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Treatment for bronchitis in allopathic medicine goes by a protocol. Depending on the phase of bronchitis, it may include either antibiotics or a combination of antibiotics, spasmolytics, and steroids.
You wake up in the night with the terrifying awareness that you can’t breathe. Or worse, you hear your child struggling to get air to live. If this sounds familiar, then this article can help you to understand what is it to know about bronchitis, which type you have, and the treatment options available.
In most cases, bronchitis will clear up by itself within a few weeks without the need for treatment. This type of bronchitis is known as “acute bronchitis”. While you are waiting for it to pass, you should drink lots of fluid and get plenty of rest.
In some cases, the symptoms of bronchitis can last much longer. If symptoms last for at least three months, it is known as “chronic bronchitis”. There is no cure for chronic bronchitis, but there are several medications to help relieve symptoms.
The most common choices for antibiotics are:
- amoxicillin
- doxycycline
- erythromycin
- trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
However, some of these medications can cause side effects, this is why most people are seeking natural treatment due to its effectiveness and it does not cause any side effects.
Note: As part of Treatment for bronchitis, it is also important to avoid smoking and smoky environments, as this can make your symptoms worse.
What is bronchitis?
Bronchitis is a respiratory disease where the bronchial tubes (the main airway of the lungs) become swollen, irritated, and inflamed. Pain often accompanies this common health problem.
Bronchitis usually starts as a cold with symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, or sinus infection which then settles in the chest. The large airway becomes inflamed and produces excessive mucus (can be yellow or brown), cough, and shortness of breath. There are two types of bronchitis: Acute and Chronic.
Bronchitis is a condition caused by the swelling or inflammation of bronchi and bronchioles that carry air to your lungs. The signs and symptoms majorly include cough with increased production of mucus that can lead to difficulty in breathing, wheezing, low-grade fever, and tightness of the chest. Based upon the duration, Bronchitis can be:
- Acute Bronchitis: bronchitis that lasts for a few weeks. It is the more common type with no long-term effects. Viruses are the primary criminal in causing acute bronchitis, but in some cases, bacteria may have some role.
- Chronic Bronchitis: bronchitis that is long term, usually it never resolves completely. Smoking is a common cause of chronic bronchitis. It is actually a type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
What is acute bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis normally results from flu or viral infections and is short term. The initial stage is seen as having flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose with only mild fever. Cough is observed after a couple of days.
What is Chronic Bronchitis?
Chronic bronchitis occurs as a result of the lungs being constantly irritated and inflamed. Cigarette smokers generally end up developing chronic bronchitis, a serious disease of the bronchial tubes that lead to excessive mucus production and chronic cough. Because their airways are already damaged, treatment differs for people with chronic bronchitis.
Causes of bronchitis
The common causes of bronchitis are viruses, bacteria, or irritant particles that trigger the inflammation of the bronchial tubes. Smoking is a key risk factor, but nonsmokers can also develop bronchitis.
Acute bronchitis can result from:
- A virus, for example, a cold or flu virus
- Bacterial infection
- Exposure to substances that irritate the lungs, such as tobacco smoke, dust, fumes, vapors, and air pollution
People have a higher risk of developing acute bronchitis if they:
- Experience a virus or bacteria that causes inflammation
- Smoke or inhale secondhand smoke
- Have asthma or an allergy
Ways to avoid infection include regular hand washing and avoiding smoke and other particles.
Causes of chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis results from repeated irritation and damage to the lung and airway tissues. The most common cause is smoking, but not everyone with bronchitis is a smoker. Other possible causes include:
- Long term exposure to air pollution, dust, and fumes from the environment
- Genetic factors
- Repeated episodes of acute bronchitis
- History of respiratory disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Exposure to pesticides may increase the risk.
People with asthma or allergies have a higher risk of both types of the disease. The best way to avoid chronic bronchitis is to avoid smoking.
Symptoms of bronchitis
Symptoms of bronchitis can be acute and chronic bronchitis which include breathing problems, such as:
- Chest congestion, when your chest feels full or clogged
- A cough that may bring up mucus that’s clear, white, yellow, or green
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or a whistling sound when you breathe
Symptoms of acute bronchitis
Be aware of your body and look out for the following symptoms that accompany acute bronchitis.
