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Oxygen Therapy What Is COPD?

If you have COPD, you probably turn to
Smoking Cessation 7 early warning signs.
More Related Topics medicine, lung therapies, and maybe
surgery to manage your illness. But you
might also wonder about herbal remedies COPD Treatments
Take these steps to relieve your
or other supplements that can help. symptoms.

Though herbs and supplements can't cure

COPD Devices
COPD , studies show some may offer 5 tips for using inhaled COPD
medicine.
relief. Of course, you’ll want to check with
your doctor before you take any of these.

NAC (N-Acetylcysteine)
Having a constant cough that usually
makes mucus is a common symptom of
COPD . People with COPD are always
looking for ways to ease that ongoing
cough and thin the mucus .

NAC is an antioxidant supplement with

mixed reviews in studies.
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Some research says NAC can help your
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
lungs work better. It might also:
ARTICLE
Thin mucus 4 Common Symptoms of
Emphysema
Give you less phlegm
ARTICLE
Ease your cough
Portable Oxygen Therapy for COPD

Other studies say that NAC has little effect

on those things. Research found that NAC VIDEO
didn't stop flare-ups of COPD from Diagnosing COPD
happening. But it does suggest NAC may
help you have fewer flare-ups.
ARTICLE
CONTINUE READING BELOW 3 Causes of Emphysema

Ginseng SLIDESHOW
Energy-Boosting Foods for COPD
This popular herb has thousands of years
of medical use behind it. Studies have
found that ginseng has some promise in ARTICLE

treating COPD symptoms. People who COPD and Heart Failure

took it were able to breathe and exercise

more easily. ARTICLE
Breathing Exercises for COPD
Other research found that people with
COPD who took ginseng were able to
breathe easier and their lungs worked SLIDESHOW

better than those who had no treatment. Exercise and COPD: 10 Moves for
You

Vitamin D
When you have COPD, you may not have
enough vitamin D. That makes you more TOOLS & RESOURCES
likely to get upper respiratory infections,
COPD 101
which can make your COPD symptoms
worse. Colds can trigger COPD flare-ups. Can Supplements Help COPD?

Doctors aren't sure if higher levels of How to Use Your Inhaler

vitamin D bring fewer flare-ups and help
Diagnosing COPD
your lungs work better. In some studies it
does. In others, it doesn't. 5 Tips for Using Inhaled Medicine

Your doctor will probably want to check Living With COPD: 10 FAQs
your vitamin D levels. They may suggest
supplements if yours are below normal.

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Also called red sage, Salvia miltiorrhiza is Food & Fitness
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an herb long used in Chinese medicine.
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Some research says salvia may help Good Health
protect your lungs during flare-ups.
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Echinacea
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But taking echinacea while you’re well

may help keep you from getting sick.
 Some research shows that taking
echinacea along with other supplements --
like zinc, selenium, and vitamin C -- may
ease cold symptoms when you have
COPD. It may also help with flare-ups.

Melatonin
Your body makes melatonin naturally,
which helps promote sleep. Some people
take melatonin supplements when they
have trouble sleeping, hoping that it’ll
help them rest better.

If you have COPD, you may have trouble

sleeping. There's mixed research on
whether melatonin can help. Some studies
say it helps make it easier to breathe, so
it's easier to sleep.

WebMD Medical Reference | Reviewed by Paul Boyce, MD on July

29, 2019

Sources  © 2019 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

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