Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes of the lungs. The bronchi are airway passages in the lungs that form a tree-like system, each getting narrower as they descend into the lungs. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a viral infection that inflames these passages, causing them to narrow and secrete mucus. Common viruses that can cause acute bronchitis are the rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza. Symptoms are often a loose productive cough, a runny nose, nasal congestion and a sore throat. Antibiotics are generally not effective in treating acute bronchitis.
There are a number of herbal teas that serve as a bronchitis cure. If you have a dry hacking cough you can use a mixture of wild cherry bark and marshmallow root. Use one teaspoon of each herb in two cups of hot water and let steep for ten minutes. If you don’t have a tea-ball for the herbs you can put them right in the water and then filter them out with a sieve. Drink a cup three or four times a day to help with the cough and your immune system.
There are two different types of coughs associated with bronchitis. If you have a lot of congestion you may have a wet cough; with this type of cough, while uncomfortable, is necessary to get any mucous and liquid out of your lungs. Humidity is very effective bronchitis treatment, it helps to break up the mucous, making it easier to get it out of your lungs. Try standing under a hot, steamy shower for ten to fifteen minutes. Make sure you dry yourself and wrap up good when you get out. A vaporizer, either steam or cool mist, placed in your bedroom at night will help you to sleep better too. Put some eucalyptus oil in the vaporizer as an expectorant to help get rid of the phlegm in your chest.
Do antibiotics work for either kind of bronchitis lung? No. Almost all cases of bronchitis are viral infections so antibiotics do not do anything to help cure bronchitis. Antibiotics are commonly still prescribed for bronchitis even though they can actually do more harm than good. Rest and low activity are recommended to alleviate symptoms. Usually treating the symptoms is all that can be done to help a person feel better untill the immune system can fight it off. It is very important to treat bronchitis lung as it can develp into pneumonia.
One of the home care ideas for bronchitis fever is a mentholated chest rub, a vaporizer to keep the air you are Breathing moist, a pain and fever reducer, plenty of liquids like hot teas for the comfort factor. This works in probably about twenty percent of the cases as they are most likely mild and will go away in a week or so. Rest, sleeping on an incline with your head and chest higher than your feet may help as well.
Bronovil has extract of the African herb pelargonium, which has been used to ease coughing, reduce inflammation, and as an immune booster. This bronchitis cure comes in capsule form and is a great way to treat bronchitis naturally. You can find out more information about bronovil at http://bronovil.com.
Learn more about Treating Bronchitis with N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). Stop by our site where you can find out all about Pneumonia – Diseases.
