11 Home Remedies for Chronic Bronchitis

Bronchitis causes the tubes in your lungs that air passes through (also known as the airways or bronchial tubes) to become inflamed or irritated. The irritation causes thick mucus to develop, making it even harder for you to get air into your lungs. If this condition lasts longer than three months, you should seek home remedies for chronic bronchitis to ease symptoms and treat this lingering condition.

11 Home Remedies for Chronic Bronchitis

Causes and Symptoms

The main cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking cigarettes. The deeper your addiction to nicotine, the higher your risk for battling the condition. When tobacco smoke is inhaled into the lungs, it irritates the airways and produces mucus. Secondhand smoke also contributes to a reoccurring case of bronchitis.

Other irritating substances that can bring on the condition include air pollution, chemical fumes, and dust. You may also develop chronic bronchitis if you work in a stuffy environment, abuse drugs, travel to a destination with a drastic climate change, or inherit the condition from your family tree. Allergies and infections can make bronchitis worse.

Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:

Headaches
Coughing with mucus (sometimes streaked with blood)
Shortness of breath during mild activity
Frequent respiratory infections that worsen symptoms
Wheezing
Fatigue
Swelling of both ankles, feet, and legs

Chronic Bronchitis Home Remedies

When you’re dealing with chronic bronchitis, the threat of picking up another infection is pretty high. It’s important to take precautions, such as avoiding crowds, kids with colds, smoky rooms, and people with a cold or flu. Home remedies for chronic bronchitis can also help treat symptoms, including:

a) Salt Water Gargle:

Gain relief from inflammation, as well as lessen the amount of mucus coating the membranes in your throat by gargling with salt water. Add one teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water.

b) Aspirin or Ibuprofen:

Sometimes, a patient may experience chest pain during a bout of bronchitis. Reach for an anti-inflammatory drug hidden in the back of your medicine cabinet.

c) Almonds:

Packed with a great deal of vitamins and nutrients, almonds deliver potassium, calcium, and magnesium to your system – known to help with the treatment of a respiratory illness.

d) Water and Other Liquids:

Drinking a lot of water will make it much easier to cough up stubborn mucus in the throat. Not all liquids are created equal. Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeinated beverages, which usually lowers the amount of beneficial fluids in your body. Throughout the day, aim to consume four to six glasses of fluid a day. Warming your liquids will also have a soothing effect on the throat.

e) Exercise:

Taking a morning walk each day or getting a decent amount of outdoor exercise can help treat symptoms of chronic bronchitis.

f) Warm, Moist Air:

Break up thick mucus by surrounding yourself with warm, moist air. Try standing in the bathroom, closing the door, and running a hot shower for relief. The warm mist that gathers will help ease symptoms. Another steam inhalation trick uses your sink and towel. Upon filling a sink with hot water, drape a towel over your head and allow the warmth and moistness to fight your symptoms. Every couple of hours, inhale the steam for five to 10 minutes.

g) Onion and Honey:

Soothe a chronic cough associated with bronchitis by slicing an onion in a bowl and covering it with honey. Allow it to sit overnight. Take away the onion and use the leftover honey as a treatment. Take one teaspoon of honey, four times per day.

h) Lemons:

Rid your respiratory system of pesky bacteria and mucus by making a cup of lemon tea. Grate one teaspoon of lemon rind and add it to a cup of boiling water. Allow the rind to steep for five minutes. You may also boil a lemon wedge and strain before drinking. Coughing to the point that your throat is sore? One teaspoon of lemon juice added to one cup of warm water creates a soothing gargle for a sore throat.

i) Turmeric:

Treat chronic bronchitis by adding ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder to ½ glass of milk. Drink two to three times per day. For best results, take on an empty stomach.

j) Ginger:

Mix ½ teaspoon of each powder: ginger, pepper, and cloves. Add the blend to a cup of tea or consume with a teaspoon of honey to reduce a fever and speed up the healing process of chronic bronchitis.

k) Bay Leaf:

Create a tea using bay leaves by tearing a leaf (fresh or dried) and steeping in one cup of boiling water. This remedy makes a decent expectorant. However, if you are pregnant, stay away from a bay leaf tea remedy, as it has a knack for bringing on menstruation.

l) Garlic:

Take advantage of the antibacterial and antiviral properties of garlic. When chewed or added to food, a chemical called allicin is released, which acts as an antiseptic excreted through the lungs.

m) Thyme:

Decrease mucus levels, help your lungs fight off infection, and protect yourself against unwanted bacteria by drinking thyme tea or adding the dried seasoning to foods. To make a tea, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of thyme to one cup of boiling water. Steep for five minutes and use honey to sweeten.