Pneumonia is a lung infection that is caused due to bacteria or a virus. People with a weak immune system are more at risk, especially younger kids. In most cases, it occurs in kids after having a cold. If it is left untreated, it can lead to danger to the health.
Certain home remedies for pneumonia may help ease its symptoms and work effectively in enhancing healing during the recovery period.
In severe cases, pneumonia can be a life-threatening condition, and many people require spending time in the hospital. It can take weeks or months to recover. No doubt, medical treatment is important in pneumonia, but home remedies can help improve comfort levels when you are at home.
The factors that upsurge the risk of pneumonia are exposure to tobacco smoke and pollution, asthma, weak immune system, or other medical conditions. With proper treatment at the right time, you can cure this condition.
Here, you will learn how to treat pneumonia naturally at home.
Symptoms of Pneumonia
The symptoms of pneumonia are similar to the common cold and flu, but these symptoms may vary from one person to another. Some of the common symptoms include fever, breathing problems, cough, and pain in the chest.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you must see the doctor as soon as possible. The antibiotics are given to treat bacterial pneumonia, but they do not work for viral pneumonia.
If anyone in your family gets pneumonia, especially a child, there are several home remedies to treat pneumonia that can help you get over the infection.
Home Remedies For Pneumonia
There are several home remedies that can help in clearing up the symptoms of pneumonia. It is true that holistic treatment options at home cannot treat pneumonia completely, but they can be used to manage the symptoms.
You should continue following your doctor’s medication recommendations along with using these natural remedies to get relief from cough, chest pain, and more. If your symptoms persist for a long time, visit the doctor immediately.
Fenugreek Tea
Though fenugreek is used in spices, it can also be used to treat numerous ailments. This herb has been used as a natural remedy for various health conditions since ancient times. You can drink fenugreek tea to fight pneumonia when the condition is in the early stages.
It is recommended to drink fenugreek tea once a day. It works by causing your body to sweat out the toxins and bacteria related to pneumonia. At the same time, it is advised to refrain from eating so that your body recovers fully. When you start feeling better, reduce the quantity of fenugreek seeds. These seeds are also effective in treating diabetes, heartburn, and inflammatory skin conditions.
Garlic
Garlic is also considered as one of the home remedies to treat various health conditions, including pneumonia. It is a great healing agent that brings a highly effective result in easing the symptoms of various diseases. It can also be used to soothe a cough, which makes it the best home remedy for pneumonia.
If you take garlic in large amounts frequently, it helps in reducing body temperature and eases your respiratory problems due to pneumonia. If you don’t like eating garlic, you can apply a garlic spread to your chest as a natural vapor rub. Thus, it helps in clearing the respiratory tract and also restores pulse to normal.
If You Are Coughing
When you have pneumonia, you may develop a cough as one of its symptoms. You may experience a cough within the first 24 hours, or you may become a victim of cough over the course of a few days.
Coughing works by making your body get rid of the infection by removing fluids from the lungs. It means you should stop coughing completely. But, you should work on bringing your cough down so that you can take a rest without interference or without getting severe pain and irritation.
Many people experience cough during and after the recovery. But, it should be eliminated completely after nearly 6-7 weeks.
Saltwater Gargle
You should do gargles with salt water or just water as it can help in removing some of the mucus presents in your throat and get ease from irritation. So, you must do saltwater gargles as one of the effective home remedies to treat pneumonia.
Take half a teaspoon of salt and add it to a glass of warm water. Now, gargle using this mixture for about 30-40 seconds at one time and spit out the water. Repeat doing this at least three times a day.
Drink Peppermint Tea
Peppermint is also the best home remedy for pneumonia as it can help in alleviating irritation and ejecting mucus. Therefore, it is used as a proven anti-inflammatory and painkiller.
If you don’t have peppermint at home, you can buy loose or bagged teas from the local grocery store or online. But, having fresh peppermint is more effective as it enables you to make your own tea using fresh leaves.
To make a fresh peppermint tea, take some peppermint leaves, wash and cut them. Put them in a cup or a teapot. Then, add boiling water and let the leaves steep for about 5-7 minutes. Strain and drink. You can add lemon, honey, or milk to add flavor to your tea.
To gain more benefits, you can inhale the aroma of the peppermint tea while it is steeping. It can help in clearing your nasal pathways.
Read More: Amazing Peppermint Benefits
If You Have a Fever
When you have pneumonia, you may develop a fever at the early stage or over a period of a few days. When your condition is treated, the fever should diminish within the week.
Lukewarm compress
If you are looking for home remedies for pneumonia, applying a lukewarm compress can help greatly in easing your condition. It helps in cooling down your body from the outside. Though many people prefer using a cold compress when having a fever, the sudden fall in temperature can cause chills.