- Persistent or Throbbing Cough – this type of cough is abrupt and repeatedly contracts the thoracic cavity. It typically produces a distinct sound.
- Runny Nose – This more of an irritation for those with acute bronchitis. Blow the nose gently when it is running.
- Sore Throat – Scratching in the person’s throat.
- Recurrent Headache – a condition in which pain is felt in the head. Can also be in the neck and back area.
- Chills – rise in body temperature; feel cold with paleness and shaking.
- Slight fever – Fever is considered low grade when it is between 38 and 39 Degree Celsius; is often termed “pyrexia”.
- Back Pain – Soreness in bones, nerves, joints, or muscles is present.
- Muscle Pain – Soreness is muscle; often termed “myalgia”
What are the symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis?
In chronic bronchitis, there is oftentimes too much phlegm in the airway which causes a nasty cough. If a person is persistently sick for three months or more, a positive hit for chronic bronchitis will likely be met.
The acute bronchitis symptoms can also be used for chronic bronchitis. The following symptoms apply to chronic bronchitis:
- Cyanosis – a condition where the skin begins to turn blue which is due to “deoxygenated hemoglobin”.
- Edema – Excessive fluid because of an organ or tissue swelling.
- Heart Failure – a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood throughout entire the body.
- Clubbed Fingers – This condition is associated with heart and lung problems and makes the fingers and their nails deformed.
- Dyspnea – the condition of experiencing difficulty with shortness of breath.
- Too much airway mucus secretion.
- Lung signs are abnormal.
- Constant infections of lungs and respiratory tract.
Some signs of bronchitis do resemble other problems from the respiratory area. It is best to always consult with a doctor to determine if you are suffering from other chronic or the acute version of bronchitis. Your physician will take your history and evaluate the physical exam to determine what to diagnose you with. Other tests may be given to determine if he/she is correct in their theory.
Asthma vs bronchitis
Bronchitis has some similar symptoms with other lung problems such as asthma. If you don’t recognize it accurately you might end up giving the wrong home treatment to your child or even yourself. This is why it is important to know the difference.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the air passages that lead to your lungs from your throat. It can either be acute or chronic. These passages are called bronchi or bronchioles. Acute bronchitis normally results from the flu or viral infections and is short term. The initial stage is seen as having flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose with only mild fever. Cough is observed after a couple of days.
Asthma however does not present with flu-like symptoms at the onset of the illness. Both are observed with wheezing sounds except that it is much worse in an asthma attack. Spasms in the air passages are also noted more in people with asthma.
Listed below are the highlight of asthma vs bronchitis
- With bronchitis, the chief complaint is regularly wet coughing. Asthma on the other hand is seen with dry cough and not as severe as that of bronchitis. Its chief complaint would be wheezing and difficulty breathing.
- With acute bronchitis, symptoms are seen for a short period, 10 days or so. Asthma is longer and is recurrent. Bronchitis does respond to antibiotics unless it is viral while an inhaler is all it takes for an asthma attack.
- While bronchitis has two forms, acute and chronic, both are characterized by severe coughing. Asthma on the other hand is by difficulty in breathing and excessive wheezing sound during breathing.
Knowing which illness you have is important. The two may be similar in some form but may require different treatment. Both exhibit inflammation of the airways so diagnosing it accurately is hard. When not sure the best thing to do is go to your physician. Make sure you are giving the correct symptoms and do not confuse things for an accurate diagnosis.
Natural Treatment for bronchitis
There are many different natural treatments for bronchitis that have been proven effective. Listed below are the effective natural Treatment for bronchitis
Home remedies for bronchitis – most common approach to natural treatment for bronchitis
Home remedies for bronchitis are one of the natural treatments for bronchitis that is very effective. By adopting home remedies for bronchitis, you will be able to reduce the symptoms of bronchitis. Listed below are bronchitis home remedies
- Getting enough rest: Taking time to rest is one of the most important remedies. Having bronchitis can cause you discomforts and you may not be able to sit still or lie comfortably. All you have to do is take it easy until your body can fight the infections.
