Chronic breathing problems from bronchitis or emphysema are a very common problem. Symptoms of COPD include coughing, respiratory infections or shortness of breath with or without mucus or wheezing. Cause can be from second hand smoke, chronic smoking or weakness of the respiratory organs.
Medical treatment for COPD includes inhalers, steroids, or anti-inflammatory drugs. All these can have medium to severe risks and don’t get to the cause of lung weakness.
From the natural perspective the first thing to do is avoid smoke or smoking as well as polluted environments. COPD can also be caused from poor diet which causes excess mucus in the body. Eating for your constitution or body type will help reduce mucus, i.e. if you are a cold person you shouldn’t eat all raw food because it only makes you colder.
Herbs for COPD
Herbs are plants valued for their specific strengthening/ tonifying properties.
Herbal therapy for copd as recommended by David Winston, Herbalist is to use
2 parts thyme herb for copd to dry mucus and congestion
2 parts wild cherry bark as an expectorant to remove mucus
1 part licorice to sooth mucus membranes of the respiratory systemThis herbal formula can be used along with medical treatment. It can work fast or slow according to the length of your COPD. Be patient and add other respiratory herbs as needed.
Cell Salts to Help with COPD
To make a cell salt solution, put up to 10 tablets of each cell salt in a 16- to 24-ounce bottle; fill with water and swirl to dissolve tablets. Sip throughout the day.
#3 Calc sulph 6X – difficult breathing evenings, mucus rattling, chronic cough, thick yellow lumpy mucus
#9 Natrum mur 6X – rattling clear thin mucus or white salty mucus, can be blood streaked; from unresolved emotional problems which lead to isolation
#12 Silicea 6X – delicate constitution; shortness of breath; emphysema, rattling in chest; tendency to infections; bashful or shy person
COPD Homeopathic Remedies
Homeopathic remedies are non-toxic natural medicines safe for everyone including infants and pregnant or nursing women. You may use 6X, 30X, 6C or 30C potencies.
Ammonium carb – oppressed breathing, especially when entering a warm room or going up stairs; burning and rattling in chest; coughing up blood.
Antimonium ars – emphysema with loss of breath and coughing; pneumonia; influenza.
Antimonium tart – the classic remedy for rattling in chest and suffocative shortness of breath; emphysema of the elderly.
Hepar sulph – infected pneumonia and fevers; always sensitive to cold air; wheezing; worse in cold damp air.
Lachesis – worse on left side; jealous person; can’t stand anything tight around neck; sense of suffocation; hard to take a deep breath; stops breathing on falling asleep; needs to breath in an upright position.
Source: Dave’s Healing Notes