9 natural home remedies for the treatment of bronchitis

Bronchitis is not fun to deal with; you’ll cough, you’ll wheeze, and you’ll feel short of breath. Fortunately, this infection is manageable. There are several home remedies available that can help you deal with this irritating condition. From essential oils to warm teas, MedicalNewsToday.com states that these are the best ways to ease the load on your lungs.

Take honey – With its vast array of health benefits, it makes sense that honey would be effective against the more tiresome symptoms of bronchitis. Besides stabilizing your immunity and alleviating inflammation, honey can also relieve a sore throat.

Take ginseng extract – This potent herbal remedy will do wonders for your lungs. Ginseng reduces inflammation, decreases lung bacteria, and even prevents mucus from accumulating.

Take N-acetylcysteine (NAC) – By cutting down on the severity and frequency of coughing, this supplement offers a lot of comfort to bronchitis sufferers. As an added bonus, NAC can also thin mucus so that it can be expelled from the body with ease.

Use essential oils – Certain essential oils are good at aiding in inflammation abatement and mucus elimination; these include peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus, basil, thyme, and oregano. Use the essential oil of your choice in a diffuser, add it to a bath, or inhale it directly. 

Up your vitamin D intake – Vitamin D as a whole is good for your health as it supports your immune system. This important vitamin does this by increasing the immunity’s antimicrobial defenses while also diminishing the inflammatory effects of cytokine proteins. According to VitaminDCouncil.org, people with low vitamin D levels may be more prone to respiratory infections, so get as much of this nutrient as possible.

Drink warm liquids – Coughing will be much easier with warm water or tea since these fluids dilute mucus. Ginseng tea and lemon honey tea are two soothing teas you should stock up on if you’re struggling through bronchitis.

Wear a face mask – Cold air can worsen a cough, so if you live in a place with chilly weather, put on a face mask. A scarf will do in a pinch, as will any article of clothing if you don’t have access to a face mask. Cold-air face masks are available, so consider investing in these if your bronchitis is severe.

Try pursed-lip breathing – This breathing technique is recommended for people with bronchitis. It’s simple to execute too: just inhale through your nose for two seconds, pucker your lips, and then slowly exhale through your mouth for four or six seconds. Pursed-lip breathing will keep your airways open longer and assist your lungs in expelling stale air, making it much easier to breathe.

Use a humidifier – The warm, moist air from this device will loosen the mucus clogging up your airways,making easier to breathe. Boost the efficacy of your humidifier by adding a few drops of eucalyptus, peppermint, or other essential oils.

If you ever feel a cough developing, be sure to take immediate action. That cough could become something worse in the long run. You’ll know it’s bronchitis if you have difficulty breathing, chest discomfort, chills, a headache, a sore throat, or a low-grade fever. Decrease your risk of bronchitis by taking enough vitamins and minerals to strengthen your immune system, and by quitting smoking altogether. Smoking makes you more susceptible to chronic bronchitis, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by bronchial irritants.