- Environment humidification: this is an important home remedy for bronchitis; using humidifiers can moisten the air within the house and can help in bringing up the sputum and loosening the phlegm through coughing. These may include a hot bath with closed doors, slow boiling of water with added eucalyptus oil if available.
- Taking plenty of liquids: Drinking plenty of fluids helps thin out sputum and makes it easier to expel. The most common drinks are water, fresh fruit juices, soup, and sometimes tea. It is more helpful as long it is warm because it can soothe the throat from too much coughing. This is a well-known home remedy for bronchitis.
- Drinking half glass of milk adding half teaspoonful of turmeric 2-3 times daily is an effective remedy for bronchitis. To achieve the best results it must be taken on an empty stomach.
- Taking a mixture of powdered pepper, ginger, and cloves 2-3 times daily is useful for treating bronchitis. It is usually taken with tea or licked with honey. The mixture due to its antipyretic quality also reduces the fever.
- Consuming one teaspoon of raw onion juice early in the morning is a useful remedy for this disease.
- Drinking fresh cabbage juice is equally effective in treating bronchitis and thus become a common home remedy for bronchitis.
- The topical application of a mixture of mustard powder, flour, and water on the chest is very effective in reducing bronchitis problems.
- In case of acute bronchitis, if the patient is on fresh orange juice and water for a couple of days in the initial stage, produces good results.
- An infusion made of almond powder in orange or lime juice is beneficial to bronchitis patients. Taking this infusion daily at night induces sound sleep without any disturbances arising due to this disease.
Herbs for bronchitis – home-based natural treatment for bronchitis
Herbs for bronchitis is a natural treatment for bronchitis that has been proven to cause no side effects. Listed below are herbs for bronchitis
- Olive leaf extract selectively blocks and prevents viral replication and is one of the most powerful antibiotics known to man. Olive leaf extract treats bronchitis naturally, boosts your immune system, heals inflammation, and treats fatigue. This powerful natural antibiotic has been used to effectively treat herpes infection, chronic candida, shingles, hepatitis, and more.
- Research has shown that thyme is an effective herbal remedy for bronchitis. The best way to use thyme to treat bronchitis is to make tea. Use two teaspoons of fresh thyme and add boiling water. Allow steeping for at least 5 minutes. Drink twice per day to open airways, decrease cough, and speed healing. Bronchitis can be difficult to get rid of, especially if you have a chronic pulmonary condition. Sesame Seeds
- Sesame seeds have medicinal properties that can cure bronchitis and help relieve chest congestion associated with it.
Essential oils for bronchitis – highly effective natural treatment for bronchitis
These natural treatments for bronchitis can have you breathing easier in a matter of a couple of days and keep you from developing more serious health problems in the future.
Listed below are essential oils for bronchitis
Oregano Oil
- Oregano oil is one of the strongest natural antibiotics on the planet. Its incredible antioxidant capacity makes it the go-to solution for flu prevention and natural bronchitis treatment. The active ingredient in this herb is carvacrol, a phenol anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory that eases chest congestion and eradicates disease.
Eucalyptus Oil
- Eucalyptus oil is another natural treatment for bronchitis that can be used to open up inflamed airways. Though eucalyptus oil isn’t mean to be taken internally, you can put 5-10 drops in a hot bath and breathe in the steam to relieve chest congestion. Alternatively, you can mix eucalyptus oil with olive, neem, or coconut oil and rub it on your chest and throat for quick relief. Eucalyptus contains cineole, a powerful antiseptic that makes it a good remedy to have around during cold and flu season.
Homeopathy for bronchitis – #1 natural treatment for bronchitis
Treatment for bronchitis shows better results when it is paired up with some other treatment. Mainly homeopathic therapies are widely used with Acupuncture to increase its efficacy and benefits and give you relief from cough and bronchitis smoothly and steadily.
The most common homeopathic remedies for bronchitis are listed below:
- Bryonia
This homeopathic remedy for bronchitis probably takes first place on the list. It is used for dry cough that is painful when a person resists movements to prevent pain. Bryonia is also used for dry mouth. When used with acupuncture, it is highly effective.
