| Breathing problems are becoming more | | | | Acupuncture An imbalance in the flow of |
| common as air becomes more polluted. | | | | energy to the lungs can be treated by |
| Many alternative therapies, especially | | | | inserting needles into the Lung meridian |
| herbal medicine and homeopathy, can help | | | | on the arms, or into the meridian of |
| in many of the more common conditions | | | | another organ with a related rhythm. |
| that affect the respiratory system. | | | | Bronchitis/wheezing |
| Coughs | | | | Bronchitis is an inflammation of the |
| Coughing is the body's natural way of | | | | airways that connect the windpipe to the |
| clearing irritation and congestion from | | | | lungs (bronchi). Acute bronchitis lasts |
| the lungs and airways. A dry cough is | | | | up to two weeks and is caused by a |
| reacting to an irritant, a productive | | | | variety of viruses and bacteria. It can |
| cough helps to expel congested phlegm. A | | | | be dangerous in the elderly and those |
| common cold or influenza is usually | | | | with heart disease. Chronic bronchitis |
| accompanied by a cough. But coughs can | | | | is more serious and can last for months, |
| be a sign of other respiratory problems | | | | getting progressively worse. It is |
| (a hoarse cough may indicate laryngitis | | | | usually caused by breathing polluted air |
| in an adult and croup or whooping cough | | | | or smoking. Coal miners and construction |
| in a child), or more serious breathing | | | | workers, for example, are particularly |
| disorders (see Pleurisy, Pneumonia, | | | | susceptible. |
| Tuberculosis, Emphysema, and Asthma). | | | | Symptoms of bronchitis include a |
| Treatment | | | | persistent cough producing phlegm, |
| Herbal Medicine Make infusions of the | | | | breathlessness, chest pains, fever, and |
| following:for most coughs white | | | | headache. |
| horehound is effectivefor a hard cough | | | | Treatment |
| use mulleinfor an irritating cough in | | | | Aromatherapy Take deep inhalations of |
| adults use wild lettuce, and in children | | | | eucalyptus and sweet thyme. |
| wild cherry bark (a mild sedative)for a | | | | Herbal Medicine A cupful of elecampane |
| cough with a fever use yarrow or | | | | infusion, three times daily, can be |
| angelicafor a catarrhal cough use | | | | helpful in clearing mucus and easing a |
| elecampane or elderflower. | | | | bronchial cough. And taking garlic |
| Diet and Nutrition Biochemic tissue | | | | capsules every night in winter and |
| salts, taken in tablet form:for a hard, | | | | herbal teas cold twice daily may help |
| dry cough with fever - Ferrum phos.for a | | | | prevent a recurrence of acute |
| cough with thick, white phlegm - Kali | | | | bronchitis. |
| mur.for a cough with yellow phlegm that | | | | Consult a qualified practitioner |
| is worse at night - Kali sulf.for a | | | | therapist for: |
| spasmodic painful cough - Magnesia | | | | Homeopathy Remedies will be prescribed |
| phos.for a loose, rattling cough with | | | | for the individual case but may include |
| watery phlegm Calcarea, alternating | | | | the following: Aconite 6c for fever, |
| with Ferrum phos. | | | | tight chest, tickly cough, and thirst |
| Aromatherapy Massage chest and back with | | | | might be recommended; Kali bich. 6c when |
| essential oils-eucalyptus, sandalwood, | | | | there is loose white sputum, a rattling |
| frankincense, and myrrh are recommended. | | | | cough, and irritability; Phosphorus 6c |
| Add essential oils to hot water and | | | | for voice loss, burning throat, cough, |
| inhale to help expel phyegm. For a dry, | | | | and thirst; Pulsatilla for dry cough at |
| hard cough, try cypress, hyssop, | | | | night when lying down, lack of thirst, |
| bergamot, or cammomile oil used as steam | | | | and loose green sputum in the morning. |
| inhalations. | | | | Traditional Chinese Medicine This |
| Consult a qualified practitioner | | | | treatment aims to improve lung energy |
| therapist for: | | | | with remedies such as plantain seed, |
| Acupressure Coughing spasms in the upper | | | | balloon flower root, honeysuckle |
| back can be relieved by pressure on the | | | | flowers, or gardenia fruit. |
| point between the shoulder blade and | | | | Read out for Herbal medicines. |
| spine, at heart level. | | | | |