Are there any home

remedies for pneumonia?

 Causes and symptoms

 Home remedies

 Cough

 Shortness of breath

 Chest pain

 Fever

 Chills
 General symptoms

 Seeing a doctor

 Prevention

 Summary

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we
may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Pneumonia is an inflammatory disorder of the

lungs due to an infection of the airways. It is a
serious condition, and home remedies will not
treat or cure it.

However, certain home remedies may help ease the symptoms and enhance
healing during the recovery period.

Pneumonia can be life threatening. Medical help is essential, and many

people will need to spend time in the hospital. Afterward, it can take several
weeks or months to recover.
Although medical treatment is essential, home remedies can help a person
manage the symptoms and improve their comfort levels when they are not in
the hospital.

Factors that increase the riskTrusted Source of pneumonia include:

 being under 5 or over 65 years of age

 having exposure to tobacco smoke and air pollution
 having asthma
 having a weakened immune system
 having other medical conditions, including COVID-19

In this article, learn more about the causes, symptoms, and home remedies
associated with pneumonia and its effects.

Causes and symptoms

Share on Pin terest A person with pneumonia should get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.

Pneumonia can occur for various reasons. For example, it often develops due
to another illness or infection, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
the flu, or COVID-19.

When a person’s immune system is healthy, their body can often prevent
severe infections.

However, if bacteria, fungi, or viruses overwhelm the immune system, a more

serious illness can result.

The most common symptoms of pneumonia include:

 a cough
 shortness of breath
 chest pain
  a fever
 chills
 fatigue and muscle aches
 a headache due to a persistent cough

COVID-19 and pneumonia

The main symptoms of COVID-19 include a persistent dry cough and a fever.

If a person develops severe chest pain or difficulty breathing, a doctor will

treat it as pneumonia.

The person may need to spend time in the hospital, using a respirator to help
them breathe. Home remedies will not help in this case.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source note

that most people will experience mild symptoms and should stay at home until
they feel better.

However, if a person more severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, it is

essential to seek medical attention at once.

Home remedies for pneumonia

symptoms
Depending on the cause of pneumonia, a doctor will prescribe medication to
treat the infection.

During recovery, they will also recommend:

 getting plenty of rest

 eating nutritious foods
 drinking lots of fluids
In addition, some home remedies may help a person manage the symptoms
and enhance recovery. The following sections will discuss these in more
detail.

Cough
If the lungs are producing extra mucus as part of an immune reaction, the
body will use a cough to try to expel this fluid from the lungs. For this reason,
a doctor may not recommend using a cough suppressant.

However, some natural methods may help reduce the severity of a cough,
including:

1. Peppermint, eucalyptus, and fenugreek tea

Many warm herbal teas can help soothe a scratchy throat, but herbs may be
more beneficial.

A 2011 study found that herbs, including peppermint and eucalyptus, had a

soothing effect on the throats of people with upper respiratory tract infections.
These herbs may help break up mucus and ease the pain
and inflammation caused by pneumonia.

A review from 2018 notes that fenugreek seeds might help break down
mucus. A tea made from ground fenugreek seeds may therefore ease a
persistent cough.

Eucalyptus and tea tree oils may also help relieve coughs. People can use
these in a diffuser. However, they should try limiting their exposure at first, to
ensure that the use of oils does not worsen their symptoms.

2. A saltwater gargle

Mucus in the throat and chest can trigger more coughing and irritation. A
warm saltwater gargle may help eliminate mucus or germs in the throat, which
may provide some relief.
Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is a common symptom of respiratory infections. If a
person has difficulty breathing, they need immediate medical attention.

However, if the symptoms are mild, the following tips may help:

3. Caffeine

Drinking a small amount of caffeine, such as a cup of coffee or black or green

tea, may help open up the airways in the lungs. This could help a person
breathe more easily.

4. Warm, damp air

Inhaling warm, damp air may ease breathing and keep the throat from
tightening. Breathing in the steam from a shower or breathing over a warm
cup of tea may help.

5. Rest

Rest is vital for cellular repair in the body, but it may be especially beneficial
for shortness of breath. A person with pneumonia may benefit from keeping
physical exertion to a minimum.

