Pneumonia once caused dread to those who heard they or a loved one had this sickness. However, thanks to modern medicine, while still serious, it is no longer considered a death sentence. Nonetheless, pneumonia can still result in death if not treated properly, especially in the elderly and children younger than one year old. These days treatment can be based solely on western medicine, alternative medicine, or a combination of both.
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is most commonly the result of an infection caused by bacteria or a virus, or by the inhalation of vomit, mucus and some types of chemicals. The word pneumonia means an ‘inflammation of the lungs’.
There are several types of pneumonia which are differentiated by the bacteria which caused it. In fact, there are said to be around 30 different types, but they are grouped under two main headings, namely, aspiration and infective pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia results from the inhalation of vomit or harsh chemicals into the lungs.
Infective pneumonia results from the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Some other bacteria which can cause the condition are pneumococcus and staphylococcus. The worst form of the sickness, lobar pneumonia is caused by the pneumococcus bacteria.
Regardless of the cause, the result is lungs that cannot properly do their job, thus preventing oxygenated blood from reaching cells. Pneumonia generally results in air sacs becoming filled with mucous and pus.
Treatment of Pneumonia
Treatment depends on the type and severity of the pneumonia. When caused by bacteria, pneumonia is commonly treated with antibiotics such as penicillin, erythromycin and Augmentin. Most persons with pneumonia do not need hospitalization. However they have to take their medication, drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest.
When pneumonia is viral, administering antibiotics is not an effective treatment. In fact, this type tends to go away on its own over time with rest and lots of fluids. Pain and fever can be controlled with over-the-counter medications.
Natural Treatment For Pneumonia
Like most illnesses, pneumonia can be effectively treated naturally. One often recommended treatment option is a vitamin C regimen. Other recommended courses of treatment include:
Fenugreek tea
This is recommended especially in the early stages of the infection. Drinking tea made from Fenugreek helps to shorten the timeframe during which the fever lasts. The recommended dosage is four cups per day. It is recommended that for best results, the stomach should be empty before drinking the tea. In fact, fenugreek tea works best during a period of fasting.
Garlic
Garlic can be taken internally as well as used externally for pneumonia. Garlic tea helps with clearing the respiratory system. Applying a paste of garlic on the chest is also helpful, but be on the lookout for possible skin irritation. If irritation occurs discontinue external use.
Sesame seeds
An infusion made from sesame seeds, linseed, salt and honey helps to remove mucus and other matter from the bronchial passage. Around 15g of sesame seeds is steeped in 250 ml of water and allowed to brew for a few minutes.
Vegetable Juices
The nutritional and healing powers of vegetable juices are well known. Use any combination of vegetables you want for your vegetable juice to help speed recovery from pneumonia. One combination can be carrots, parsnip, cucumber and beet. Very few vegetables are excluded, you can do single vegetable juices such as spinach or you can combine them. Avoid adding sugar or artificial sweeteners to your vegetable juices. If so inclined, use a little honey.
It is always best not to self-diagnose if possible. If you suspect you have pneumonia, get checked out by a doctor to confirm this. Once you receive confirmation you can determine how to proceed with treatment.
How long Does it take to be Cured
The time it takes to cure pneumonia depends on the type, severity and the general health of the patient. The course of treatment also plays a role in recovery time. Generally, a healthy person should make a full recovery within two to three weeks if they complete their treatment. This timeline is especially true for younger persons. Seniors may take a little longer to recover from pneumonia. The coughing can however take up to eight weeks to stop completely.
Most important, whether you are using western medicine or alternative medicine to treat pneumonia, some things are constant. These are a well balanced diet, lots of fluids, fresh air and lots of rest.
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September 5th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Hi, I am much worried about my father. He was suffering from fever and chill and taking it for a cold he was given antibiotics by his GP. After two weeks he was still not well and very weak. He was taken to the hospital on 21.08.10 (2 weeks ago). He was diagnosed to have pneumonia and given treatment.He also had water in his lungs. He is still at hospital. He no longer has fever or chill and no more water in his lungs. However he is constantly short of breath, very weak and has lost all apetite. He hardly eats and has lost a lot of weight. His X ray and scan shows that his chest is clear and that he has no other infection. I dearly hope that that u can provide us with some hope as we are desperately worried about his breadthlessness and weak condition.
Gratefully yours.
August 30th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Hi, I am seriously worried for my aunt’s health as she was took into Hospital on 26/08/2010 with what her GP thought was a bad chest infection which her GP had given Anti-Biotics for 8 weeks to help cure a cough but on 27/08/2010 my aunt was diagnosed with Pneumonia & placed in an ICU. Today which is 3 days onwards & still there is no news of her getting better. I am really worried as the Hospital Nurses have informed our family that although they have managed to drain fluid from around her heart which is now gone, they are saying my aunt is no better fro the day she was diagnosed & not responding from her ongoing treatment in the hospital & are now wondering if there is an underlying illness which is stopping her from responding to her reatment. I am sending this due to how worried my family & I are & hope that you could give me any indication or hope for my aunts health? I would be so greatful of your help & to give my family some sort of hope? Kind Regards, Duncan Ure
July 24th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
I’m 55, never been sick before. I thought I just had a hard time recoverying from a cold, short of breath, slight fatigue, but felt fine. No fever or cough. All of the sudden I started coughing lots of blood. After several test at the emergency room, I was diagnosed with bronchialitis and pneumonia. I had had some headaches and a sharp pain in my chest but I thought the headaches were allergy related and the chest pain felt like a muscle spasm. I was in the hospital 2 day and given steroids and clarithromyacin for 20 days. It’s been 2 months and I feel fine except still short of breath and fatigue. My doctor said it would take a long time to fully recover because my pneumonia was caused by a serious sphaf infection
July 20th, 2010 at 6:47 am
i was coughing for the three wks of june, but the fourth wk i just wake up not breathing .Iwent to the Doctor and the gp says it’s asthma.But after the senior doc came, he said it was pneumonia .I was on antibiotics for 4 days in hospital and was discharged.The first wk after discharged i was seriously ill.I used alot of warm water. ginger.lemons but it helps .After a week i started bring out heavy phlems .It’s nw four wks since i started but still coughing phlems out everytime . Hw long does it take,pliz help it’s so irritating.
