Effective folk remedies for acute, chronic and obstructive bronchitis

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the human respiratory tract, which most often occurs due to the entry of various viruses into them. This is a dangerous disease, because without proper or untimely treatment, the inflammatory focus can spread to the lungs or develop into a chronic stage. Bronchitis is unpleasant because it causes a strong spasmodic cough, sometimes depriving you of sleep and rest at night.

At the first stages of the pathology, antitussives, antipyretics, and antibiotics are prescribed if necessary. There is a huge arsenal of folk recipes for combating bronchitis, which are used along with drug treatment or independently.

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Indications folk remedies for bronchitis and coughs

Indications for the use of folk remedies are colds and infectious diseases, accompanied by their characteristic symptoms: runny nose, fever, sore throat, dry cough. When prescribing treatment, the doctor always emphasizes the need for plenty of fluids using various popular anti-inflammatory and antiseptic herbs or other means: raspberries, linden, honey, etc. The acute course of viral infections subsides after a few days, the bacterial flora joins the viral, the bronchial mucosa swells, the cough becomes more moist, easier to cough up. The cough lasts at least 2 weeks, and sometimes drags on for months. The task of folk remedies is to help get out of this painful condition: relieve inflammation, reduce the viscosity of sputum, strengthen the immune system.

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Pharmacodynamics

The pharmacodynamics of folk remedies used to treat bronchitis consists of enhancing fluid synthesis and protecting the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs from external influences, including infections, which promotes faster sputum separation and reduces coughing. For example, the pharmacological properties of coltsfoot are hidden in the anti-inflammatory and softening properties due to the formation of mucus. The mucus spreads over the bronchial mucosa, creating a protective film that protects the epithelium from harmful effects and reduces inflammation activity. The pharmacodynamics of linden flower infusion consists of antispasmodic, diaphoretic and sedative effects.

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Dosing and administration

Shortness of breath during bronchitis is characterized by a sudden lack of oxygen, with the depth of inhalation and exhalation changing, breathing becoming more frequent, a characteristic whistle appearing, and an attack of suffocation may develop. This occurs as a result of the airway narrowing either due to muscle spasm or due to a large amount of accumulated sputum.

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Folk remedies for shortness of breath during bronchitis

In this case, vasodilators are appropriate among medications, and the following recipes can be used from traditional medicine:

• Combine 0.5 l of honey, 5 crushed lemons and 3 heads of garlic pressed through a garlic press. Leave for 24 hours and take 2 tablespoons at night;
• drink brewed cranberry leaves instead of tea;
• Mix a glass of carrot juice, half a glass of beetroot juice, half a kilo of chopped onion, a spoon of sugar. Cook over low heat for about 3 hours, after cooling add 2-3 spoons of honey. Take a tablespoon before meals.

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Expectorant folk remedies for bronchitis

When phlegm accumulates in the bronchi, breathing becomes difficult, new urges to cough appear, sleep at night is interrupted - all this greatly exhausts the patient. During such a period, it is appropriate to use expectorant folk remedies for bronchitis. Inhalations with eucalyptus oil, drinking warm milk with the addition of soda on the tip of a spoon and, of course, herbs with an expectorant effect give a good effect. These include plantain, coltsfoot, licorice root, marshmallow, sage, mint, oregano, anise. Pharmacies sell special chest fees for making infusions and decoctions, but they may contain herbs for which there are contraindications. It is convenient to use a thermos: combine several (take in equal doses) or use one herb, pour boiling water, let it brew for several hours, drink warm 3-4 times a day.

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Folk remedies for chronic bronchitis

After the acute course of the disease, the cough often lasts for several months, becoming chronic. Observation by a doctor is necessary, since such a symptom is also inherent in other, more dangerous pathologies, such as tuberculosis or lung cancer. If the diagnosis is established, then you can turn to folk remedies for chronic bronchitis. Recipes using black radish with honey are very common:

• cut a hole inside the radish and put honey in it, leave it overnight, drink the juice that forms inside, two tablespoons several times a day;
• Grate the radish, squeeze out the juice, add an equal portion of honey.

More recipes like this:

• in equal parts (100 g) mix butter, goose fat, honey, cocoa, add two tablespoons of aloe juice. Heat a little for better dissolution, add to warm milk;
• brew linden flowers in a thermos and drink instead of tea several times a day;
• put a few aloe leaves in red wine, let it sit for a couple of days, drink 50g before meals;
• Grind garlic (5 cloves) with salt and mix with 100 g of butter, spread on sandwiches.

