Top 10 Home Remedies for Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection- a respiratory condition caused by lung inflammation. Pneumonia is caused by bacterial, parasitical, fungal and viral infection. High amount of toxic chemical inhaling can also cause this disease.

What Really Happens in a Pneumonia Affected Body?

Taking a breath normally means filling the sacs in our lungs with fresh air. A pneumonia patient’s lungs get filled with pus and fluid. Hence, breathing becomes extremely difficult for them.

Pneumonia generally lasts for 2-3 weeks in adults. However, for young children and senior patients, this disease can become chronic.

So, whenever you experience pneumonia symptoms in you or your family members, start treating them with home remedies for pneumonia.

What are the Symptoms of Pneumonia?

• Fever
• Cough & cold
• Shaking chills
• Diarrheas
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Appetite loss
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Vomiting and nausea
• Chest and muscle pain
• Tiredness

Bacterial and viral pneumonia can be contagious. So, going ahead with immediate cure for Pneumonia is extremely important.

Top 10 Home Remedies for Pneumonia

Here are 10 ingredients that will help you conduct a pneumonia home treatment before you go to a doctor or a hospital.

 1. Fenugreek Tea

Fenugreek tea has mucolytic properties, meaning this class of drugs can clear away mucus from lungs and other airways. It is very effective in breaking up pneumonia congestion around the lungs.

Fenugreek also has the capability to reduce fever and eliminate toxin from the body with sweat.

What you need:

• Seeds of fenugreek- 1 tea spoon
• Water (boiled)- 2 cups

How to use it:

1. Take 2 cups water and add 1 table spoon fenugreek seeds to it. Now, boil it.
2. Once the tea is prepared, strain it. Drink it every day.
3. Initially you should drink a cup of tea 4 times every day. As health improves, reduce the amount.

There is an alternative method of making herbal fenugreek tea to help cure pneumonia.

Method 2: Fenugreek tea with Garlic, Ginger and Lemon

• Seeds of fenugreek– 1 tea spoon
• Crushed garlic clove- 1
• Ginger – 1 tsp
• Lemon – ½
• Cayenne Pepper – approx ¼ tsp
• Boiled water – 1 cup

How to use it:

1. Boil water. Add fenugreek seeds, crushed clove of garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper as mentioned.
2. Let the water boil at least for 5 minutes.
3. Strain the tea. Add the juice of lemon (1/2) to the herbal tea.
4. In a day, the affected person should consume this 2-3 times. Continue the practice till your symptoms die away.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is one of the most effective pneumonia home remedies. It has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties which work wonders against bacterial, viral or fungal pneumonia.

It also exhibits anti-inflammatory property which helps it combat the respiratory inflammation in the lungs.

What you need:

• Apple cider vinegar- 1 table spoon
• Honey- 1 tea spoon
• Warm Water- ½ glass

How to use it:

1. Mix apple cider vinegar with the warm water with half teaspoon honey. Mix well.
2. Drink it once every day.

3. Turmeric

When a pneumonia patient coughs persistently, he or she might feel enormous chest pain. Sometimes cough syrups are not enough. For immediate relief, ginger or turmeric tea can be really helpful.

The roots of turmeric or ginger have natural anti-inflammatory property (1) that has a soothing effect on the body.

There are several alternative methods for preparing a medicine out of turmeric for home treatment for pneumonia.

Method 1: Turmeric Roots Tea

What you need:

• Roots of turmeric/ ginger- thumb-sized piece, chopped fine
• Water- 3 cups

How to use it:

1. Boil the finely chopped roots of turmeric/ ginger in 3 cups of water.
2. Drink the tea in small portions throughout the day.

Method 2: Turmeric & Mustard

What you need:

• Powdered turmeric – 3/4 table spoon
• Mustard oil – 3 table spoon

How to use it:

1. Mix turmeric powder (3-4 tbsp) with mustard oil (2 tbsp). Prepare a paste by mixing it well.
2. Rub this paste on the affected person’s chest for 5 minutes. Let it sit for some time more.
3. Rinse it off with warm water.
4. Follow this process once a day. This paste fights pneumonia by clearing mucus congestion.

