Which home remedies help with bronchitis?
There are many home remedies for bronchitis that serve different purposes. Some are intended to loosen the mucus in the airways, others to soothe the irritated mucous membrane or relieve accompanying symptoms such as fever or sore throat, headache and aching limbs.
Sometimes, however, it is necessary to treat bronchitis with medication, especially if the symptoms are more severe. For example, if bronchitis causes breathing difficulties or even shortness of breath, a doctor should always be consulted.
However, conventional medical treatment can be usefully supplemented with various home remedies. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Inhalation for bronchitis
Many patients find inhalation very beneficial for bronchitis. Inhalation can loosen mucus from the upper airways and reduce local inflammation.
To do this, heat water and pour it into a bowl. Sit in front of the bowl and hold your head over it. Cover your head and the bowl with a towel so that the steam cannot escape. Breathe in and out slowly and deeply for ten to 15 minutes. Repeat this once or twice a day.
Possible additives for inhalation are salt, chamomile flowers, thyme herb or a few drops of essential oil (e.g. eucalyptus or thyme oil).
You can read how to dose the additives correctly in the article Inhalation.
Warm compresses and chest compresses for bronchitis
Warmth on the chest can alleviate the symptoms of bronchitis. Heat increases blood circulation and helps to liquefy and cough up stuck mucus. The simplest method for bronchitis is to place a hot water bottle or a warm grain pillow (cherry stone pillow) on the chest or upper back.
The following compresses, wraps and compresses are also suitable home remedies for bronchitis:
Warm and moist chest compress
A warm, moist chest compress often has an expectorant effect. To do this, roll up a cotton cloth from both sides towards the middle and wrap it lengthways in a tea towel. Then place the roll in a bowl with the ends sticking out and pour 500 to 750 milliliters of boiling water over it. Leave the compress to infuse for 15 minutes. You can also add one to two teaspoons of thyme tea or the slices of half an organic lemon.
Carefully wring out the compress (be careful, it is hot!) and then wrap the inner cloth tightly around the patient’s chest. Tie two more cloths over it. Leave the chest compress to work for 20 to 30 minutes and rest – even after using this home remedy. You can apply the warm, moist chest compress twice a day.
Mustard flour compress
Place the compress on the chest as wrinkle-free as possible. Fix the home remedy in place with another cloth. As soon as you feel the skin burning, leave the compress on the skin for another one to three minutes. Then remove it quickly and rub the skin with olive oil. Then cover and rest for 30 to 60 minutes.
You can read more about the effects of mustard in the medicinal plant article Mustard.
Curd compresses for bronchitis
In many cases, a body-warm curd compress helps as a home remedy for bronchitis: it is said to reduce inflammation, lower fever, relieve pain and loosen mucus from the bronchial tubes. To do this, spread 250 to 500 grams of quark (room temperature) on a gauze compress once or twice a day. Cover the compress with the excess gauze and a cotton cloth.
Warm the compress on a hot water bottle or between two hot water bottles and then place the compress on the chest. For a better hold, secure the compress with a (hand) towel. Leave the curd compress on the skin until the curd is cold.
Ginger compress
A ginger compress is also said to loosen mucus, relax the chest muscles and relieve pain. Stir one to two teaspoons of freshly ground ginger powder into a little water. Allow the mixture to swell briefly and then add it to 500 to 750 milliliters of hot water (75 degrees).
You can find out more about the effects of ginger in the article on medicinal plants.
Beeswax compress
A cloth compress coated with beeswax stores heat for a very long time and releases it continuously. This can have an expectorant effect on bronchitis. Place the compress in the desired size in a plastic bag and heat it with a hair dryer or on a hot water bottle until the wax is smooth.
Place the compress on the chest without the foil and cover it with a cloth. Leave the compress to work for 20 minutes to several hours. You can use this home remedy for bronchitis once or twice a day. The compress is reusable.
Heat treatment with red light for bronchitis
You can also support the treatment of bronchitis with red light. The local heat treatment promotes blood circulation. The stuck mucus is loosened and the pain is relieved.
Caution! Infrared rays can damage the eyes – even if the eyelids are closed. Therefore, keep a sufficient safety distance (30 to 50 centimetres, see also instructions for use), wear suitable protective goggles and close your eyes in a relaxed manner, especially when using the device on the face.
Red light therapy is not advisable in the case of fever, acute inflammation, blood clots (thrombosis), severe heart disease and severe diabetes mellitus. Always consult your doctor before use!
Tea for bronchitis
Make sure you drink enough if you have bronchitis. This helps to loosen the mucus in the bronchial tubes and make it easier to cough up. The following medicinal plants are suitable as cough and bronchial teas:
- Ribwort plantain and marshmallow soothe irritated mucous membranes and relieve the urge to cough
- Thyme, aniseed, primrose, lime blossom and mullein support the removal of bronchial mucus and soothe the urge to cough
- Fennel and verbena have an anti-inflammatory and germ-inhibiting effect and liquefy stuck mucus in the bronchial tubes
- Licorice root has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant and mucous membrane-protecting properties
- Ginger has an anti-inflammatory and germ-inhibiting effect
- Elderberry has a diaphoretic effect and increases mucus production in the bronchial tubes
You can find out how to prepare the tea correctly in the corresponding medicinal plant text.
