[lrivero83]

Hi! I have bronchitis. This illness is chronic. Last year I caught bronchitis three times. I cough all the time and I'm spitting mucus with blood. I'm really worried. I'm getting worse every year and the medicines are not effective .Every year, It takes more time to recover. I want a piece of advice or some alternative medicine. Thanks

[N0help4u]

I really haven't studied Native American or ayuverdic medicine yet... just starting
Acute Bronchitis & Chronic Bronchitis - Natural Cures for Bronchitis Symptoms

Ayurvedic Herbs For Bronchitis Diet Herbs Medicine

Basically you have to treat your immune system and inflammation.

GINSENG Reduces inflammation, helps clear bronchial passages.

ASTRAGALUS An antibiotic used to strengthen the immune system.

ELDERBERRY Used to reduce fever and nasal congestion.

ELECAMPANE Helps clear mucous from lungs.

EUCALYPTUS Steam inhalations are used to relieve nasal congestion.

FENUGREEK Useful in reducing the flow of mucous.

GINKGO BILOBA Used to prevent free radical damage in the lungs.

LOBELIA Helps clear bronchial congestion and stop wheezing.

MULLEIN OIL Used to relieve bronchial congestion and increase lung circulation.

REISHI Used to fight bacterial infections.

ECHINACEA Used to stimulate the immune system and shorten duration of illness.

GOLDENSEAL Has antibiotic properties and relieves inflammation in throat, nasal passages, & sinuses. Should only be taken a couple weeks at a time.

For colds take vitamin C, zinc and
Echinacea and goldenseal 2 weeks on 2 weeks off.

Some of these things should not be taken with medication. It is good to check on side effects and interactions of herbal remedies.

Dietary changes that may be helpful: Dietary factors may influence both inflammatory activity and antioxidant status in the body. Increased inflammation and decreased antioxidant activity may each lead to an increased incidence of chronic diseases, such as chronic bronchitis. People suffering from chronic bronchitis may experience an improvement in symptoms when consuming a diet high in anti-inflammatory fatty acids, such as those found in fish. In a double-blind study of children with recurrent respiratory tract infections, a daily essential-fatty-acid supplement (containing 855 mg of alpha-linolenic acid and 596 mg of linoleic acid) reduced both the number and the duration of recurrences.1

In people with bronchitis, lipids in the lung tissue may undergo oxidation damage (also called free-radical damage), particularly when the bronchitis is a result of exposure to environmental toxins or cigarette smoke. A diet high in antioxidants may protect against the free radical-damaging effect of these toxins. Studies comparing different populations have shown that increasing fruit and vegetable (and therefore, antioxidant) consumption may reduce the risk of developing chronic bronchitis.2 3

Food and environmental allergies may be triggering factors in some cases of chronic bronchitis.4 Cows' milk allergy has been associated with bronchitis in children,5 6 7 and some doctors believe that dairy products may increase mucus production and, therefore, that people suffering from either acute or chronic bronchitis should limit their intake of dairy products. Ingestion of simple sugars (such as sucrose or fructose) can lead to suppression of immune function;8 therefore, some doctors believe simple sugars should be avoided during illness.

Lifestyle changes that may be helpful: Breast-feeding provides important nutrients to an infant and improves the functioning of the immune system. Studies have shown that breast-feeding prevents the development of lower respiratory tract infections during infancy.9 10 Whether that protective effect persists into adulthood is not known. Exposure to environmental chemicals, including passive smoke, can increase the incidence of respiratory illness among children.11

Chronic bronchitis is frequently associated with smoking and/or environmental exposure to chemicals or allergens. These exposures should be avoided to allow the cells of the bronchi to recover from chronic irritation and to decrease the burden on the immune system.

MotherNature.com - Bronchitis

[J_9]

Firstly, are you a smoker? Have you ever been? Are you around second hand smoke? Jobs... etc

You need to be deeply evaluated by a pulmonologist if you haven't already. This could be the beginning of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) as chronic bronchitis is a symptom of COPD.

Please make a doctor's appointment soon.

[twinkiedooter]

I had chronic bronchitis for about a year. I kept going to the dr and not getting well. He asked me if I smoked cigarettes. I said I did. He told me to quit. I quit. I kept getting ill. He asked me how many people smoked how many cigarettes at work? I told him I figured that at least 6 packs per day were smoked in my presence. He told me to change jobs and be in a no smoking environment. This was back in the early 1980's when smoking was not banned in offices yet. I somehow got another job where they did not smoke. I got better within about a month and have not had any bouts of bronchitis since. If you are coughing up blood, that's pretty serious. You should consult a different doctor. Have you had chest x-rays taken to see what your lungs look like lately that could make you cough up blood? Alternative medicine may not help you if you have something being harbored in your lungs making you cough up blood. Please see a doctor - a different doctor and have an x-ray to determine just what the true problem is. Chronic bronchitis could be more than just what you think it is.

[J_9]

I'm also interested in where you live. Do you live in the States? If so, where?