Bronchitis is a lung infection. As a result of the infection, the lungs become irritated.
It has got its name from the bronchi, the most important airways in lungs.
They produce mucus that plays the essential part in catching small particles or bacteria that might irritate the lungs. But, when bronchi make more mucus than we need, we cough to get rid of it.
Bronchitis is of two type acute and chronic bronchitis. The difference lies in the length of time the infection is present.
Acute bronchitis is temporary with the main symptoms including coughing, and difficulty breathing.
Usually, the duration of acute bronchitis is about 3-4 weeks. People of all ages are susceptible to acute bronchitis.
When it comes to chronic bronchitis, the symptoms stay mostly the same, but the duration is longer. Chronic bronchitis is coughing almost every day for 3-4 months annually for 2 years and more.
It is a part of the COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) group that affects the lungs.
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis might also include fatigue and migraines.
According to the Worldwide Health Organization, by the year 2030, COPD will be one of the top three causes of death globally.(1)
Today women are affected by bronchitis twice as much as men.
However, there is no need to worry since there are many ways to deal with bronchitis at home.
However, there exist home remedies for bronchitis that work.
11 Home Remedies For Bronchitis
1. Castor Oil
Castor oil is made from the seeds of plants called Ricinus communis.
They can be found in many regions all over the world, which means you can easily buy yourself a bottle no matter where you are.
India is the country which fulfills most of the global castor oil requirement.
The Food and Drug Administration of America categorizes it as safe and effective.
There are many uses for castor oil; since it contains vitamin E and vitamin A, it’s good for both health and beauty.
You can use castor oil packs for lung cleansing, too. If you don’t have it at home, get it for future uses.(3)
2. Turmeric
Turmeric is an exotic plant that can be found in southern Asia.
The rhizome smashed into powder of a yellow color and used as a spice in Asian cultures, especially countries like India and Bangladesh.
Turmeric contains iron, manganese, fiber, copper, potassium and vitamin B6.
The spice has been used as an anti-inflammatory treatment for many centuries.(4)
Turmeric can ease the pain and discomfort of bronchitis and also deal with inflammation.
"The easiest way to use this treatment is to add a ⅓ teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of warm water or milk and gargle this liquid 3 times per day.
Turmeric is safe for all ages if you use the right dosage.
3. Ginger root
Ginger root has been around for centuries and it has been used both as a food and as a remedy.
Ginger contains magnesium, chromium, and zinc, all of which are important for a healthy life. Combined with medications, ginger helps to clear the bronchi.(5)
There is no exact connection between healing bronchitis and eating ginger, but it certainly helps soothe the inflammation and deal with discomfort.
"Take ginger root and cut it into thin slices. Put approximately 2 tablespoons of ginger root in a glass of hot water and drink it. Repeat daily until you feel better.
4. Garlic and onion mash up
Garlic is one of the best home remedies for acute bronchitis since it contains vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin C.
It also is an extremely good food to eat if you want to prevent different sorts of diseases, including bronchitis and asthma.
"Eat 1 clove a day to prevent bronchitis and 2-3 per day to cure it. You can eat plain garlic or you can add it to mashed potatoes or soup.
5. Stop smoking
Smoking is bad for you for many reasons, including tooth decay and lung diseases.
Smoking highly increases your risk of getting chronic bronchitis and other COPDs.
Also, note that the more you smoke the harder it will be for you to cure bronchitis.
If you can’t break your habit, try to cut the number of cigarettes you smoke per day down.
Also Read: How I Quit Smoking Successfully Without Medication
6. Drink warm lemon water in morning
If you remember the importance of consuming vitamin C and drinking water, imagine the positive impact of doing both at the same time.
This can be both a cure and a way to prevent bronchitis.
Drink one glass of water with a slice of lemon or lime daily to maintain the levels of vitamin C in your body.
7. Eat foods rich in vitamin C
Vitamin C levels are important to maintain your health.
According to a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, vitamin C affects lung infections.(6)
If you consume enough vitamin C, you may prevent developing bronchitis.
There are many foods rich in vitamin C, and here are some examples. First come the citrus fruit like limes, lemons, and oranges, which we all like to eat.
But what about other foods?
Is there anything else we can eat and get enough vitamin C?
Sure. 100 grams of mangoes contains more than 27.7 mg of vitamin C, and nearly 765 IU (15% of RDA) of vitamin A as well.(7)
Kale contains more than 33 mg of vitamin C, 229 mcg of vitamin K and 4305 IU of vitamin A per ounce of serving.(8)
You might also like strawberries, which contain around 17 mg (an ounce of serving) of vitamin C and they also help make your teeth whiter.(9)
8. Drink enough water
Water is life and you need to drink it every day throughout the year.
It is not a medicine but if it is not taken regularly it may force you to take medicines.
When you have bronchitis, drinking water moistens your airways and make coughing easier. Since your throat is aching, it is recommended to drink warm or slightly hot water to avoid hurting your throat more.
Try to consume no less than a glass of water (250-300 ml) per hour.
9. Honey
When you cough a lot, you experience discomfort in your throat. You should have patience with that since coughing does help you get rid of mucus.
Honey has very soothing effects on your throat.
So take a teaspoon of honey early in the morning and another one before going to sleep to ease the effects of bronchitis.
10. Sesame seeds
Sesame seeds are a healthy option to get enough essential minerals and vitamins like calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, thiamine, vitamin B6, folate etc.(10)
Sesame seeds not only help soothe chest pain but also make healing go faster.
"Crush a teaspoon of the seeds and mix the powder with two tablespoons of water to consume twice a day. It will help you heal soon.
11. Get spinach in your diet
Spinach is also a healthy option because of its nutrient-rich profile of vitamins A, K, C, folate, fiber, iron, magnesium, and manganese.(11)
It can do wonders if combined with water and honey.
"Try mixing 70 grams of spinach leaves with a glass of water and one tablespoon of honey. This will say goodbye to bronchitis for the near future.
Get the help of your health care professional
The recommendations listed above are supposed to help you deal with bronchitis on your own, but it is important to understand that a GP’s assistance is crucial in some cases.
If you have additional symptoms like fever, coughing blood, fastened breath or your bronchitis lasts longer than 2 weeks, you definitely should pay your GP a visit.
These symptoms can be signs of bronchitis, pneumonia and other lung inflammations.
The doctor will offer you a check-up and a consultation making sure you’ll be back to health soon.
Conclusion
As you can see, a balanced diet and home remedies can help you avoid going to the hospital.The present list includes foods and spices that have been used by people to deal with bronchitis for centuries.
Why invent something new if Mother Nature prepared everything for us?
We hope you found this article informative and helpful.
Stay healthy and be happy.
The information provided here is only for guidance. Discuss with your GP before applying these remedies for treatment.
The Article Updated On: 30.06.2018