Folk remedies for obstructive bronchitis

The role of folk remedies in obstructive bronchitis is to provide bactericidal, expectorant and strengthening effects along with drug treatment. In this case, rubbing with pork or mutton fat mixed with turpentine can help. Inhalations over slightly mashed boiled potatoes in their skins with the addition of soda or vegetable oil are also effective. These procedures are done when the high body temperature has already been brought down. Taking expectorants prepared on the basis of medicinal herbs and plants is effective:

• Bake several onions in the oven, chop with a blender, add honey;
• Choose a large beetroot, hollow out a hole on top, add honey and bake in the oven in some container. The juice that is released during this process has medicinal properties.

Also, any herbs that have a bactericidal and expectorant effect are suitable for treating cough.

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Folk remedies for purulent bronchitis

Purulent bronchitis is a dangerous form of it, as it is accompanied not only by the formation of mucus on the walls of the bronchi, but also by purulent discharge, which comes off with a cough in the form of a thick, difficult to separate secretion. It is characterized by a constantly high temperature, weakness, sweating, severe cough, shortness of breath. Often this pathology requires inpatient treatment, but folk remedies for purulent bronchitis will be a good help in eliminating it. The main thing in such therapy are various fats, which are both taken internally and used externally for rubbing. Badger fat is characterized by medicinal properties. You can make the following potion from it: melt 100 g of dark chocolate, the same amount of butter in a water bath, cool and add 6 tablespoons of badger fat and 6 teaspoons of cocoa, which will interrupt the unpleasant smell of fat. Mix everything, take a spoon before meals several times a day or add to warm milk. Recipes using goose, goat, dog fat are also effective. There are many ways to prepare medicinal mixtures based on them, most often they use honey, aloe, garlic, onion. Various expectorant herbs are also used to treat purulent bronchitis: sage, chamomile, plantain, coltsfoot, etc.

Folk remedies for the treatment of bronchitis in adults

Any folk remedies are suitable for treating bronchitis in adults, unless there are warnings for taking individual components included in the recipes and contraindications from other organs. These can be various fats for rubbing and taking internally, infusions and decoctions of herbs, beekeeping preparations, various alcohol tinctures, compresses, mustard plasters, cupping, inhalations.

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Folk remedies for bronchitis in pregnant women

Traditional treatment for bronchitis in pregnant women is an alternative treatment for women, since medication is contraindicated. Only in isolated cases, if there is a threat to life, are medications prescribed. Many medicinal herbs are contraindicated during pregnancy, since they can cause a miscarriage, so it is advisable to focus on inhalations, rubbing the back and chest, warm compresses. Inhalations can be alkaline or oily. In the first case, put 2 teaspoons of soda in a few liters of water, in the second - a few drops of essential oil, for example, eucalyptus or thyme. Lean over the pan and cover yourself with a towel, breathe for 10-15 minutes. Warm crushed potatoes, boiled in their skins, with the addition of vegetable oil are suitable for compresses. You can make a flat cake from flour and honey. In this case, the back should be covered with a warm blanket. If there is no significant relief within 5 days, the doctor will select medications that are less dangerous for the unborn child.

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Folk remedies for bronchitis in children

Treatment with alternative medicine for bronchitis in children is somewhat different from the recipes used by adults. Thus, it is not recommended to take various animal fats internally until the age of 3, and then adjust the dosage depending on age, starting with a third of a spoon until the age of four and increasing to a teaspoon at the age of seven. There are no age restrictions for rubbing fat, you only need to ensure the appropriate thermal conditions (wrap up, do not let outside after the procedure). Alcohol tinctures are also unacceptable for treating children. If you are allergic to honey, which often happens in childhood, you must exclude this product from folk recipes. Otherwise, as with adults, you can use various herbs and products to quickly remove phlegm and strengthen the immune system: licorice, aloe, lemon, ginger, figs, onions, garlic, mustard powder, propolis, honey, cocoa powder, etc.

