-IBIS-1.7.6-
tx
respiratory system
Bronchitis
Integrative Therapies
Home Care
Bronchitis is an inflammation or infection of the bronchi or tubes leading down into the lungs. It usually follows a common cold. Common symptoms are slight fever, chills, cough, and sometimes chest pain.
If pneumonia is suspected, a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher persists for more than 24 hours, or you have shallow breathing, wheezing, or coughing of blood, see your physician.
If there is a tendency to get repeated bronchitis yearly or more often, you must try to find the cause. Look for exposure to lung irritants such as chemical fumes or cigarette smoke. Other causes include an improper diet, which leads to nutrient deficiencies and irregular bowel movements, which cause an accumulation of toxins.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU:
1. Stimulate your immune system to help fight the inflammation.
2. Make sure there is proper drainage of your respiratory tract.
3. Improve bowel functions.
THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS ARE USEFUL, AND YOU CAN TAKE THEM UNTIL SYMPTOMS IMPROVE:
1. Vitamin C 1,000 milligrams 3 to 6 times a day.
2. Bioflavonoids 1 gram per day.
3. Vitamin A 25,000 Units per day.
4. Beta-carotene 200,000 Units per day. Pregnant women (or women who may become pregnant) should not take more than 15,000 Units of Beta-carotene a day.
5. Vitamin B complex 50 milligrams, 2 times per day.
6. Zinc 15 milligrams, 2 times per day.
7. Thymus extract 500 milligrams, 2 times per day.
8. Garlic 2 capsules, 3 times per day.
All vitamins can be taken with meals.
THE PROPER DIET FOR BRONCHITIS OR COUGHS WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
Eat lightly for the first few days, avoiding fried, very fatty, or spicy food. Milk and all milk products (such as cheese and yogurt) should be removed from the diet. Decrease sugar intake, including all candies and pastries, which slow down the immune system.
HERBS USED FOR BRONCHITIS OR COUGHS:
1. Make a cough-soothing mixture with the following herbs:
2 ounces of Licorice Root
1 ounce of Wild Cherry Bark
1 ounce Lobelia
1 ounce of Horehound
Boil the mixture slowly in 4 cups of water for 2 minutes. Steep for 10 minutes. Strain and take 1 cup every 2 hours if an adult, 1/2 cup for children. Sweeten with honey, if necessary.
2. The same herbs can be taken in a tincture, which is a liquid herbal extract, in the same proportions. Take 1 tablespoon every 2 hours for an adult and 1 teaspoon for a child 2 years old or older.
3. Other herbs commonly used for lung conditions are Mullein, Hyssop, Grindelia, and Coltsfoot.
4. Honey Onion Syrup is commonly used for lung conditions. Slice a large onion thinly, place in a bowl, and cover with 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey. Cover tightly and let it sit for 8 hours. Mash and strain. Take 1 teaspoon every 1 to 2 hours.
5. As a general immune stimulant and anti-bacterial, take a combination of Echinacea and Golden Seal. Combine equal parts and prepare the same as the cough-soothing mixture. Take 1 cup, 4 times a day, or if using a tincture, use 1 to 2 teaspoons, 4 times a day.
PHYSICAL THERAPY MEASURES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. A heating pad or hot water bottle can be applied to your chest and back 15 to 20 minutes twice a day.
2. Apply hot packs to your chest. Use a cotton cloth or towel folded in 2 to 4 layers. Soak in hot water and wring out. Apply to your chest and cover with a dry cloth to prevent heat loss. Leave for 10 minutes. Friction rub with a damp, cold towel just after removing the hot one. Repeat 2 more times.
3. Postural Drainage Lay on a bed face down with the upper part of your body hanging off the bed. Use your forearms for support. Have someone tap on your back with a flat hand. Put a basin on the floor near your head to cough into. Lie 5 to 10 minutes in this position 1 to 3 times a day. This will help clear excess phlegm from your lungs.
HOMEOPATHY:
There are many remedies for coughs, depending on the symptoms. Choose among the following remedies. Dissolve 3 pellets under the tongue 3 times a day.
Antimonium tart. 6C: For a cough, with a deep rattling sound in the chest, that does not bring the phlegm up and for a feeling of suffocation and drowsiness.
Bryonia 6C: For a dry, painful cough that hurts with movement. The person may hold their chest to keep from moving and may be irritable.
Hepar sulph 6C: For a loose, rattling, or croupy, barking cough. For a person overly sensitive to cold air or even a slight draft. For a person who can't bear to be uncovered.
Ipecac 6C: For a gagging or wheezing cough. The person is nauseous or sick to the stomach.
Phosphorus 6C: For a dry cough with an irritating tickle in the throat. The person is thirsty for cold drinks, even when chilly.
Clinic
Footnotes
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