Honey for Bronchitis
Bronchitis is due to inflammation of the airways in the lungs, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. It occurs in patients of all ages. Acute bronchitis is caused by a virus and causes the buildup of phlegm in the throat, coughing and wheezing, sore throat, fever and exhaustion. Chronic bronchitis, which can develop because of smoking or air pollution, causes ongoing cough and mucus, trouble breathing, blue lips, and swollen legs and feet. Honey is a natural treatment for the cough that occurs with bronchitis. Consult your doctor for more information.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Ease Cough from Phlegm
Viral bronchitis causes a green to yellowish phlegm that often leads to a cough, notes Doernbecher Children’s Hospital 1. Taking one-half to one teaspoon of honey will help soothe a cough that occurs with bronchitis. The honey will make secretions in the throat less thick and help stop the coughing. Spending a few moments in a bathroom filled with steam before or after taking the honey will also help quell the coughing. Do not give honey to children who are less than a year old.
- Viral bronchitis causes a green to yellowish phlegm that often leads to a cough, notes Doernbecher Children’s Hospital 1.
- Taking one-half to one teaspoon of honey will help soothe a cough that occurs with bronchitis.
Stop Sleep Disruptions
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The coughing that occurs with bronchitis is often disruptive to daily activities and sleep patterns. Taking honey orally is a helpful natural treatment to quell the coughing that occurs at night during sleep, notes NYU Langone Medical Center. It soothes the throat and also improves the quality of sleep by stopping the breaks in sleep due to coughing.
Limit Congestion
Drinking honey in warm lemon water alleviates congestion from the throat that can occur with a cough, notes the Mayo Clinic. Taking this treatment orally during a bout of bronchitis will ease throat inflammation and thus will limit the symptoms of bronchitis.
Limit Dehydration
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Taking honey will also help your body to avoid dehydration. The soothing action of the honey for the throat will make it easier for you to consume beverages and food. Calming throat irritation helps your body regain energy lost due to limited food intake during a bout of bronchitis.
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References
- Doernbecher Children’s Hospital of Oregon Health & Science University; Cough; Barton D. Schmitt, M.D.; January 2010
- Kinkade S, Long NA. Acute Bronchitis. Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(7):560-565.
- American Academy of Family Physicians. familydoctor.org. Acute bronchitis
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Bronchitis.
- American Lung Association. Chronic bronchitis
- Cedars-Sinai. Acute Bronchitis in Children
- Earwood JS, Thompson TD. Hemoptysis: evaluation and management. Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(4):243‐249.
- American Academy of Family Physicians. familydoctor.org. Chronic bronchitis
- Benscoter DT. Bronchiectasis, Chronic Suppurative Lung Disease and Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2018. pii: S1538-5442(18)30030-0. doi: 10.1016/j.cppeds.2018.03.003
- Mejza F, Gnatiuc L, Buist AS, et al. Prevalence and burden of chronic bronchitis symptoms: results from the BOLD study. Eur Respir J. 2017;50(5). pii: 1700621. doi: 10.1183/13993003.00621-2017