Bronchitis
Although sometimes viral in origin, bacteria tend to be involved
in cases of bronchitis. Usually, this infection of the bronchial
passages follows a cold or flu; often times, it becomes chronic
and frequent relapses occur within a season or over the course of
years. For this reason, antibiotic therapy is often more harmful
in the long term than any other form of treatment as it simply drives
the infection deeper. Sometimes a fever is also present, rarely
if the bronchitis is chronic.
Treatment
Goal(s):
· Eliminate infection, support expectoration, tonify lungs
and immunity, manage fever.
Primary
Treatment:
· Administer strong doses (2-3 ml every hour) of Echinacea.
· Administer teas of Inula helenium (Elecampane), Thymus
vulgaris (Thyme) and Aesclepias tuberosa (Pleurisy root), ½
gallon daily.
· Include 3-4 cloves of fresh Allium sativum (Garlic) daily,
minced and taken with a little lemon in two separate doses.
Supportive
Treatment:
· Use antispasmodic herbs to control the painful cough, such
as Lobelia or Viburnum opulus (Crampbark).
· Apply warm compresses of Zingiber officinalis (Ginger)
to the chest as often as possible.
· Use demulcents such as Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) and
antitussives such as Prunus serotina (Wild Cherry) if necessary
to alleviate coughing (use caution not to suppress the cough unduly).
Differential
diagnoses, cautions, and other considerations:
· If the patient’s energy level plummets and/or you
are able to hear louder chest sounds and fine crackling that is
not changed by coughing, there could be a buildup of infected fluid
in the lungs. Consult a qualified care provider to assess the situation,
as the patient could have pneumonia, which requires more intensive
treatment than bronchitis.
· If there is a fever, use diaphoretics appropriately.
· After the symptoms are passed, continue the use of pulmonary
antiseptics (Garlic, Thyme) and rebuild immunity with herbs such
as Astragalus and the medicinal mushrooms.
· For chronic bronchitis, Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)
and Usnea barbata (Usnea) can be helpful in re-toning pulmonary
mucus membranes.
