Phlegm often accompanies colds and other upper respiratory infections. While not a serious health problem, if phlegm is not treated timely, it can clog and irritate the bronchial tubes and in turn cause a secondary upper respiratory infection.
The presence of phlegm is usually indicated by a constant need for throat clearing, constant cough, runny nose, difficulty breathing, feeling weak and, in some cases, fever. Phlegm tends to collect and congest in the chest and throat and is usually expelled through coughing.
Phlegm contains the bacteria, virus or inflammatory cells produced in response to an infection. In addition to infections such as the common cold, flu and bronchitis, phlegm can be caused by an allergic reaction to irritants such as in asthma and hay fever, damaged vocal cords, and excessive smoking.
Dealing with phlegm can be incredibly frustrating and seemingly never ending. But there are effective, natural home remedies that work quickly and without causing side effects.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for phlegm.
Contents
1. Steam
Steam inhalation is the best and the simplest way to get rid of phlegm. Inhaling steam into the nasal passages helps keep phlegm in liquid form so it is easier to eliminate from your system.
- Take a steam shower twice daily. Turn your shower to full heat and stay in the closed bathroom for 10 minutes to help break up the mucus. Be sure to moisturize your body after, as warm water robs your skin of essential oils and moisture.
- Alternatively, pour hot boiling water in a large bowl. Hold a towel over your head and inhale the steam for five to 10 minutes. This will help loosen the secretions in your lungs. You can use this simple remedy several times a day.
2. Salt Water
Gargling with warm salt water is another easy way to treat phlegm. While warm water is soothing for an irritated throat, salt helps destroy bacteria that may be causing your infection and therefore reduces production of phlegm.
- Mix one-fourth teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.
- Gargle with the solution.
- Repeat this remedy several times a day.
3. Lemon Juice
Lemon is a great ingredient for loosening mucus and phlegm. Plus, lemon’s antibacterial property and high vitamin C content improves the body’s resistance to infections.
- Add two teaspoons of lemon juice and one tablespoon of honey to a glass of hot water. Drink this at least three times a day to soothe your throat and reduce phlegm production.
- Another simple option is to cut a slice of lemon, sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper on it and then suck on the lemon slice. It will help force the phlegm out of your throat. Do this two or three times a day.
4. Ginger
Ginger is a natural decongestant and has been used to fight off throat and respiratory tract infections for ages.
Also, the antiviral, antibacterial and expectorant properties present in ginger ease congestion in the throat and chest to help you breathe easier.
- Add one tablespoon of fresh ginger slices to one cup of boiled water. Steep for a few minutes and then add two teaspoons of honey. Drink this soothing ginger tea several times throughout the day.
- Alternatively, chew raw ginger slices several times a day and add ginger to your dishes.
5. Turmeric
Turmeric has strong antiseptic properties that help reduce phlegm by killing the bacteria that cause excessive mucus production. Also, turmeric helps strengthen the immune system.
- Add one teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of hot milk. Drink it once in the morning and again before going to bed.
- Swallow one-half teaspoon of turmeric with a glass of water two or three times a day.
- Add one tablespoon of turmeric and a pinch of salt to a glass of hot water. Use it to gargle several times a day.
6. Chicken Soup
Warm chicken soup can also help treat phlegm. Hot chicken soup will help moisturize the airways and thin the consistency of the phlegm. It will also soothe an irritated throat and induce relaxation.
Have some chicken soup at least two or three times a day to clear phlegm from your throat. For increased benefits, add ginger and garlic to the soup. Homemade soup is often more effective than canned soup, which has preservatives.
7. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper helps the body release mucus built up in the nasal passages and throat. The warm and stimulating nature of cayenne pepper also helps reduce pain in your chest and soothes an irritated throat.
- Mix the following ingredients: one-fourth teaspoon each of cayenne pepper and grated fresh ginger, one tablespoon each of honey and apple cider vinegar, and two tablespoons of water.
- Drink this mixture two or three times a day to help reduce phlegm production.
Note: Also include cayenne pepper in cooking your dishes.
8. Honey
Honey has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that make it a great home remedy for soothing an irritated throat and eliminating phlegm. Plus, it has antiseptic properties that help boost the immune system to fight off infections faster.
