Bronchitis is a viral infection that causes inflammation in the large airways in the lungs known as the bronchi. It usually starts as a cold with a cough an progresses to a nasty cough and a scratchy feeling in the lungs when you try to take anything but a shallow breath. While there are many ways to treat bronchitis, antibiotics won’t work because it is not a bacterial infection.
There are some herbal remedies that can be used, to treat your bronchitis. Use eucalyptus, bay or garlic leaves in hot water. Boil some water, drop one or all the leaves I named (to speed up the healing process) in the boiling water, let the leaves get tender and allow water to steam up, pour it in a bowl, position a towel directly over your head and the bowl to inhale the vapors. The vapors you will be inhaling will soothed your persisting cough. You can also use the remainder of the liquid to make an herbal tea.
There are two different types of coughs associated with bronchitis. If you have a lot of congestion you may have a wet cough; with this type of cough, while uncomfortable, is necessary to get any mucous and liquid out of your lungs. Humidity is very effective bronchitis treatment, it helps to break up the mucous, making it easier to get it out of your lungs. Try standing under a hot, steamy shower for ten to fifteen minutes. Make sure you dry yourself and wrap up good when you get out. A vaporizer, either steam or cool mist, placed in your bedroom at night will help you to sleep better too. Put some eucalyptus oil in the vaporizer as an expectorant to help get rid of the phlegm in your chest.
The symptoms for acute and chronic bronchitis are similar. People who suffer from either form experience coughing fits. They may also see increased production of phlegm, discomfort in the chest, wheezing, elevated body temperature and occasional chills. The phlegm produced due to this condition may be clear, gray, white, or yellowish-green in color. The color may help a doctor determine what the bronchitis cause for a given patient is.
There are a number of herbal teas that serve as a bronchitis cure. If you have a dry hacking cough you can use a mixture of wild cherry bark and marshmallow root. Use one teaspoon of each herb in two cups of hot water and let steep for ten minutes. If you don’t have a tea-ball for the herbs you can put them right in the water and then filter them out with a sieve. Drink a cup three or four times a day to help with the cough and your immune system.
People who want to use pelargonium should try Bronovil. The South African flower is Bronovils key ingredient is the South African geranium mentioned above. Pelargonium works by preventing viruses from attaching to cells in the body. This herb boosts the bodys immune system, which makes it useful for older people and people suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Learn more about Bronchitis Cause. Stop by our site where you can find out all about Gaining Health from Garlic.