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By now, you’ve no doubt realize that your breathing system is far more sensitive than
you previously thought and prone to getting literally hundreds of different ailments.
Keeping in the same spirit of maintaining healthy and efficient ventilation systems, I’ll
be touching on another respiratory condition that affects around 300 million people
annually.
Now, when you catch a cold or the flu, you’re usually lucky if it runs its course in a
couple of weeks and goes away. However, they may sometimes develop into one of the
most common airway problems – Bronchitis.
In today’s segment, we’ll be looking at what exactly bronchitis is and how it presents
itself in the human body. We’ll also be digging into some of the different causes of the
disease and risk factors to watch out for. For those of you fearful of bronchitis, we’ll look
at how you can prevent it in the first place.
And if you already have it, there’s nothing to worry about. Olivia’s got all the available
western medications to add to your knowledge, the best natural treatment for
bronchitis as well as some effective home remedies to ease the old chimney. So stick
around folks, because you’re going to love reading Olivia’s ultimate guide to everything
you need to know about Bronchitis.
What Is Bronchitis?
Here’s one of the rare cases where a medical term for a disease actually says it all. As
the name suggests, bronchitis is simply the inflammation of the large and medium
airways in the lungs known as bronchi. When these tubes get swollen, you end up with a
nagging cough, a lot more mucus, shortness of breath, unexpected wheezing and other
symptoms that we’ll look at shortly. Basically, bronchitis is divided into the two main
types – acute and chronic.
Acute Bronchitis
Also known as a chest cold, acute bronchitis is a short term inflation of the bronchial
tubes in the lungs. It usually follows a viral infection or cold and is characterized by
symptoms such as a cough, mucus, fever, wheezing, and chest discomfort among
others. What separates it from chronic is that acute bronchitis only lasts two to three
weeks. Similarly, this type of bronchitis doesn’t cause any lasting problems.
Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is a very serious condition in that it either keeps coming back, or
refuses to go away at all. This ongoing illness is characterized by persistent, mucus
producing coughs that could last anywhere between three months to two years. Other
symptoms include varying degrees of breathing difficulties. Studies show that most
people with chronic bronchitis tend to have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(COPD).
Symptoms Of Bronchitis
Here’s a complete list of all the symptoms to watch out for in both chronic and acute
bronchitis cases.
Chronic bronchitis on the other hand sites cigarette smoking and tobacco use as the
main cause. The risk factors for both include chronic inhalation of air fumes, dust,
pollution, and hazardous occupational exposure. Let’s expand on the causes and risk
factors of bronchitis.
Viral Infection
As explained above, more than 90% of all cases are caused by a viral infection spread
through the air when people come into contact or cough. This is usually flu infection or
colds that develop into bronchitis.
Smoking
As the primary cause for chronic bronchitis and top risk factor for acute bronchitis,
cigarette smoking plays a significant role in causing disease. In America alone, about
70% of people who have chronic bronchitis are either smokers or former smokers.
Generally, the risk of developing bronchitis increases with total smoke exposure. So the
longer you smoke, the higher the chances. Apart from tobacco smoke, other types such
as cigar, water pipe smoke, and marijuana also pose a risk albeit with very heavy use.
Air Pollution
In developing countries, the main cause of bronchitis is usually indoor air pollution
from poorly ventilated cooking fires fueled by charcoal or wood. While urban air
pollution also plays a role, its effects are minimal.
Occupational Exposure
If you do not yet have bronchitis, there’s a lot to be thankful about. But this doesn’t
mean that you are completely out of the woods yet. To reduce your risk of getting
bronchitis, you can take the following steps.
Wearing a surgical mask can help reduce exposure to dust, fumes and pollution
Wash your hands regularly or use alcohol based sanitizers / antiseptic essential
oils to reduce chances of getting acute bronchitis from viral infections
Get vaccinated; since many cases of bronchitis result from the influenza virus,
getting your yearly flu vaccine can protect you from bronchitis and some forms of
pneumonia
Avoid cigarette smoking and all forms of tobacco
While most cases of acute bronchitis tend to go away on their own without any specific
treatment, there is no known cure for chronic bronchitis. However, there are plenty of
ways to treat the symptoms and delay the progression as much as possible. Typically,
the goal of the treatment is to reduce risk factors, prevent and treat acute
exacerbations, manage the condition and any associated illnesses as well. I’ve compiled
some of the most widely preferred treatments and management techniques for
bronchitis.
