Introduction
This breathing disorder is caused by the inflammation of the mucous membrane lining and bronchial tube within the chest. Airway infection is the primary mechanism of airway obstruction. The problem is endemic to cold and damp climates but is also found in other climates. High fever, deep chest cough, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness are the various symptoms for this. Excessive smokers and people with wrong food habits are more prone to this problem.
Natural Remedy for Bronchitis
In the Natural remedy for bronchitis, it is advisable that the patient should fast on orange juice and water till the severe symptoms fall down. The procedure is to take the juice of an orange in a glass of warm water every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. After that, the patient should take up an all-fruit diet for two or three days. In case of chronic bronchitis, the patient should begin with an all- fruit diet for five to seven days, taking each day three meals of fresh juicy fruits. After the all-fruit diet, the patient should follow a well-balanced diet of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. For drinks, unsweetened lemon water or cold or hot plain water may be taken. The patient should keep away from meats, sugar, tea, coffee, condiments, pickles, refined and processed foods, soft-drinks, candies, ice-cream and products made from sugar and white flour.
One of the most successful medications for bronchitis is the use of turmeric powder. A teaspoonful of this powder should be administered with a glass of milk two or three times daily. It acts best when taken on an empty stomach. Another effective cure for bronchitis is a mixture of dried ginger powder, pepper and long pepper taken in the same quantities three times a day. It may be licked with honey or infused with one`s daily tea. 
The powder of these three ingredients has antipyretic qualities and is effective in dealing with fever accomanied by bronchitis. They also tone up the metabolism of the patient.
The onion has been used as a food remedy for centuries in bronchitis. It is said to possess expectorant properties. It liquefies phelgm and prevents its additional formation.
A hot Epsom-salts bath every night or every other night will be extremely helpful during the acute stages of the attack. This bath is prepared by dissolving three table spoons of Epsom-salts to sixty litres of water having a temperature of 100 degree F. The patient should stay immersed in the bath for about twenty minutes. In case of chronic bronchitis, this bath may be taken twice a week. Hot towels wrung out and applied over the upper chest are also helpful. After applying three hot towels in turn for two or three minutes each, one should always finish off with a cold towel. A cold pack should also be applied to the upper chest quite a few times daily in acute conditions. The procedure is to wring out some linen material in cold water, wrap two or three times round the affected part and cover it with some flannel. The pack can remain for about an hour at a time.
Diet : The patient should have one tablespoon of onion juice in the morning. He should also fast during the first two days by having orange juice mixed (with 50 percent water) every two hours for two days. This should also be followed by all fruit diet for another two days. He can also have water mixed with turmeric powder twice a day on empty stomach, also radish juice with water at least twice a day. Boiled concoction of ginger, black pepper and holy basil (Tulsi) should also be taken three times a day. The bronchitis patients should avoid soft drinks, refrigerated food, tea, and coffee, condiments, pickles and flesh foods.
Water Treatments:
A patient should take steam inhalation along with fomentation of upper and middle back. Taking a hot Epsom salt bath at least three times a week can also benefit the patient. However, the body should be immersed for 20 minutes during the bath.
Homeopathy for Bronchitis
Several treatments are there for such kind of disease but the thing is that the medicine should properly match with the symptoms.
Aconite 30: sudden and acute attack of cough from exposure to dry, cold air. The cough is usually dry, painful and comes in short bouts, the person grasping the throat while coughing. The cough is worse during expiration, at night and from tobacco smoke but lessens in open air. There is inexplicable restlessness, anguish and fear and unquenchable thirst for cold water. All these symptoms are very common for using the medicine Aconite 30.
Belladonna 30: Sudden, violent attack of dry cough, which comes in short bouts and causes redness of the face, a sensation of constriction in the throat, the cough is worse when lying down at night. These symptoms require urgent need of the said medicine. The dry cough usually disturbs sleep, it lessens with warm drinks and in a warm room, and there is a dislike for open air also.
Bryonia 30: Dry, and painful cough of gradual onset, in hot weather i.e. summer, the cough and the consequent pains in the throat and the chest are worse from the slightest motion. Therefore the person lies still and holds the chest when coughing, excessive dryness of the mouth and the throat, causing acute thirst and the intestine, causing constipation. These symptoms are usually affirms the consumption of the medicine Bryonia 30.
Drosera 30: The symptoms that confirm the use of medicine Drosera 30 can be mentioned as violent, dry, whooping cough in young persons, bouts of cough follow each other so rapidly that the child gets breathless, turns blue and sweats profusely. Sensation of a feather in the throat that excites cough, the cough is worse from talking, singing, when lying down. These can be said as the other symptoms. At night; the person desires to be in open air.
Hepar sulph 30: Dry, hoarse cough from exposure to dry and cold air, causing suffocation and perspiration, a sensation of splinter in the throat, the person is highly chilly, keeping himself covered with warm clothes, uncovering the body excites an attack of cough, the cough is worse in the morning or from cold foods or drinks. At the time when all these symptoms are prominent in one`s body the patient should take the medicine Hepar sulph 30.
Ipecacuanha 30: when the person is suffering from various problems such as dry cough with wheezing and rattling in the chest and accompanied by nausea and vomiting, a bout of vomiting does not relieve nausea, long bouts of cough render the person breathless and blue in face, cough is worse in cold, dry weather i.e. winter but improves by warmth, and thirstlessness. At that point of time the patient should use Ipecacuanha 30
Kali bich 30: Violent cough in summer with gagging and vomiting, cough brings out tough, tenacious, stringy, yellow mucous, wandering, painful spots in the chest that can be covered by tip of a finger, the cough is worse in the morning, while sitting but is relieved on lying down or by inhaling steam. These symptoms can be mentioned for using the medicine Kali bich 30.
Mercurius sol 30: Cough in warm, damp weather, which is dry at night but brings out greenish yellow mucous during the day; the cough is worse at night, especially when lying on the right side, trembling of the whole body, profuse offensive perspiration and intense thirst for cold water are other symptoms that confirm the choice of Mercurius.
Phosphorus 30: Hard, dry and painful cough that shakes the whole body and brings a sensation of tightness in the chest, a bout of cough is excited by talking, laughing, drinking or lying on the left side, cough becomes less after sleep and from consuming cold drinks, tall, lean, narrow chest and stoop-shouldered person become oversensitive to the environment. After seeing the symptoms anyone should make the choice of Phosphorus 30.
Pulsatilla 30: Cough that is dry and painful at night compelling the person to sit up but brings out thick, bitter, yellowish green mucous in the morning, cough is usually worse when lying on the left side but better in open air and by consuming cold drinks, mild, weeping nature and thirstlessness confirm the choice of Pulsatilla.
Yoga for Bronchitis
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the air passages between the nasal tract and the lungs. It includes the trachea and the windpipe and also the larger air tubes of the lungs that bring in air from the trachea. In bronchitis, the interior linings of the bronchial tubes swell, thereby, reducing their effective diameter. Due to this the amount of air passing through the trachea into the lungs is reduced and so does the quantity of waste gas coming from the lungs. This enhances the production of thicker mucous, which further blocks the air passages.
Bronchitis can be of two types, namely acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis is of short duration and is cured within two weeks while chronic bronchitis persists for much longer duration. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection while chronic bronchitis is a serious lung disease and is mainly caused due to inhaling respiratory tract irritants. Acute bronchitis mainly occurs during winter and is followed by viral infection like `cold` or `flu`. A secondary bacterial infection may also accompany this disease. Chronic bronchitis develops very slowly. Cilia, the hairy outgrowths from the cells that line the respiratory system have slowly become paralyzed and their movement is stopped due to the inhalation of the lung irritants. So, the cilia are no loner able to move the mucus and the airways become clogged.
Yoga can ease most of the breathing problems and bronchitis is one of them. For a person suffering with chronic bronchitis, breathing may become more difficult and the person can feel the tightness in the chest. Due to breathing difficulties less oxygen is inhaled into the body. This may cause the lips and body to turn blue and cause overall tiredness. However, these issues can be solved with regular practice of Yoga. If immediate attention is not given to such breathing troubles, in the advanced stages one will experience chest pains and swollen feet and ankles.
