23 Shares

Phlegm refers to a secretion by the mucus membranes in your respiratory tract and is necessary in order to keep the respiratory passages and the nasal cavity well lubricated. Phlegm moistens your nasal passages and helps keep it clean. It also traps any foreign particles and dust, thus acting as a natural filter. However, excessive phlegm is formed when your body tries to fight inflammation and infections. Sinusitis, cold or flu, laryngitis and allergies can cause excessive formation of phlegm. This excessive phlegm gets collected in the lungs and throat, thus causing congestion and difficulty in breathing.

Larger amounts of phlegm can cause clogging and irritation of the bronchial tubes and result in a secondary upper respiratory infection as well. It can cause a lot of difficulty in breathing, cough and difficulty in sleeping. Small infants and children have lower body immunity and they often suffer from infections which can cause the formation of excessive phlegm. The elderly also have lower resistance and are more susceptible to developing phlegm which can cause a lot of discomfort. Herbal remedies can be very beneficial in reducing phlegm effectively. Given here are some of the best and safest ones that you can use to reduce the discomfort due to phlegm.

Herbal Remedies For Phlegm

Turmeric

Turmeric is one of the simplest and most effective herbal remedies that you can use to treat phlegm. It is easily available in every household and you can make use of it to reduce phlegm by having a glass of warm milk in which a teaspoon of raw turmeric powder has been mixed.

Turmeric possesses a substance called curcumin that provides it strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help to get rid of phlegm effectively.

Ginger

Ginger is another useful and effective remedy for reducing phlegm due to its strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Add some shredded ginger to a cup of boiling water and let it steep for a few minutes.

A teaspoon of honey can be added to sweeten this tea. Sipping on the hot liquid slowly will help clear up the infection in your throat and respiratory passages, thus preventing further formation of phlegm.

Eucalyptus

The essential oil of eucalyptus is a very effective herbal remedy that can be used to get rid of excessive phlegm in your lungs and respiratory passages. Take half a bucket of hot water and add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to it.

Bend your head and cover it with a towel while breathing in the cooling vapors. You can also opt for eucalyptus leaves, if available. This works wonders in opening up the congestion and reduces phlegm effectively.

Slippery Elm

This is an effective herbal remedy to get rid of phlegm as it helps in the expulsion of the phlegm that has collected in your lungs and respiratory passages, thus reducing congestion and providing relief from cough as well. Slippery elm contains soluble fiber that gets dissolved in water, forming a gel-like substance which helps soothe your throat and reduces inflammation.

Take two tablespoons of slippery elm bark powder and add it to two cups of hot water. Drink this herbal tea twice a day in order to get rid of the phlegm. You can also take 5 ml of its tincture thrice a day. A poultice prepared with slippery elm bark can also be applied to the chest in order to reduce the formation of phlegm.

Licorice

This herbal remedy is very effective in reducing the phlegm in your chest and respiratory passages as it helps expel the excess phlegm. Licorice also provides relief from sore throat that accompanies excessive formation of phlegm due to an infection.

Prepare an herbal tea using licorice roots and have thrice a day in order to get rid of the phlegm and the infection that is causing it.

Echinacea

Echinacea has been used since ages to strengthen the immune system, but it is also very beneficial in treating the infections in the respiratory tract as well.

So, if you are suffering from excessive phlegm formation due to a respiratory tract infection, Echinacea can be a very effective herbal remedy to treat the infection and will help you get rid of the phlegm. Prepare an herbal tea using Echinacea extracts or have its tincture regularly.

Oregano Oil

Oil of oregano is very effective in reducing phlegm as it is a natural expectorant that helps you cough up the excess phlegm easily. It also possesses strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help to treat infections in the respiratory tract that could be the factor behind the formation of excessive phlegm.

You can add it to your foods, or just have a few drops daily. It is also available in capsule form in the health stores and can be used regularly to get rid of phlegm.