- Add a pinch of white or black pepper powder to one tablespoon of honey. Pepper will help treat a throat infection, while the honey will soothe the mucous membranes. Have this mixture twice a day for a week.
- Add one tablespoon of honey to a glass of warm water. Drink this several times a day. You’ll get the benefits from honey’s medicinal properties and the water will help thin the mucus.
9. Onion
Onion has excellent antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties that help relax your throat and get rid of phlegm. Also, onion helps boost the immune system and speed up the healing process. You can make a tonic with onion and sugar to increase the fluidity of the phlegm so it is easier to expel.
- Wash and finely chop a small onion.
- Toss the onion with two tablespoons of sugar and set it aside for half an hour. The mixture will develop a liquid texture.
- Take one tablespoon of this tonic every two to three hours or when needed.
You can store the extra tonic in the refrigerator for one to two days.
10. Carrots
Carrots have been found to be very effective in treating phlegm and other similar conditions. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that boosts the immune system and builds resistance to various kinds of infections. Plus, carrots are packed with many nutrients and vitamins that help reduce cough symptoms as well as phlegm.
- Extract the juice from four to five fresh carrots.
- Add a little water to dilute the juice. Then add two to three teaspoons of honey and mix it well.
- Drink this juice throughout the day to clear phlegm from your throat.
Try these simple remedies the next time you are suffering from the annoying problem of phlegm. However, if you notice blood in the phlegm or you cough up phlegm that is yellow or green, consult a doctor.
Resources:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/359266
Hi there
Ok
Okkkkk
Good morning
Thanks so much for this post, Couldn’t have come at a better time
Black pepper increases the absorbance of Turmeric in your body.
Instead of lemon juice can we jus take out the juice from the lemon or does it have to be lemon juice from a store.
Fresh squeezed juice is Perfect
Yes you can it is more healthy than lemon juice
thanks guys for your help, keep on updating us
Noted, thanks
Thanks for good tips
Good site.very useful remedies
It was very helpfull. Thank you so much for the post.
How can one encourage a grown man to stop spitting almost all of the time ? He claims that it is an athletic habit from playing professional (United States), football.
He also passes gas very loudly for the same reasoning. Otherwise he is impeccably groomed, very well dressed, brushes his teeth and flosses about 5 or 6 times each day, and showers 3 to 4 times a day. He is always fresh and manicured and pedicured. He is very attractive as a perfect specimen of physical fitness. he also models and acts when not working out for the games. What can I do ? I love him very much. But he just does not understand why the general public finds these things rude and unsanitary. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sorry but if he does what you say, he may need to shower 3-4 times a day. Ask him how he would feel if you did that, especially around his friends. I’m sure he would think it disgusting. Tell him thats how you feel.
There is something wrong with him. People don’t need to take 3-4 showers a day & do all the other obsessive things he does to be perfectly groomed etc. The spitting is just another clue as to this guys compulsions. These behaviors are just a clue to underlying problems, they are not really problems themselves.
or you could just be happy that you found someone that sounds pretty amazing and you’re nitpicking the shit out of some minute details.
I’m sure there is an item or two on your hang list he’d like to amend.
like for instance, the way you always want to pick apart everything he does?
you found a model. and you’re on this website botching about it.
Start spitting also in his company, or do something that will irk him.
Clock him on the back of the head when he does it! That s nasty, bad manners and his mama should have taught him to behave better in public.
If he’s playing pro football earning all that cash and he’s truly my man , spitting and farting is the least of your problems , my advice to you would be to stop complaining , just love your man! And just hope that you are the only one that he’s loving, hope I was helpful!
Start spitting like he does in public he should get the picture. Good luck
you sound frankly ridiculous
Sounds like he has OCD obsessive compulsive disorder , he should see a therapist or counselor for proper diagnosis, OCD makes people do things more than usual like you said he does ,washing, cleaning, lining things changing clothes
thanks for this useful post
thank U so much, 😉
Thanks for this website..
DO THIS! I have massive sinus issues, and steaming, neti pot, gargle, ex cetera, REALLY WORKS! Must be commited to doing every couple of hours…
Nice remedies…… thanx a lot
Love this post, it really helps.
thanx home remedies 4 d useful tips..