July 13th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Before understanding pneumonia let me tell you why lung is very important This will help you to understand the seriousness of lung infection.
When we breath the air , the air will get directly into lung. The lung has lot of air sacs called as alveoli. All the air that we intake are stored in these small air sac. This air sac will separate the oxygen from the air and purify it. Once purified this oxygen will be transferred from the lungs to the blood. Then the blood will carry this oxygen to Heart.
So if you get infected in lung the alveoli will get filled up with fluid or pus. Hence it will not be able to store air. This causes breathing problem. If alveoli fails to store air the oxygen separation will not happen and sufficient oxygen will not be transferred to the blood. Hence the blood will not pass on oxygen to heart and finally will result in pulse going down and lead to cardiac arrest and the death of the person.
July 13th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Clifford, Pneumonia cannot last for 2 years. if a person is acquired with pneumonia and not treated properly the infection will spread across the entire lung. Atlast this will lead to severe breathing problem and will be fatal so this i think what you have is not pneumonia.
July 13th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Hi All,
I see that most of them are scared and some of them really don’t want to suffer pneumonia due to it pain full symptoms.
Don`t get scared by reading too many online articles.
Pneumonia is just an inflation in lungs due to infection. It will be fatal only if it is not treated. Also, most of them want to be completely normal and back to the usual life within couple of day after taking antibiotics. One should understand that just taking pills for 3 or 5 day wont help us to completely recover and go for base ball play.
After taking 5 days of medicine the bacterias within you lungs will be cleared off. This doesn’t mean you ar
e cured. After medication you will still have cough for minimum 3 -6 weeks. You can ask your doctor for cough table. Cough will be severe during night and morning and you will cough out either phlegm or just it will be watery. It will take time for the congestion to completely go off
Some home remedy. Please do no smoke this will increase the congestion and lessen your immunity which can worsen the infection in lungs.I used to smoke once a week i stopped even that now.
Please do not drink this will suppress your immune system and you body will not be able to fight against the disease. A full bottle of JD sleeping in my fridge.
Please do not get scared or stressed due to this disease this will lessen you immune system.
Prepare a drink containing garlic,ginger,pepper,fenugreek,salt. Just mix all this with water and boil. Drink this twice a day morning and evening. This will dissolve the congestion.
Avoid coffee or any milk product this will thicken the phlegm. Drink green tea instead.
Follow diet don’t eat much. Have a limited diet so that digestion will be easy.
Be normal go to work come back and take complete rest. Have a deep sleep.
try to cough out in the morning and night.
Remain calm your disease will run off in another 3 or 4 weeks. It lung infection so it will take time dont expect things to be ok in few days. Follow the diet as said above till u get out of this hell.
I got fever, i took amox and that night my fever went off. I went to doctor the next day. I`m diagnosed with pneumonia. I got scared. Then i started taking medicine for 5 days. Went to doctor again, i was better no fever no symptoms only tiredness and cough. The doctor prescribed me with cough medicine. Taking 3 times a day. Im still having cough and tiredness i know its going to take time for me to heal completely am maintaining above said diets.
Please take care of yourself very much and be bold to face the disease when you are diagnosed with pneumonia.
July 9th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
I am 62 and I have had pneumonia now for 8 wks. I have had 4 xrays and will get one next week and then we will go to plan B whatever that means. when I feel good I do to much and it sets me back the next day. my cough is better but I am so tired and my voice sounds funny. I finished my antibiotics and am hoping for improvement. Does anyone know how long this can hang on? I am getting a little discouraged as I like to walk my dogs and go to the gym.
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:26 am
Amazing how few people can spell pneumonia.
Clifford. I am not a doctor, though I would imagine that working around lead a lot, if it was aerosolized (became airborne by melting it and such) you may have permanent lung damage. I’m completely guessing on this one, but there’s a chance that what the x-rays are showing is actually scar tissue, and not pneumonia per-say. Remember what pneumonia is, it’s inflammation of the lungs. It’s not always a virus or bacteria causing it.
If your x-ray results have been consistently showing the same thing for two years, you might want to ask about other possibilities. Do you smoke, by change? Does it ever hurt when you breathe? Do you have any pets, and if so, have you been tested for allergies to them? Is there anything you’re still in contact with that might be causing an allergic reaction via swelling in the lungs?
You might also want to compare x-rays from the past and more recent ones and see if there’s any change in shape. If not, it’s possible the areas that are lighting up are the same and may in fact be identified as something else. Something that has been there for a while. Pneumonia should go away once the cause has been removed. Most people don’t carry the disease around for 2 years, and would find it difficult to cope with being consistently out of breath, coughing, and sick for two years straight. If you’re not really put off by any of these symptoms, it may be time to ask your doctor for another possible diagnosis.
This is just my opinion, I am not a doctor tough I’d like to at least help you get the ball rolling in the right direction. Best of luck with you and your situation, Cliff.
-Caid.
p.s. Anita, you most certainly will
June 29th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
This is my fourth week off work recovering from pneumonia. The treatment of antibiotics for 10 days worked and now gratefully my lungs are clear. I am 53 and a non-smoker. Guess my immune system is under stress. Has been a very humbling experience. What is tough is the fatigue. I wonder will I ever get my energy back?