Natural Home Care for Respiratory Disease
Respiration refers to breathing and respiratory disorders come with many different names and some specific challenges.
Your breathing may be affected by pollution, including smoke of any kind, or by infection. Genetics, infections and prolonged exposure to environmental poisons may cause:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Bronchitis, chronic
- Emphysema
- Bronchitis, acute
- Cystic fibrosis
- Pneumonia
- Lung Cancer
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Tuberculosis
- Pulmonary edema
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Pneumoconiosis
- AIDS
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
- Breathing difficulty (shortness of breath)
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Chronic mucus
- Coughing blood
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
PREVALENCE
According to WHO, 334 million people in the world suffer from asthma, over 10 million people develop tuberculosis and lung cancer kills 1.6 million people annually. Four million people die annually from chronic respiratory disease and pneumonia kills millions annually.
ALLOPATHIC TREATMENT
Some traditional treatments include bronchodilators, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, supplemental oxygen and vaccines.
SELF TREATMENT
Be sure to tell your doctor what your home care plan is and list all supplements you are taking. Supplements and herbs can interfere or interact with prescription medications.
For suggestions on diet, supplements, essential oils, herbs and spices, and alternative medicine options that may help ease symptoms and put you on a healthy path to recovery, please see the post on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
CAUTIONS
Know when to seek immediate medical intervention:
- Severe difficulty breathing
- Severe chest pain
- Blue lips
- High fever, fast heart rate
- Fainting
PREVENTION
- A wholesome, balanced diet
- Adequate hydration
- Avoid pollutants in your environment, including household cleaning products.
- Living where the air is clean
- Low stress levels
- Not smoking or breathing in second-hand smoke
- Quality sleep
- Regular exercise
NOTE: Couch Grass Tea is said to remove phlegm from the throat and upper respiratory tract, which will help heal those with laryngitis.
