Causes
Bronchitis is a condition caused by the inflammation of the mucus membrane that lines the bronchial tubes in the lungs. Because of this inflammation, the mucus is expelled in the form of phlegm, which is humid and semi liquid. When a patient suffers from this secretion of mucus for three months in a year for two consecutive years, it is characterized as chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is caused when acute bronchitis becomes infectious. A person suffering from bronchitis experiences cough especially during winter or because of cold wind, breathlessness and wheezing, chest pain and also cyanosis (blue coloration of the skin). The major causes of bronchitis are heredity, smoking, working in suffocating surroundings, and consumption of a certain drugs. Climactic changes are responsible for the onset of bronchitis.
Cure
A sufferer of bronchitis must try to ensure that he doesn’t contract any kind of viral or bacterial infections like throat infection of flu. He also needs to stay away from irritants like fumes, pollution, and dust. In some patients, pollen and dust mites also aggravate bronchitis. If the sufferer has air conditioning at home, the air conditioning system needs to be cleansed regularly. The same is the case with carpets and bedding. All these are breeding grounds for dust mites. Additionally, the patient must avoid fried and cold foods, and go for morning walks every day. Also, to treat bronchitis, one should embark on a specific all-fruit diet consisting of three meals for about a week. After this, one must only consume a well balanced diet with raw vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and fruits.
Treatment
One can treat bronchitis with many natural products. As a remedy for the symptoms, some people recommend consuming warm or room temperature water or lemon juice without sugar. Turmeric is very effective in treating bronchitis; one can mix half a teaspoon of turmeric powder in half a glass of warm milk and consume this about twice a day. Another effective remedy of bronchitis is mixing half a teaspoon of the powders of ginger, black pepper, and cloves each and taking it with either tea or licking it with honey thrice a day. Another decoction could be made by boiling equal amounts of basil leaves, ginger, and black in 50 ml of water till the liquid is reduced to half. This medicine should be taken thrice a day. Consuming one teaspoon of fresh onion juice on an empty stomach every morning loosens phlegm and treats bronchitis. Chewing on licorice is also beneficial for the treatment of chronic bronchitis.