cups of water (1 liter)
• ½ cup of milk (125 ml)

Preparation

• Peel and slice the onions and put them in a pot.
• Add the cloves, sugar, and thyme.
• Add the water until all the ingredients are covered.
• Cook over low heat for 2 hours.
• Strain and let it warm up.

• Heat the milk and place in a cup.
• Pour the onion preparation, already strained, until the container is full.
• Drink as hot as possible.
• Repeat 2 times a day.

Garlic

Garlic is antibacterial and antiviral. Thanks to these properties it can help us if we have bronchitis (especially chronic caused by allergies since it provides quercetin, a natural antihistamine). Some people eat a raw garlic clove on an empty stomach every morning and others choose to add it to their meals.

Hot infusions

There is nothing more comforting when we are sick than a very hot cup of tea or soup. They have the ability to moisturize the throat and that translates to less irritation, pain, or itchiness when coughing. However, we must be cautious. An excessively hot liquid can aggravate our ailment and increase irritation.

• Try a ginger or honey infusion. Or a cup of warm milk with honey before going to sleep. Honey is known to have antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Gargle of water and salt

They can be a bit bothersome, but the good news is that they soothe a sore throat and reduce accumulated mucus. Therefore the membranes and respiratory tract will be less irritated.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water (250 ml)
• 1 teaspoon of salt (5 g)

Preparation

• Heat a cup of water and add a teaspoon of salt to it.
• Stir well.
• When it is at a temperature that can be tolerated, gargle, being careful not to swallow the water.
• Repeat several times a day.

Nettle

This wild plant has many benefits. For example, it is used to treat asthma and allergies. It also helps people with acute bronchitis. It is consumed through an infusion that is very easy to prepare.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water (250 ml)
• 2 tablespoons of dried nettle leaves (20 g)
• 1 tablespoon of honey (25 g)

Preparation

• First, put the water in a saucepan and heat until it boils.
• Then add the nettle leaves to a cup.
• Cover and let stand 15 minutes.
• Then filter and sweeten with honey.
• Drink as hot as possible, at least twice a day.

Almonds

These rich nuts have many nutrients (including calcium, potassium, and magnesium) that fight bacteria and germs that cause bronchitis.

You can consume them in different ways: chopped, in the form of vegetable milk, mixed with orange juice or hot milk, etc. We recommend that you crush them, so that they do not irritate the throat when eating them.

Flour and honey poultice

In addition to home remedies for bronchitis for internal use, there are other topical or external ones that can help a lot. It is the case of this poultice.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water (250 ml)
• 1 cup of flaxseed flour (150 g)
• 2 tablespoons of honey (50 g)

Preparation

• First, in a saucepan, bring the water to a boil and remove it from the heat.
• Then, add the flour little by little, while stirring, to obtain a dough.
• Add the honey and mix well.
• Afterward, pour a tablespoon or two onto a clean, dry cheesecloth.
• Fold the ends of the cloth to prevent the contents from spilling.
• Apply directly to the patient’s chest and remove when it has cooled down.
• Repeat several times a day.

Finally, we hope that these remedies will be useful to you. Remember that they are a support to the prescribed medication and that we should always visit the doctor after the first symptom of discomfort or pain. So, find the infusion that you like the most and enjoy it. They are very pleasant to the taste!