Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a respiratory tract infection (viral or bacterial) that causes inflammation of the mucous lining of the bronchial tubes. Acute bronchitis generally is reversible. Chronic bronchitis often referred to as smoker's cough is not usually reversible.

Signs and Symptoms

Acute bronchitis:

• Cough that produces mucus or pus
• Burning sensation in the chest
• Sore throat and fever (with some types)
• Fatigue
• Blue-tinted lips
• Wheezing
• Weight gain

Chronic bronchitis:

• Chronic cough that produces excessive amounts of mucus or pus
• Wheezing shortness of breath
• Present for three consecutive months two years in a row

What Causes It?

Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus but can also be caused by bacteria. Generally acute bronchitis is passed from person to person. The main causes of chronic bronchitis are cigarette smoking and prolonged exposure to air pollution or other irritants such as dust and grain.

Risk Factors

• Cigarette smoking
• Severe pneumonia early in life
• Being a man over age 50

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Your provider will listen to your chest and back look at your throat and may draw blood and take a culture of the secretions from your lungs.

Treatment Options

Treatment Plan

Chronic bronchitis may be irreversible but it is preventable. The best way to avoid bronchial infections is to not smoke and to stay away from air pollutants. Treatments include methods to control your cough and to bring up the secretions in your bronchial tubes. Your health care provider also will monitor you to be sure you are getting enough oxygen into your body.

Drug Therapies

Prescription

• Antibiotics—if the infection is caused by bacteria and not a virus
• Bronchodilators—reduce bronchial spasms
• Corticosteroids—reduce mucus and inflammation
• Cough medicine that contains an expectorant or tracheal suction—helps bring up secretions
• Cough medicine that contains a suppressant—for dry cough and to allow sleep; do not take if you have a bacterial infection
• Oxygen—if you are not breathing in enough oxygen on your own

Over the Counter

• Humidifiers—help loosen secretions
• Drink plenty of water

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapies can be useful in treating chronic bronchitis.

Nutrition

• Eliminate known allergenic foods (for example eggs milk nuts peanuts soy) food coloring preservatives and additives. Reduce intake of mucus-producing foods such as dairy citrus wheat and bananas. Onions and garlic help to thin mucus.
• Vitamin C (1 000 mg three to four times per day) zinc (30 mg per day) and beta-carotene (50 000 to 100 000 IU per day) support the immune system. Some studies suggest that smokers do not use beta-carotene. N-acetyl cysteine (200 mg twice a day between meals) protects lung tissue from damage and helps break up mucus.

Herbs

Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules powders teas) glycerites (glycerine extracts) or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Herbs can be used in combination. Tincture combinations should be taken at 30 drops three to four times per day. Make infusions with 1 heaping tsp. of herbal combination steep covered for 10 minutes and drink 3 to 4 cups per day. Substitute grindelia (Grindelia robusta) for licorice root if you have high blood pressure.

• Acute bronchitis: Thyme leaf (Thymus vulgaris) licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) coneflower (Echinacea purpura) ginger (Zingiber officinalis) and linden flowers (Tilia cordata). Smokers should substitute Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata) for the linden flowers. White horehound (Marrabium vulgare) is a gentle stimulating expectorant (helps you cough up mucus) that relaxes spasms of the bronchi airway (passages in the lungs). Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) helps you cough up mucus and relaxes spasms.
• Chronic bronchitis: Pleurisy root (Asclepias tuberosa) Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata) elecampane (Inula helenium) licorice root lungwort (Sticta pulmonaria) and lomatium (Lomatium dissectum). Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is an herb that helps to sweat out impurities and relax spasms. Pill bearing spurge (Euphorbia hirta) isan herb that breaks up mucus and relaxes spasms.
• Garlic (Allium sativum) and ginger tea can be used long-term (2 cloves of garlic and 2 to 3 slices of ginger root). Simmer in 1 cup of water for 15 minutes. Drink 3 to 4 cups per day. Add honey or lemon to flavor.

Homeopathy

Some of the most common remedies used for bronchitis are listed below. Usually the dose is 12X to 30C every one to four hours until your symptoms get better.

• Antimonium tart for rattling cough with dizziness
• Hepar sulphuricum for later stages of bronchitis with wheezing small amounts of phlegm and coughing when you get cold
• Ipecacuanha for first stages of bronchitis with deep wet cough
• Phosphorus for painful cough and if you are thirsty and chilly

Physical Medicine

• Castor oil pack. Apply oil directly to skin cover with a clean soft cloth and plastic wrap. Place a heat source (hot water bottle or heating pad) over the pack and let sit for 30 to 60 minutes.
• Chest rubs with 3 to 6 drops of essential oil in 1 tbsp. of food-grade oil. Thyme eucalyptus and pine oils can ease bronchial spasm and thin mucus.
• Running a humidifier with essential oils such as eucalyptus tea tree or marjoram at night may help thin mucus and ease cough.
• Postural drainage can be of great help in relieving congestion.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture can bring relief to bronchial spasm and enhance immune function. Smoking cessation through acupuncture can be very successful.

Massage

Therapeutic massage can increase circulation and loosen mucus.

Following Up

It can take from one to eight weeks to recover completely. To help prevent getting bronchitis again do not smoke and try to avoid pollutants in the air. Getting an annual flu shot can also help.

Supporting Research

Allan H Goroll MD et al eds. Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia Pa: Lippincott-Raven Publishers; 1995:252–260 285–294.

Bartram T. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Dorset England: Grace Publishers; 1995:72–73.

Bone RC ed. Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. St. Louis Mo: Mosby-Year Book Inc; 1998:G3 1–6.

Cecil RL Plum F Bennett JC eds. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 20th ed. Philadelphia Pa: WB Saunders Company; 1996:382–389.

Kruzel T. The Homeopathic Emergency Guide. Berkeley Calif: North Atlantic Books; 1992:40–43.

Rakel RE ed. Conn's Current Therapy. 50th ed. Philadelphia Pa: WB Saunders Company; 1998:211–212.

Copyright © 2000 Integrative Medicine Communications

The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application use or misuse of any of the information contained herein including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability negligence or otherwise. No warranty expressed or implied is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor pharmacist nurse or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage precautions warnings interactions and contraindications before administering any drug herb or supplement discussed herein.