Natural Ways to Help Treat Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the trachea and bronchial tubes that comes from a bacterial infection.

This common lung infection doesn’t usually cause major complications, but it’s important to treat it so that it doesn’t lead to other, more serious lung issues. Today, we’re going to show you some natural ways to help treat bronchitis as quickly as possible. Just remember, they’re not a miracle cure and you should always speak to your doctor.

Natural ways to treat your bronchitis

Proper diet

When you have bronchitis, you absolutely have to watch your diet, since t here are foods that cause inflammation and congestion. You should especially avoid:

• Refined sugars
• Bread (You can have dextrinized bread instead. It’s a biscuit-like product that has undergone a thorough cooking process, which makes it easier for your body to digest.)
• Dairy products

Instead, you should maintain a diet rich in:

• Fruits (grapefruit, lemon, orange, kiwi)
• Vegetable purees and broths (especially with things like garlic, onion, leeks, cabbage, celery and carrot).
• Whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, millet…)

It would also be very beneficial to incorporate some medicinal foods into your diet:

• Cayenne: Add a pinch of cayenne to hot meals to promote circulation, open the bronchial tubes and help with detoxification.
• Propolis and honey: products derived from bees are great antibiotics that help boost your defenses.
• Grapefruit seed extract: this potent antiviral is becoming more and more common. Take 5 to 7 drops mixed in a glass of water on an empty stomach.
• Vitamin C: take it as a supplement or get it through your diet (in the form of steamed, unpeeled potatoes, garlic, citrus…)

Medicinal plants

Medicinal plants are always one of the best natural ways to treat a problem, bronchitis included.  You’ll see major improvement if you prepare a daily infusion of medicinal plants and drink it warm throughout the day. You can choose between the following herbs: plantain, cat’s claw, mallow, elder, mint, chamomile, and sundew.

You should also try inhaling steam. 

• Boil water in a pot with some herbs (cajeput, eucalyptus, thyme, rosemary, savory).
• Once it’s ready, take it off the burner, cover your head with a towel and take some deep breaths directly over the pot.
• You can put it on the burner and take it off again to create more steam.
• Do this throughout the day, depending on congestion.

Finally, the same medicinal plants that we talked about for the infusions and the steam inhalations can also be used in the form of essential oils.  Prepare a mix with 30cl of an oil base (almond oil, olive oil, sesame oil…) and add 5 drops of each essential oil.  Apply the oil directly to the torso and neck or use it in an aromatherapy diffuser.

Clay remedies

Clay is an age-old remedy. Back when people didn’t have many resources, pure clay was an easy and effective way to extract toxins, while also bringing minerals into your body. There are two specific natural ways you can use clay for bronchitis:

• Make a poultice: Mix clay with water until it has a sticky but consistent texture.  Add 4 or 5 drops of thyme, eucalyptus and oregano essential oil.  Once prepared, apply it – preferably warm –  to your chest and back.  Repeat this every 6 hours.
• In some herbal stores, they sell a special clay that you can actually ingest. It’s purified and free of elements that are toxic to the body. Mix it with water without using a metal spoon (use a wooden, ceramic, etc spoon instead). Let it set for 10 minutes and take it in the morning.

Thermal balance

When someone has bronchitis, there’s generally a temperature imbalance in their body. We recommend (especially if your neck is warm and your feet are cold) trying one of these natural ways to treat bronchitis.

• Rub down the cold areas with a coarse material, like a sponge.
• Apply ginger cream or oil.
• Take a foot bath with very warm water and a couple spoonfuls of baking soda, for at least 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.

Emotional aspects

This doesn’t exactly count as one of the natural ways to treat bronchitis, but it’s worth keeping in mind. The psychosomatic significance of bronchitis usually relates to emotional situations that aren’t being dealt with and are causing turmoil.

This is important to take into account especially if you have a recurring problem with this. If that’s the case, we recommend therapy, homeopathy, floral essences, or some other type of emotional support. Also, don’t forget that with any recurring or chronic illness, it’s vital to avoid bad habits (tobacco, alcohol, bad diet, etc.)

Images courtesy of Clínica ADAM, stefanvds and Intercontinental Hong Kong