Method 3: Turmeric & Milk

What you need:

• Powdered turmeric– 1 tea spoon
• Milk – 1 glass
• How to use it:
  1. Warm a glass full of milk.
  2. Mix turmeric powder (1 tsp) in it and stir well.
  3. Drink the warm milk to fight pneumonia.
  4. For effective results, follow the process for 2-3 times daily.

Method 4: Turmeric & Black Pepper

What you need:

• Powdered turmeric– 1/2 tea spoon
• Powdered black pepper- ¼ tea spoon
• Milk- 1 glass
• How to use it:
  1. Boil the milk till it is warm.
  2. Add turmeric power (½ tsp) and powdered black pepper (¼ tsp) to the milk. Stir well.
  3. Drink this mixture daily, at least once to fight pneumonia.

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4. Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Oil

Both of these substances have antibacterial properties which kill the germs of pneumonia. Eucalyptus oil also has expectorant properties that clear mucus from the lungs, relieving the congestion.

Method 1: Tea Tree & Eucalyptus

What you need:

• Tea tree/ eucalyptus oil – 5 drops
• Water- bowl full
• Towel

How to use it:

1. Boil water. Add 5 drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil. Stir well.
2. Pour the mixture into a bowl.
3. Drape the towel over head so that it covers the bowl to. Inhale the steam under the towel.
4. This process should continue till the fragrance of the oil is lost.
5. Now gently blow nose and let the phlegm out of your system. You will feel relieved.
6. Follow the process thrice a day.

There are other essential oils for pneumonia treatment- lemon, camphor and lavender- you can use those as well.

There are 2 more alternative processes to use these substances as pneumonia remedy. Both the processes are narrated below:

Method 2: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus & Coconut

What you need:

• Tea tree/ eucalyptus oil – 20 drops
• Almond/ Coconut oil- 1 table spoon

How to use it:

1. Add 20 drops of tea tree/ eucalyptus oil and 1 table spoon of almond/ coconut oil. Mix them well. Make sure the quantity remains same.
2. Before going to bed, rub this mixture on the affected person’s chest and neck. Leave it overnight.
3. Rinse it in the morning.

 Method 3: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus & Vegetable Oil

What you need:

• Tea tree/ eucalyptus oil – 20 drops
• Carrier/ vegetable oil- 1/3^rd bowl
• Fresh cotton cloth

How to use it:

1. Dip the fresh piece of cotton cloth in 1/3^rd bowl of carrier or vegetable oil.
2. Warm it on the oven in low temperature.
3. Add 20 drops of tea tree/ eucalyptus oil to the piece of cloth. Rub the fibers gently against each other so that the essential oil spreads evenly through the cloth.
4. Now the affected person should lie down. Place the cloth on his/ her chest. Leave for 30 minutes.
5. Follow this procedure for 2-3 times a day.

5. Garlic

Garlic is one of the most popular natural remedies for pneumonia. It is effective too. The antimicrobial properties of garlic help fight the fungal (2), viral and bacterial pneumonia.

It can reduce the fever. Its expectorant properties help clearing the mucus from chest and lungs.

There are many processes to use garlic as a pneumonia remedy. All these processes are narrated below:

Method 1: Milk & Garlic

What you need:

• Milk – 1 cup
• Water- 4 cups
• Garlic- ½ tea spoon, crushed

How to use it:

1. Mix a cup of milk and 4 cups of water. Add ½ tea spoon of crushed garlic to it. Mix well.
2. Boil this solution till it is reduced to 1/4^th of its original amount.
3. Drink the solution. Repeat this thrice a day.

Method 2: Garlic & Honey

What you need:

• Lemon juice – 1 table spoon
• Honey- 1 table spoon
• Garlic- 1 table spoon, crushed

How to use it:

1. Marinate one table spoon of crushed garlic cloves with the mixture of honey and fresh lemon juice in equal amount. Mix it well.
2. The affected person should consume 2 or 3 tea spoons of this mixture.
3. Follow the process 3-4 times a day.

Method 3: Garlic Paste

What you need:

• Garlic cloves- half-a garlic
• Mixer-grinder
• Water

How to use it:

1. Grind the garlic cloves in a mixer-grinder tool with some water. Prepare a thick paste of garlic.
2. Rub this paste on the affected person’s chest. Leave it for an hour. Then rinse it with warm water.
3. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times a day.

6. Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds are very effective as a home remedy for pneumonia. These have natural expectorant properties which work excellent on the symptoms of pneumonia. Sesame seeds expel mucus and relieve congestion (3).

What you need:

• Water- 1 glass
• Salt- ¼ tea spoon (approx)Sesame seeds – 1 table spoon
• Flaxseeds- 1 table spoon
• Honey- 1 tea spoon

How to use it:

1. Boil the water and add sesame seeds (1 tbsp) to it.
2. After it boils for a few minutes, mix flaxseeds (1 tbsp) in the solution and let it boil.
3. Strain the mixture and add honey (1 tsp) and salt to taste (around 1/4 tsp).
4. Mix properly and drink the solution.
5. For quick recovery, a pneumonia patient should drink the solution once every day.

7. Essential oils: Camphor, Oregano, Dandelion

The power of essential oils is unparallel when it comes to the decongestant and antiseptic properties.

While camphor oil is the best essential for these properties, oregano oil has strong antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties (4).

This means, together these two natural oils can fight mucus congestion, cough and the germ of pneumonia. Apart from these two, even dandelion root oil is very effective for pneumonia treatment.

This oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and expectorant properties. These work wonderfully on the symptoms of pneumonia.

There are several alternative methods of making a medicine out of essential oils. Let us have a look at some of the popular methods.

Method 1: Camphor Oil

What you need:

• Camphor oil– 2-3 drops
• Jojoba oil/ olive oil- 1 tea spoon

How to use it:

1. Add camphor oil (3 drops) and jojoba or olive oil (1 tsp). Mix well.
2. Rub this mixture on the affected person’s back and chest.
3. Follow this process every night before going to bed.

Method 2: Oregano Oil

What you need:

• Oregano oil– 1-2 drops
• A cotton ball

How to use it:

1. Dip the cotton ball in a few drops of oregano oil.
2. Place the cotton ball next to the affected person’s bed every night before going to sleep.
3. Follow the habit on a regular basis.

Method 3: Dandelion Herb

What you need:

• Dandelion herb– 1-2 tea spoons
• Water- 1 cup
• Honey

How to use it:

1. Heat a cup of water. Add dandelion herbs once it is boiling. Continue boiling.
2. Stop the heat. Let the mixture steep for 5-10 minutes.
3. Strain the solution. Add some honey.
4. Consume the tea to heal pneumonia.
5. Use it for 3-4 times a day for effective result.

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8. Astragalus

Another name for astragalus herb is Huang qi. This herb strengthens an affected person’s immune system.

It also helps relieve lung inflammation that a pneumonia patient often feels. Here is how you can make a home remedy out of astragalus to treat pneumonia.

What you need:

• Dried astragalus root– 1 cup, shredded
• Water- 1 liter
• Soup pot
• Alcohol/ clove
• cinnamon

How to use it:

1. Dry astragalus root. Shred them properly around one cup in quantity.
2. Pour water (1 liter) in a soup pot and add the shredded roots to the water.
3. Let it soak overnight.
4. Take the mixture in the morning and simmer it in low heat for 30 minutes. Remember, do not boil it; let it simmer.
5. Take a container and fill it with 1/4^th cup of alcohol/ cloves and cinnamon. This will help preserve the mixture.
6. Fill the rest of the container with the simmering mixture.
7. Consume 1-2 table spoon of this solution every day to cure pneumonia.

9. Echinacea

Echinacea is an herbal cure for pneumonia. It contains a complex mixture of several active antimicrobial substances. It strengthens human immunity.

This herb contains alkylamides, caffeic acid derivatives, polysaccharides, and glycoproteins. All these substances help fight pneumonia and improve the affected person’s immune system.

What you need:

• Echinacea herb- 1 tea spoon
• Water- 1-2 cups
• Lemon grass- ¼ tea spoon
• Honey- to taste
• Spearmint leaves- ¼ tea spoon

How to use it:

1. First, mix Echinacea (1 tsp), spearmint leaves (¼ tsp) and lemon grass (¼ tsp) together.
2. Heat water (1-2 cups) and let it boil till hot.
3. Pour the hot water over the already mixed herbs.
4. Let it be for 5 minutes. It should steep well.
5. Add some honey (to taste) as a sweetener.
6. Drink this tea twice daily.

