Home Remedies for Emphysema

Traditional types of medical treatment of emphysema may have helped millions of sufferers; however, not a single treatment can be applied to every patient. There have been more than a few cases that have not been helped by traditional medical treatment. In fact, emphysema, as a chronic lung disease, can't be treated overnight, and its recovery needs time and patience. Lately, natural treatments for emphysema have become more and more popular with sufferers as their effects are indeed obvious. This article will outline some details about natural treatments for emphysema.

Natural treatment for emphysema(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Emphysema.html) targets two areas: diet and lifestyle. When treating this disease naturally, you should examine what you eat and do every day. One of the best ways to combat emphysema is to combine both diet and lifestyle changes, rather than focusing on one of these changes.

The following are some tips for your diet if you are suffering from emphysema(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Emphysema.html). As always, it is advised to consult your doctor before beginning any diet plan.
# 1. Garlic is helpful in liquefying mucus and allowing it to be coughed up from the lungs. Eat two or three cloves of garlic every day, the optimal time for consumption being in the morning on an empty stomach.
# 2. Eat a variety of nutritious foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of nutrition, especially if they are not cooked or processed. Also, whole grains, meats, diary products and legumes all should be included in your diet.
# 3. Fruit and vegetable juices have also been proven beneficial in the treatment of emphysema(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Emphysema.html). Juices from lemon, amaranth and aniseed are beneficial.
# 4. Eat frequent, small meals.
# 5. Take vitamins C and E which have been tested and proved to ease emphysema symptoms. You can take vitamin C and E through either foods or supplements. As it sometimes can be hard to ensure that you will get enough of the nutrients though foods, you may want to try supplements.

The following suggestions are lifestyle changes you can make to treat emphysema. Individuals may make different changes in their lives according to their unique conditions; however, the following changes have been proven to be helpful:
# 1. Quit smoking if you are a smoker. Also, stay away from second-hand smoke, which is more harmful than smoking your own cigarette!
# 2. Schedule your own exercise, such as walking, jogging, and swimming. Emphysema sufferers can really benefit from swimming as they can breathe humidified air during this exercise.
# 3. Try to relax and take your time when doing things. Do not think about the disease all day; shift your focus to what you are interested in and what else is happening in your life.
# 4. Avoid tight clothing, especially around your stomach and waist, as this will add pressure on your body. Loosen all tight clothing, such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband.