Self-Care Treatment
Natural cures for acute and/or chronic cough and bronchitis all start with focusing attention to your overall health. What your body requires most when trying to fight off any infection is plenty of rest and water, along with proper food choices. The most important thing you can do to limit the course of cough and/or bronchitis is to limit the amount of phlegm/mucus producing foods and drinks that enter your diet. These foods include dairy products (an absolute no-no in both upper respiratory tract and sinus congestion), sugary foods including fruit juices (immunosuppressive, virus activating and mucus forming--all bad things when trying to clear infection) and processed foods of all kinds. Any kind of smoke exposure, of course, damages lung tissue and irritates the mucous membranes, and must be avoided.

It is important not to suppress the cough independent of taking herbs to help fight the infection, as this can cause further infection by excessively drying out the mucous membranes. Thus, cough suppressants are generally only recommended, in severe cases, at night to help you rest if the cough is interfering with sleep—a good night’s sleep can be more medicinal than any herbal supplement. However, OTC suppressants should only be taken as a last resort.

Medical Treatment
Antibiotics are not usually appropriate for the treatment of bronchitis as only occasionally is bacterial infection the culprit. However, if your doctor suspects a bacterial infection, or if you are at high risk for developing complications (such as those people with a lung disease or asthma) antibiotics may be recommended as a precautionary measure. Remember, that as antibiotics rob your system of ‘good’ bacteria – it is important to take probiotics, such as live culture yogurt, after a course of antibiotics. Make sure to ask your primary care provider why antibiotics are being prescribed, and what evidence there is for bacterial infection? Was a sputum sample taken? Get curious with your doctor—it helps both of you to become more clear.