-IBIS-1.7.6-
tx
respiratory system
bronchitis
Botanicals
primary herbs
Achillea millefolium (yarrow): bronchitis with fever, dryness not congestion; rapid, full pulse (Wood).
Aconitum napellus (toxic): acute (Felter and Lloyd, p. 105)
Allium cepa (onion): poultice 15-20 minutes (NCNM Botanicals)
Allium sativa (garlic): especially indicated when there is tenacious mucus in the trachea, or at the bifurcation of the tubes; compare with Lilium longiflorum, when there is tenacious mucus in the periphery of the bronchial tree (Wood)
Althea officinalis: demulcent for irritability of respiratory system in chronic bronchitis (Weiss, p. 194, 195)
Angelica archangelica: traditonal warming and drying herb which removes damp and cold from the lungs (Wood); chronic; stimulates respiratory membranes (Felter and Lloyd, p. 267)
Asclepias tuberosa (toxic): a Thomsonian diffusive which disperses fluids from the lungs to the skin; promotes gentle diaphoresis through internal membranes and the skin; specific for chronic damage from pleurisy; adhesions in the pleura, causing sharp sticking pains; water collects in the lower respiratory tract, but tissues are dry in the trachea and throat (Wood); tight, painful cough, difficult respiration, aids expectoration; soreness of chest from coughing (Ellingwood, p. 250)
Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco: (Ellingwood, p. 248)
Brassica (mustard): poultice 15-20 minutes (NCNM Botanicals)
Bryonia alba (toxic): with frothy, blood streaked expectoration (Kings, p. 369)
Cephaelis ipecacuanha: acute (Ellingwood, p. 245)
Echinacea angustifolia: fetid (Ellingwood, p. 358)
Foeniculum vulgare: seeds, essential oil are broncho-dilating (Anderson Geller)
Gelsemium sempervirens (toxic): sedative in early stages of acute (Felter, p. 388; Felter and Lloyd, p. 923)
Grindelia robusta: anti-spasmodic, chronic spasmodic bronchial coughs, chronic in aged (Harper-Shove, p. 120, Ellingwood, p. 247); sticky, viscid mucus (Wood)
Inula helenium: incipient, acute bronchitis, especially in children; a large chunk of mucus develops in the upper-middle lungs which cannot be expectorated at first, but later generates profuse expectoration; the patient, especially a child, swallows this excess mucus, resulting in indigestion. Inula will "break up" the incipient congestion in the early stage, will decongest and settle the stomach. Also useful in chronic catarrhal conditions dependent on stagnation in the lymphatics (Wood); chronic, excessive catarrh (Priest and Priest, p. 92)
Ligusticum porteri (osha root): acute viral infection (Moore); chronic congestion, the lungs are exhausted and full of phlegm; patient exhausted and tired; pulse full, slow and empty (Wood).
Lilium longiflorum (easter lily): stagnant mucus; congestion in the periphery of the bronchial tree; tongue coated (Wood)
Lomatium dissectum (bear root): viral bronchitis (Alstat).
Linum usitatissimum (flax seed): (infuse 1 oz. to 1 quart water) to soothe mucous membrane inflammation (Felter and Lloyd, p. 1147)
Lobelia inflata (toxic): a relaxing and stimulating diffusive which equalizes the tension on the muscles; hence useful in spasmodic conditions, especially of the vagus, where there is respiratory spasm accompanied by heartburn, nausea; worse from tobacco smoke, especially stale smoke; patients who have never been healthy since quiting tobacco; in chronic inflammation of the lungs, when the heat produces dryness, tightness and spasm; the characteristic tongue is coated or red on one side or part, indicating an intense local congestion (Wood); sense of tightness in chest with some difficulty breathing (Ellingwood, p. 238) (Philipov S, et al. Z Naturforsch 1998;53:311-317.)
Lycopus virginicus: indicated when the circulation is rapid and tumultuous, the fluids are being dried out (Yin Deficiency), the tongue is red, there is some mental restlessness, perhaps hyperthyroid; Heart Yin Xu (Deficiency) (Wood; see Rafinesque, Scudder)
Malva sylvestris: demulcent for irritability of respiratory system (Weiss, p. 196)
Marrubium vulgare: acute bronchial and sinus congestion (Wood)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot): an old Indian remedy for removing heat, tension, nervousness; acute, sub-acute or chronic bronchitis, where the skin is alternately clammy and cool, and dry and warm (Wood).
Physostigma venenosum (toxic): with bronchial dilatation and dyspnea (Harper-Shove, p. 120)
Pimpinella anisum: gentle soothing cough remedy, may use as a flavoring agent for formula (Weiss, p. 203); seeds, essential oils are bronchodilating (Anderson Geller); as a sweet, pungent herb, it both decongests and builds up strength (Wood)
Pinus strobus (white pine): thick, tenacious, sap-like, bright green mucus, difficult to raise; infection in the lower tract above the diaphragm; patient exhausted (Wood)
Plantago lanceolata (plantain): when a fiber or splinter lodges in the bronchial tract, or the cough sounds as if a fiber were lodged therein; a dry, irritating cough; plantago draws out the object and, as a mucilage, coats and soothes.
Polygala senega (senega snake root): bronchopneumonia; hot mucus brewing in the lungs; thick tenacious mucus with heat; pulse hard and rapid (Wood).
Populus candicans (balsam poplar): the buds are used like propolis, but do not taste as good (Wood).
Populus trichocarpa: buds (Anderson Geller)
Primula officinalis (root): chronic bronchitis with simple coughs and inadequate expectoration (Weiss, pp. 201, 202)
Propolis: indispensable in the treatment of bronchitis; indicated when the tissues are hot and dry, raw feeling in the upper chest; sometimes accompanied by laryngitis; removes the infection. It is best to use a single drop of the tincture, 1-6x/day, as needed, to relieve the raw sensation. Propolis is more volatile in tincture (Wood).
