Home Remedies for Bronchiolitis in Babies, 7 Natural Remedies For Bronchiolitis in Babies

Home Remedies for Bronchiolitis in Babies

When inflammation occurs in the mucous membrane lining the bronchi and bronchial tube along with breathing disorder affecting the respiratory system indicates that the person is suffering from Bronchitis.
A bronchus (plural bronchi, adjective bronchial) acts as a passage for air in the respiratory system. It connects the lungs with the upper portion of respiratory tract, nose, throat and sinuses.

Passing of air becomes hard and painful for a person suffering from Bronchitis as it reduces the amount of oxygen that can flow into the lung hence causing heavy mucus or phlegm to form in the airway.
It generally occurs viral infection or after a cold like flu. Extra care should be taken because children are sensitive.

Here are some home remedies I have recommended for
children with persistent cough due to bronchitis.

1.Drink Plenty of Liquids

Taking in extra liquids helps keep the sputum more fluid and therefore easier to expel. It doesn't really matter what type of liquid you drink, although tea, soup and other warm liquids may feel better than cold ones. As a bonus, warm fluids may also soothe the irritated throat that may result from all that coughing.

You can also use water for a steam treatment. Fill the sink with hot water, bend down to it, cover your head with a towel and breathe in the steam. Add a few drops of eucalyptus, peppermint or rosemary oil, if you have one of them. These help clear and soothe the respiratory passages.

2.Rose hips

Rose hips have been used throughout northern Europe and Siberia as cough remedies, because they are a source of vitamin C. Rose hips are high in bioflavinoids, which help "loosen mucus." Rose hips are widely available in the United States in many decaffeinated fruit-flavored teas. One of the most well known are the "Zinger" teas from Celestial Seasonings. They have very kid-friendly flavors (Wild Berry Zinger tastes like grape Koolaid, while Lemon Zinger tastes like lemonade). Unlike juice, these teas have no calories, but can be sweeted with sugar or (for older children) with honey. 

3.Gargle with Warm Saltwater

Gargling with saltwater may provide a double dose of relief by soothing the inflammation in the throat and by cutting through some of the mucus that may be coating and irritating the sensitive throat membranes. It only takes one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water; too much salt causes burning in the throat, and too little is ineffective. Gargle as often as needed, but be sure to spit the salty water out after gargling.

4.Cranberry juice

Cranberry juice has been shown to help defend against viral infections by impairing the ability of viruses to adhere to the cell. This effect is in addition to its Vitamin C content, and its well known protective role against urinary tract infections (by decreasing the ability of gram negative bacteria to cling to the bladder wall). An ounce of cranberry juice can be added to rose hips tea or lemonade, or mixed with apple sauce and served with a spoon.

5.Rest, Rest, Rest

Since your bout with bronchitis probably followed on the heels of a cold or the flu, you may find it hard to sit still any longer. But walking around with bronchitis will only make you feel worse and slow your body's ability to fight the infection, so you'll need to take it easy a little longer. Those who won't be exposed to your germs will probably be thankful, too.

6.Green tea

Green tea is packed with the bioflavinoids that improve the antibacterial/antiviral properties of the mucus layer. Many people tell me their child doesn't like tea, but will drink it if an ounce is mixed with lemonade.

7.Honey

The pediatric literature recently reported the results of a controlled study at a hospital in Pennsylvania that showed a teaspoon of buckwheat honey helped calm a cough.1 However, only children older than a year of age can be given honey because of the risk of botulism spores being able to germinate in the GI tracts of younger children.

There was an interesting article in The Scientist about taste receptors and metabolism.2 To the surprise of many, there are receptors in the lungs for both sweet and bitter; sweet induces bronchodilation and bitter induces bronchoconstriction.