12 Home Remedies for Pneumonia Symptoms

For cough

You may develop a cough at the onset of your pneumonia. It can come on right away or after a few days, and it can sometimes even be present for months after infection.

Coughing helps to rid your body of the infection by removing fluid from your lungs, so you don’t want to stop coughing completely.

However, you may want to reduce how much you cough so that it doesn’t interfere with your rest or cause further pain and irritation.

1. Try a saltwater gargle

Gargling with salt water can help remove some of the mucus in your throat and relieve irritation.

2. Drink hot peppermint tea

Peppermint can may help alleviate irritation and expel mucus. Research suggests that it can be an effective decongestant, anti-inflammatory, and pain reliever.

If you don’t already have peppermint tea, you can pick up loose or bagged teas at your local grocery or online. And if you have fresh peppermint, you can easily make your own tea.

You can also deeply inhale the aroma of the peppermint tea while the tea is steeping. This might help clear your nasal pathways.

For shortness of breath

With pneumonia, your breathing may suddenly become rapid and shallow, or this symptom could develop gradually over the course of a few days.

You may even experience breathlessness while you’re resting. Your doctor can prescribe medication or inhalers to help. Even as you try the suggestions below, make sure you keep up with your physician’s instructions and dosages.

If the following suggestions don’t help and your breath becomes even shorter, seek immediate medical care.

3. Use a handheld fan

While the evidence is limited, a 2020 review suggests that passing a handheld fan across the face may temporarily relieve breathlessness in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). If you want to try using a handheld fan, it may help.

4. Drink a cup of coffee

Drinking a cup of coffee may also help relieve shortness of breath due to its caffeine content.

Caffeine may help widen the airways, and a 2021 review even suggested that consuming it could help soothe some COVID-19 symptoms and work against SARS-CoV-2.

However, it can take some time before it works. Caffeine’s half-life is about 5 hours, meaning that your body gets rid of half the caffeine content in this time. If caffeine helps to widen your airways, this is the amount of time it’s likely to have its most noticeable effects.

For chest pain

Chest pain may come on suddenly or over the course of several days. While most people with pneumonia experience chest pain, it should resolve with treatment in a few weeks.

5. Drink a cup of turmeric tea

A 2020 review suggests that a compound called curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial qualities that can help your body defend itself against pneumonia. This suggests that it may help people with pneumonia.

However, if you’re taking blood thinners, it’s a good idea to avoid too much turmeric. High doses can have a coagulant effect, and on top of medication, this can make your blood too thin.

You can buy turmeric tea at your local grocery or online. You can also make your own tea using turmeric powder.

6. Drink a cup of ginger tea

Ginger has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. As with turmeric, current research on ginger hasn’t looked at whether it helps specifically with chest pain, but it’s a safe and easy option that may help with your symptoms.

You can find loose or bagged ginger teas at your local grocery or online. Or, you can use raw ginger to make your own ginger tea.

For fever

Your fever may develop suddenly or over the course of a few days. With treatment, it should subside within the week.

7. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil) can help to reduce your fever and alleviate pain. It’s a good idea to take these with food to avoid side effects like upset stomach and nausea.

8. Drink some fenugreek tea

Research from 2018 found that fenugreek tea can stimulate sweating when you drink it. Because sweating cools you down, this might help provide some relief from a fever.

9. Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water and adding electrolytes while you have a fever can help you prevent dehydration. Eating homemade popsicles or sipping on chilled beverages also provides hydration as well as cooling you down.

10. Apply a lukewarm compress or take a lukewarm bath

Submerging your body in a lukewarm bath might help you bring down your body temperature.

You can also use a lukewarm compress to help cool your body from the outside inward if a bath is not convenient. While it may be tempting to use a cold compress, the sudden temperature shift can cause chills, so opt for lukewarm instead.

For chills

Chills may come on before or during a fever. They typically subside after your fever breaks but may last up to a week.

11. Drink warm water

If peppermint tea isn’t your thing, a glass of warm water will do. This can help you stay hydrated and warm you internally.

12. Have a bowl of soup

Not only is a warm bowl of soup nourishing, but it can also help replenish vital liquids while it warms you from the inside out.

Stick to your treatment plan

The typical pneumonia treatment plan consists of rest, antibiotics, and increased fluid intake. Even when your symptoms start to subside, it’s a good idea to rest and take it easy.

You should take the entire course of medication even after you begin seeing improvement. If you don’t see improvement within a few days, see your doctor.

Preventing pneumonia naturally

Pneumonia isn’t always preventable. But by adopting certain lifestyle adjustments or avoiding triggers, you may be able to reduce your risk of experiencing its more severe effects.

Steps you can take include:

• washing your hands thoroughly and regularly to reduce your risk for infection
• avoiding cigarette smoke or quitting if you already smoke tobacco
• avoiding areas with high levels of air pollution where possible
• eating a nutritious and balanced diet
• staying active and exercising regularly
• managing your stress
• maintaining a regular sleep schedule and good sleep hygiene
• sticking to any prescribed treatments or interventions from a healthcare professional

Receiving a vaccine can also help reduce your risk for developing pneumonia as a complication of certain infections. Some of these include:

• chickenpox
• COVID-19
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• influenza (flu)
• measles
• Pneumococcal disease
• pertussis, or whooping cough

When to see a doctor

With pneumonia, it’s important not to let the disease progress if you suspect that your symptoms are getting worse. You should seek immediate medical attention if you notice:

• breathlessness
• a blue tint on your lips and fingertips
• chest pain
• a high fever
• a cough that produces mucus and is getting more severe

It’s also important to seek medical care if the following apply to you or a loved one with pneumonia:

• you’re 65 years old or older
• your child is 2 years of age or under
• you have a weakened immune system due to an autoimmune condition, treatment that affects your immune system like chemotherapy, or a disease that weakens the immune response like HIV
• you have an underlying health problem

Pneumonia can become life threatening for people in these categories. It’s essential to seek medical care if pneumonia symptoms develop.

The bottom line

Your pneumonia should start to improve steadily once you begin treatment. Pneumonia is serious and may require hospitalization. In severe cases, it can take up to 6 months before you feel fully recovered.

While you should always follow your prescribed treatment plan, some home remedies may help to manage your symptoms. Always discuss these with your doctor before trying anything new.

Remember to pace yourself and allow your body time to heal. Eating well and getting plenty of rest are key.