Natural Home Remedies for Pneumonia.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It can occur in one or both of the lungs. It is a severe form of infection and can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. In pneumonia, the lungs are filled with pus and fluid. People of all age groups can contract pneumonia, but children aged four years and below, along with the elderly, are more prone to pneumonia.

If you feel like you might have pneumonia, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately. A severe type of pneumonia may require hospitalisation. You will need diagnostic tests to confirm whether you have pneumonia. Based on the diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe a treatment. However, there are some remedies that you can follow to get relief from the symptoms of pneumonia, but these remedies should be used as supportive therapy and not as a stand-alone treatment. 

What Causes Pneumonia?

Pneumonia can be caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infections. Bacterial pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia. You might develop bacterial pneumonia after you have contracted viral infections like flu or cold. Viral pneumonia is mostly mild and gets corrected on its own after a few weeks. But sometimes, it can be serious enough to require hospitalisation. Fungal pneumonia is often seen in people with a weakened immune system or people with long-term medical conditions. 

The causes of bacterial pneumonia are: 

• Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Chlamydia pneumoniae
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae
• Haemophilus influenzae
• Legionella pneumophila (this kind of pneumonia is also known as Legionnaires’ disease).

The causes of viral pneumonia are: 

• Virus of common cold and flu
• Respiratory syncytial virus
• Severe acute respiratory 

The causes of fungal pneumonia are: 

• Pneumocystis pneumonia
• Histoplasmosis
• Coccidioidomycosis (causes valley fever)
• Cryptococcus

Symptoms of Pneumonia:

Symptoms of pneumonia include: 

• Fever
• Diarrhoea
• Chest pain while breathing
• Vomiting and nausea
• Breathlessness
• Chills
• Cough and phlegm (a slimy substance present deep inside the lungs)

The symptoms of pneumonia may vary from mild to severe in different age groups. Some infants and newborns may not show any signs of infection. While some might show signs of vomiting along with cough and fever. Older people may show milder symptoms along with fever. 

Also Read: Natural Home Remedies For Chest Congestion

Suggested Home Remedies for Pneumonia:

Most people affected by pneumonia will be able to stay at home and undergo treatment. The home remedies mentioned below might help you with the symptoms of pneumonia. 

1. Rest

Getting rest is very important in pneumonia. Taking plenty of rest will help you to recover from pneumonia. Also, as you are taking a rest, you should try to sit up more than lying down. Sitting up will help you to feel better. 

2. Drink Fluids

You can try increasing your fluid intake to help you recover from pneumonia. Drinking plenty of fluids is very important for pneumonia. It will help to prevent dehydration and also help to aid in your recovery. Water plays a huge role in our health. 

You can use the herbs mentioned below to get relief from the symptoms of pneumonia. These herbs will help you to get rid of the cough and help you breathe easy. 

3. Ginger

Ginger is beneficial in many respiratory problems, including cough. Ginger is a widely used natural remedy for cough. There are several ways to use ginger. 

You can crush some fresh ginger, add it to water and bring the water to a boil. This ginger water can be taken several times a day to relieve coughing and chest congestion. Ginger can also be taken in combination with Tulsi leaves. Take crushed leaves of Tulsi, mix them in ginger juice and add honey for the taste. You can swallow this mixture to relieve the cough. 

4. Honey

Honey is an effective cough remedy. Drinking hot milk with honey can help to get rid of dry cough and relieve chest pain that might arise due to constant coughing. Honey is easily accessible, which makes it a viable option. 

5. Jaggery

Jaggery is an effective remedy to relieve cough as well as chest congestion. It can help in expelling the sputum built up in the lungs and providing relief from the feeling of congestion in the entire respiratory tract. To use jaggery, you can boil some jaggery with pepper and add some cumin seeds. Drink this mixture to get relief from symptoms like chest congestion. 

6. Thyme Leaves

Thyme leaves are good for respiratory problems. The essence extracted from the leaves helps to manage cough and bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tube, which carries air to and from the lungs). Thyme leaves also contain flavonoids that have many health benefits. They relax throat muscles and reduce swelling. You can easily prepare thyme tea at home. Thyme tea is prepared by taking crushed leaves and boiling them with water. Let it rest for some time to steep all the essence. Drinking this tea helps to relax the lung muscles and open the airways.

7. Grapes

Grapes can help in releasing the mucus from the affected parts of the respiratory tract. You can eat grapes to get their benefits. Another way of using grapes is making some fresh grape juice. You can drink this grape juice to help clear out the mucus. You can also take this grape juice with honey to enhance its effectiveness.