The term phlegm is also called mucus and it is nothing but the result of acute cold and cough along with other similar kinds of respiratory problems. However, phlegm may also be the result of deep underlying serious issues and hence if it is not going in a matter of weeks, it should not be taken lightly. Phlegm can be very irritating and frustrating because it doesn’t seem to go away very fast.
You will be experiencing loss of sleep during this period along with loss of appetite. Your concentration levels tend to diminish too and you hate almost everything. But it should be remembered that swallowing this cough is the worst thing you can do, as you are only adding to the mucus built up in the body. Remember, infants and toddlers may be able to take out this mucus through stools but not adults. Here are some home remedies, which can help you in the process.
Nothing works better than taking out the mucus than the good old steam. This mucus or phlegm basically blocks the organs like chest, nose and even the throat. What you need to do here is expel the mucus or phlegm from the body and get some rest.
For this remedy, you simply need to boil water in a pot. Add a few drops of essential oil to the same, especially eucalyptus. This oil helps in improving breathing and eases out the cough. Put a towel over your head, so that the steam does not escape. Then breathe in this warm and humid air to take out and thin the mucus. This should be repeated at least 3-4 times a day for chronic cough. You can also use an electric steamer or take steam in the shower.
Research over the years has shown that spicy foods like jalapenos and cayenne pepper helps in breaking down the phlegm and helps it become a little more runny. As a result, it comes out more easily from the nose. If you have noticed, then your eyes and nose water when having hot or spicy foods. Remember to have as many spicy ingredients you can in your diet like wasabi or even horseradish, or other forms of spices.
It is suggested to use a humidifier in the room during the very cold days or regions. It has been seen that the phlegm tends to get thicker and drier in the colder zones. As a result, it will not come out very easily from the throat or even nose. So what you need to do is maintain a temperature in the room that is humid. The humidifier is the perfect device for this, because it helps you sleep better at night and also keeps moisture content high in the room. This in turn helps to combat mucus more effectively.
A salt gargle is a remedy for phlegm that has never failed over the years. Why it always works is because the salt and warm water work together to create an antiseptic coating in the throat, which also prevents infection. You just need to mix a teaspoon of some sea salt or regular salt to warm water. Mix and then gargle well. Do this as required through out the day to clear the nasal and throat passage. A neti pot may also be used in this reference.
Teas infused with the goodness of herbs is one of the best bets available for dealing with throat mucus. You can add different kinds of herbs to the tea along with honey and drink it very warm. This helps to relax the inflammation of the throat tissues and also provides a soothing and calming. You can have different kinds of teas here like ginger, lemon or even chamomile to get respite from mucus and get rid of it. Basil leaves along with ginger can be added to regular milk tea for clearing the mucus and providing relief to the throat. You can also add some ginger candies or lozenge to this tea.
Like the above suggested teas, you can have warm lemon and honey water, if you are not a tea person. The combination of honey and lemon works together with the warm water to break down the tough phlegm and help it come out more easily. One can also add some black pepper to this mixture for getting relief from phlegm. Honey helps in soothing the throat, pepper prevents further irritation or coughing while the lemon juices cuts through the mucus.
Drinking the juice of fresh turmeric early in the morning will help you to get rid of phlegm for good. Basically turmeric is very high on ingredients that fight bacteria along with being a natural antiseptic. You can take out the juice of about an inch of a turmeric piece and squeeze it through the juicer or grate it and then squeeze the juice. Drink this on an empty stomach to cleanse the body of phlegm. If you don’t have access to fresh turmeric, then drink the dried or powdered one with milk or even water at night. Repeat twice a day for best results. You can also add some fresh ginger juice to this mixture because it too helps in clearing out phlegm.
The pungency of the good old garlic is a great way to get rid of phlegm. It has been seen that garlic too helps in getting rid of phlegm while fighting bacteria. You can simply chew on the cloves of garlic or just swallow them. To get the maximum benefits, just grate raw garlic over salads or your dishes. Cooking it will only reduce the benefits, so try and consume the same in raw forms if possible. It is best to chew on garlic early in the morning because it does not let the mucus get active or let the phlegm flow freely.
With these simple remedies, you will be able to get rid of phlegm in no time!
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