Bronchitis is an inflammation of the upper bronchial passageways of the lungs. Swelling horn the inflammation can cause the smaller airways of the lungs to narrow or shut off. There are two forms of bronchitis, acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by infection, most often viral, and is most common in winter. It doesn’t result in any long­ term problems, although it can lead to pneumonia in some cases. Chronic bronchitis is more common in people who are physically inactive (sedentary), are overweight, or who smoke. Chronic bronchitis can cause permanent lung and heart damage.

Common Symptoms: Acute Bronchitis

• Hacking cough
• Productive yellow, white, or green phlegm
• Fever
• Chills
• Soreness and tightness of the chest

Common Symptoms: Chronic Bronchitis

• Persistent, productive cough for at least three months of the year
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath

What You Need to Know

Although most doctors prescribe antibiotics for acute bronchitis, the medications don’t work unless you have a bacterial infection, no matter how long you have been coughing. Colored sputum does not necessarily indicate bacterial infection. If coughing persists longer than three weeks, I recommend a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia, TB, cancer, or some other underlying medical condition. Get tested immediately if you cough up blood from your lungs.

For chronic bronchitis, eliminating smoking is the most important factor in prevention and in effective treatment. If you have chronic bronchitis, you should have Pneumovax, a vaccine to prevent most pneumonias, and flu vaccine. Long-term antibiotics are not helpful, and you should not take them. Bronchitis can also be caused or initiated by acid reflux (also called gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD, or, more commonly, heartburn), a condition in which the acid in the esophagus is inhaled into the lungs, causing irritation. If you have GERD, the appropriate treatment can reverse or reduce your bronchitis symptoms.

Your Herbal Healing Action Plan for Bronchitis

• Do not use cough suppressants! Sputum production is necessary to clear the lungs and avoid pneumonia.

Step 1: Take an Expectorant

An expectorant helps loosen and bring up secretions. It is the best treatment for both acute and chronic bronchitis. You can use either a conventional expectorant (guaifenesin) or an herbal expectorant (glycerol guaiacolate, 200mg to 400mg three times daily for adults, 200mg three times daily for children). Both are available without a prescription and are equally effective. If these aren’t helpful, another herbal expectorant to try is bromelain (80mg to 320mg per day), an herb that has expectorant abilities and also decreases bronchial secretions. You can take bromelain safely with the other expectorants.

Step 2: Take Vitamin C for Acute Bronchitis

Vitamin C can reduce symptoms of acute bronchitis through its antioxidant effects, but it is best started within two days of onset. Take 1,000mg daily.

Step 3: Use Heat and Postural Drainage for Both Chronic and Acute Bronchitis

Heat and postural drainage twice daily helps get rid of excessive mucus, and I recommend it for either acute or chronic bronchitis. Apply wet heat (hot towel or a heating pad that you can get wet) to your chest for 20 minutes, and then lie face down on a bed with the top half of your body off the bed. Maintain this position for 15 minutes, and try to cough mucus into a basin on the floor. Sometimes, lightly “drumming” (or tapping) on the chest can help break up the mucus.

Step 4: Take Appropriate Chinese Herbal Remedies

If you are still having symptoms of bronchitis, I next recommend Chinese herbals for both acute and chronic conditions, and these can be used with the previous steps. I recommend formulas such as Ding Chuan Tang, Ching Fei Yi HUG Pian, Er Chen Wan, or Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan. Consult a practitioner qualified in Chinese herbal medicine to determine which Chinese herbal formulas are the best for your particular syndromes. You should see initial benefits from the herbs within three weeks (sometimes sooner), but you may need to take them longer, depending on your condition.

Step 5: Undergo Acupuncture for Chronic Bronchitis

If you continue to have chronic bronchitis symptoms, I recommend acupuncture in addition to the Chinese herbals. Principal points are usually found on the upper back, wrists, and legs. Ear points include the bronchus, and the antiwheezing point (asthma). You should always seek evaluation and treatment from a practitioner certified in acupuncture. You should notice improvement within six acupuncture treatments, although you might need additional sessions for maximum benefits.

Step 6: For Persistent Cough, Take the Chinese Herbal Remedy Wen Dan Tang or a Conventional Inhaler

If you still have a persistent cough despite the above measures, I recommend trying another Chinese herbal formula, Wen Dan Tang, three times daily between meals. You should see benefits within 3 to 10 days. If this natural method does not reduce your cough, your doctor can prescribe a beta-agonist (albuterol) inhaler, which reduces spasm in the lung’s passageways (these spasms may be causing the cough). Your coughing should diminish almost immediately. Do not use a drug to suppress the cough-you’ll just mask the underlying cause, and it will take much longer for you to heal.

Step 7: Take Appropriate Homeopathic Remedies

If your symptoms are still not resolved, you might consider taking a homeopathic remedy. Kali bichromicum (6c) is used for loose, white phlegm, with cough and irritability; Phosphorus (6c) is used for loss of voice, cough, thirst, and sore throat. You should consult a qualified homeopathist for guidance on which remedies will be most beneficial and for proper dosages. You should feel better in one to two weeks.

Step 8: Take N-Acetylcysteine for Recurrent Bronchitis

If you continue to have episodes of bronchitis that the previous steps don’t control, take N­ acetylcysteine (400mg-1,200mg daily), an amino-acid derivative that can break up mucus. You may have to take this supplement for four to six months before you see the benefits.

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