Treating bronchitis with natural teas and herbs

Bronchitis can also be helped with natural treatments. Whether your symptoms are acute or chronic, these easy treatments may be worth trying if you'd like to try a different approach from conventional Western medication.

In addition to over-the-counter medications, there are many natural approaches to treating bronchitis and its symptoms.

• Consuming the recommended five to nine daily servings of fruits and vegetables may prevent future bronchitis attacks.
• Both fruits and vegetables contain substances called flavonoids, which help protect cells throughout your body — including those in your bronchial tubes and lungs — from disease.

Research done in the Netherlands has found that eating plenty of foods rich in flavonoids can protect against chronic bronchitis.

• A bonus: fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which bolster immunity.
• You can also turn to herbal teas and immune-boosting herbs.
• Certain herbs, long used in folk medicine, can reinforce your immunity, soothe your cough and loosen mucus.

• Horehound makes your cough more productive. You can fix horehound tea, or stir two millilitres to five millilitres (1/2 to one teaspoon) of liquid extract into 250 millilitres (one cup) of hot water; add honey to taste. Drink two or three cups of the tea a day until you start to feel better.
• Slippery elm coats your irritated throat with a gel-like substance. You can make a cup of slippery elm tea, or mix two millilitres to five millilitres (1/2 to one teaspoon) of liquid extract into 250 millilitres (one cup) of hot water. Drink two or three cups a day until symptoms subside.

• Echinacea helps your cells produce a natural virus-fighter called interferon. At the first sign of bronchitis, start taking 200 milligrams of echinacea twice a day.
• Astragalus is used in Chinese traditional medicine to build stamina and vitality. Take 200 milligrams twice a day.
• Pau d'arco aids the body’s defense against viral infections. Take 250 milligrams twice a day. Medicinal mushrooms (reishi or maitake) assist in warding off disease. Take 400 milligrams to 700 milligrams of either daily.

For all natural treatment, make sure to ask your doctor what they recommend to help manage bronchitis.