I have a blocked nose only when I am asleep. The main problem is that my throat, chest and inner nose seem to have mucus which I cough it to clear. At times it is thick at times loose. It appears as if I am allergic to something I don’t know. I am taking the Ridaq 25mg Tablets daily for Bp. At times it appeared that I had a problem with Coke – acidic loose juice forming in my chest, throat and nose.
thanks to u….
thanks for the information and now i know i can use it practically without administering any drugs and cough syrups. like the lemon juice it is contained high vitamin c very healthy way of curing phlegm thank you.
Thank you this is helpful
very good
thaks home remedies for this usefull post
Aww great though..it adds more knowledge…thanks fo it
Very nic tips . thanx.
Nice to read these remedies for cough and cold. These are easy, nature based and hence practical in its application.
Thanks. The remedies work quickly and effectively.
It says to go to your doctor if your mucus is green, but this advice isn’t entirely accurate. When you have a Cold or Flu, your mucus can change colour from white/clear to green, and when it does turn green, it is a sign that your body is fighting the infection, so it’s a good thing, and no reason to see a doctor.
Great post. very helpful and informative. Thanks and bless you
3 or 4 showers a day would be a obsessive compulsive disorder (ocd) like washing your hands 20 times a hour
Good info indeed
Green curry leaves and ginger with lemon
Green curry leaves and ginger with lemon everday does wonders!
I learned that you shouldn’t use hot water with lemon or kalamansi.instead room temperature only or maybe a little warm.the vitamin C content in the lemon is destroyed in hot or boiling water.
THANK YOU sooo much for your 10 remedies on Phlegm Dear Top 10Homeremedies
Its working
First time on this site. Very informative Info, thanks.
Very useful health tips…. Thank u so much…..
Thank you , i shall Try this immediately as I have had enough of this. In hospital for 3 days and still stuck with the same phlegm
Thanks I believe only natural remedies as they don’t hv side effects
don’t just gargle the salt, go ahead and consume some and especially with nutrient rich meals….Iodized salt is stomach acid plus antacid plus a trace of iodine hopefully…If your pancreas is weak the formula will be off…too much salt leads to excess sodium for the body to expel…1 course of antibiotics with a commitment to salt turned my chronic phlegm situation around…I was salt avoidant for years, I smoke….Low salt will eventually lead to a chlorine shortage and low stomach acid which can cause GERD, leaky gut syndrome, reduced digestion of food, eventually slow metabolism and nutrient absorption…if your body is damaged or you have insufficient nutrition salt might be a problem and you would have to seek a compromise but for me salt was the cure! The first impact was better sleep breathing. salty broccoli is a good choice with a wide variety of good nutrients
thankyou citizen x ;))))))) <3333
Just because someone is a model that makes them a god? You should put up with spitting and farting and forced rude behavior because your guy has no respect? What happens when he can no longer model What you do for a living is not who you are.
Pink salt has 84 different minerals and trace elements. Consuming that is like taking a mineral supplement. That’s cos it’s God made and not man made. Thank you Jesus! ?
Thanks for the tips!!!!:-D
Good tips
Thnx reli gòod tips
Thnx it reli works!!!! Good tips
Avoid cheese at all cost.
I guarantee you any remrdy from India the best remedy ….thanks ..
If it’s true love you have to take the good with the bad.
Very nice. Thank you.
it really works!
Good remefies
Good remedies really helped
I will try and respond soon. Thanks
Good tips really works thanx
helpful tips………………..thanks
Can’t wait to try these remedies and judging from the replies these remedies Do WORK!!! Thanks
May God bless you and you may live long.These are great advices.Thanks.
Comment:helpful tips…thnx a lot
i have a problem of flue and cold i go to doctor and flue and cold gone with medison but phlegm in not going with medison there is no water is coming from my nose its comming from my mouth consistantly so which number of home remidies of phlegm is best for me
Very helpful ! I tried honey and lemon it really works since ( I’m feed up with over the counter prescriptions which worsen my condition )… they are much cheaper and readily available… 🙂 May God bless you more … 🙂
Thanks for the ol’ skool reminders on how to get rid of phlegm quickly. My mom used to make me gargle salt water when I was a kid. I forgot how well it works. I won’t forget again. Thanks!
I tried the lemon, ginger and warm water: its awesome, thanks for your information; will try and share to other friends. God bless you.
Nana Krako