Major causes, most common symptoms, best known preventive measures, and the top tried-and-tested home remedies for bronchitis – you will get to know it all here.
Bronchitis is a respiratory problem in which the bronchial tubes and mucous membrane swell. The patient suffers from an acute cough and thick discolored mucus. Depending upon the intensity of infection, bronchitis may be either acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis lasts for about two to three weeks; however, chronic bronchitis may take about 3 to 10 months, and usually requires continuous medical treatment.
Top 6 Causes of Bronchitis
- Infections
- A cold cough
- Changes in the atmosphere
- Regular smoking
- Dusty air or fog
- Allergy due to pollution
Most Common Symptoms of Bronchitis
- Prolonged cough
- Discolored mucus
- A headache and heaviness
- Shortness of breath
- Slight fever with chills
- Nasal congestion
- Fatigue
Best Preventive Measures for Bronchitis
- Drink plenty of water, minimum 8 glasses a day.
- Avoid smoking.
- To add moisture to the air the use humidifiers.
- Speak less and let your throat rest.
- Have crushed or soaked almonds.
- Cover your face well in polluted areas.
- Wash your hands and face frequently during “flu and cold” season.
Top 9 Home Remedies for Bronchitis
It is highly recommended to start treating bronchitis as soon as you see any of the aforementioned symptoms. You may want to try the following remedies at home before rushing to the doctor and getting gifted with heavy antibiotics.
Honey
Honey is a natural antibacterial and antiviral for the treatment of bronchitis. Mix honey with ginger extract and black pepper powder, and have this mixture 3-4 times a day. It treats the infection in the throat and also forms a soothing layer inside the throat to reduce any inflammation.
Oregano Oil
If available, put 3-4 drops of oregano oil under the tongue twice a day. It is really effective in reducing the inflammation, soreness, and coughing inside the throat.
Salt Water
Salt water acts as an anti-bacterial on a sore throat. Also, it helps in fighting the irritation caused by the mucus inside the throat. It is very important to mix an appropriate quantity of salt in warm water, as excess salt can result in vomiting and irritation. Roughly, you can mix 1 teaspoon of salt in one glass of warm water and do gargles.
Ginger
Ginger is warming food and also known to have anti-inflammatory and immunity-building properties. As a warming food, it helps treat cold, which is always accompanied with a throat infection and it also reduces the inflammation in bronchial tubes. You can shred a small piece of ginger in one glass of boiling water, and then add one clove and a little cinnamon to it. Let this mixture boil for 2 minutes. Pour it into a glass, have one glass in the morning and another before sleeping at night.
Orange Juice
Vitamin C is known for its immunity-building properties. Vitamin C source like orange helps in reducing the inflammation during bronchitis and also provide other vitamins and nutrients for good health. It can also be taken with almonds to alleviate a sore throat. Other sources of Vitamin C include kiwis, broccoli, berries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, peas, and papayas.
Turmeric
This is the grandma’s recipe. This not only treats a sore throat but also heals wounds and increases immunity. To treat a cough associated with bronchitis, turmeric is the best natural remedy. The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric combat mucus to provide relief. In order to prepare the mixture, add one teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of milk, stir it well and boil for some time. For effective results, try having this mixture at bedtime. Anyone suffering from stomach ulcers, gallbladder stones, and hyper-acidity should not try this remedy.
Garlic
Garlic is another warm food like ginger and also known to have antiviral and antibiotic properties. Garlic is a very effective natural home remedy to treat acute bronchitis. Either you can peel off one garlic clove and have it directly and drink warm water after that. Another garlic remedy is to take three cloves of fresh garlic, peel and chop them properly. Boil a glass of milk; add these chopped pieces and let it boil for another 4-5 minutes. Drink this mixture warm before going to sleep.
Onion
Onion comes with natural antibacterial and antiviral properties. It helps relieve inflammation and soreness of throat. As a home remedy, you can simply consume one teaspoon of raw onion juice, preferably empty stomach in the morning.
Basil
Put few fresh basil leaves in hot water for some time. Strain it, add one teaspoon of honey and drink this mixture. Alternatively, put 5 leaves of basil in your steamer and inhale the steam for about 10 minutes for instant relief.
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