Chest pain
Chest discomfort is a common symptom of pneumonia. The following
remedies may help ease this symptom:

6. Ginger or turmeric tea

A persistent cough can result in chest pain. Drinking warm tea made with
fresh ginger or turmeric root may help reduce this pain.

The roots of both of these plants can have a natural anti-inflammatory effect in
the body.
Chop up a thumb sized piece of either root and boil it in a pint or so of water. If
a person prefers strong tea, they can boil it for longer or add more of the root.
If the flavor is too sharp, they can try adding a spoonful of honey.

Fever
A person with pneumonia may also have a fever. As long as the fever is mild,
a person may wish to use natural remedies to manage it.

If the fever is high or persistent, however, it is important to seek medical help.

It could be a symptom of a severe infection.

The following remedies may help a mild fever:

7. Hydration

When a person has a fever, consuming liquids and electrolytes can help
prevent dehydration. Drinking cool beverages or eating homemade ice
popsicles may help hydrate the body and cool it down.

8. Fenugreek tea

As the 2018 review above notes, making tea from fenugreek seeds may

encourage a person to sweat, which could reduce their temperature.

9. Over-the-counter pain relievers

Some over-the-counter drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil), may help reduce

fever and pain. It is important to take these medications with food and not
exceed the recommended dosage.

10. A lukewarm bath or compress

Soaking the body in lukewarm water may help cool it down.

If it is not possible to take a bath, apply towels or washcloths to the body after
dunking them in lukewarm water and wringing them out. This may help the
body cool. When the towels warm up, dip them in the water again and
reapply.

Chills
Chills are often a secondary symptom of a fever. The following home
remedies may help ease chills:

11. Warm liquids

Drinking warm liquids may help warm the body up and prevent chills.

Some examples include:

 warm water
 herbal teas
 a bowl of soup

Avoid sodas and consume either water or liquids that contain nutrients.

General symptoms
Some foods contain compounds may help boost the immune system, fight
bacteria, and manage inflammation. These may help ease the symptoms of
pneumonia more generally. For example:

12. Additional natural compounds

A number of at-home products contain compounds that may help boost the
healing process. Examples include:

 garlic
 raw honey
 cayenne pepper
 tea tree oil
  echinacea

It is worth noting that none of these substances or remedies will treat or cure
pneumonia or any of the diseases linked to it, including COVID-19.

However, as long as the symptoms are mild or the person is recovering, they
may help them feel better and contribute to their overall well-being.

When to see a doctor

Anyone who has difficulty breathing should seek medical help for diagnosis
and treatment.

It is essential to follow any medical treatment plan that the doctor

recommends and request additional help if the symptoms worsen or do not
improve after a few days.

A doctor can also advise on some ways to prevent pneumonia from

developing again.

Preventing pneumonia naturally

It is not always possible to prevent pneumonia, but some lifestyle choices can
reduce the risk of developing it or experiencing severe symptoms.

These include:

 adopting a varied and healthful diet

 getting regular exercise
 not smoking
 avoiding air pollution, if possible
 managing stress levels and getting enough sleep
 practicing good hand-washing to reduce the risk of infection
 following any instructions the doctor recommends for staying healthy
In the case of COVID-19, experts advise physical distancing from other
people to prevent the spread of the virus.

Healthful lifestyle habits can help strengthen the body to fight off infections,
including those that lead to pneumonia.

Summary
Pneumonia can be life threatening and usually needs medical treatment.

Many people will need to spend time in the hospital, and it can take months to
recover fully.

During the recovery period, some home treatments may help a person feel
better and encourage their body to heal.

SHOP FOR HOME REMEDIES

Many of the home remedies listed above are available to purchase online:

 peppermint tea
 eucalyptus tea
 fenugreek tea
 ginger tea
 turmeric tea

Read the article in Spanish.

ADVERTISEMENT

Last medically reviewed on April 27, 2020

 Respiratory
 Flu / Cold / SARS
 Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine

 7 sourcescollapsed


 

FEEDBACK:

Medically reviewed by Debra