Lukewarm compress causes a gradual change in temperature. To do this, take lukewarm water and dip a small towel or washcloth into it. Then, squeeze out the excess water and place this towel or washcloth on the forehead. Repeat this process as often as you can.
If You Are Experiencing a Breathing Problem
When you are dealing with pneumonia, you may experience a breathing issue suddenly, or this can be developed gradually over the period of a few days. Even if you are resting, you may experience breathlessness. In severe cases, the doctor recommends inhalers along with the prescribed medication. Even if these things do not help and your breath becomes shorter, you should look for immediate medical care.
A Cup of Coffee
It is believed that drinking a cup of coffee can also help in getting relief from breath shortness. It is an effective and best home remedy for pneumonia that can be used to open the airways in your lungs. Thus, it works great in getting relief from the symptoms of pneumonia. The effects of caffeine may last for up to 4-5 hours.
If You Have Chest Pain
You may experience chest pain as soon you get infected with pneumonia or over the period of several days. When treated at the early stage, your chest pain may get eliminated within 4-5 weeks.
Turmeric Tea
Turmeric is considered one of the effective home remedies to treat various kinds of skin and health problems. The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric make it one of the beneficial home remedies to treat pneumonia symptoms as well. Taking turmeric can help in pain relief. This herb also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Turmeric tea can be available at the local grocery store, or you can buy it online. You can also use turmeric powder to make your own turmeric tea.
Take 2-3 cups of water and add one teaspoon of turmeric powder into it. Once the water starts boiling, reduce the heat and let it heat for 10 minutes. Strain the tea and add honey and lemon. You can also add a pinch of black pepper as it will help in increasing absorption. Drinking turmeric tea as many times as possible a day can help to reduce chest pain.
Ginger Tea
Ginger has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that make it one of the useful home remedies for pneumonia symptoms, including chest pain. The pain-relieving effects of ginger help in reducing pain.
You can buy loose or bagged ginger tea at the local grocery store or online. You can use ginger powder or ginger root, whatever is available in your kitchen, to make a ginger tea.
Take a fresh ginger root and cut/grate it. Take 2-3 cups of water in a pan and boil it. Then, reduce the heat and let the water boil for 20-25 minutes. Strain the tea and add honey and lemon, just like turmeric tea. Drinking ginger tea as many times as possible a day can help to reduce chest pain.
Also Ginger has Many More Health Benefits
Black Pepper
Black pepper is an effective remedy to treat cold and cough. It is also powerful to clear heavy mucus, thus give you relief from chest pain and congestion. The best way to consume black pepper is to sprinkle its powder in your food. It is one of the best home remedies to treat pneumonia cough. It is also recommended to avoid taking too much black pepper.
Keep Yourself Hydrated
If you have a fever, keeping yourself hydrated can help in preventing dehydration. You should consume liquids and electrolytes as much as you can. You can drink cool beverages or eat homemade ice popsicles that may help in hydrating your body and cool it down.
Take Lots of Rest
When you become ill, the doctor usually recommends taking as much rest as you can. It is one of the natural methods to cure most illnesses. If you or anyone in your family is dealing with pneumonia symptoms, make sure to get plenty of extra sleep.
It would be good to place an extra pillow under the head while resting. It will help in drainage and give you better sleep. Always remember that extra sleep or plenty of rest will boost your immune system and make you capable of fighting off the infection.
Additional Natural Compounds
There are a number of at-home products that contain compounds helping in boosting the healing process of various illnesses, including the symptoms of pneumonia. These include garlic, raw honey, cayenne powder, tea tree oil, and many others.
Though none of these products can be the home remedies to treat pneumonia, they can help in easing the mild symptoms of pneumonia. This, in turn, makes you feel better and contribute to overall health.
Lifestyle Changes
When it comes to pneumonia, it is not always possible to prevent this condition. But, some lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of developing pneumonia or the risk of experiencing severe symptoms.
Some of these recommended lifestyle changes include adopting a healthy diet, regular exercise, avoiding smoking and air pollution, managing stress levels, practicing hand-washing, and others.
Healthful lifestyle habits are recommended as useful home remedies to treat pneumonia by strengthening your body to fight off infections.
When to See a Doctor?
If you think that you are dealing with the symptoms of pneumonia, you should act immediately before the situation gets worse. The doctor will diagnose and start the right treatment. Once the doctor starts a treatment plan, make sure to follow the instructions and finish the course of medication.
Also, keep in mind that if a person has pneumonia, he/she is more likely to contract it again. Therefore, it is always recommended to talk to your doctor about your condition and find all possible ways to lessen the chances of recurrence.
Final Words
Pneumonia is a serious condition and may require hospitalization if left untreated at an early stage. In most cases, it takes around 5-6 months to recover completely from this infection.
Along with medications, you must also concentrate on eating well and get plenty of rest. You must also try these home remedies for pneumonia symptoms and improve your health gradually.
