Home remedies for pneumonia are a great natural option that aim to strengthen the immune system to help speed-up recovery. Some can help to relieve symptoms like cough, fever and muscle pain.
However, these remedies do not replace medical treatment. Pneumonia is a very serious infection that requires assessment and monitoring, as more specific interventions may be necessary.
Prescribed treatment may include the use of medication like antivirals or antibiotics. Whenever possible, home remedies should be used under your doctor's supervision. Read more about the pneumonia treatment that your doctor may consider.
Treating a fever
Some proven home remedies that can help with managing fevers are:
1. Peppermint tea compresses
This is a simple, but yet very effective, way to treat a fever, as it can lower body temperature in a matter of minutes. This works because peppermint leaves contain substances like menthol to help to cool down the skin.
To use a peppermint tea compress, dip two large pieces of gauze or a clean cloth in a bowl with warm peppermint tea, and wring out the excess liquid. Then place the compress on your forehead and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. You can do this several times a day. Just make sure the tea is neither excessively hot or cold, as this could can cause a thermal shock.
Also recommended: Peppermint Tea: 7 Health Benefits & How to Prepare tuasaude.com/en/peppermint-tea2. White willow tea
White willow is a medicinal plant with a very strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. It helps to fight headaches and relieve fever, as it contains a very similar substance to one found in aspirin - salicin.
Therefore, this tea is a perfect natural option to relieve several of pneumonia symptoms, such as headaches, fever, and muscle pain.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of white willow bark
- 1 cup of boiling water
Directions
Place the white willow bark in the cup of boiling water and allow it to soak for five to ten minutes. Then strain the mixture and let it cool down. Drink two to three times a day.
Contraindications: This tea should not be consumed by children, pregnant women or breastfeeding women, nor by people allergic to aspirin. It is contraindicated for anyone with stomach or intestinal ulcers, gastritis, reflux, colitis, diverticulitis, diverticulosis, severe kidney, liver or heart failure.
Treating a cough
For cough relief, some home options that are very effective include:
3. Thyme tea
Thyme is a medicinal plant that is used for treating a cough. It is recognized by the FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMA) [1] as a natural ingredient for cough medication.
According to a study done in 2006 [2], this effect may be related to the presence of flavonoids in the plant, which help to relax the throat muscles, as well as relieve any possible inflammation of the airways.
Learn more about the health benefits of thyme and how to take it.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of ground thyme
- 1 cup of boiling water
Directions
Place the thyme in the boiling water and allow it to soak for ten minutes. Then strain and let it cool down. Drink two to three times a day.
Contraindications: Thyme tea should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, children under 12 years of age, or women with estrogen-dependent diseases, such as breast, ovarian cancer or endometriosis.
Thyme tea should also not be used by people with shortness of breath, open wounds, skin infections, fever or serious infections.
4. Guaco and pennyroyal syrup
A great home remedy to help relieve coughing in pneumonia is guaco and pennyroyal syrup. These medicinal plants have an expectorant, anti-inflammatory and bronchodilating action that can help reduce coughing fits.
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons of pennyroyal leaves
- 4 washed and dried guaco leaves
- 500 mL of water
- 3 tablespoons of brown sugar
Directions:
Pour the sugar in a pot and heat over medium heat, stirring until it caramelizes . Add the water, guaco and pennyroyal leaves, stirring well, until the sugar dissolves completely. Let it boil for 10 minutes, wait for it to cool and then strain. Transfer this mixture to a glass jar with a lid. Take 1 to 2 spoons of this syrup per day.
Contraindications: This syrup is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, nor for children under 2 years of age. People with kidney disease, chronic respiratory disease, tuberculosis or cancer should not consume this syrup.
This syrup should also not be used by people who are using the medicinal plant Purple Ipê (Tabebuia avellanedae) or anticoagulant medications.
5. Pineapple juice
Due to it's high composition in bromelain, pineapple juice is a good natural option for relieving coughs, as this substance is able to inhibit a cough.
It also contains high amounts of vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system and reduce any inflammation in the respiratory system.
Ingredients
- 1 slice of pineapple, peeled
- ½ cup of water
Directions
Place the ingredients in a blender and mix until well combined, Drink two to three times a day, or whenever you have a coughing fit.
Because this is a completely natural juice, this home remedy can be used by adults or children, as well as pregnant women.
Check out other natural remedies you can try to relieve a cough at home, as well as ways you can treat a dry cough or a wet cough.
Treating muscle pain
Some easy and great home remedies to decrease muscle pain and general malaise, include:
6. Ginger tea
Ginger is a medicinal root that has high concentrations of gingerol and shogaol, which both have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This means that ginger can help reduce any type of pain, especially muscle pain and general malaise.
In addition, the phenolic composites of ginger also have a strong antioxidant effect, helping to strengthen the immune system.
Ingredients
- 1 cm of ground fresh ginger root
- 1 cup of boiling water
Directions
Place the ginger into the boiling water and allow it to soak for five to ten minutes. Then strain the tea, cool, and drink two to three times a day.
Ginger is a safe root that can be used in adults and children over two years old. It is also considered to be safe for use during pregnancy, as long as a one gram dose of ginger per day is not exceeded for a maximum of four days straight.
Contraindications: This tea is not recommended for children under 6 years of age, nor for people with gallstones, gastric ulcers, blood disorders or with anticoagulant.
Also recommended: 12 Benefits of Ginger (& How to Take As a Supplement + Recipes) tuasaude.com/en/ginger7. Echinacea tea
Echinacea is a medicinal plant that is very well known for its ability to strengthen the immune system. However, it is also quite effective in relieving body inflammation, and it also has an analgesic effect that can help relieve muscle pain and general malaise.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of dry echinacea flowers
- 1 cup of boiling water
Directions
Place the dry flowers into a cup with the boiling water and allow the to soak for five to ten minutes. Then, strain the flowers out of the tea and let the tea cool down. You can drink this two to three times a day.
Contraindications: Echinacea tea should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, by children or by patients with tuberculosis, leukemia, collagen diseases, multiple sclerosis, or autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and psoriasis.
Treating a headache
Some home remedies to relieve headaches caused by pneumonia include:
8. Lemon balm tea
Lemon balm tea is a great home remedy for headaches, as it contains linalool, rosmarinic acid and citral. These are compounds with analgesic, relaxing and anti-inflammatory effects.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon balm leaves;
1 cup (tea) of water.
Directions:
Boil the water in a pot, remove from heat and add the lemon balm leaves. Cover the pot and let it rest for 5 minutes. Then strain and drink while warm. You can drink up to 3 cups of this tea per day.
Contraindications: Lemon balm tea is not recommended for children under 12 years of age or for people with hypothyroidism, low blood pressure, glaucoma or benign prostate hyperplasia.
9. Lavender essential oil
Lavender essential oil is a great home remedy to help reduce headaches, as it contains analgesic effects.
Ingredients:
1 to 3 drops of lavender essential oil;
2 teaspoons of a carrier oil, such as coconut, avocado or almond oil.
Directions:
Mix the ingredients in a clean, dry container. Then, dab this mixture to the temples and massage it into the skin.
Contraindications: Lavender essential oil should not be used by people with lavender allergies nor by women in the first trimester of pregnancy, as there are not enough studies to prove its safety at this stage.