Bronchitis

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods - especially investigate dairy products, corn, and wheat)
• Drink warming fluids
• *Eat lots of garlic and onions and, if, on the cool side, ginger and cayenne
• *Decrease sugar intake as well as starches and carbohydrates

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• Vitamin A: 25,000 I.U. BID
• Beta-Carotene: 200,000 I.U.
• Vitamin C: 2 gm. QID
• Vitamin E: 400 I.U. BID
• Zinc: 30 mg. BID
• Copper: 2 - 4 mg.
• Selenium: 200 - 300 mcg.

Supplements: (references)

• N-Acetyl Cysteine: 1 gm. BID
• Quercetin: 500 mg. TID (between meals)
• Lung Glandular: 1 tablet TID
• Bromelain: 150-500 mg. TID (between meals)

Botanicals: (references)

• Tincture - *Usnea spp., *Glycyrrhiza glabra, *Echinacea angustifolia, *Lomatium disectum, *Asclepias tuberosa, *Sanguinaria canadensia, *Capsicum frutescens: 1/4 tsp QID

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Allium sativum (Garlic)
  Althea officinalis (Marshmallow)
  Armoracia rusticana (Horseradish)
  Asclepias tuberosa (Pleurisy root)
  Bupleurum chinense (Thoroughwax)
  Capsicum frutescens (Cayenne, Red pepper)
  Chelidonium majus (Greater celandine)
  Echinacea angustifolia (Purple cone flower)
  Ephedra sinica (Ma huang)
  Eriodictyon californicum (Yerba santa)
  Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)
  Grindelia camporum (Gumweed)
  Hyssopus officinalis (Hyssop)
  Inula helenium (Elecampane)
  Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco, Puke weed)
  Lomatium disectum (Desert parsley)
  Marrubium vulgare (Horehound)
  Nepeta cataria (Catnip)
  Petasites hybridus (Butterbur, Bladderdock, Bog Rhubarb)
  Pimpinella anisum (Anise)
  Polygonum multiflorum (Fo-ti, He-shou-wu)
  Sanguinaria canadensia (Blood root)
  Sticta pulmonaria (Lungwort)
  Stillingia sylvatica (Queen's root, Queen's delight)
  Symphytum officinale (Comfrey)
  Thuja plicata (Western cedar)
  Thymus vulgaris (Thyme)
  Trifollium pratense (Red clover)
  Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek)
  Trillium erectum (Beth root)
  Tussilago farfara (Colt's foot)
  Usnea spp. (Old man's beard)
  Verbascum thapsus (Mullein)
  Verbena officinalis (Vervain)
  Zingiber officinale (Ginger)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• General bronchitis:
  
  acet-ac, acon, AESC, all-c, alum, alumn, am-c, am-i, am-m, am-p, ant-a, ant-c, ANT-T, apis, arn, ARS, ars-i, asc-t, aur-m, bar-c, BAR-M, bell, benz-ac, blatta, brom, BRY, cact, calc, calc-f, camph, cann-s, carb-s, carb-v, card-m, caust, cham, chel, chin, chlol, chlor, cina, DROS, dulc, euphr, ferr-i, FERR-P, gels, grin,k guai,k HEP, hippoz, hyos, iod, IP, kali-ar, kali-bi, kali-c, kali-chl, kali-p, kreos, lach, lob, LYC, mang, merc, merc-sul, nat-a, nat-m, NAT-S, nit-ac, nux-v, ph-ac, PHOS, piloc, plb, psor, PULS, rhus-t, rumx, SANG, sang-n, SENEC, seneg, sep, SIL, SPONG, squil, STANN, stict, sul-ac, sulph, ter, thuj, TUB, verat, verb, zinc
• Bronchitis in children:
  
  am-c, ant-t, dulc, ferr-p, IP, KALI-C, nat-a, phos, sil
• Bronchitis in the elderly:
  
  all-c, am-c, ammc, ant-c, ANT-T, ars, bac, camph, carb-v, dros, HIPPOZ, hydr, kali-c, kreos, lyc, PHOS, nux-v, seneg, sil

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)

Other Therapies: (references)

• *Anti-infection IV therapy: every 2 days until bronchitis clears
• *Heating compress to the chest: daily
• *Constitutional hydrotherapy
• *Steam inhalation with vapor balm or eucalyptus oil
• *Heating pad or hot water bottle on chest and back for 30 minutes
• *Mustard plaster - 1 part mustard powder, 3 parts flour, mixed with olive oil or water to make a paste. Put on diaper; fold; put on chest for 5 - 20 minutes

Recommended Labs:

• Check for bronchitis: Pulmonary Function, Sputum Culture
• Rule out allergies: IgG Food Allergy Antibody, IgG and IgE Inhalent Allergy Antibody
• Rule out coronary artery disease: ECG, Exercise Stress
• Rule out lung cancer: Chest X-Ray
• Rule out tuberculosis: PPD Skin, QuantiFERON-TB

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).