1. Pulmonary Rehabilitation
2. Corticosteroids
Although inhaled corticosteroids haven’t shown any benefit for individuals with acute
bronchitis, they have proven useful for the chronic part of the disease. They seem to
decrease and even prevent acute exacerbations from taking over. However, steroid use
is still associated with some pretty adverse and significant side effects. Similarly, using
long-term antibiotics such as erythromycin also reduces the frequency of exacerbations
However, this cost-effective treatment is also not without fault. There have been more
and more reports of antibiotic resistance and hearing problems.
3. Bronchodilators
While helpful for bronchitis patients, bronchodilators result in very dismal benefits.
These agonists and anticholinergics work by reducing shortness of breath, wheezing
and improving exercise limitations. So while they won’t do anything for the underlying
disease, they help improve the individual’s quality of life. But just like most western
medicine, side effects seem to come hand in hand with most medications. Long-term
use of bronchodilators has been associated with significant and adverse side effects
such as shakiness, fatigue, heart palpitations and increased risk of pneumonia.
4. Supplemental Oxygen
One of the inevitable effects of chronic bronchitis is a decreased ability of your body to
take in oxygen. So if your oxygen levels get lower than 50mmHg with saturations of less
than 88%, a doctor will usually recommend supplemental oxygen. If used for about 15
hours a day, supplemental oxygen reduces risk of heart failure and death substantially.
Similarly, it helps improve the body’s ability to exercise, improve shortness of breath
and impacts quality of life. However, this will have very little to no effect if the individual
continues smoking.
5. Surgery
For individuals with extremely severe and advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease as a result of bronchitis, doctors will recommend an array of surgical
procedures as a last resort. The first one is usually a lung volume reduction surgery that
removes those parts of the lungs significantly damaged by the disease. This allows the
remaining portion of your relatively good lung to expand and perform better. However,
this procedure increases the risk of early death and comes with adverse side effects. In
more severe cases, there is usually no other option but to get a lung transplant.
With Mother Nature’s help, essential oils have genuine benefits when used in the right
way. And when it comes to bronchitis and other respiratory diseases, you’ve got to
respect the power of essential oils. Packed with decongestants, antiseptics, sedative,
relaxant, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, nothing works
better for the respiratory system than essential oils. What’s more, the mere fact that
you can easily sneak them into your respiratory system makes them the ideal
treatment. Whether it’s hacking, coughing, congestion, nasty colds, flu, stuffy noses,
asthma, emphysema, fibrosis, bronchitis, COPD, or any other respiratory issue
associated with acute and chronic bronchitis, I’ve compiled only the best essential oils
for the job and some age-old recipes to help you put out oils to good use.
Ingredients:
1 drop Lemon EO
1 drop Oregano EO
1 drop Ginger EO
2 tablespoons of honey
Method:
For centuries, oils like Oregano and Ginger have been helping people find relief from
coughs and a wide range of upper respiratory issues. Packed with anti-inflammatory,
calming and anti-aging compounds, Oregano EO is precisely what the lungs need to
kick-start the healing process. You already know about the potent expectorant abilities
of ginger, which is what makes it another critical ingredient in our syrup.
To make use of this recipe, place the honey in a glass and add your essential oils one by
one while stirring. Once everything is well mixed, down the hatch it goes. Conventional
cough recipes have too much sugar and often come with side effects. This home-made
syrup will not only soothe sore throats, but also boost the immune system and let you
breathe much easier by eliminating the excess mucus associated with bronchitis. And
don’t forget to always consult your doctor prior to ingesting any essential oils.
