Symptoms:
Fever, chills, aching muscles, coughing, sore throat, bloody sputum, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, pain in the chest, rapid, difficult breathing, and cyanosis (bluish skin and nails from lack of oxygen).

In bacterial pneumonia, it comes suddenly and the cough is dry at first; then a rust-colored sputum is produced, and breathing becomes rapid and labored. The viral form is more variable in seriousness, from the time it begins.

Cause:
Pneumonia is a serious infection of the lungs and bronchial tubes. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protozoa. The tiny sacs in the lungs (which look somewhat like grapes hanging from their stems) are where the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange is made. These sacs become inflamed and filled with mucous and pus.

Generally an upper respiratory infection (in the throat and the bronchial tubes), such as a cold, the flu, or perhaps the measles, occurs. Those under one year or over 60 are the most susceptible.

Bacterial pneumonia is more dangerous and severe than the viral type. There is also a fungal pneumonia, but those with HIV are most likely to contract it.

In children, the pain of pneumonia is frequently located in the abdomen, and cause others to think there is acute indigestion or appendicitis.

Treatment:
• You will want to use essentially the same treatment as outlined for bronchitis; except that, because the person's illness is so much more serious, he must be given much rest and intensified care.

• Rinse out the nose with saltwater, gently taking it in and blowing it out. Gargle with saltwater. Then repeat the rinsing and gargling with a goldenseal and myrrh mixture. This will help keep a cold or flu from going down into the lungs.

• But if the lungs are already affected, do the above treatment. Also give hot footbaths and a high herb enema at least once a day. Drink plenty of water. Take laxative herbs, to keep the bowels working properly. Give short, hot fomentations to the chest and upper back, with short cold between each hot application.

• Only give liquids the first few days. These should consist of fruit juices (diluted pineapple juice or orange juice) or lemon and water (without sugar), etc. Continue this until the high fever abates. Then give strained vegetable broths, whole grains (best in dry form, so it will be chewed well).