AUSTRALIAN NATUROPATHIC NETWORK
 Serving the community since 1998

The following case studies do not represent implemented treatment programs. They are protocols developed by students in the course of their studies, and should be taken as examples only.

Note - Anyone suffering from the conditions described below should seek advice from a primary health care practitioner. No responsibility is taken for any individual attempting to use the treatments described in these studies.

Discuss your management of chronic bronchitis in a 50 year old man. He gets on average 5 bad attacks a year. He started smoking at the age of 25 years and smokes on average 15-20 per day. As an executive, he is under a lot of stress and he believes his smoking relieves that stress. Bronchitis is aggravated when under stress. He drinks on average 2-3 glasses of red wine a night and has no idea about diet. He is about 10kg overweigh. He would like your advice on diet and stress management.

Description

Bronchitis:

• Refers to infection or irritation of the bronchial tree
• Can be bacterial viral or other

In this case the most likely cause is smoking which leads to congestion, and incorrect expectoration which increases the stress on the respiratory system and increases the risk of infection.

Treatment Goals

• Remove irritant
• Promote expectoration
• Eliminate and treat respiratory infection
• Bronchodilation
• Restore and heal tone of mucous membranes

Non-pharmacological measures

Psychological

Firstly I would test the patients mind-set:

• What is his plan for getting well?
• Why does he want help?
• Does he really want to fix the underlying causes or does he want a quick fix?
• Discuss ownership of the problem: who has to do the work to heal.

Having determined a positive and definite attitude to defeating the illness I would suggest the following.

Diet

• During bouts suggest plenty of fluids (soups, vegetable juices, herbal teas)
• Reduce sugar intake
• Provide a long term dietary plan for healthy eating (complex carbos, adequate protein, reduction in fats etc)
• Reduce alcohol intake gradually to one glass wine/day with dinner

Supplements

Vitamin A, C, E, Bioflavonoids, Beta-carotene, Zinc, B complex – all to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and provide replenishment from smoking and alcohol. (Basically a good multivitamin / multimineral complex).

Lifestyle

• Reduce and eventually stop smoking – refer to counseling service
• Attempt to manage stress through meditation, yoga, etc
• Attempt to get the patient to start exercising – very slow start (e.g. 30 min walk daily)

Other

• Provide information on postural drainage
• Heating pads for chest – mustard poultice

Herbal Treatment

The aim of the herbal treatment will be two-fold:

1.) to reduce the symptoms of the bronchitis and aid with smoking withdrawal

2.) to detoxify, tonify, and aid the body in coping with stress

In order to achieve this I would use two mixtures.

The bronchitis mix would use the following classes of herbs:

Respiratory Tonics – to regain some tone of the respiratory system after years of abuse

Stimulating expectorants – to aid in the elimination of phlegm and stimulate the cilia back into action

Respiratory spasmolytics – to reduce bronchial spasm

Antiinflammatory – to sooth the inflammation if present

Immuno stimulants / Antimicrobials– to help the body attempt to rid itself of bugs that may be present

Circulatory stimulants – to help everything else work

MM tonics – to aid the reconditioning of the respiratory tract

Dosage 5mls tds

This would be taken in conjunction with Allium sativum as capsules or raw depending on tolerance.

The detox/adaptation mix would use the following classes of herbs:

Nervines – to aid in de-stressing the patient

Adaptogens – to help the adrenals restore to maximum operation

Hepatics – to help cleanse the liver and GIT

Immuno stimulants – to aid the immune system to fight infection during this period

Dosage – 5mls prior to retiring.

Cautions & Contraindications