Prunus serotina: acute irritable cough, chronic bronchitis with debility, chronic cough with excessive expectoration (Ellingwood, p. 259, Priest and Priest, p. 92); histaminic irritation of the trachea, producing irritable cough (Wood).
Pulmonaria officinalis: gentle pulmonary tonic (Priest and Priest, p. 92)
Sambucus nigra (elderberry) (Zakay-Rones Z, et al. J Altern Complement Med 1995;1:361-369.)
Sticta pulmonaria: bronchial irritation, dry hacking cough (Priest and Priest, p. 94)
Tussilago farfara: demulcent, debilitated and chronic conditions, see formulae below (Priest and Priest, p. 94)
Veratrum viride (toxic): chronic (Felter and Lloyd, p. 2053)
Verbascum thapsus: dryness of the mucous membranes, resulting in a harsh, racking cough that shakes the frame, and may even break a rib; sub-acute and chronic bronchitis that relapses every winter, or every few months (Wood); irritable chronic bronchitis (Priest and Priest, p. 94)
Viola odorata (especially root): cough remedy (Weiss, p. 202). Dr. Robert Cooper used this remedy for catarrhal conditions of the nose, sinus and ears (Wood)
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia also lists for bronchitis:
Allium sativum
Angelica archangelica (leaf, root)
Drosera rotundifolia
Hyssopus officinalis
Pilosella officinarum
Polygala senega
Prunus serotina
Sanguinaria canadensis (toxic)
Thymus vulgaris
Urginea maritima
complementary herbs
chronic pulmonary conditions: Tussilago farfara + Inula helenium + Verbascum thapsus (Priest and Priest, p. 95)
chronic: Inula helenium + Symphytum officinale (toxic) (Priest and Priest, p. 95)
Marrubium vulgare + Inula helenium + Prunus serotina (Priest and Priest, p. xic) + Asclepias tuberosa (toxic) (Harper-Shove, p. 119)
helps induce sleep and treats condition: Asclepias tuberosa (toxic) + Cnicus benedictus + Cimicifuga racemosa + Scutellaria lateriflora + Nepeta cataria + Capsicum frutescens (NCNM Botanicals)
Ligusticum porteri + Inula helenium + Asclepias tuberosa + Illicium verum + Auranti dulcis cortex (orange peel): one part each: for exhausted lungs full of mucus; old bronchitic cases (Wood)
formula: cough tea:
Inula helenium (root)
Primula officinalis (root)
Tussilago farfara (leaf)
Equal parts to make 100 g. 2 tsp. to a cup of water, add to the hot water, boil 5 minutes and leave to draw for 15 minutes. Take 1 cup three times per day. (Weiss, p. 206)
formula: cough of bronchitis:
Primula officinalis (root), 20 g.
Pimpinella anisum (seed), 10 g.
Foeniculum vulgare (fennel seed), 10 g.
Tussilago farfara (leaf), 10 g.
2 tsp. per cup of boiling water. Infuse. (Weiss, p. 202)
formula:
Lobelia inflata, 30 drops.
Bryonia alba (toxic), 20 drops.
Cephaelis ipecacuanha, 20 drops.
Aesculus spp., 20 drops.
instructions: dilute with water to 4 oz. 1 tsp. every 3 hours (Broadwell)
formula:
Lobelia inflata, 30 drops.
Sticta pulmonaria, 30 drops.
Sanguinaria canadensis, 15 drops.
and if cough is spasmodic may add
Drosera spp., 30 drops.
instructions: Dilute with water to 4 oz. 1 tsp. every 3 hours (Broadwell)
footnotes
Amin AH, Subbaiah TV, Abbasi KM. Berberine sulfate: Antimicrobial activity, bioassay, and mode of action. Can J Microbiol 1969;15:1067-1076.
Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Austin, Texas: American Botanical Council, 1998.
British Herbal Medicine Association. British Herbal Pharmacopeia. West Yorks, England: BHMA, 1983.
Ellingwood F. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 11th ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1919, 1998.
Felter HW, Lloyd JU. Kings American Dispensatory, 18th ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1898, 1983.
Ghosh AK, Rakshit MM, Ghosh DK. Effect of berberine chloride on Leishmania donovani. Indian J Med Res 1983;78:407-416.
Hahn FE, Ciak J. Berberine. Antibiotics 1976;3:577-588.
Hughes BG, Lawson LD. Antimicrobial effects of Allium sativum L. (garlic), Allium ampeloprasum L. (elephant garlic) and Allium cepa L. (onion), garlic compounds and commercial garlic supplement products. Phytother Res 1991;4:154-158.
Kumazawa Y, Itagaki A, Fukumoto M, et al. Activation of peritoneal macrophages by berberine-type alkaloids in terms of induction of cytostatic activity. Int J Immunopharmacol 1984;6:587-592.
Philipov S, Istatkova R, Ivanovska N, et al. Phytochemical study and antiinflammatory properties of Lobelia laxiflora L. Z Naturforsch 1998;53:311-317.
See DM, Broumand N, Sahl L, Tilles JG. In vitro effects of echinacea and ginseng on natural killer and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity in healthy subjects and chronic fatigue syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. Immunopharmacol 1997;35:229-235.
Sun D, Courtney HS, Beachey EH. Berberine sulfate blocks adherence of Streptococcus pyogenes to epithelial cells, fibronectin, and hexadecane. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1988;32:1370-1374.
Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Gothenhburg, Sweden; Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers, Ltd., 1988.
Zakay-Rones Z, Varsano N, Zlotnik M, et al. Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama. J Altern Complement Med 1995;1:361-369.