Natural Remedies for Upper Respiratory Discomfort
Respiratory complaints are undoubtedly the most common problem faced by humans. By extension, they can also be deeply disturbing, frustrating, and deeply inconvenient. Specifically, I am referring to mild and chronic dry cough, sore throat, sneezing, and nasal congestion (2). Natural medicines are becoming the first choice, both as monotherapy and as integrated components in pharmaceutical preparations. The recurring and familiar nature of respiratory complaints, such as the common cold, quickly makes it seem like a public nuisance rather than a health threat. However, these infections can sometimes cause death in the elderly and immunocompromised individuals (3).
Children experience an average of 4 to 6 symptomatic colds per year, while adults experience 2 to 3 symptomatic colds per year. Additionally, susceptibility to upper respiratory tract complaints varies from person to person, depending on their immune system and many other factors. It can be said that viruses or bacteria are the main causes of most upper respiratory tract discomfort. Only in rare cases are infections caused by fungi or worms (5). Typical symptoms of upper respiratory tract discomfort include cough, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, headache, low-grade fever and sneezing. In the case of certain infections, such as the common cold, patients may experience coughing and runny nose for up to 14 days even after other symptoms have stopped.
It is worth pointing out that vaccination is not feasible in controlling upper respiratory complaints simply because there are hundreds of these viruses. Ultimately, the only solution is to:
A. The best treatment is to use natural remedies that can relieve symptoms and are very effective for lung health. B. Implement preventive measures and behavioral strategies based on the infectiousness and environmental susceptibility of these infections (6). Therefore, it is recommended to develop the habit of washing hands frequently, exercising regularly, and avoiding dust, smoke, or any form of exposure that compromises indoor/outdoor air quality (6).
Natural medicines are derived from beneficial plants, have been used for a long time and have been evaluated by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as being "effective and well-established". Given their clinical efficacy, these traditional therapies may be chosen or supplemented with traditional therapies, such as antihistamines and decongestants, for upper respiratory tract complaints.
1. Echinacea
Echinacea plants are native to North America. Its roots have attracted scientific attention due to their high bioavailability and immune activity. Nowadays, many clinical studies and randomized trials have been conducted on its biological feasibility. Since most of the research results are very environmentally friendly, Echinacea extract is currently widely used in the United States and Europe to prevent and treat the common cold and to enhance immunity. Notable among these studies is the A-3000 randomized trial involving over 24 participants (7).
These trials showed that echinacea could ward off stray symptoms of the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections (URIs). Although some of these studies have documented specific allergic reactions; however, use of Echinacea has shown no dose-dependent side effects or major drug interaction issues (7). Echinacea is also available in tablet, tincture, capsule, extract, and tea form. It must be said that Echinacea Enhanced Salve is also effective for tropical treatments.
2. Astragalus
Astragalus has important antioxidant properties and supports a healthy barrier for the lungs (8). Astragalus is also a key herb in traditional Chinese medicine (9). It is often blended with other herbs to create recipes that treat a wide range of health problems, from the heart and liver to the kidneys.
To date, Astragalus has dozens, if not hundreds, of proven cures for the common cold. Astragalus acts as a healthy anti-inflammatory, helping to protect respiratory tissues from damage caused by dry air and air pollutants (10). Such asSwisse – Natural Herbal Lung Clearing TabletsSupplements like use astragalus as a comprehensive ingredient along with other vitamins and herbal extracts.
3. Bee Propolis
Propolis, also known as "bee propolis," has natural antimicrobial properties and antibacterial activity that can help relieve mild coughs and soothe sore throats. The substance extracted from the hive consists of a mixture of beeswax, resins, sap, plant compounds and the bees' saliva. Propolis also has immune-boosting and detoxifying properties (11). Its botanical ingredients include up to 10% essential oils and 5% bee pollen along with hundreds of other beneficial natural compounds. Children may often find propolis a good choice for treating throat and mouth infections.
4. Spirulina
Spirulina is a non-toxic species of the bacterium Arthrospira. It is also a type of blue algae and is generally a vegetarian source of protein and vitamin B12. Spirulina has potent antioxidant effects that support lung health (12). A 2015 study on the effects of spirulina on bronchial discomfort confirmed that long-term supplementation with spirulina helped improve the treatment of bronchial discomfort (13). The same study also noted that recovery was faster when the medication and spirulina were taken together (13). This and other related findings explain why a growing number of supplements are using spirulina to relieve symptoms of nasal allergies, such as sneezing and nasal congestion.
Reference sources:
- Campbell, H. Acute respiratory infection: a global challenge. [book auth.] pp. 281-283. 73 (4). sl: Arch Dis Child, (1995),.
- R. Eccles, O. Weber. Common cold. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhauser Verlag,, 2009.
- LC Jennings, TP Anderson, KA Beynon, A. Chua, RT Laing, AM Werno. Incidence and characteristics of viral community-acquired pneumonia in adults. pp. 42-48: Thorax, (2008), . 63.
- GM Allan, B. Arroll. Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence. pp. 190-199: CMAJ, , 2014. 186 (3).
- Heymann, David. Control of communicable diseases manual: an official report of the American Public Health Association. the American Public Health Association. : APHA Press, 2015. ISBN 9780875530185..
- Carter, JM Hand washing decreases the risk of colds and flu. p. A11: J Natl Med Asso, 2002. c, 94 (2).
- M. Karsch-Volk, B. Barrett, D. Kiefer, R. Bauer, K. Ardjomand-Woelkart, K. Linde. Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. p. CD000530: Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2014. 2.
- herbs, Sinclair S. Chinese. A clinical review of Astragalus, Ligusticum, and Schizandrae. sl : Altern Med Rev, 1998. 338-44..
- Upton, R. Astragalus Root: analytical, quality control, and therapeutic monograph. Santa Cruz, CA: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, , 1999. pp. 1-25.
- D. McKenna, K. Hughes, K. Jones. Astragalus. Altern Ther Health Med, : 8 (6), 2002. pp. 34-40.
- KATIE WELLS. Bee Propolis Benefits to Fight Everything From Colds to Cancer. wellnessmama. [Online] 05 04, 2018. [Cited: 06 28, 2020.] https://wellnessmama.com/366380/propolis/.
- Examine. [Online] https://examine.com/supplements/spirulina/.
- RU Labhe, UV Mani, UM Iyer, M. Mishra, K. Jani &A. Bhattacharya. The Effect of Spirulina in the Treatment of Bronchial Asthma. Journal of Nutraceuticals, Functional & Medical Foods . [Online] 07 06, 2015. [Cited: 06 28, 2020.] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J133v03n04_06#:~:text=Significant%20improvement%20in%20lung%20function,treating%20mild%20to%20moderate%20asthma..
Author: Michael F.O.
Michael FO is a ravenous health writer with over five years of experience. He has to himself a chain of certification ranging from a university degree in Biochemistry to other professional honors. Th...
