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Bronchitis is a swelling of the mucous membranes in the bronchial
tree deep within the lung passages.
Bronchitis can be acute
or chronic. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viral or bacterial
infection. It may also be caused by irritation from environmental
fumes, acids, solvents, or tobacco smoke. A dry, nonproductive cough
is often the first symptom of bronchitis. Within a few hours or
days, coughing caused by bronchitis will start to produce noticeable
amounts of mucus. If a bronchitis cough and/or fever persist for
seven or more days, a doctor should be consulted for
treatment.
Nutritional supplements that may be
helpful in treating bronchitis
In a study of elderly
patients with acute bronchitis, 200 mg of vitamin C was
administered every day for 2 weeks. Results of the study showed that
vitamin C can help to improve symptoms of bronchitis. Other clinical
studies also indicated that supplementation with vitamin C may lower
the severity and length of the common cold, which can lead to
bronchitis.
N-acetyl
cysteine (NAC) reviewed and tested in nearly 40 clinical trials,
was found to be a safe supplement to use in connection with chronic
bronchitis. Taking 400 – 600 mg per day of NAC lowered the number of
irritations of the illness in close to 50% of study participants,
compared a 31% improvement in symptom by those received only a
placebo.
Herbs that may be helpful for treating
bronchitis
There are many variety of herbs used in
connection with bronchitis. Herbs can relieve the underlying
infection, swelling, or other symptoms such as cough. Herbs used in
connection with bronchitis include:
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