🌿 Garlic, Ginger and the Art of Listening to Your Lungs

By Rebecca Side, Acupuncturist (and fellow bronchiectasis wrangler)

There are moments when your body gives you that quiet nudge. A bit of tightness in the chest, a kind of fatigue that’s more than a bad night’s sleep, that familiar tickle that makes you reach for the kettle and the garlic.

If you live with bronchiectasis, you get to know these signals better than anyone. The trick, I’ve learned, is listening to them early, before they turn into something bigger.

Garlic: Nature’s Tiny Warrior

I recently listened to a brilliant episode of The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, where he interviewed Dr Simon Mills, a true herbal medicine master. It reminded me why I love the way nature works and how much we already have sitting in our kitchens and gardens that can support healing.

I’ll admit, I’ve done his famous “garlic intensive” more than once. Eight raw cloves (yes, really) over an evening when my chest feels heavy, and by the next day everything feels a little easier. Not glamorous, but effective.

Most days though, I keep it gentler. A clove in my soup, a bit of ginger tea, and acupuncture to keep everything flowing. Acupuncture helps balance the immune system, reduce inflammation, and support the lungs’ ability to clear mucus naturally. All things we bronchiectasis folk need on our side.

Inflammation: Not the Enemy

One thing I love about both Chinese medicine and herbal medicine is that they don’t treat inflammation like the villain. It’s your body’s alarm system. Its way of saying, “Hey, I’m dealing with something here.”

Acupuncture helps turn down the volume of that alarm, restoring calm and letting your body finish the healing process instead of getting stuck in overdrive.

Warming the System: Inside and Out

Dr Mills swears by ginger, mustard and cinnamon for getting the blood moving. Acupuncturists call this moving the Qi, helping your body’s energy and circulation flow smoothly again.

Whether you’re sipping a spicy ginger tea or having a few needles to open the chest and relax the muscles, it’s all about warmth, movement and flow.

When I’m feeling run down, I reach for my ginger tea and my needles before I reach for anything else. They’re like nature’s reset button.

Immunity Isn’t One Big Thing, It’s a Thousand Little Habits

For me, keeping well with bronchiectasis isn’t about one magic cure. It’s about all the small, consistent things: sleeping well, laughing often, keeping warm, eating colourful food, and staying curious about what my body is telling me.

Echinacea is one of my go-tos, that gentle tap on the shoulder for the immune system. I use it when my child brings home yet another germ from school, and pair it with regular acupuncture to keep my system responsive, not reactive.

Why Tracking Matters

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned, both as a practitioner and a patient, is that healing isn’t linear. Some weeks you feel great. Other weeks, the cough returns or your energy dips.

That’s why I started tracking my symptoms years ago, long before I wrote my book. Seeing patterns on paper changed everything. I could spot what triggered flare-ups (cold weather, stress, late nights) and what helped (rest, acupuncture, staying warm, a bit of garlic magic).

That’s what inspired my Bronchiectasis log book, a gentle, practical way to get to know your lungs better. Because once you can see your patterns, you can predict your needs, and that’s real empowerment.

The Best Medicine

When Dr Mills was asked what matters most for health, he didn’t mention herbs or supplements. He said:

“The best thing you can do is spend time with the people you love.”

That resonated deeply with me. Connection, laughter and feeling seen, that’s medicine too. It’s what keeps me showing up for my patients, my family, and this unpredictable pair of lungs I live with.

So pour yourself some ginger tea, jot down how you’re feeling today, and remember that your body is always talking. You just need to start listening.

If you’re living with bronchiectasis, I’d love you to start noticing your body’s patterns too. Use my Bronchiectasis Journal to log your symptoms, track triggers and spot what strengthens your immunity. It’s not about perfection, it’s about awareness. That’s where healing begins.

🎧Listen to the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jk5XCLAr6w