Natural Remedies for Bronchitis

There are many natural treatments for both acute and chronic bronchitis. Expectorants, healing teas, immune system boosters and other supplements are helpful in assisting the natural healing process. Traditional doctors usually recommend harsh pharmaceutical antibiotics and expectorants for bronchitis, but these can do more harm than good in the overall functioning of the body. Holistic healing approaches are safe, effective, cost efficient and promote long term health benefits and balance in the body. All of the natural and herbal medicines recommended in this article can be found at most health food stores.

Expectorants

There are many natural expectorants available to help heal chronic or acute bronchitis. Expectorants help bring up phlegm in the lungs and clear out bronchial passageways. According to The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D, herbs such as mullin, elecampane, horse hound and red clover flower are all natural expectorants found in tincture or tea form. Another powerful expectorant useful for healing bronchitis naturally is eucalyptus. The essential oils of eucalyptus can be inhaled by simply breathing it in or using an oil diffuser. Do not ingest eucalyptus oil. Cayenne is another natural expectorant. It can be put in food as a natural way to aid healing. American and Siberian ginseng are also helpful in healing bronchitis because they clear bronchial passages and reduce inflammation.

Healing Teas

Tea is an effective way to administer the healing benefits of herbal remedies. The Green Pharmacy recommends honeysuckle, which soothes respiratory passages, marsh mallow, for healing the irritation of the throat mucus membranes, and licorice tea, which also soothes mucus membranes. These natural remedies assist in healing, curing and soothing bronchitis and the associated symptoms. Another healing tea recommended for this situation and also as treatment for many other illnesses and ailments is tulsi tea. Tulsi is also known as holy basil tea and has a broad range of health benefits. Tulsi is great for helping treat bronchitis because it promotes respiratory health, reduces inflammation and boosts the immune system. Also, it tastes great! Combining any of these teas together creates a beneficial healing tonic for health and wellness.

Immune System Boosters

There are many ways to naturally boost the immune system with alternative medicine. Some of the ways recommended by Phyllis A. Blach, CNC in Prescription for Nutritional Healing are eating garlic and taking colloidal silver and grapefruit seed extract. All are natural antibiotics that work with your body to help fight infection and heal damaged tissue. Another beneficial natural antibiotic is goldenseal, which can be found in tincture form. Goldenseal also has natural antibiotic properties and is good for all conditions involving inflammation of the mucus membranes of the bronchial tubes, throat, nasal passages and sinuses. In addition to these herbal medicines, there are other ways to boost the immune system. According to Leah Duke, WHP, Vitamin D is an important immune system booster that many people are not getting enough of. Vitamin D is naturally absorbed into our bodies by sunlight but when we do not get enough of it naturally, such as in the winter months, our immune functioning suffers. Vitamin D supplements can be found at health food stores in liquid form. Trying any or all combinations of these immune system boosters will help with speeding up the recovery process of bronchitis and other infections and illnesses.