Note: Echinacea is not healthy to be consumed daily. So, you might use alternative herbs like astragalus for daily use. Use Echinacea once in 2-3 days. Make sure the patient is not allergic to plants belonging to aster family. Those patients will not be able to consume Echinacea.

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10. Mullein

This herb is a common medicinal plant used in herbal remedies for pneumonia. It has a reputation of having powerful expectorant compounds which work magically on respiratory diseases.

Chest congestion can be easily relieved with mullein tea. Hence it is highly recommended by herbalists for pneumonia treatment.

Method 1: Dried Mullein Flower/ Leaves

What you need:

• Dried mullein flower– 2 tea spoons
• Dried mullein leaves – 2 tea spoons
• Water- 1 mug

How to use it:

1. Take a mug of water and heat it.
2. Once it simmers, add dried mullein flowers and leaves (2 tsp each) to the water.
3. Let it boil.
4. Turn off the flame and let it steep for nearly 10 minutes. Inhale the steam in the process.
5. After this infusion is cool enough to consume, drink it.
6. Repeat the process for 2-3 times a day.

Method 2: Fresh Mullein Tea

What you need:

• Jar– 1 liter capacity
• Fresh mullein leaves and stalk – half the jar
• Water
• Milk- ½ cup
• Honey- 1-2 tea spoon

How to use it:

1. Put fresh mullein leaves and stalks inside the jar to fill half of it.
2. Boil some water. Pour the boiled water into the jar and fill it to the top.
3. Stir the mixture properly.
4. Cover the jar tightly and let it steep for at least 4 hours. For best result, let the herb sit overnight.
5. Once the infusion is created in the morning, add ½ a cup of whole milk (goat milk, if possible) and honey (1-2 tsp) to the infusion. Milk helps improving lung conditions.
6. Have 1-4 cups of this infusion daily to improve pneumonia conditions.
7. Store the leftover in the refrigerator. Continue this process for 5-6 days.

These are the top 10 ways for how to treat pneumonia at home. All these remedies are extremely useful to treat pneumonia at its early stages.

For other symptoms like shaking chills, shortness of breath and chest pain there are other home remedies.

• Shaking chills: Drink a glass of warm water. This will help you stay hydrated and internally warm. Some prefer peppermint tea as well. You can also have a bowl of hot, nourishing soup.
• Shortness of breath: Caffeine has similar properties to that of theophylline, a bronchodilator drug. So, drink a cup of coffee to open up airways of your lungs.
• Chest pain: Drink a cup of ginger tea or turmeric tea (process narrated above). The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of these substances help relieve chest pain. Turmeric is more reliable for its antioxidant, antimicrobial and pain-killing properties. You can add a pinch of black pepper for more effective result.

Along with these home treatments, you need to follow some preventive tips to make yourself safe against pneumonia. Let us have a look at these tips.

Preventive Tips to Fight Pneumonia:

1. Smoking is a hazardous habit. It makes the body more susceptible to several respiratory infections. Quit smoking to avoid pneumonia and other respiratory diseases. It is a must.
2. The germs of infectious diseases like pneumonia mostly come from your hands. So, develop a habit of washing your hands properly. Especially, before and after you have your meals, you should wash your hands with soap.
3. If you are affected, it is your responsibility to not spread the germs. While you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose properly. This avoids spreading your infection.
4. A healthy diet is must. Have a lot of vitamin C, vegetable juice and a balanced diet. This will boost your immunity. Get ample amount of rest.
5. You can also take your baby to get vaccinated against pneumonia. This is not an absolutely dependable method, though. It might not prevent pneumonia completely. However, it is worth a shot as it certainly lowers the risk of complications.
6. You need to keep the body hydrated all the time. It is important to drink water at regular intervals. Liquid fluids like vegetable juices and fruit juices also help a lot. Make these a part of your daily diet.

Prevent pneumonia at the earliest stage. Put an emphasis on this. So, if you want to start home remedies for pneumonia, start at once. If the affected person is suffering for a long time despite trying these treatments, take the patient to a doctor immediately.