Looking for natural remedies for COPD? We’re about to share some of the best home remedies with you. But first.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a condition characterized by the obstruction of the airway passages. It is also known as COPD in short. Smoking is the main risk factor that can lead to COPD. COPD can also be triggered when working or living in heavily polluted environments. Before we get into the home remedies for COPD, here are the most common causes of COPD.
In This Article You Will Find:
What is COPD?
It’s a chronic condition. This means COPD continues to develop in time. The first step to treat COPD is to avoid the risk factors. Statistics show that over 80% of COPD patients are smokers, used to smoke, or are passive smokers. The first step in treating COPD is to give up smoking. Here you find a natural remedy that helps you quit smoking.
The Most Common COPD Symptoms
- Difficulty breathing
- Frequent wet coughing (that triggers infections)
- Reduced resistance to physical activity
- The sensation of not being able to breathe/suffocation
- Blue skin coloration
- Increased sensitivity to air pollutants
- Anxiety & depression
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weight loss
8 Effective Home Remedies for COPD
The remedies for COPD we are about to share with you work on 3 different levels, namely:
- regulate the immune system
- soothe negative emotional states triggered by the difficulty in breathing
- have bronchi dilating effect
1. Pansy Extract, a Remedy for COPD
Pansy (Viola tricolor) extract has a very powerful anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant role, being one of the most effective plants for regulating the immune response. It is one of the best home remedies for COPD.
- You can take 3 to 6 pansy extract capsules a day for 60 days, then pause for 15 days and resume.
Pansy is a very popular home remedy for bronchitis. It is due to its ability to decongest the airways, soothe a cough, and combat relapse in COPD. Pansy extract is also used to treat asthma because it can reduce the intensity of allergic reactions and has an antispastic effect, this is why is one of the top remedies for COPD.
2. Astragalus Remedy for COPD
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is an amazing treatment for bronchopulmonary diseases, obstructive or not. Astragalus is also a powerful natural immune-boosting plant and it is great for allergies too.
- Take 400-600 mg/day of dry Astragalus extract for 30 days.
This treatment is especially recommended when the cold season starts and in mid-spring when temperature variations and pollen can mess up the immune system. Astragalus is one of the best remedies for COPD.
3. Frankincense Remedy for COPD
Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) oil and extract are great home remedies for COPD and for very many infectious respiratory conditions and allergies. It is known as one of the best natural expectorants there is.
- Take 2 drops of Frankincense oil 2-4 times a day in 2-3 month-long cures.
Pause for 15 days and then resume. You can also use incense oil externally in your oil diffuser, for an extra boost.
4. Home Remedy for COPD with Griffonia
Griffonia (Griffonia simplicifolia) seeds have an amazingly calming effect. This is why this remedy for COPD is very useful to patients who experience more severe symptoms under stress and anxiety.
- Take 200-400 mg of Griffonia extract a day, usually at night.
This cure will help reduce stress and prevent panic attacks in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, or emphysema. This is one of the most effective remedies for COPD.
5. A Powerful Herbal Mix Remedy for COPD
These herbs are wonderful remedies for COPD. When combined, they are even more powerful. So, make a herbal mix with:
- dried heartsease (Viola tricolor)
- ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
- coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
- hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
- white horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
- wild oregano (Origanum vulgare)
- motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
- yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
- sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
- sage (Salvia officinale)
- chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
- lavender (Lavandula)
Drink 1 L of the following herbal tea in small sips throughout the day. Add 1 tsp of this herbal mixture into a cup of hot water. Turn the heat off immediately, cover the pot with a lid, and leave it for 10 minutes. Drink the tea unsweetened. This is one of the best herbal remedies for COPD.
3 Powerful Essential Oil Remedies for COPD
Use only organic essential oils that have no other additives or chemical compounds in them. Eucalyptus oil has powerful bronchi dilating effects, and expectorant effects, and is amazing for cough. Take 3-5 drops mixed with a tsp of honey, 2-4 times per day. Peppermint oil is an amazing remedy for patients with COPD that have a hard time sleeping. Pour 20 drops of peppermint oil to a bowl of water and put the bowl on your bedside table. If you feel a suffocation episode is about to start adding a few mint oil drops on a handkerchief and breath in the vapors. This may help you. Peppermint oil is one of the most powerful remedies for COPD.
