Chronic bronchial asthma is a recurrent asthmatic disorder that is considered to be one of two sub-diseases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, according to FamilyDoctor.org. The disorder is characterized by swelling and irritation...
Mucinex (generic: guaifenesin) is a drug used in cases of respiratory system disease. It is called a mucolytic or an expectorant because it helps in breaking down mucus and facilitating the clearing of debris from the respiratory tract by...
According to the Mayo Clinic, cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening genetic disorder that mainly affects the respiratory and digestive systems. CF occurs because of a defective gene that causes the secretions to become thick and sticky,...
Bromhexine is used to treat respiratory disorders that are caused by excessive or overly sticky mucus. Bromhexine, which is sold under the brand names Bisolvon or Barkacin, acts as a mucolytic agent that increases the water content of mucus,...
Ambroxol is an orally administrated syrup or liquid indicated to alleviate symptoms associated with excessive chest mucous or cough. This medication is a type of mucolytic drug, which works by breaking up thick mucus in the lungs or chest. As of...
You may need an inhalation of acetylcysteine, a medicine classified as a mucolytic -- meaning it breaks up, dissolves and liquefies mucus -- if you have certain types of lung conditions, the Mayo Clinic reports. This respiratory medication...
The term "cedar oil" is loosely applied to all species of cedarwood oil, including Cedrus atlantica, Juniperus virginiana and Juniperus ashei. Shirley Price, in "Aromatherapy Workbook," writes that cedar oil is obtained from different cedar trees...
Sinusitis is in inflammation of the air-filled cavities, or sinuses, located around the nasal passages. Bacteria, viruses, and food and environmental allergies are causative factors for this common chronic condition characterized by headaches,...
The amino acid cysteine is often used in supplement form to treat respiratory conditions, as well as other conditions. Cysteine most typically comes in its acetylcysteine form when used as a supplement, according to the University of Maryland...
According to a 2003 study in the "Archives of Internal Medicine," colds and flu account for more than 100 million doctor visits each year at a cost of over 7.7 billion dollars. With the future of healthcare uncertain and more people finding...
N-acetyl cysteine may be beneficial in treating conditions that cause mucus in the body, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. N-acetyl cysteine is a supplement for a common amino acid, cysteine, that your body takes from animal...
Surinam cherry is often called Brazilian cherry, Cheyenne cherry, or Pitanga. It belongs to the uniflora species, part of the myrtaceae family. This is the same family that myrtle comes from. The Surinam cherry is a popular ornamental shrub,...
N-acetyl-cysteine, or N-acetylcysteine, is a strong antioxidant, and it also helps form glutathione, an antioxidant produced in the liver and other cells. Food is not a good source of N-acetyl-cysteine, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering...
Secreted by the silkworm, serrapeptase is an enzyme that plays a critical role in the insect's metamorphosis into a moth. Scientific research shows that the enzyme also possesses potent medicinal properties, making it a useful tool in the...
Lined with a mucus secreting membrane, the sinuses provide a filtering tunnel for inhaled substances before they make their way into the lungs. A variety of irritants and infectious organisms can cause the sinuses to swell, and the sinusitis that...
Essential oils are a natural product extracted from the flowers, fruits, seeds, tree bark, grasses and leaves of aromatic plants. They are made up of many chemical components. Essential oils are difficult to replicate synthetically because of...
Triphala, a traditional herbal supplement used in Ayurvedic medicine, is made up of three different nutrient-rich fruits: amalaki, or Indian gooseberry, also called amla; haritaki, or harida; and bhibitaki, or bihara. So revered is triphala as a...
Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, combine into many compounds. N-acetyl cysteine remains one of the more intriguing ones, given the role it plays in a variety of symptoms. N-acetyl cysteine also functions as an antioxidant, improving...
Ficin and Bromelain are two protein-digesting enzymes. Ficin is obtained from the sap of fig trees and is used mostly in biomedical laboratories as a protease and to aid the coalescing of red blood cells by immunoglobulin G. On the other hand,...
N-acetylcysteine, also known simply as acetylcysteine, is a natural antioxidant substance produced in the human body. Doctors use a prescription form of this substance to thin the body secretion called mucus. While doctors sometimes use...
Bronchiole congestion is a common health problem. The bronchioles are narrow air passages in your lungs that branch from a larger airway. Like the other parts of your air conducting system, bronchioles help draw air into your lungs for the...
The body uses mucus to filter pollutants out of the air. As a result, the mucus traps germs and allergens before they enter the body. The bacterial and viral organisms trapped in this secretion may cause a foul odor, throat irritation and other...
The lungs secrete mucus to trap small particles and germs. Hair-like projections in the airways and coughing clear lung mucus in healthy patients. Certain medical conditions and diseases cause an accumulation of lung mucus that may interfere with...
Eucalyptus tea is made from the ground leaves of the eucalyptus tree, native to Australia and known in that region as the fever tree due to its medicinal properties. Germany has standardized eucalyptus tea where it is widely recommended as a...
Nebulized medications include bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory medications, mucolytics and wetting agents, anti-infective medications and inhaled opiates. A nebulizer is a medical device that uses compressed air, oxygen, ultrasonic power or...
Congestion and phlegm are typically an indication of a respiratory disorder, whether it is acute or chronic. Phlegm or mucus secretions in the sinus cavities lead to congestion and can often accompany allergies. Because these symptoms are not...
Congestion results from inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nasal passages due to engorgement of the underlying blood vessels, which widen in response to infection or allergy. The condition becomes worse with excessive mucus production,...
A jet nebulizer changes liquid medication into an aerosol that can be inhaled through a mouthpiece or mask. Nebulizers are used in the treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis and emphysema as well as other...
In the case of H1N1, or swine flu, antiviral medications are effective in treating and sometimes preventing this virus. As with any drug, development of medication resistance is a factor when prescribing these medications. Therefore, according to...