Recipe 2: Natural Oxygenating VapoRub for Bronchitis
Ingredients
22 drops Peppermint EO
20 drops Eucalyptus EO
Quarter cup grated beeswax
Quarter cup extra virgin olive oil
Half cup virgin coconut oil
Method:
When it comes to bronchitis, you can always be sure that shortness of breath will be a
day to day issue. As such, the last thing you need is a clogged or stuffed up breathing
system. To make sure that your respiratory system is wide open and fully functional, a
homemade vaporub can help your system take in even more oxygen and allow your
body to overcome exercise limitations.
For this recipe, get a large mason jar and pour in all the virgin oils and beeswax. Heat a
little water over a pan and place the mason jar in until the contents melt. Stir to mix the
beeswax and virgin oil and once they’re well mixed, allow them to cool and add in the
essential oils. Pour your mixture into containers and allow it to set. You now have a
pretty effective, all natural vapor rub blend that will help soothe irritation and
substantially improve your breathing when you’re feeling wheezy.
You can also try the L’orpur Vapor Balm, made using natural herbs and essential oils.
Recipe 3: Giant Inhaler for Chronic Bronchitis
Ingredients:
10 drops Eucalyptus EO
10 drops Marjoram EO
8 drops Peppermint EO
5 drops Juniper Berry EO
Method:
The quickest way to your lungs is through the breathing system. That’s why anyone with
chronic bronchitis needs to learn how to make their own EO inhaler. When done right,
this formula will not only help in reducing shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing,
but also prevent acute exacerbations from completely taking over. What’s more, it will
also help heal some parts of the lungs damaged by years of bronchial inflammation.
For this inhaler to work, you’ll need to boil about 4 cups of water in a small pot and add
the essential oils in after turning off the burner. Next, cover tightly with a lid and wait
for a few minutes before removing it. Quickly lean over the pot and cover your head
with a towel to ensure none of the vapors are lost. Breathe in the inhalation blend every
10 to 30 seconds and remember to keep your eyes closed to protect them from the
steam. Trust me, learning how to make this homemade inhaler will really do you a
world of good.
Ingredients
Drop of Lemon EO
Drop of Peppermint EO
Method
Sometimes, the symptoms of COPD could really be overwhelming and brutal. This
especially applies to individuals with acute exacerbations which can make life very
uncomfortable for the person. To resolve a cough, acute exacerbations, stuffiness,
congestion, and other breathing problems, simply place a drop of the above essential
oils under the tongue. Alternatively, you could dilute the oils in water or tea. As always,
consult your doctor prior to ingesting any essential oils.
Ingredients:
6 drops Eucalyptus EO
3 drops Lavender EO
4 drops Peppermint EO
2 drops Rosemary
Method:
Most cases of bronchitis are usually accompanied by a blocked, stuffy nose and airways
full of mucus and phlegm. For this, you’ll need some of the most powerful essential oils
for the job. For this mix, simply add in the essential oils drop by drop in your diffuser
and enjoy the benefits all day and all night long. However, you are advised to clean out
your diffuser regularly to avoid buildup of bacteria and mold.
Eucalyptus and peppermint have been in use since the beginning of history when it
comes to lung treatment. In itself, eucalyptus is an incredibly powerful decongestant
with potent antiseptic and expectorant properties. What’s more, it absorbs immediately
into the lungs for faster healing. I added peppermint and lavender essential oils due to
the cooling and rejuvenating effect while the Rosemary gives your immune system a
much-needed boost to overcome infection, bacteria, and other risk factors for
bronchitis.
Ingredients:
6 drops Lemongrass EO
5 drops Ginger EO
4 drops Lavender EO
1 ounce Jojoba carrier oil
Method:
As the main symptom of bronchitis, coughs can have extensive reach when it comes to
battering your body. That’s why it’s not uncommon for doctors to prescribe pain killers.
Mine however is an all-natural analgesic. Start by combining the essential oils drop by
drop in a glass or bowl. After that, proceed to add in your carrier oil of choice and mix
thoroughly. Apply the blend to aching parts of your body such as chest, back, throat,
temples, head, and joints. This body rub will not only help with pain, but the essential
oils I chose come with some hidden benefits.
For starters, the lemongrass oil is packed with antimicrobial, analgesic, antiseptic,
bactericidal, diuretic, and fungicidal properties in addition to its sedative capabilities.
