A health issue in which air tracts inside the lungs becomes enlarged or inflamed, bronchitis, which is medically known as COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is usually the result of an infection caused by an obstruction of the primary respiratory tract between the lungs and windpipe.
In the human body, the bronchial tree is wrapped with tiny hair, called cilia. The cilia’s function is to prevent the development of any obstacle or mucus in the respiratory tract, so that no problems in breathing can occur. However, the cilia can sometimes have difficulty performing its job because of certain factors (allergens, bacteria, viruses, etc.) that cause the formation of mucus that, in turn, leads to intermittent coughing. Coughing is a way in which the body expels the obstacles in the respiratory tract. This is one huge reason why a lot of doctors advise patients not to rely too much on cough suppressants.
There are two types of bronchitis: chronic and acute. Chronic bronchitis is a serious disease of the lung caused by fumes, dust, bacteria, viruses, etc. Its primary symptoms are wheezing, shortness of breath (dyspnea), sputum production, and coughing, oftentimes accompanied by nasal congestion, muscle pain, sore throat, and fatigue. Acute bronchitis, on the other hand, can endure for one to two weeks and is easily treated with OTC (over-the-counter) drugs. Of course, various options are also available for addressing bronchitis with Chinese medicine being one of them.
Bronchitis, according to Chinese medicine, is deemed to be a malfunction or infiltration of the body’s internal organs. The pathogenic infection is termed Wind Cold invasion, accompanied by whitish mucus and dry coughing. For bronchitis, practitioners of Chinese medicine treatment prescribe ginger to combat the infection. Bronchitis generating green-yellowish colored mucus is known as Wind Heat bronchitis. Treatments that can help include herbal formulas constituting tricosanthis fruit and fritillaria extracts. A concoction made up of several potent herbs has been used extensively in China for medicinal goals. But before you take any of these formulas it is important to consult a licensed herbalist first. The following is a list of a few herbs used for treatment of bronchitis:
– Yarrow
– White Peony Root
– Menthol
– Marshmallow
– Ginseng
– Eucalyptus
– Cinnamon Twig
– Basil
– Barberry
In order for the condition to be treated more effectively, other herbs are usually combined along with these herbs to form a formula. It is important that you consult a Chinese herbalist as it might be a bit hard to prepare a mixture by yourself.
In the remedy of bronchitis, acupuncture in Maitland has also proven to be beneficial. The most recent research saw that patients suffering from COPD or obstructive chronic lung diseases have responded very well to acupuncture treatments. Those outcomes have also been confirmed by the UN WHO (United Nations World Health Organization) that has included bronchitis among the list of health conditions that acupuncture can treat. Practitioners stimulate certain acupoints or acupuncture points with needles to address this condition. These points include Lu 5 (Lung 5) found inside the elbow and Lu 6 (Lung 6) found on the forearm.
Apart from these therapeutic options, you can also avail yourself of some home-based remedies to alleviate the condition. Drinking adequate amounts of water can help dilute the mucus, which then can be easily expelled from the body. Also, using a vaporizer while you sleep can humidify the lungs and clear out mucus.
For bronchitis patients who’d rather lessen their dependence on medications, Chinese medicine has emerged as an effective and alternative option. The herbs are not only helpful in addressing several different medical conditions, but they also have no known associated-risks to the body. We hope this article has given you some relevant information about what Chinese medicine can offer patients suffering from the serious disease known as bronchitis.