What Are Conventional Medical Treatments For Bronchitis?
Generally, doctors will tell you to take fluids regularly, to get lots of rest and to stop smoking. They prescribe aspirin or acetaminophen for adults for body aches, but as with all medications, there are side effects. They can suggest ways to clear mucus and they also ask you to note how often you cough and how much mucus you cough up and what color it was.
For dry coughs with little to no mucus, they prescribe a cough medicine and sometimes an expectorant to help loosen mucus, so it can be coughed up.
Because generally bronchitis is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not normally prescribed unless it is caused by a bacterial infection or if the person suffering from it has impaired lung function.
What Are Alternative Treatments For Bronchitis?
Herbs such as ginger, cloves, turmeric and garlic are thought to help boost the body’s immunity. According to Ayurveda, it is best to avoid dairy products and sugar as these only help to increase Kapha. Eating spicier food (not necessarily with chili in it) can help.
Doing an inhalation with turmeric power (or a few drops of Turmeric essential oil) may help.
Of course, essential oils traditionally have also been used to help the body maintain good health and prevent bronchitis. See the Useful Essential Oils tab for details.