Phlegm is basically the thick mucus that is produced in the airways of the body, especially in the sinus. If you are suffering from a cold or respiratory disease you will most likely have a lot of phlegm that has accumulated in your throat and lungs, making you feel like something is stuck in your throat and leading to a sensation of being choked. You might also have to frequently spit out the phlegm as it comes up in the mouth, especially in the morning after you get up. There are some simple home remedies that can help you get rid of the phlegm. You should of course immediately increase your intake of fluids, in the form of water and fresh fruit juices. This will help to reduce the thickness of the mucus and thus enable easy flushing out of the excess mucus from the body. Coconut water is rich in essential nutrients and thus it not only fulfills the function of hydrating the body but also strengthens the immune system. You can prepare an effective infusion with ½ tsp ginger, ½ tsp cinnamon and ½ tsp carnation. Drinking this infusion several times a day will help to soothe the choked feeling in the lungs and get rid of the phlegm in the throat.
Regularly sipping on chamomile tea, mint tea or ginger is also beneficial. You can add some honey to the tea to improve the taste since honey also helps to soften the mucus, strengthen the pulmonary tissues and ease the choked feeling. Drinking a glass of warm water with the juice of half a lemon and 1 tsp of honey as soon as you wake up will help to cough up the phlegm thus clearing the throat of the mucus that has coated it over the night. Since ginger is so effective in treating phlegm, if you can bear the taste you should have 1 spoonful of fresh ginger juice with some honey every morning and night. You can soak some slices of orange in red wine overnight and then cook them in the morning till they become a soft mush. Eat these throughout the day to treat the phlegm. Another treatment that involves wine uses ground ginger root which is mixed with the wine, strained and then consumed like a tonic to get rid of the phlegm. Peppers ground with some raisins soaked overnight and mashed the next morning are also beneficial in clearing the airways by getting rid of the phlegm. Drinking a glass of warm milk with honey or 1-2 tsp of turmeric powder before you sleep can help to soothe the choked feeling in the chest and keep the airways clear while you are sleeping.
answered by G M