Bronchitis can be treated with medication, but it may reappear if favorable conditions prevail. So the ultimate aim of any bronchial patient is to prevent any sign of infections. The main problem associated with any bronchitis patient is the unavailability of adequate amount of oxygen. A healthy respiratory system is the most crucial step to be obtained in order to curtail the problem of bronchitis.
Yoga is one of the six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy that can be of great help for the sufferers of bronchitis. The continuous practices of asanas bring lightness and an elating feeling in the body and mind and a feeling of oneness of body, mind and soul. A yogi must maintain discipline in diet and lifestyle thus enhancing the effects of the Yoga asanas. There are many asanas that usually prevent the recurrence of bronchitis. Relaxation technique of pranayamas greatly improves the mucociliary clearance. Yoga Asanas like supta virasana, bhujangasana, sirsasana, sarvangasana, viparita dandasana, salabhasana, ustrasana and others can be done to improve lung capacity. Pranayamas can be practiced once the severity of the infection has lessened down. The Yogic exercises for bronchial patients must not be too hard but at the same must ventilate the lungs and increase the oxygen levels in the blood.
Yoga Asanas increases the efficiency of the lungs while retaining its softness. The exchange capacity for gases increases considerably and excess mucus is drained off in a smooth pattern. A pose having forward bends improve blood flow and massage the posterior lobes of the lungs. Poses having backward bend help to remove excess mucus from the bronchial tree. Twisting poses in Yoga squeezes the lateral parts of the lungs thereby improving their function.
Pranayamas, on the other hand, allows more oxygen to enter the lungs through the practice of kumbhaka. The preservation process facilitates deeper infiltration of oxygen, thereby, increasing its chances of being absorbed by the hemoglobin in the blood. Ujjayi pranayama is one of the most effective asanas that is practiced in the initial stages of bronchitis as it causes less strain and then one may proceed towards nadi sodhana and surya bhedana pranayamas for the advanced benefits. The breathing exercises of yoga called pranayama are greatly used in bronchitis for the muscles to relax and stay at comfort level. Deep breathing exercise of yoga helps the muscles to obtain fresh air and relax.
Alternate nostril breathing works wonders for the treatment of bronchitis. Yoga helps to decrease the troubles in the circulatory as well as respiratory system, which helps greatly in stress reduction. This improves the health of the individual as well as increases longevity.
Some of the particular Yoga asanas for bronchitis is as follows -
• The shoulder lifts poses help to provide pumping effect to the shoulders as well as support the lungs for better activity. Providing exercise to the spine as well as the back, it relieves the muscles of the stiffness and fibrosis condition and also increases its flexibility. This asana provides good tone to the muscles of the body.
• The half spine twist is a Yoga pose that strengthens the spine and is highly beneficial for the functioning of the liver and kidneys. The practitioner needs to sit in the lotus position. Then one has to try to turn the head backwards and unfold the legs and take one leg backwards.
• Sukhasana helps the body to relax, thus helping to alleviate the problem of bronchitis. One has to sit in a comfortable position by folding both the legs. The hands have to rest on the knees. This yoga posture is also suitable for meditation. This pose also increases concentration and keeps your mind still.
• Pawana Muktasana is a great pose to ease in bronchitis. This posture helps to keep the digestive system healthy. Any abnormality in the digestive system can also lead to discomfort in breathing and bronchitis. Hence it is essential that constipation is removed from the body to keep it rejuvenated.
Bronchitis can be controlled if Yoga asanas are practiced from the initial stages. The individual greatly benefits from Yoga not only in the concerned ailment, but in the overall health as well. A fit body and mind alleviates most of the problems of respiratory system. However, these should be done with proper attention and training.
DISCLAIMER - The Yoga asanas prescribed above should be strictly performed under the supervision of an experienced Yoga teacher.
Treatment for Bronchitis by Magnetic Therapy
With the appearance of the symptoms of pain and discomfort in the chest, the patient should promptly apply south-pole oil to the chest and apply the magnets to the palms of hands for 15 minutes. In case of children the MEM should be used. If required, two applications may be done one in the morning and the other in the evening about 12 hours apart. Magnetized water should also be taken four times daily, especially in chronic cases.
