Javeria Usmani
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We at Hyfe, Inc., are a company devoted to working on tools to better understand the importance of cough. It is Hyfe’s intention in the future to seek regulatory approval for medical products that analyze cough in order that they may be used to diagnose, monitor, and facilitate better treatment of respiratory illnesses.
Are you in search of ways to manage coughing or COPD naturally? You can learn about some of the most beneficial methods below.
A natural cough remedy is a way to heal your cough without using medications. They can help relieve your symptoms without drugs, but, they can take a longer time in comparison with normal medications. You might have heard of certain natural ways to get relief from your COPD symptoms, but not all of them are backed up by science. Let's take a look at some of them that are.
Here are some changes you can make to your diet and environment that can help you improve your COPD and relieve symptoms relating to coughing.
During normal bodily processes or in response to exposure to environmental toxins, such as tobacco smoke, the body produces free radicals. These are highly chemically reactive molecules that can cause cell damage if you have too many.
Compounds or molecules that fight against free radicals are antioxidants. They can be synthetic or naturally occurring and reduce cell damage from free radicals. These compounds help decrease oxidative stress and improve lung function.
A 2012 article reviewing existing research on antioxidant therapy for COPD found that increasing your intake of antioxidants may help manage the condition.
According to an article in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the top ten foods with high antioxidant levels per serving are:
Consumption of various supplements manages and supports COPD. Here are some options:
This research paper Nutritional assessment and therapy in COPD: a European Respiratory Society statement shows the continuous use of vitamin E benefitting COPD.
Essential oils don’t just make your home smell nice – they can be a part of your treatment plan. They can work wonders in aiding regular breathing. They help to reduce mucus and clear the respiratory tract.
Essential oils should never be used neat – they can cause irritation when applied to the skin, burning, inflammation if swallowed, and damage to your kidneys and livers if consumed over a long period of time. The safest way to use essential oils is to diffuse them into the air and breath them in.
Research has shown the following essential oils can help a COPD- or cough-sufferer. Each essential oil name links to an article about its effects:
Natural plant-based treatments are generally a safe option, with fewer side effects than conventional medicine. Some plant-based remedies can act by slowing the progression of COPD and reducing lung inflammation. Taking these remedies can aid in the management of COPD and other issues with coughing.
You must tell your doctor before adding these to your daily routine, in case they interact with any of the other medications you are on.
You must consult your health practitioner or doctor before starting a remedy for the first time.
If you find yourself having any sort of negative reaction after introducing a new element to your diets, such as a rash, dizziness, or increased sweating, immediately stop taking it and contact your primary physician.
While herbal and homemade remedies are generally safe with little or no side effects, they can interact badly with other medication that you take. Red sage (Salvia miltiorrhiza), Chinese licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), and ginseng (Panax ginseng and Angelica sinensis), in particular, are known to interact with many medications.
Warfarin, digoxin, and cephalosporins are drugs that commonly have interactions with herbs and natural remedies. Therefore, you should be especially mindful when taking herbal remedies with them. It is always best to discuss with your healthcare professional before using any remedies.
Possible herbal-medication interaction effects include:
The interaction checker at drugs.com is very useful for checking potential interactions yourself before speaking to your primary care practitioner.
Coughs from COPD tend to be wet – in other words, they are productive, and mucus is brought up from the lungs. This means that natural home remedies for dry coughs (such as honey in warm water or drinking ginger tea) may not work.
If you particularly struggle with coughing at night due to COPD, these additional actions may help:
COPD and Physical Activity: Learn about the importance of staying active for COPD
Natural remedies are generally easy to follow and usually low on budget. You may already have some of them in the house.
However, some people are allergic to certain plants or other chemicals found in natural remedies. Additionally, natural remedies may interact with the medication you are already taking. Therefore, precautions must be taken and you must discuss with your doctors before trying any home remedies out.