Home remedy for bronchitis.

YOU have the stuffy nose and sore throat of a cold. But the viruses that have invaded your body have decided that they'd like to travel and take in a bit more of your respiratory tract. So they journey down the road to the mucous linings of the bronchi, the tubes that shunt air from the windpipe to the lungs.

Now you have acute bronchitis-and the painful, persistent cough that goes with it.
Conventional doctors say that you have no choice but to wait out the 7 to 10 days of a typical case of acute bronchitis, perhaps taking over-the-counter medications to mute your symptoms and make you a bit more comfortable.

But Nedra Downing, D.O., an alternative doctor in Clarkston, Michigan, says that you can shorten an episode of acute bronchitis without drugs. There are home remedies that thin mucus so you can cough it up more easily and that boost the virus-fighting power of your immune system.

NAC: A Mucus Thinner
The nutrient n-acety1cysteine, or NAC, can thin the mucus in your bronchi, making it watery and easy to cough up, which is the main goal in a case of acute bronchitis. Dr. Downing suggests two 600-milligram doses a day, one when you wake up and one before bed, until your symptoms subside. She suggests that you continue taking NAC for several weeks afterward to make sure all of the mucus has cleared.

HOMEOPATHY: Use Antiviral Engystol
The homeopathic remedy Engystol-N, which is manufactured by BHI and available only through your health care practitioner, is a potent virus fighter. "I recommend it to my patients for all sorts of viral problems, from colds and sore throats to viral acute bronchitis," says Dr. Downing. (Acute bronchitis is also occasionally caused by bacteria.) Follow your doctor's dosage advice, continuing until your symptoms are gone. Dr. Downing's usual recommendation is one pill dissolved under the tongue three times a day, or up to six times daily during acute episodes.

ASTRAGALUS: An Exceptional Expectorant
Astragalus is what herbalists call an expectorant, which means that it helps you cough up mucus. Use six to eight drops of astragalus root tincture dissolved in water, or take one 500- to 600-milligram capsule of pure root three times a day, Dr. Downing says.

GRAVITY: A Slanted Approach

Spending time on a slant board, an inclined, cushioned board that you lie on with your feet at the top and your head at the bottom, can help bronchial secretions come up. Set the board at a 30-degree angle and lie on it for 30 to 40 minutes twice a day.
"Use some astragalus, then lie on a slant board, and within 30 to 60 minutes, you should be coughing up large quantities of phlegm," Dr. Downing says. Do this for as long as your symptoms persist.

THYME ESSENTIAL OIL: A Steamy Remedy
Thyme essential oil is also helpful in bringing up bronchial mucus, Dr. Downing says. Pour water up to the fill line of the well of a vaporizer that generates hot (not cool) mist. Add a few drops of the oil and operate the vaporizer while you're in the room.

HYDROTHERAPY: Speed Recovery with Mustard
Covering your chest with a mustard pic aster, made by applying mustard paste to a warm, wet towel, is another good way to thin the mucus in your bronchi, Dr. Downing says. Here are her directions. .Mix teaspoon of dried mustard powder (available at grocery stores) with 3 to 4 tablespoons of white flour.
. Add enough water to make a watery paste.
. Spread the paste on a kitchen towel (not a washcloth) and fold the towel into a rectangle about 3 by 6 inches, covering the paste. Never put the paste directly on your chest; it may burn, cautions Dr. Downing.
. Place the towel right over your breastbone (the bronchi are directly beneath that area).
. Fill a hot-water bottle with hot (but not scalding) water and put it directly over the towel.
. Leave the plaster on for at least an hour, but remove it if it becomes too hot. Repeat every 3 to 4 hours until you feel better.

FOOD: Four Helpful Hints
What you eat and drink during a case of acute bronchitis can work either for you or against you, Dr. Downing says. Here's what she recommends.

. Stay away from milk, since many people find that ingesting milk or other dairy products produces extra mucus. If you're in that category, cut all dairy products out of your diet during a bout of acute bronchitis, she says. You can resume your normal eating habits when you're well.

. Drink plenty of water-eight 8-ounce glasses or more a day-to help thin mucus. . Avoid refined sugar, which weakens the immune system. . Increase your intake of spicy foods such as horseradish, garlic, onions, and hot peppers at the first sign of acute bronchitis. "These spicy foods help break up plugs of mucus in your bronchi so you can cough them out," Dr. Downing says.