What starts as a tickle in the back of your throat ends up in mucus-laden bouts of coughing fits. Bronchitis irritates the throat, as well as inflammation of the bronchial tubes, making breathing feel laborious.
Bacterial and viral infections cause bronchitis, and the symptoms begin to subside after a few days. It’s common for people in the early stages of the disease to develop low fever and a runny nose as the body ramps up T-cell production to fight off the invading cells.
Some cases of bronchitis require medical assistance to remove bacterial infections. Your mucus should appear clear or have a slight yellow tinge. If you notice dark green or brown specks in your mucus, it means you have a bacterial infection that requires treatment with antibiotics.
However, it’s possible to clear up bronchitis using home remedies and rest. Here are eight practical home remedies for you to try.
1. Lemon
During the early stages of infection, it’s vital that you do all you can to boost your immune system and get ahead of the virus before it reaches its peak. Lemons offer tremendous relief from coughing and the additional phlegm produced during the early and advanced stages of bronchitis.
The skin of lemons contains plant polyphenol compounds known as “limonoids.” These plant flavonoids include potent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that increase immune function and help you recover faster from the infection.
It’s important to note that limonoids exist in the skin of the lemon, and far less in the soft, juicy fruit. Your best bet to obtain the limonoids from lemons is to grate the rind of the lemon and add it to hot water. Let the tea steep for 5-minutes to absorb all of the limonoids from the zest. Add a teaspoon of raw honey and drink the tea as hot as you can.