Other names for Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis
Bronchial infection
Chest cold
Chronic bronchitis
Inflammation of the bronchi

Synopsis of Bronchitis

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs. This inflammation leads to coughing, mucus production, chest discomfort, and sometimes shortness of breath. Bronchitis can be acute (short-term, often following a cold or respiratory infection) or chronic (long-term, lasting at least three months in two consecutive years, often related to smoking or environmental irritants).

Acute bronchitis is usually viral and self-limiting, while chronic bronchitis is part of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and requires long-term management. Recognizing the type and severity is important for proper treatment and to prevent complications like pneumonia.

Types:

• Acute bronchitis: Temporary inflammation, usually caused by viruses, resolving within a few weeks.

• Chronic bronchitis: Ongoing inflammation due to smoking, air pollution, or occupational exposure, part of COPD.

• Allergic bronchitis: Triggered by allergens, causing bronchial inflammation.

Common Causes (Risk Factors):

• Viral infections: Common cold viruses (e.g., rhinovirus, influenza) often lead to acute bronchitis.

• Bacterial infections: Less common, but possible, especially with secondary infection.

• Smoking: Primary cause of chronic bronchitis.

• Air pollution or chemical fumes: Occupational hazards or environmental exposure.

• Asthma or allergies: Can increase susceptibility.

• Weakened immune system: More prone to infections.

• Cold weather: May exacerbate symptoms.

More Severe Causes (Complications):

• Pneumonia: Infection spreading to the lungs.

• COPD progression: In chronic bronchitis, lung function may decline further.

• Severe respiratory distress: In people with pre-existing lung conditions.

• Recurrent infections: Weakens lung tissues over time.

When to See a Doctor or Specialist (Pulmonologist, Primary Care):

• Cough lasting more than three weeks.

• Severe chest pain or shortness of breath.

• High fever or thick yellow/green mucus (possible bacterial infection).

• History of chronic bronchitis or COPD with worsening symptoms.

• Blood in mucus or wheezing.

Natural remedies for Bronchitis

Steam Inhalation: Moistens airways, loosens mucus, and relieves congestion. Use hot water and a towel or a humidifier.

Honey: Soothes cough and throat irritation, has mild antimicrobial properties. Take 1–2 teaspoons daily.

Ginger: Anti-inflammatory, helps reduce bronchial inflammation and ease coughing. Consume as tea or supplement.

Turmeric (Curcumin): Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, supports immune response and lung health. Take with black pepper for absorption.

Licorice Root: Soothes the throat, acts as a mild expectorant to loosen mucus. Use as tea or supplement (avoid in high blood pressure).

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA, EPA): Reduce inflammation in the airways. Include fish oil supplements.

Hydration: Keeps mucus thin and easier to expel. Drink 8–10 glasses of water daily.

Eucalyptus Oil (Inhalation or Topical): Helps clear airways and ease breathing. Use in a diffuser or diluted in carrier oil.

Vitamin C: Supports immune function and helps shorten illness duration. Include in diet or supplement.

Probiotics: Support immune balance and reduce respiratory infections. Include fermented foods or supplements.