- Causticum
Bronchitis with intense and hard cough needs Causticum. This homeopathic remedy for bronchitis is used when a person feels mucus be stuck to the throat and coughs continuously to loosen this mucus. Causticum is used for this purpose. It can be used along with acupuncture for better results.
- Pulsatilla
Bronchitis with a feeling of weight on the chest requires Pulsatilla. A person with such a condition experiences cough with choking or gagging and this cough brings thick yellow-colored mucus with it. The cough is more severe at night. Pulsatilla combined with acupuncture can be very helpful.
- Dulcamara
If somebody gets ill in cold weather or after a bath, he/ she needs this homeopathic remedy for bronchitis because such people are more prone to bronchitis. For better results, acupuncture should be taken with Dulcamara.
- Kali Bichromicum
A metallic hard cough with severe itching in the throat requires Kali Bichromicum. Such a condition can even cause pain neck, chest, and shoulders. Use Kali Bichromicum along with acupuncture for relief.
- Sulfur
The person getting recurrent bronchitis due to the frequent use of antibiotics,/may develop immunity to antibiotics and don’t further benefit from it. Such a person certainly needs Sulphur. Difficulty in breathing can felt at night with swelling and redness in the eyes. Such a patient can have foul-smelling breath and sweat. They require Sulphur paired up acupuncture for a fast and steady recovery.
- Antimonium Tartaricum
If a person feels wet mucus in the chest and a bubbly sound in a breath, he can take Antimonium Tartaricum. Such patients can feel lethargic and dizzy. Antimonium Tartaricum, along with Acupuncture, helps the patient to recover.
Acupuncture for bronchitis – traditional Chinese natural treatment for bronchitis
Researchers say that acupuncture for cough and other related diseases can be quite helpful for their relief. It relieves bronchoconstriction and gives the sufferer a sense of relaxation. Many acupuncturists use acupuncture for bronchitis and find it a very effective treatment. They say that acupuncture augments the formation of immunoglobulins and antibodies and helps to improve the health of patients suffering from bronchitis, especially the old ones. The antibodies are essential for the immune system. The immunoglobulins and the antibodies fight against the antigens like bacteria, viruses, toxins, and any other foreign body. Researchers have found out a particular amalgamation of regions that when triggered cures bronchitis. Acupuncture creates a very significant betterment in the signs and symptoms of patients, and this betterment can also be evaluated by laboratory investigations like blood tests and cultures.
The miraculous effectiveness of Feishu (BL 13) and Seihua (Four Flower) acupuncture techniques have clinically been demonstrated. Seihua (Four Flower) acupuncture means using Geishu (BL 17) and Danshu (BL 19) as acupuncture points while doing acupuncture. This technique significantly helped in the improvement of Bronchitis patients.
BL 13 is the point of the lungs. BL 17 is the point for the diaphragm whereas BL 19 is the point of the gall bladder and it is said to clean the foreign bodies and pathogenic agents. Stimulating these organs by acupuncture balances their energies and help you recover.
The studies also say that Acupuncture is a better treatment for triggering antibodies than other medications. It is based on the experiments where a group of patients suffering from bronchitis was given acupuncture with drug therapy, and the other group of patients was assigned homeopathic cough syrup in conjunction with drug therapy. The antibody levels, including IgA, IgG, and IgM, were higher in the patients who were treated with acupuncture.
Acupuncture also stimulates the production of certain chemicals and hormones that significantly alleviates cough. So, Acupuncturists are widely using acupuncture treatment for chronic cough. It is also found that acupuncture is a more beneficial treatment for children and adults suffering from a persistent cough. Acupuncture treatment produced a better patient outcome as compared to B- sympathomimetic drug, methoxyphenamine.
In addition to this, acupuncture is a very cost-effective treatment. It is very pocket-friendly as compared to the other medical and allopathic medicines and can give you very satisfying and comforting results.
