The Medicinal Herb Info site was created to help educate visitors about the often forgotten wisdom of the old ways of treating illnesses. Many of today's drugs and medicines were originally derived from natural ingredients, combinations of plants and other items found in nature.

We are not suggesting that you ignore the help of trained medical professionals, simply that you have additional options available for treating illnesses. Often the most effective treatment involves a responsible blend of both modern and traditional treatments.

We wish you peace and health!

Bronchitis

(Chest Congestion)


Contents:

Definition | Causes | Symptoms | Nutrients
Herbs | Recommendations | Bibliography

Definition

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes (Catarrh is the old term).
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Causes

Infectious agents such as viruses, esp. influenza virus, or pyogenic organisms such as various species of Streptococcus, Pneumococcus, Staphylococcus, and Hemophilus. Infection often is preceded by the common cold, and often leads to pneumonia (inflammation of the lung). Predisposing factors for bronchitis: chilling, fatigue, and malnutrition. Acute bronchial irritation may also be caused by various physical and chemical agents such as dust and fumes. Allergic factors may be of importance.
Exercising in cold air, one should wear a mask to warm the air inhaled.
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Symptoms

Incessant coughing due to the irritation present, a build-up of mucus, fever, back and chest pain, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. Chronic bronchitis results from frequent irritation of the lungs, but is not an infection. Allergies may be responsible for chronic bronchitis. If the chronic bronchitis goes untreated, the space in the lungs available for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide diminishes, the heart has to work harder to keep an adequate volume of blood. This can lead to heart disease.
If caused by bacteria, antibiotics should be prescribed. Cough suppressants should not be used in the treatment. A chest X-ray should be taken to rule out lung cancer.
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Nutrients

Vitamin C plus bioflavonoids, 3,000-10,000 mg. daily in divided doses.
Beta-carotene, 15,000 IU per day, is needed to protect the lung tissue.
Proteolytic enzymes, taken between meals, helps reduce inflammation.
Vitamin A capsules, 20,000 IU twice daily for 1 month, then 15,000 IU, for healing of tissue and protection of all tissues.
Vitamin E, 400 IU twice daily, needed for healing of tissues and improved breathing.
Chlorophyll tablets, 3 times per day as directed on the label.
Garlic tablets, 2 tablets with meals, is a natural antibiotic that reduces the infection and detoxifies the body.
Multimineral formula plus zinc, 50 mg. per day, needed for healing.
Calcium chelate, 1,000 mg. per day, needed for healing.
Magnesium, 500 mg. per day.
Vitamin B complex, 100 mg. 3 times per day, activates many enzymes needed for healing.
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Herbs
  • Angelica
  • Arnica
  • Balsam fir
  • Bayberry
  • Bearberry
  • Betony
  • Black radish, extract
  • Bloodroot
  • Bryony, white
  • Buttonbush
  • Calamus root
  • Cardamom
  • Catalpa, common
  • Catnip
  • Celery seed
  • Cherry bark (Prunus virginiana)
  • Chickweed
  • Cinnamon
  • Clover, red
  • Collinsonia
  • Coltsfoot
  • Coughwort
  • Cowslip
  • Cubeb
  • Echinacea, tea
  • Elecampane root
  • Ephedra
  • Eucalyptus
  • Euphorbia
  • Fennel
  • Fenugreek
  • Fern, maidenhair
  • Flag, sweet
  • Flaxseed
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Golden seal
  • Gum plant
  • Hickory bark
  • Horehound, white
  • Hyssop
  • Indigo, wild
  • Irish moss
  • Juniper
  • Labrador tea
  • Lemons
  • Licorice
  • Liver leaf
  • Lobelia
  • Lungwort
  • Marshmallow
  • Mugwort
  • Mullein
  • Plantain
  • Pleurisy root
  • Mint (Mentha piperita)
  • Moss, Iceland
  • Mugwort
  • Mullein
  • Myrrh
  • Pau d’arco, tea
  • Pleurisy root
  • Pomegranate
  • Red clover
  • Rue, garden
  • Sandalwood
  • Sarsaparilla, yellow
  • Senega snakeroot
  • Slippery Elm, bark
  • Speedwell
  • St. John’s wort
  • Stillingia
  • Sundew
  • Tamarack
  • Thyme
  • Turnip, Indian
  • Valerian
  • Wahoo
  • Wild cherry bark
  • Yerba santa

The Iceland Moss is good for mucus congestion.
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Recommendations

Add moisture to the air. Drink plenty of fluids.
For those with chronic bronchitis, cigarette smoke, even as a passive smoker, is very harmful.
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Bibliography

Buy It! Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss; Back to Eden Publishing Co., Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994

Buy It! The Herb Book, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.

Buy It! The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993

Buy It! Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000

Buy It! The Old Herb Doctor, by Joseph E. Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1984, sixth printing 1994.

Buy It! Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. WI 53181., Copyright 1988, published 1992

Buy It! Earl Mindell’s Herb Bible, by Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., Simon & Schuster/Fireside, Rockefeller Center 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

Buy It! Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973

Buy It! Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., Avery Publishing Group, Inc., Garden City Park, NY

Buy It! The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; Keats Publishing, Inc., 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. Vogel, Teufen (AR) Switzerland 1952, 1991

Buy It! The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.

Buy It!The Magic of Herbs, by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England. (Out of print)

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