Homeopathy
Attack the hack. For a dry, hacking cough, Aconitum is among the best homeopathic medicines, according to homeopath Dana Ullman. Others that work well include Antimonium tartaricum, Bryonia, Drosera, Phosphorus, and Spongia. Which of these medicines a homeopath prescribes depends on your unique symptoms.
Chinese Medicine
Silence the Wind. Chinese medicine views bronchitis as an invasion of Wind, according to Efrem Korngold, O.M.D., L.Ac. Sometimes the condition is brought on by Wind Cold, which produces a dry cough and whitish mucus. For this type of bronchitis, Dr. Korngold might prescribe ginger. Then there's Wind Heat bronchitis, which is characterized by a thick yellow-green mucus. This type responds well to prescription herbal formulas containing fritillaria bulb and tricosanthis fruit, he says.
Consult an acupuncturist. The United Nations World Health Organization includes bronchitis in its list of conditions treatable with acupuncture. When treating bronchitis, acupuncturists use Lung 5, which is located inside your elbow, on the upper part of the crease. They also use Lung 6, which is high on the thickest part of the forearm. You can try stimulating these points yourself with acupressure. Using your fingertips, apply steady, penetrating pressure to each point for 3 minutes.
Home Remedies
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluidssix to eight 8-ounce glasses a day, Dr. Pizzorno advises. Fluids help liquefy bronchial secretions, making them easier to cough up. Most people with bronchitis find warm fluids more soothing than cold.
If it's dry, humidify. Dry air is irritating and can trigger coughing fits. "At night, run a vaporizer while you sleep," Dr. Simons suggests. During the day, take hot, steamy showers.
Suck on candy. Hard candies help soothe your throat, which in turn helps relieve bronchial irritation, Dr. Brauer says. Use sugarless candies to avoid tooth decay.
Protect your airways. Avoid cigarette smoke, dust, chemical vapors, and other respiratory irritants, Dr. Brauer says.
Over-The-Counter Drugs
Choose a cough medicine. For a dry cough, try an over-the-counter cough suppressant that contains dextromethorphan, Dr. Simons suggests. Both Triaminic DM and Dimetapp DM have dextromethorphan as their active ingredient. But don't use these products if you're bringing up mucus. In that case, you should use an expectorant made with guaifenesin, such as Congestac.
Other Good Choices
Visualization
Breathe in, breathe out. Coughing that you're unable to control makes you anxious. This leads to shallow breathing, which in turn triggers even more coughing.
The following visualization exercise, recommended by Gerald N. Epstein, M.D., director of the Academy of Integrative Medicine and Mental Imagery in New York City, relieves anxiety and restores normal breathing. Practice it for a minute or two every few hours.
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