Bronchitis
Limit the amount of mucous forming foods you eat like sugar, refined wheat and grains, cow based dairy foods and all processed foods as they offer little nutritional benefit. If the intake of mucous forming foods exceeds the body's needs then the secreting membranes lining the lungs will produce an excess of mucous in an attempt to get rid of it leading to congestion throughout the body. Increase your intake of plant based fibre to increase bowel activity and help increase the absorption of nutrients consumed in your diet. See 'fibre' in the 'natural healing' section of this site for ideas on fibrous foods. Eat plenty of onions, garlic, leeks, chives etc and any other onion type foods which help to thin mucous and therefore make it easier to cough it up. Use warming spices like ginger, cayenne, cardamon pods, coriander seeds, black pepper and cinnamon in your cooking. You can also make a delicious warming tea using a teaspoon per cup of the combined ingredients. Drink the juice of a fresh lemon (or any combination of citrus fruits) in some water each morning on an empty stomach. Drink plenty of liquids in the form of water, freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juices, watery soups full of herbs and warming spices and herb teas. In both chronic and acute bronchitis you should avoid smoking and being in smokey atmospheres. Take hot baths to which a few drops each of thyme, peppermint or eucalyptus oils have been added. Make a nutritious and therapeutic syrup by placing a chopped strong white onion and 2 cloves of crushed garlic in a bowl and adding 3 tablespoons of good quality honey (runny or set). Cover and place to one side for several hours or overnight. Take 2 teaspoons of the liquid every couple of hours for acute bronchitis or every day for chronic bronchitis. It tastes very pleasant and helps to liquefy and expel mucous from the lungs. Do not use cough suppressant medicines as these will keep the sticky mucous in the lungs and greatly delay healing.General characteristics
General characteristics
Diet and lifestyle
Diet and lifestyle
Useful herbs
Useful herbs
Natural healing
Natural healing
Comments