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Lifestyle changes and home remedies can help reduce chest congestion and other symptoms of bronchitis, according to Mayo Clinic. Colds and other respiratory infections can lead to bronchitis. Treatments consisting of certain foods and herbs can help decrease inflammation in the bronchial tubes and reduce a chronic cough. Get advice from a physician before using home remedies to make sure the symptoms are not caused by a more serious condition.
Relieve Symptoms of Bronchitis With Warm Foods
According to The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Natural Remedies (Alpha Books, January 2009) by Chrystle Fielder, foods that are warm and moist help reduce inflammation in the bronchial tubes and eliminate excess mucous. Foods that can be used as bronchitis treatments include stew and soup. Ginger tea also has anti-inflammatory properties.
Warm chicken broth is another food that can be soothing to the bronchial tubes. Add green leafy vegetables to increase its potassium content. Potassium will help keep the body hydrated by neutralizing acid levels and alkalizing the system, which helps with the recovery process.
Clear Chest Congestion With a Poultice
Reduce bronchial inflammation by placing a warm poultice on the chest. To make the poultice, cut up a few onions and put them in a pan. Then crush some garlic cloves and sprinkle them over the onions and mix in a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Keep the mixture in the oven for one hour at 350 degrees.
The mixture should be like a syrup when it is removed from the oven. Allow it to cool. While the mixture is cooling, put a heat pack in the microwave until it is as warm as desired. Then strain out all of the liquid from the onion mixture, which should be like a paste, onto the chest. Place plastic wrap over the mixture and then put the heat pad on top of the plastic.
Keep all of this on the chest overnight. The skin will absorb the mixture and ease congestion.
Herbal Cough Remedies
Bronchitis is often accompanied by a chronic cough. The coughing can be treated with herbs such as slippery elm, licorice, and marshmallow. According to Fielder, these herbs can help reduce the burning sensation caused by inflammation. They also soothe the mucous membranes and reduce chest congestion. The herb mullein is also recommended because of its anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties.
The article titled Flu Relief provides more information about natural remedies for relieving congestion. The article titled Natural Asthma Remedies is another resource for information about clearing congestion.
Jennifer Graham - Jennifer Graham is a Writer/Producer for a video production company. She helps create videos that raise awareness to health related ...
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