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Bronchitis

1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
Abrus
Acacia
Aconite
Adenophora
Adrenergic amines
Aerva lanata
Agastache
Albizia
Alchornea
Allicin
Allium tuberosum
Allyl isothiocyanate
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
Alstonia scholaris
amber
ambergris
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
Anamarrhena
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
anise
anthraquinone
apple
Aralia
Ardisia
Arisaema
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
ash
aster root
Asteraceae
atractylone
avens
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacteria
bael
balloon flower
balsam
bamboo
Baphicacanthus cusia
Barleria
basil
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bee hive
bee pollen
bee products
bee propolis
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
benzyl isothiocyanate
Bergenia
bermuda grass
berry
beta caryophyllene
beta-pinene
betel
Bidens pilosa
bioflavonoids
bird\'s nest
bisabolene
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
bittersweet
black cumin
black galingale
black nightshade
black pepper
black salt
black seed
Black spruce
blackboard tree
Blepharis
Boerhavia diffusa
Bombax
boneset
borage
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
Bougainvillea
Broussonetia
buckthorn
Buddha\'s hand
Bulnesia sarmientoi
Bupleurum
bасора
cade juniper
caffeine
cajuput
calamus
capillary artemisia
capsaicin
capsaicinoids
capsicum
cardamom
carrot
carry me seed
caryophyllene
cayenne pepper
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chaff flower
Chekiang Fritillary
chen pi
chinatree
Chinese raisintree
Chinese silkvine
Chlorophytum
Chondrus
chrysanthemum
cineole
Cinidium
cinnamaldehyde
Cinnamomum
cinnamon
citral
citron
Citrus
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum phlomidis
clove
coconut milk
Codonopsis
Coin-leaf desmodium
cola nut
coltsfoot
commiphora
Coptis chinensis
costus
cowage seed
cowherb
cowslip
cubeb
culvers Root
Curcuma
curcumen
curcumin
Curcuminoid
curry leaf
Cyanthillium cinereum
Cynanchum
cypress
David\'s milkberry
deoxyandrographolides
Desmodium
Dianthus
Dichrostachys glomerata
dioscorea
diterpenes
dodder
dragonhead
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Echinodorus
Eclipta
elecampane
elephant\'s head
Ephedra
ephedrine
Erythropalum scandens
essential oil blend
eucalyptus
eugenol
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European Elder
European five-finger grass
Evodia
fang-feng
fat liver oil
fennel
fern
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
Ficus religiosa
Ficus simplicissima
flat-stem milk-vetch
flavonoids
flavonones
fleabane
flowering quince
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fomes fomentarius
frankincense
fringed pink
fritillaria
fritillary
fulvic acid
fungus
Galangal
Galbanum
Gallesia
gallic acid
gallotannin
gamma-terpinene
garden cress
Gardenia jasminoides
garlic
garlic bulb
giant blazingstar
ginger
ginseng
Glechoma hederacea
Glehnia littoralis
glehnia root
Glycoside
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Glycyrrhizin
Gnaphalium
goldenseal
goldthread
gooseberry
Greek mountain tea
Grindelia
Guaco
Guava
Guazuma ulmifolia
Gumweed
hazelnut
heal-all
Heartsease
heartwood
Hederacoside
Hedychium spicatum
Helicteres isora
hemp
hemp oil
Hempnettle
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
Himalaya berry
Homalomena
honey
honey loquat syrup
honeydew
honeysuckle
horehound
Horsemint
horseradish
Houttuynia
Huang hua
hyacinth bean
Hygrophila
hyssop
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian coraltree
Indian fagonia
Indian frankincense
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian kinotree
Indian tinospora
indigo leaves
inula racemosa
iridoid glycosides
iridoids
Iris
Isatis
isoquinoline alkaloids
Ivy
Jatoba
Javanese Long Pepper
jujube
Kachnar
Khella
Kokilaksha
kudzu
L-cysteine
Labdanum
labrador tea
Lactoperoxidase
Laggera pterodonta
Large-leaved linden
Lebbek
Ledebouriella
lemon
lemongrass
Leptadenia
lichen
licorice root
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Lilium polyphyllum
lime
Lindera
Litsea
little ironweed
liverwort
lodhtree
long pepper
loquat
Loranthus
lotus
lovage
luffa
lungwort
Lycium
lysozyme
Macaranga indica
mace
magnesium
Maidenhair Fern
malabar nut
mallow
Malva sylvestris
marigold
Marshmallow
Mastic gum
Matapalo Tree
Meadow sage
Melia
Mentha haplocalyx
Menthol oil
Mesua
Methylxanthine
Milk
Momordica
Monoterpenes
Morinda
Moringa
Morning glory
Mountain Pepper
Mucolase
Mugwort
Mullein
Mustard
mustard seed
Myrrh
Naphthoquinones
Nasturtium
Neem tree
Neral
Nigella seed
Nimbidin
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
onion
Onosma bracteatum
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
orange
orchid
oregano
oregon grape
oriental arborvitae
Oroxylum indicum
Orris
Osha
Oxystelma
pagoda tree
Palmyra
papaya
Paris polyphylla
paw paw
pear
Pelargonium
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Pepper
perilla
Petiveria
Peucedanum
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
phenolic compounds
Phenylpropanoids
Phyllanthus
Physalis angulata
Pimpinella
Pinellia ternata
Piper chaba
Piper nigrum
pistacia integerrima gall
Plantago
plantain
Platycodon
platycodon root
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
plum fruit
pollen
Polygala
polygala root
Polygonatum
Polygonum
polyphenols
poppy
Portulaca
Premna
prepared aconite tuber
prickly ash
Propolis
Prunus
Pyrrosia
quail egg
Quisqualis
ravinsara
rhizome
Rhododendron
ricinoleic acid
Rosa laevigata
Rosabin
rue
sage
Sagebrush
Salvia
Sambucus nigra
Sandalwood
Savory
Scabrous Gentian
schizonepeta
scrophularia root
seaweed
Sedanenolide
Self-Heal
Semecarpus anacardium
Sensitive Plant
Serrapeptase
serratiopeptidase
Sesbania
Sesquiterpenes
Sete sangrias
shen-chu
Shogaol
Sichuan Lovage
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Sicklepod
Sida cordifolia
siler root
Silkmoth
Slippery Elm
Smartweed
Solanaceae
Solanum indicum
Sophora
soursop
Southern Tsangshu
Spanish Needle
Spantholobus
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Sphaeranthus indicus
spruce
squawvine
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stellaria dichotoma
Stemona
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Sumac
Sundew
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
sweet flag
sweetgums
Sword Bean
Szechuan lovage
Tagetes
Tamaricaceae
Tamarind
Tannates
Tayuya
Tea
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Theobromine
Theophylline
Thiosulfinate
Thuja
thyme
Thymol
Thymoquinone
Thymus
Tinospora cordifolia
Trailing Arbutus
Triphala
Triterpenes
Tulbaghia
turmeric
Turtle Head
Umckalin
Umckaloabo
Varuna
Vasicine
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Veronica
Viola
Violet
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin C
Vladimiria souliei
Water Pepper
Waterhyssop
Wax Gourd
White Tea
Winter Savory
Wulinshen
Xanthine
xanthium (cockleburs)
Yerba buena
Yerba santa
Yuzu
zanthoxylum
Zedoary
zhejiang fritillary
Zingerone
Zingiberene
Zucchini