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Treatment of bronchitis in diabetes with folk remedies

Treatment of bronchitis in diabetes with traditional medicine is complicated by the need to control sugar, since its elevated level can cause diabetic coma. In addition, diabetics often have other concomitant diseases, their immunity is weakened, and the bronchi are also susceptible to changes in the structure of the vessels of the mucous membranes. The recovery process for this group of people, as a rule, is longer, and the consequences of complications of the disease are more dangerous. Nevertheless, from the entire arsenal of traditional medicine recipes, they have something to use. An effective remedy that relieves a painful dry cough, helps to cough up and remove pathogenic microbes is licorice root. It has a low glycemic index, which does not lead to an increase in blood sugar, moreover, it contains some substances that help reduce sugar. You can also use lemon, garlic, onion, oak acorns, linden, plantain, etc. in recipes.

Contraindications

When using one or another traditional medicine recipe, it is necessary to carefully study its effect on the body so as not to harm other organs. Thus, patients with diabetes should not get carried away with recipes with sweet berries, honey. Recipes using black radish will be harmful to people with digestive tract pathologies, heart disease, kidney disease. Licorice is contraindicated for pregnant women, nursing women, people with heart disease. Some herbs can raise blood pressure, which is in no way permissible for hypertensive patients. Inhalations, various thermal procedures are unacceptable in the presence of neoplasms. Each person, like no one else, is aware of the state of his health and only in his hands not to harm himself.

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Side effects folk remedies for bronchitis and coughs

Familiarization with the specifics of using a particular herb will help avoid side effects. The packages of pharmaceutical herbs describe in detail all possible reactions of the body to their use. When preparing raw materials on your own, you need to look into dictionaries of medicinal herbs. It is important to remember that herbs, like tablets, contain chemicals, and each potion has its own method of preparation, use and dosage. Each organism's reaction to them is strictly individual. There are no general recommendations, so you should not prepare herbal infusions at random or by eye.

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Overdose

It is no coincidence that the dosage is indicated on each package of medicinal herbs or herbal collection. Overdosing on herbs is possible and can result in various reactions of the body: allergies, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain. In general, treatment with the same herb is not recommended for longer than 3-4 weeks; it is advisable to change the medicinal components after this period.

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Interactions with other drugs

The healing substances in different plants are not always compatible, not to mention interactions with other drugs. Unfortunately, synthetic pills have been studied much better by science than herbs. Nevertheless, a number of features of individual herbs are known. Thus, the use of tinctures of ginseng, which increases immunity, is not compatible with coffee and drugs containing caffeine. St. John's wort cannot be used simultaneously with tetracyclines and sulfonamides. A phytotherapist can tell you about all the subtleties.

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Storage conditions

Storage conditions for herbs - a dry place protected from light at a temperature not exceeding 25°C. Herbs should be stored either in a pharmacy package or in a glass jar, ensuring the packaging is hermetically sealed. If storage rules are not followed, the beneficial substances will lose their properties.

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Shelf life

The shelf life of different parts of plants is different: herbs, leaves, flowers are stored for 1-2 years, fruits - two years, rhizomes 2-3. Of the above-described medicinal herbs and berries used to treat bronchitis, the shelf life of raspberries, currants, linden flowers, plantain leaves is 2 years, coltsfoot leaves - 3 years, viburnum bark - 4 years, etc.

The best folk remedies for bronchitis

To summarize the above, we will name the best folk remedies for bronchitis. These include, first of all, medicinal components taken orally as part of recipes: fats, bee products, milk with soda, fats, honey, medicinal herbal teas (licorice, plantain, sage, coltsfoot, pine buds, nettle, etc.), radish, aloe, garlic, onion. Inhalations, compresses, rubbing the chest and back with animal fats, mustard plasters, cupping have a good therapeutic effect. Here are a few more effective recipes:

• per liter of boiling water, two onions with peel and a glass of sugar. Boil for about an hour, throw away the onion, drink half a glass of warm broth several times a day;
• Mix 100 ml of hot milk and the same amount of Borjomi mineral water, take a third of a glass 3 times a day;
• aloe juice (2 tablespoons) combined with a glass of honey and 100 g of lard (butter);
• a pinch of nettle flowers is brewed with 4 cups of boiling water, drink instead of tea;
• sprinkle a slice of bread with water and steam it in the oven, wrap it in a towel, apply it to the back or chest, gradually unwrap it as it cools (best suited for treating a child’s cough);
• Grind 50g of propolis, combine it with 300g of butter softened in a water bath, mix well, continue to keep over heat for another 20 minutes, then strain. Add a teaspoon to warm milk and drink.