Coughing is a reflex action. It helps us to purge the respiratory tract of foreign bodies or our own body secretions, or any irritants, thus making breathing easier. A cough may be a dry cough, also known as a non-productive cough, or a productive cough which also has phlegm. Coughing will usually produce a characteristic sound. It may occur involuntarily as well as voluntarily. If the cough is caused by a disease, the coughing also facilitates to spread the disease from one person to another. Mucus which becomes viscous due to an allergy or cold and gets formed in the sinus and throat is known as phlegm. Cough with phlegm can result in a very unpleasant situation. It can cause difficulty in sleeping at night. It soon results in a sore chest and a sore throat. Such a situation may need attention as it may lead to complications if left unattended. Most cough phlegm remedies can be practiced at home and home remedies for phlegm cough are effective and can help to ease the cough.
One of the common phlegm remedies is steam inhalation. You will need a vaporizer to get started. Even a conical flask or narrow mouthed vessel will do. Boil some tap water and pour it carefully into the vessel you are using. While inhaling steam, pull a towel over your head in order to reduce the amount of steam escaping. The steam inhalation will loosen out the phlegm and relieve the sinus and throat. This will reduce the irritation and the phlegm cough. You can make the steam inhalation more effective by using a few drops of eucalyptus oil or a few mint leaves. The addition of some mint leaves or eucalyptus oil makes steam inhalation a potent home remedy for mucus in throat. Steam may also be obtained from a hot bath. Be careful not to scald yourself, though! The hot shower should just be hot enough to create a foggy environment in the bathroom. These phlegm home remedies would help greatly to soothe the irritation caused in the throat.
One of the important cough phlegm remedies as also sore throat remedies is to increase your fluid intake, especially warm liquids. The purpose is to keep the body well hydrated. The frequent consumption of warm water and other liquids is an efficient chest cough remedy as it will loosen the mucus and ease out the cough. Herbal tea is known to be an excellent home remedy for mucus cough, not just for the hot tea, but also the healing power of the herbs. Hot tea with some eucalyptus, peppermint or thyme will ease out the cough phlegm in the throat. Your diet and the food that you eat would play an important role when considering home remedies for mucus in stools. The application of a hot water bottle to the chest and throat will assist in loosening the congestion and provide an effective relief from cough phlegm wheezing. It is imperative to be cautious while handling a hot water bottle as accidents are bound to occur while using them if not used correctly. Be sure to check the bag thoroughly for any leaks and pour the water gently. Always keep the cover tightly shut and use the bag with a bath towel. Regular usage should prove to be a good home remedy for mucus relief. The use of this home remedy for phlegm in chest would also relieve you from chest pains caused when coughing.
In order to help ease the discomfort caused by coughing at night, it is a good idea to keep your head slightly inclined. The elevation of the head will help in preventing repetitive coughing. Use a few pillows - about 4 should be sufficient - to raise your head. While sleeping in this position, the mucus will drain down from your throat. This will ease the urge to cough and thus provide relief. This is therefore considered an effective home remedy for phlegm in throat. While having a cough, you should avoid eating certain foods. These foods will aid phlegm formation, and aggravate the condition. On the "foods to be avoided&" list are fried foods, oily foods, dairy products, meats and cold foods. Another vice to avoid while suffering from a cough is smoking. Smoking can augment the mucus lining the throat and increase the irritation. It is therefore a good idea to stay away from smoking in order to avoid irritation and to help ensure a speedy recovery. You should also avoid secondary smoke as much as possible.
Here are a few simple home remedies for mucus cough:
- The honey and grape juice mix: Take about 2 spoonfuls each of honey and grape juice and mix them up. Take this mixture thrice daily for five consecutive days. The grape juice is a good home remedy for phlegm cough and will help you cough out and get rid of the phlegm.
- The honey and pepper mix: Mix a bit of pepper powder (about a teaspoon) to 2 spoonfuls of honey. Taking this mixture twice daily for five consecutive days is a great home remedy for phlegm and cough.
- The honey, lemon and onion juice mix: Take an onion and a lemon and peel them. Now juice both the lemon and the onion thoroughly into a vessel. Mix the juices well and add about a cup of boiling water to this mixture. Now mix some honey and let the entire mixture cool down. Once it is at room temperature, drink the whole cup in one go. This is a great home remedy for phlegm in chest and throat, if taken thrice daily for 3 consecutive days.
- The lemon remedy: You will need a lemon, salt and black pepper. Take the lemon and then cut it into half. Sprinkle the lemon half well with salt and black pepper. Sucking on this salted and peppered lemon daily is one of the effective home remedies for mucus as it will dry up the mucus.
- Garlic: After dinner, especially on winter nights, the consumption of garlic is also among the beneficial home remedies for mucus in lungs and throat.
- The licorice, honey and pepper mix: Adding some licorice to the honey and pepper mix will improve the potency of the mixture. This mixture should also be taken twice daily for 5 consecutive days as an excellent home remedy for phlegm and cough.
- Almond paste: As a phlegm cough remedy, almond paste is highly effective. Soak some almonds overnight in water. The next morning, grind it into a paste and consume it daily to be rid of cough.
Remember it is recommended that you contact your doctor whenever you try any home remedies for mucus in throat. The use of home remedies for mucus in babies is not recommended without confirmation and a go ahead from the doctor.
answered by A S