Acupuncture for bronchitis is one of the most effective natural and harmless alternative treatment approaches. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method for curing pain and various other diseases, including cough and bronchitis. This process has been used for centuries and is found to be very beneficial in curing these diseases, primarily when it is used in conjunction with other treatments.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is basically a natural treatment for treating various physical diseases and psychological problems. As mentioned earlier, it a method that is used for centuries as was introduced by old Chinese medicine. In this method, fine needles are inserted into the body, providing you with a feeling of comfort. The needles are presented in specific areas of the body, to a measured depth for activating the nerves and the muscles. Acupuncture is based on the concept the energy ‘Qi’ flows throughout your like blood in specified channels called ‘meridians.’ They are two extreme forces yin and yang. These two should always be balanced to keep you healthy. When you are tensed, or some other environmental effects disturb your body, the disorganization among the yin, yang forces cause you to be ill. Acupuncture helps you to maintain the right balance among these forces.
Acupuncture for bronchitis at home:
You can also do acupressure yourself. The only difference between acupuncture and acupressure is that acupressure doesn’t assume the insertion of needles into the acupoints. The points are massaged instead of needling. It will definitely help you to relieve cough and bronchitis. Just follow these simple steps:
- Flex your right arm at the elbow joint and then locate the acupuncture point cubit Marsh (LU-5). This point is in the middle of the elbow crease, lateral to the large tendon. Now use your thumb to apply pressure on this point. Keep applying pressure on this point for 2-3 minutes. Now locate the same position on your left arm and apply pressure with the right thumb.
- Now find the acupuncture point on your chest, the Upward Thrust (REN-22). This point is with the clavicle bone and shoulders, just below the V of the neck in the depression of sternum bone. Once you have located this point, apply pressure on it using your index fingers. Keep applying this pressure for 2-3 minutes.
These two points are conventionally used to ease your breathing process, soothe your lungs hence alleviating cough and bronchitis.
Some other practices of natural treatment for bronchitis suggested along with acupuncture for bronchitis:
■ Yoga, Walking, and stretching exercises open up the chest and can help you alleviate the disease.
■ If you have any psychological issues, do consult a good therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or hypnotherapist.
■ When you are suffering from cough or bronchitis, avoid foods like sugar, wheat, and a raw diet, they result in the formation of phlegm.
What should I avoid while taking Acupuncture Treatment or other forms of
natural treatment for bronchitis?
■ Avoid contact with all irritants and allergens, especially those in the air because these can deteriorate your disease.
■ Stop smoking and using alcohol and caffeine; they too act as an irritant.
■ Keep yourself warm and avoid cold weather; this can cause bronchoconstriction, worsening your condition.
■ It’s better to use a face mask to prevent yourself from irritants and allergens.
■ Stress, tension, anxiety, and emotional disturbance can further worsen your disease. Try to avoid them.
Drawbacks of acupuncture for bronchitis:
There is no doubt in saying that acupuncture outweighs pros the cons. acupuncture for bronchitis and cough is one of the beneficial treatments. The only drawback is that some people don’t find it very comfortable and because of this some of them don’t get benefitted from this treatment. People with any kind of bleeding disorder can undergo acupuncture, but they have to inform the acupuncturist about the bleeding issue. Sometimes acupuncture can cause bleeding or bruising. Lastly, the use of unclean needles can result in infection, but in the US we use only sterile disposable needles.
Acupuncture and other forms of natural treatment for bronchitis in Philadelphia
Always take a cough or cold seriously even if it seems to be normal. It should be cured as soon as you can to avoid bronchitis or any other serious illnesses. Studies have shown there is no current cure for chronic bronchitis so keeping yourself healthy is the key. So, acupuncture for bronchitis is an excellent treatment for curing cough, acute bronchitis, and chronic bronchitis. It also relieves the pain and relaxes the patient by stimulating the nerves. Being cost-effective enhances its utility. Acupuncture, when combined with homeopathic medicines, gives exceptional results with a very speedy recovery of chronic cough or bronchitis. Remember to do a light exercise while taking acupuncture treatment and avoid all toxins, smoking, and alcohol intake for best results.
At the Philadelphia Acupuncture Clinic Yelena Galanter, Lac works under the supervision of the Medical Doctor Victor Tsan performs acupuncture for bronchitis, and a majority of the patients get a significant improvement and in most cases get cured.
To schedule your appointment for initial evaluation and to discuss the best alternative treatment for bronchitis contact Philadelphia Acupuncture Clinic (267) 314-7575 or use our online secure scheduling application.
Wishing you the best of health and spirits!
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