Read Also: Natural Treatment for Lung Conditions
Wild oregano oil (Origanum vulgare) is one of the most powerful antibiotics, together with thyme and clove oils. The active substances in wild oregano oil attack the membrane of bacteria, suffocating, and killing them, and this makes it one of the best remedies for COPD. Mix 1-3 wild oregano oil drops in 1 tsp of honey and take it 3 times a day. Take one on an empty stomach, then the other two after meals. Continue the treatment until you’re fully recovered.
3 Effective Breathing Exercises for COPD
In addition to the home remedies for COPD, breathing exercises should be your focus. Becoming aware of your breathing is one of the most important steps in reducing the symptoms related to COPD. Once you become aware of it, you can then control it. The state of awareness that you ultimately get, will also help you get in touch with your emotions. Emotions are strongly related to the rhythm and amplitude of the breathing process. These exercises are actually powerful remedies for COPD, so here is how to make them at home.
The First Breathing Exercise for COPD
Lay down face up on the bed and place one hand on your thorax and the other on the abdomen. Breath in slowly and deeply. You know you’ve inhaled deeply when your abdomen expands. Become aware of how the air flows in you and exhale normally. Perform the exercise for 5 minutes at first. Then, once the breathing becomes more profound, increase the time to 10 minutes.
The Second Breathing Exercise for COPD
Once you’ve mastered the first exercise for deep breathing, continue with the second exercise. Inhale and hold your breath in for a few seconds, without putting any force into it. Exhale and relax completely. Use suggestions like “My breathing is flowing calmly, I am relaxed.” Repeat the positive suggestion with each exhale. This will help you amplify that inner peace of mind and enhance personal control. Repeat this exercise daily for weeks or months. Continue until you see the positive correlation between breathing and a state of calm.
Read Also: Natural Lung Cleansing Treatment
The Third Breathing Exercise for COPD
Continue with the third breathing exercise for COPD after you’ve mastered the first two. Breath in deeply while counting in your mind. Breath out over twice as long a period of time. For example, if you’ve counted to 5 while inhaling, count to 10 before completely exhaling. The most important thing while doing this exercise is to not force breathing. Be patient and allow the exhale to naturally become longer. The only thing you need to do is to monitor its length. Being able to control when we exhale is indeed the most important skill for coping with COPD. The reason is that the sensation of choking is triggered by not being able to exhale the air from the lungs.
What Is The Best Diet for COPD?
In addition to the remedies for COPD above, diet plays a great role in the healing process. Studies show that a preponderantly vegetarian diet is the best one for respiratory conditions like COPD.
The best diet for COPD, as recommended by doctors, is a diet low in carbon dioxide producing foods.
The foundation of your diet for COPD should be healthy plant fats and complete carbs. Avoid animal proteins as much as possible.
Foods That Are Good for COPD
Carrots and tomatoes – Both these vegetables have high pigmentation levels. They contain powerful anti-allergic and decongestant effects for the airways. Patients with chronic bronchitis and asthma should consume loads of carrots and tomatoes. Fresh herbs such as parsley, lovage, celery, dill, and tarragon are actually amazing remedies for COPD.
Horseradish – Eat grated horseradish with honey, garlic, and onion. This is especially beneficial when you’re having a full-blown asthma attack. Boil the onions (3-4 pieces) as you would make onion tea.
Vitamin E Foods – This vitamin helps reduce lung obstructions and allergies. Sea buckthorn and sea buckthorn oil, cold-pressed corn, olive, and palm oils contain high quantities of Vitamin E. These foods are amongst the best natural remedies for COPD.
Vitamin C Foods – A Cambridge University study revealed that asthma incidents are more frequent in patients that have a low intake of Vitamin C. You can find it in rosehip berries, red cabbage, peppers, apples, and wild berries. Vitamin C is one of the most amazing remedies for COPD.
Ramsons – This wild plant is loaded in magnesium, a great aid in asthma and it has essential oils with expectorant properties. Use ramsons to make fresh salads.
Pineapple – Bromelain, an enzyme contained in ripe pineapple is a great natural medicine for healthy lungs.
