Bronchitis

Summary

Bronchitis is a type of respiratory infection defined as inflammation of the main air pathways to the lungs.

Caution: If left untreated, bronchitis can lead to the development of pneumonia, a life-threatening health condition. Should you develop symptoms of chronic bronchitis, seek instant medical attention.

Types of Bronchitis

There are two types of bronchitis—acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis produces a deep, dry, or damp cough that typically goes away within fourteen days. Acute bronchitis usually develops after a cold, flu, sinus infection, or exposure to microbial or virus-like infections.

Persistent bronchitis typically occurs without having exposure to contagious agents, and may often be the result of progressed acute bronchitis. Persistent bronchitis may last for months or continually recur on a regular basis. In addition to wheezing and coughing, chronic bronchitis may cause sufferers to feel breathless or, “out of air.”

Symptoms of Bronchitis

Acute and chronic persistent bronchitis both produce deep, dry or wet coughs in addition to a sore throat and hoarseness. Other signs and symptoms can include chills, fever, excessive production of mucous, and the regular need to expectorate phlegm. Both forms of respiratory infection can also result in reduced immune performance, leading to higher susceptibility to other conditions, such as pneumonia.

Causes of Bronchitis

Persistent bronchitis is usually caused by microbial or viral infections, food allergic reactions, sinusitis, environmental allergens and toxins. It can also be brought on by exposure to cold. Smoking and regular exposure to second hand smoke can also contribute to chronic bronchitis. Exposure to smoke should be eliminated for a multitude of health reasons.

Natural Remedies

Aromatherapy: Breath in the steamed vapors from the essential oils bergamot, camphor, eucalyptus, lavender, pine, and sandalwood to help relieve bronchitis symptoms. Bergamot, sandalwood, and thyme are also useful for relieving excess mucus production.

Ayurveda: Ayurvedic doctors commonly recommend a mixture of the herbs sitopaladi, punarnava, trikatu, and mahasudarshan to help relieve the symptoms of bronchitis.

Diet: If you or someone in your care suffers from bronchitis, get screened for food allergies and avoid eating foods you are allergic or sensitive to. In addition, avoid all high sugar foods, starches, soya, corn, whole wheat and whole wheat byproducts, soda, and commercially processed or fried foods. Avoid foods containing artificial ingredients such as food additives, coloring, flavoring, and preservatives. Additionally minimize your intake of eggs, milk and other dairy products, and all caffeinated beverages. Fruit should be avoided white suffering from bronchitis, particularly plums as they promote mucus production.

During the onset of symptoms, eat hot, spicy organic foods, such as chili peppers, garlic clove, ginger and onions, in order to open the air passages and to encourage the elimination of mucous. Spices such as mustard and horseradish may also be helpful for this function.

Focus your regular diet on natural whole foods, especially plenty of fresh, raw organic fruits (avoid fruits while suffering from bronchitis) vegetables, seeds, nuts, organic free range meats and poultry, and wild salmon. Garlic and onions should be staples in your meals, due to the powerful benefits they provide for the lungs and entire respiratory system. Be sure to consume plenty of fresh water each day to maintain proper hydration. Organic, extra virgin olive and avocado oil should be used liberally as healthy flavor and cooking aids. Homemade soups, such as turkey or chicken, vegetable, and barley, can be consumed hot to help thin mucus.

According to Dr. Joseph E. Pizzorno, a leading naturopath, researcher and President Emeritus of Bastyr University, a vegan diet plan can considerably improve the symptoms and occurances of most respiratory conditions, such as bronchitis. Such a diet entails eliminating just about all animal items, as well as fish, eggs, milk, and all additional dairy products. Grains should also be ignored, or eaten in minimal amounts. Dr. Pizzorno recommends limiting your fluid intake to pure, filtered water (avoid chlorinated, or fluoridated plain tap water), and consume fresh, organic vegetables and fruit, especially romaine lettuce, celery, beets, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumbers, radishes, artichokes, beans, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, black currants, plums, and pears. Apples as well as citrus fruits are not recommended, however. Dr. Pizzorno reports that over 90% of all people who follow the vegan diet for one year experience noticeable improvements in their health.