Healing drinks
Various other drinks such as juices and syrups made from medicinal plants can also be used as home remedies for bronchitis.
Children in the first year of life must not consume honey. It can contain bacterial toxins that are dangerous for them.
Onion syrup is said to have an anti-inflammatory and germ-inhibiting effect and relieve coughs and colds. Peel and dice a large onion, which you then fill into a clean preserving jar. Add two tablespoons of sugar, close the jar tightly and shake vigorously. After about two hours, the sweet onion syrup will form. Take one to two tablespoons several times a day.
You can read more about the effects of this medicinal plant in the article Onion.
Radish honey is said to have a germ-inhibiting and expectorant effect. Cut the “lid” off a (spherical) radish and scoop it out with a spoon. Now add honey, place the lid on top and leave to infuse for several hours (in the fridge). Then pour the honey enriched with radish juice into a clean jam jar.
Older children and adults can take two to three teaspoons up to four times a day – directly or in tea. However, it must not be too hot, otherwise too many valuable ingredients would be destroyed.
You can read more about radishes and their effects in the article Black radish.
Chicken soup: Chicken soup is an old home remedy for bronchitis. It is said to have a beneficial effect on irritated mucous membranes and promote mucus clearance. This is probably mainly due to the warmth and moisture that the warm chicken broth supplies to the body.
It is also possible that some components of chicken soup inhibit certain white blood cells (neutrophils) that promote inflammatory processes. Various scientific experiments indicate this.
Essential oils for bronchitis
The essential oils of medicinal plants can be used as a home remedy to treat bronchitis, and there are several possible applications.
Oil bath
Warm baths have a calming and relaxing effect. If you add thyme or eucalyptus essential oils to the bath water, the bath also has an expectorant effect.
You should use an emulsifier to ensure that the oil is well distributed in the water. Cream, milk, honey or salt are suitable. Mix the emulsifier and the oil and add to the incoming bath water.
The bath temperature should not exceed the measured body temperature. Finish the bath after ten to 20 minutes, dry yourself off and rest in the pre-warmed bed for at least half an hour. You can bathe once a day.
Rubbing
A back rub also loosens stuck mucus. Avoid the spine during application and rub the back to the right and left of it. Then cover well and rest for about 30 minutes.
Alternatively, you can also use oils of mountain pine, eucalyptus or camphor for the rub.
Bronchitis: home remedies for children and babies
The listed bronchitis home remedies are suitable for babies.
Inhalation: You can buy special inhalers for children at the pharmacy. These are generally safe to use.
The use of essential oils for inhalation in children should always be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist. Some substances can trigger a life-threatening spasm of the respiratory muscles in children. Also, never allow children to inhale over a bowl on their own due to the increased risk of burns.
Wraps and compresses: As with adults, warm compresses are a suitable home remedy for children with bronchitis. Suitable additives include thyme tea or lemon. However, you should always test the temperature on the back of your own hand or chest before applying the compress. There is a risk of burns!
If your child is suffering from a fever in addition to bronchitis, you can lower the body temperature with cold calf compresses. You can read how this works in the article Calf compresses.
Bath: A warm bath with herbal additives such as chamomile flowers or thyme is generally also suitable for children. If you are bathing your child, check the bath temperature beforehand. You should also not leave your sick child alone and stop the bath immediately if the child becomes uncomfortable.
Many essential oils are not suitable for babies and children. Therefore, always consult a doctor or pharmacist before using them.
What else helps with bronchitis?
Physical rest and avoiding stress are important for a speedy recovery. The body can gain much-needed strength to fight the illness, especially during sleep. You should therefore observe the following points in addition to treatment for bronchitis:
- Bed rest
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Ventilate regularly
- Avoid tobacco smoke
- Reduce stress
Does vitamin C also help?
It is often recommended to take plenty of vitamin C at the first signs of an acute respiratory illness such as a cold or bronchitis. This is supposed to help with the symptoms and speed up recovery. However, the vitamin actually has a preventative effect against infections. It can be found in many over-the-counter preparations for the prevention and treatment of colds.
You can read more about the healing properties of currants in the article on currants as a medicinal plant.
Hot lemon: A tried and tested home remedy for colds and bronchitis is the “hot lemon”, i.e. a mixture of fresh lemon juice and hot water. It is said to be particularly helpful for emerging infections and has a prophylactic effect.
Sauna for bronchitis?
Regular visits to the sauna are a good way to prevent colds. High humidity and temperatures stimulate the immune system and thus strengthen the body’s defenses.
However, you should not go to the sauna if you have acute bronchitis. The high temperature puts a lot of strain on your heart and circulation and can lead to a poorer general condition. There is also a risk of infecting other sauna guests in the cramped cabin.
Home remedies have their limits. If the symptoms persist over a longer period of time and do not improve or even get worse, you should always consult a doctor.
