Reduce Lung Inflammation Naturally

Two weekends ago, I did a very good clean of the housing, pulling everything out of the closet to dust the shelves, corners, floors, cracks and crannies and also gave the cats a very good brushing outside.  The problem with this picture is I am allergic to cats and dust (which I think we all allergic to dust particles on some level) so the combination of the two is a disaster for me.  Normally I can just take an antihistamine, hot shower and I am back to normal but unfortunately this time I was not so lucky.

Starting immediately my lungs were so tight, I could barely grasp for air and very scratchy feeling. I took my antihistamine, put on the humidifier and went to bed. 

I barely slept that night, with not able to get any oxygen, I was coughing repeatedly and quite honestly, I was afraid of my lung collapsing.  I had never experienced this prior, so I thought it was due to a bit of the cat dander getting deep into my lungs, as I was up close brushing them.

So what followed this sleepless night, were 3 more, my cough was so deep and anything I was coughing up tasted like what I breathed in from my inhaler and also a bit like metal.  Small chunks of bright green infection were coming up.  But this still wasn’t enough for me to go to the doctor, I still thought there was no need, I wasn’t “sick”.

After a full week and weekend of the cough no improving, but getting worst, I finally took a trip to the clinic to speak to the doctor about the cough, to make sure that there was no infection setting in.  I was starting to get worried about pneumonia.

He listened to me cough once and immediately said that I had lung inflammation and if I didn’t treat it immediately, I am at high risk for bronchitis.  Yikes!

So what did he do?  Gave me a prescription for penicillin BUT he actually told me to go home, and for the next 24 hrs drink as much chicken broth, garlic and ginger that I could and I should see the roughness of my cough lessen.  I was so shocked and impressed that a medical doctor actually recommended natural remedies before medicine. 

So I headed home. Stopping at the health food store and got a fresh juice, with carrot, heavy beat and heavy ginger with some garlic,  didn't taste spectacular but I am a believer that short term pain – long term gain!

While sipping that I stopped in and grabbed some vegetarian pho from my local Vietnamese restaurant near my house, when you take out, they put the broth in a separate container, so it is perfect. 

Came home, put the broth on a simmer and added some fresh minced ginger and garlic and when I say some, I mean heavy!  The soup actually tasted just shy the garlic sauce you get at a Shwarma house with a bite to it from the ginger!

Sure enough, I slept a full night without interruption and the cough was still there, but I didn't sound like it was coming up from my belly button! I continued the broth this day with light on the garlic and ginger and continued with the fresh juice for a few days and naturally I was able to treat this inflammation without using medicine and no bronchitis to date!

Below is a list of foods that help with inflammation:

• Flax Seed
• Canola Oil (buy organic)
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Broccoli
• Hemp Oil
• Tart Cherries
• Garlic
• Onions
• Ginger
• Walnuts (soak them 8 hrs in purified water before eating)
• Turmeric
• Spinach