Tips: Avoid cough suppressants that prevent mucous from being expelled from the lungs. Coughing is an important way to clear mucus. Spend a few minutes throughout the day coughing deeply to clear mucus from your lungs. Afterward, breathe deeply and calmly to relieve stress.

Herbal treatments: Useful herbal treatments for dealing with bronchitis include anise, astragals, cherry sound off, coltsfoot, Echinacea, elecampane, garlic, ginseng, goldenseal, grindelia, horehound, licorice underlying, lobelia, marshmallow root, mullein, peppermint, pleurisy root, and pokeroot. For best results, consider consuming the herbs in teas or tinctures.

Homeopathy: Useful homeopathic treatments for respiratory disease include Aconite, Arsen alb., Bryonia, Calc. sulph., Ferr phos., Lymphomyosot, Phosphorus, as well as Sulfur. Fill a hot bath and close the steam in the bathroom. Lie in the tub and breathe in the steam. Allow the warm water to soothe and reduce stress.
Improving Indoor Air Quality: Improving the quality of your indoor air, at home and at the office, is an essential step for healing and prevents respiratory system conditions, such as bronchitis. Purified air is clean, free of pollutants and odors, has a relative moisture of between thirty-five to 60 percent, and is high in oxygen and negative ions. Today’s technology makes it simple to ensure that your indoor air meets the above mentioned criteria. An adverse ion generator can not only increase the air and negative ion content of indoor air, but could also clear harmful pet dander, germs, dust, mildew, pollen, and viruses from your breathing air. Furthermore, negative ions help to soothe and repair damaged mucosa of the nasal, lung, and bronchial pathways. For best results, choose a self-regulating negative ion generator that emits at least one trillion negative ions per second.

It’s also wise to use a warm air humidifier to keep your indoor atmosphere moist, especially during winter months when the air tends to be drier. Adding vegetation to your home and work conditions can also help to keep air damp. Certain plants, such as chrysanthemums, philodendron, and spider plants, can also help to keep your air free of circulating dust and microorganisms because they act as organic air filters. Additionally, ensure that your home and work environments are properly ventilated, and avoid the use of synthetic materials in your home and place of work whenever possible.

Liquid Therapy: Useful juice combinations for relieving bronchitis symptoms are carrot and radish juice; carrot, beet, and cucumber; carrot and spinach; carrot and celery; and carrot, beet, and cucumber. Wheatgrass juice can also be effective.

Nutritional Supplements: Helpful supplements for preventing and healing bronchitis include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, selenium, and zinc. Brome lain, colloidal metallic, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), thymus gland extract, and proteolytic nutrients taken before meals are recommended.
Infraspinatus Respiratory Response (I.R.R.) Therapy: Created by Dr. Harry H. Philibert of Metairie, Louisiana, I.R.R Therapy calms the neuromuscular reaction that is directly linked to the sympathetic central nervous system and is active in the breathing difficulties caused by respiratory disease. The I.R.R. is also involved in pneumonia as well as asthma. According to Dr. Philibert, who has effectively treated thousands of patients struggling with asthma and other respiratory disorders, manipulation from the I.R.R. can reverse, and many times totally eliminate bronchial asthma attacks.

I.R.R. Therapy entails the use of lidocaine injections to the infraspinatus muscle mass, which, when constricted, may exacerbate bronchitis symptoms. In the event of severe bronchitis, Dr. Philibert says sufferers can often achieve total cessation of symptoms in a single session, while persistent asthma cases may need three to five treatments before a reduction in symptoms is seen. Dr. Philibert has trained more than 3,000 physicians in the I.R.R. technique.

Optional Professional Treatment

The following therapies can also help to prevent and relieve bronchitis: Acupressure, Acupuncture, Kinesiology, Biofeedback Training, Neurotherapy, Bodywork (Massage, reflexology, and Rolfing), Detoxification Treatment, Energy Treatments, Environmental Treatments, Enzyme Treatment, Magnet Therapy, Naturopathic Treatments, Osteopathic Treatments, Oxygen Therapy (hydrogen peroxide therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and ozone therapy), Qigong, traditional Chinese Medicine, and Yoga. (See Glossary for descriptions of these Alternative Treatments.)