This makes it quite the useful oil for relieving headaches, calming irritated airways,
relaxing your nervous system, and treating other symptoms associated with bronchitis.
This blend is further complemented by ginger and its powerful anti-inflammatory
capabilities which allow it to heal your inflamed bronchi and irritated airways.
Like all other diseases and ailments, there’s always something you can do at home to
help relieve the symptoms and probably even treat your bronchitis altogether. So just in
case you don’t have some essential oils handy and don’t want anything to do with
pharmaceuticals, then here are a few bronchitis remedies you could try right at the
comfort of your home.
1. Chicken Soup
That’s right; it’s not just a folklore. Your grandma’s favorite soup and broth is also a
treatment for bronchitis, colds, coughs, allergies, and pretty much any other ailment.
Back in the day, it seemed like a nice bowl of chicken soup could literally cure anything.
Today, studies have actually revealed that chicken soup is effective when it comes to
reducing symptoms of upper respiratory infections in particular. And in addition to
getting relief for the common cold, the nutritional value in chicken soup doesn’t hurt
much either.
2. Honey
We all know that honey is packed with antimicrobial, antibacterial, and an entire host of
other medicinal properties. Research shows that honey also contains expectorant
properties similar to most over the counter cough suppressants. The only difference is
that honey is safe for children and adults alike and contains absolutely no side effects.
Drinking some honey mixed with lemon tea can really work wonders in treating your
bronchitis while a spoonful of the stuff before bedtime helps kids with acute or chronic
bronchitis sleep soundly.
3. Ginger
The unmatched health benefits of ginger have been praised and touted for centuries if
not millennia. Today, we can at least say we have tangible evidence of its potent
medicinal properties. A couple slices of raw ginger chewed can really help restore lost
function in the respiratory system, ease a sore throat, ward off a cold and manage
productive coughs. If you can’t take it, try boiling the ginger in hot water and adding in
some lemon to make one hell of an anti-bronchitis attack tea blend.
4. Hot Shower
If there’s one thing you should know by now, it’s that steam can be a very dreadful
enemy to coughs, colds, congestion, and other symptoms of bronchitis. So you should
try to take advantage of steamy situations whenever you can. For one, you can always
crank up the hot shower, close all windows and turn off any fans and ventilation to get a
good, thick steam-room situation going. The steam works by getting into the lungs,
soothing the irritated airways, loosening buildups of mucus and decongesting your
respiratory system. Take some EO assisted hot showers and baths whenever you need
some instant, soothing decongesting.
Parting Shot
There you have it my respiratory challenged readers; all you need to know about
bronchitis right at the tips of your fingers. With this information, dealing with bronchitis
and other respiratory infections the right way should be much easier now.
But no matter which treatment route you choose, remember to give your body a chance
to heal. Don’t be too eager to pump your system full of useless antibiotics and harmful
pharmaceuticals. Just take good care of yourself and you’ll have the bronchitis in control
soon enough. But if the symptoms stretch on for weeks without any visible
improvements or reprieve, then you should consult a doctor to check for underlying
conditions or more serious respiratory infections.
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Comments
When put in the diffuser, do you also add the water? Both of my diffusers use water and
oils.
Rating:
Reply
Olivia says
February 8, 2018 at 5:46 AM
Hi Pamela,
Yes, please add water if your diffuser requires it, generally most diffusers do. For
more info about diffusers, you can refer to the post below:
http://essentialoilbenefits.com/what-are-the-best-essential-oil-diffusers-
aromatherapy-diffusers-reviews-buying-guide-2017/
Regards,
Olivia
Reply
Jann says
February 7, 2018 at 10:08 PM
Perfect timing I currently have acute bronchitis. I will try these recipes starting today.
Thank you for sharing.
Rating:
Reply
Olivia says
February 8, 2018 at 5:38 AM
Hi Jann,
Regards,
Olivia
Reply
Louise says
February 7, 2018 at 5:50 PM
Reply
Olivia says
February 7, 2018 at 5:59 PM
Hi Louise,
Regards,
Olivia
Reply
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