If you wake up one morning, hopeful that you have fought that dreadful cough, only to find yourself coughing up a cupful of phlegm, you may have developed bronchitis – a rather painful infection that makes you feel that someone has tap danced the night away on your chest.

Before we go on to tell you some easy remedies that can help you with acute bronchitis, let us tell you a little more about the infection itself. Armed with this information, you will stand a better chance at fighting it!

What Is Bronchitis And What Causes It?

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the air passages, known as bronchial tubes, in your lungs. Mucus is brought up along with the cough in bronchitis patients. It is most often caused by the same virus that causes cold and cough, and is called Viral Bronchitis. However, it can also be caused by bacteria, which is called as bacterial bronchitis, or even fungus. Bronchitis often follows a common cold when your immune resistance is at a low (1).

If left unattended, bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. Acute bronchitis is a rather common infection afflicting at least one out of 10 persons you meet on your way to work.

If you can relate to the above description, you may be down with bronchitis, and it is time you paid your family doctor a visit. In tandem with a bronchitis antibiotics course to reduce the phlegm, the following remedies are sure to speed up your recovery.

Home Remedies For Bronchitis

Here are a few simple home remedies for bronchitis that you may never have thought could come in handy to treat bronchitis. 

1. Essential Oils For Bronchitis

You Will Need

• 4 drops lavender oil
• 4 drops cinnamon bark oil
• 4 drops thyme oil
• 2-3 teaspoons carrier oil (olive or jojoba oil)

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the oils well and slightly warm them up.

2. Massage this blend on your chest and back for a few minutes.

3. Do not wipe it away.

How Often You Need To Do This

Do this every night before going to bed to heal bronchitis.

Why This Works

Lavender oil is extremely soothing for the mind and body (2). It will help you fall asleep. It also has antifungal and antibacterial properties (3, 4). Cinnamon bark oil contains cinnamon aldehyde, which has impressive antifungal activity against respiratory tract infections (5). Thyme oil is also antibacterial and antifungal in nature (6, 7). All these essential oils together form an effective natural remedy for bronchitis.

2. Herbs To Treat Bronchitis

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons goldenseal root
• 1 1/4 cup of water

What You Have To Do

1. Add the goldenseal to the water and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.

2. Strain and drink this decoction while its warm.

How Often You Need To Do This

Have three to four cups in a day.

Why This Works

Goldenseal is an excellent home remedy for bronchitis. It has been used since centuries to treat inflammation and infection. Its antibacterial abilities are effective against many multi-drug resistant bacteria (8).

3. Herbal Tea For Bronchitis

You Will Need

• 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves powder
• A cup of hot water

What You Have To Do

1. Add all the herbs to the cup of water and mix well.

2. Drink this water.

How Often You Need To Do This

Repeat for a few days to get relief from bronchitis.

Why This Works

We already know the benefits of using cinnamon. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and possesses antioxidants that will reduce the swelling in your bronchial tubes and speed up the healing process (9). Like ginger, clove also contains antioxidants and possesses antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microbes (10).

4. Garlic And Honey For Bronchitis

You Will Need

• A garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon honey

What You Have To Do

1. Finely chop the garlic and add it to honey.

2. Swallow this mixture. Do not chew it.

How Often You Need To Do This

Take this twice a day.

Why This Works

Garlic contains allicin that has antibiotic properties and will set you on the path to quick recovery (11). Honey soothes the air passages, reduces the swelling, and also helps you swallow the mixture (12).

5. Steam For Bronchitis

You Will Need

• A large bowl of boiling water
• A towel

What You Have To Do

1. Cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam from the boiling water.

2. You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil as well.

3. Inhale the steam for 10 to 15 minutes.

How Often You Need To Do This

Repeat this twice a day.

Why This Works

Steam helps to loosen up the mucus in your passages, making it easy for it to be expelled from the body. It also relieves other symptoms of bronchitis like wheezing and difficulty in breathing (13).

6. Turmeric To Treat Bronchitis

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• A glass of milk

What You Have To Do

1. Add the turmeric to the milk and mix well.

2. Bring the milk to a boil and let it cool down a little.

3. Drink while it is still warm.

How Often You Need To Do This

Drink this twice or thrice a day.

Why This Works

The benefits of this versatile South Asian herb are many. Turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities and has been used for treating respiratory system-related problems for hundreds of years now. It detoxifies the body and also relieves the pain that you may be experiencing in your chest (14).

Caution

Do not use this home remedy if you have hyperacidity, stomach ulcers, obstructive jaundice or gallbladder stones.

7. Eucalyptus Oil For Bronchitis

You Will Need

• Eucalyptus oil
• A handkerchief

What You Have To Do

Put a few drops on your handkerchief and sniff it often.

How Often You Need To Do This

Do this every day.

Why This Works

The very fragrance of eucalyptus oil can chase away the most nagging and persistent cold or headache! The oil is said to have germ-fighting capabilities and helps fight the cough by killing germs, be it viruses or bacteria. Breathing in this oil will also help clear your constricted airways (15, 16).

8. Onion Poultice To Treat Bronchitis

You Will Need

• 2 organic onions
• A small clean towel
• Water

What You Have To Do

1. Chop the onions and lightly cook them in some water.

2. Strain the water and place the onions in the center of the towel. Wrap it up to form a poultice.

3. Place this on the chest for 10-12 minutes. Make sure the poultice is not too hot.

How Often You Need To Do This

Apply this twice a day.

Why This Works

Onion is an expectorant, which means that it helps dissolve the phlegm and mucus that has accumulated in the bronchial tubes. It also prevents further accumulation of mucus, thus providing relief from bronchitis naturally (17).

9. Thyme For Bronchitis

You Will Need

• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• A cup of boiling water

What You Have To Do

1. Add the thyme to the boiling water and steep for four to five minutes.

2. Strain and drink while the decoction is warm.

3. You can add a dash of honey for flavor.

How Often You Need To Do This

Drink thyme tea twice or thrice a day.

Why This Works

Apart from being a spice, thyme is also a herb that can be used for treating various problems in the body. It kills the bacteria that is causing the infection and treats bronchitis and its symptoms. It also has antifungal properties (6, 7).

10. Echinacea For Bronchitis

You Will Need

• 2 teaspoons dried echinacea leaves
• A cup of boiling water

What You Have To Do

1. To the boiling water, add the echinacea leaves and let it steep for 10 minutes.

2. Strain out the leaves and drink this herbal tea.

How Often You Need To Do This

Drink two to three cups in a day for a few days.

Why This Works

This herb strengthens the immune response against respiratory tract infection. The saponins present help to loosen phlegm, and its mucilage soothes the inflamed air passages (18).

11. Mullein For Bronchitis Treatment

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons dried mullein flowers
• A cup of boiling water
• 1 teaspoon honey (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Steep the mullein in the water for 10-15 minutes.

2. Strain the decoction and add honey. Drink while the tea it still warm.

How Often You Need To Do This

Drink two to three cups in a day for a few days.

Why This Works

Mullein is a commonly used herb for respiratory problems. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it a good bronchitis treatment (19).