Raisins – They make great snacks against respiratory infections with expectorant properties. Add 20 raisins to a glass of cold water. Soak them for 6 hours. Drink the water and eat all the raisins. Do this in the morning and in the evening.
Pomegranate – Make a powerful expectorant drink by boiling ½ tsp finely chopped pomegranate peel in a cup of water. Add 4-5 raisins too.
Omega 3 Foods – These acids are found in fish oil and you can find Omega 3 capsules in most herbal shops. Follow a 4-6 weeks long cure with Omega 3. Avoid taking synthetic aspirin. The fatty acids interact with it and may cause digestive discomfort. Omega 3 supplements are some of the most powerful natural remedies for COPD.
Foods That Are Bad for COPD
It’s not just what you eat, but also how much. Excess eating is known to aggravate the first stages of COPD. The record is held by the USA. The USA is the world champion for asthma and respiratory conditions patients. This country also has the largest population of obese people.
- Meat – Meat products elevate the arachidonic acids in the body. Pork, beef, lamb, and game especially do this. And this is a very dangerous substance. A German study of over 548 kids with asthma found a positive correlation between the intensity and the frequency of asthma attacks and a protein-rich diet. The antidote is a preponderantly vegetarian diet. Include in your diet these two simple remedies for COPD: fish oil and common evening primrose
oil (Oenothera biennis). - Sugar – Sugar consumption can increase our chance to develop a respiratory condition. Kids are especially prone to it. Avoid processed sugar as well as all the other artificial sugar replacements, mostly saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame k, and maltitol. Fruit is the best natural source of sugar.
- Food Additives – Flavor enhancements (monosodium glutamate), leavening agents, and food preservatives have been correlated with the boom in respiratory conditions over recent decades. They weaken the immune system, making the body prone to any condition.
- Coffee
- Alcohol
The Best Home Remedy for COPD is Fresh Air
Chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma are profoundly linked to the quality of the air we’re breathing. Your main concern should be to avoid air pollutants as much as possible. In addition to a clean diet and the remedies for COPD, here are the things you should consider.
1. Industrial Pollutants
Living in a big and crowded city leaves you with very few options. Here is what you can do.
- Spend a few hours in the nearby park, along the course of a river, or in a forest.
- Plan weekends in the countryside whenever possible.
- Change your car’s air conditioning filters often.
- Vent your rooms every night, between 22:00 to 7 in the morning (when traffic is low and the air is much cleaner).
2. Home Pollutants Trigger COPD
We dwell more pollutants in our homes than we can imagine. Perfume is one of them, very irritant for the airways. Cleaning and makeup products, as well as personal hygiene products, all contain perfumes. Nowadays you can even find it in toilet paper. If you suffer from COPD:
- Eliminate all artificial perfumes in your home.
- Use ecological detergents and cleaning products that have no scent.
- Give up chemical home fresheners.
3. Microbiological Pollutants
Microbiological pollutants are the most dangerous for COPD. They are viruses, germs, and bacteria that lurk in closed and overcrowded places. The solution is to avoid public spaces during seasonal epidemics. Use a medical face mask in which you add a few essential oil drops, if necessary.
4. Smoking
You need to quit smoking if you suffer from COPD. Avoid passive smoking too. Electronic cigarettes may look like a better option. They are but synthetic chemicals that you really should avoid. Quit smoking made simple: take 1 gram of royal jelly (20-25% concentration) every day for 30 to 90 days, in the morning and in the evening. This is an aid to help you forget about smoking. Or read our article herbal remedy to quit smoking naturally.
What COPD Wants to Teach Us
With each inhale, we soak in all that life has to offer. Life responds to you. What you put out is what you get back. What is that you exhale into the world? Accept life as it is, make peace with your past, and trust that everything happens for a good reason. When you accept yourself and your life the way it is right now, you’ll experience less trouble breathing and you begin healing. Remember that you are the creators of your own lives, this is a tremendous power. Use it for you and not against you. Stay positive and believe in yourself!
Read Also: 7 Health Uses of Lungwort with Natural Remedies
Regular physical exercise in the open fresh air will help you boost your immune system and elevate your spirit. We hope that the home remedies for COPD you found here will help you. Let us know what remedies for COPD worked for you, in the comments below. Stay healthy, naturally!
