What is Phlegm?
According to medical experts, phlegm is a type of mucus in the body. It is usually produced in the lungs to keep them lubricated and is always in the lower respiratory tract. Generally, mucus plays an important role in the body. One of which is the lubrication of some parts of the body. That is, it prevents them from drying out, especially when you are sick. Also, it effectively serves as a protective layer against bacterial infections. Thus, having some mucus in your body can be healthy for you. However, when it becomes too much, then it becomes a problem. Excess mucus in the body is mostly caused by bacterial infection.
Having your airways blocked with phlegm that has refused to clear can be uncomfortable. It feels as though your chest is tightening, and in most cases, you may find it difficult to breathe without having to sound like a moving train. Sometimes, it could also impinge on your voice, such that you have to clear your throat multiple times to get your voice back. If you experience this frequently and need natural remedies, then you are on the right blog.
Why Remove Phlegm at Home?
Using over-the-counter medications is one effective way to eliminate this airway blockage. However, it is safer to use natural remedies like lemon, peppermint, and cinnamon. This is because, unlike some over-the-counter medications, they do not come with any side effects in the long run. They are 100% natural and contain all the natural properties required to eliminate phlegm from your airways. Some of the natural properties of these natural remedies include; expectorant, antioxidant, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Recurring phlegm could be a result of many factors, some of which include; cold, flu, bronchitis, and sinusitis, among others. Although, some causes of recurring phlegm can underlying health conditions like pneumonia, lung cancer, and COPD. However, the most common causes are cold, flu, bronchitis, and sinusitis.
Using natural remedies is quite easy. All you ought to do is, add honey to whichever one you want to use for your phlegm. This is because honey helps lubricate the throat and is packed with anti-inflammatory properties that will soothe your throat and airways. It also has properties that eliminate the growth and progression of microorganisms that cause the cold and flu that have now resulted in phlegm.
Natural Remedies For Excess Phlegm
Lemon Juice and Honey
A combination of lemon juice and honey produces a strong and effective expectorant that eliminates cough, cold, and flu. It is also rich with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent and treat the irritation and inflammation that the phlegm, cold, cough, or flu may have caused. In other words, combining lemon juice with honey does the job of relieving cough, moistening or lubricating the throat and airways, eliminating bacterial infection, soothing inflammation, and irritation, and returning the mucus level in the body to normal.
All you need to do is, mix 100% natural lemon juice with 100% natural honey in a bowl and add little water to the mixture, and drink. Ensure that you drink this morning and night every day for maximum results.
Ginger and Honey
Ginger is packed with extremely effective properties that are relevant to reducing excess phlegm. Due to these properties, ginger serves as a natural decongestant. That is, it relieves the congestion in your lungs, chest, and throat and gives you relief. In addition to this, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties also provide soothing relief to the irritation and inflammation from cough, cold, and flu.
Just like lemon juice and honey mixture, it is an effective remedy and expectorant for treating cough and flu fast. Mixing ginger with honey keeps the lungs and respiratory tract lubricated and free of inflammation. It also eliminates bacterial infections and kills the bacteria present while drying off excess mucus in the process.
Blend some ginger roots and sieve them, then mix the juice with some home and drink the mixture. You can drink this 2 times a day or even more for faster results. However, do not drink too much of it, as too much of everything (no matter how good) is bad.
Turmeric and Honey
Turmeric, just like ginger, has just more than just a kitchen spice. Although, its role in adding flavor to foods is second to none. Cooking with turmeric does not only make you salivate more. It also adds numerous benefits to your health when you eat foods that are cooked with turmeric. For excess phlegm, turmeric mixed with honey is one of the fastest remedies. It begins with supporting and boosting the immune system to help it detect and fight infections. It then goes ahead to cure the cause of the excess phlegm (cold, cough, and flu)
Having done this dries off the excess mucus and brings relief to your respiratory tract. Mix blended turmeric with blended black pepper, then add honey and milk (goat milk preferably) to the mixture and drink regularly until you begin to see results.
Spicy Foods
Pepper has a way of clearing the respiratory tract. Have you ever noticed that you tend to have mucus flowing out of your nostrils whenever you eat spicy foods, and when you are done eating them, you feel like some pathway has been paved in your respiratory tract? Yes, spice in the food did it, and this is courtesy of the natural properties in these peppers. According to research, some of the most effective peppers to use to this effect are; chili pepper, cayenne pepper, and back pepper.
Studies have shown that they are effective in clearing blocked bronchial tubes and sinuses. Ensure that you do not eat these peppers alone matter how severe your excess phlegm is. You should blend these peppers and add them to your foods and reasonable and moderate quantities. For excess phlegm, you should eat spicy food every day until the blockage in your respiratory tract is finally cleared.
Peppermint Tea and Honey
Naturally, peppermint is a herb that is also a rich source of menthol, and menthol is an effective treatment for cold, cough, flu, sinusitis, and other symptoms that are common to these health coming. This makes peppermint tea or essential oil one of the most effective remedies for those health conditions. It is also an excellent origin of natural properties like anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antivirus, all of which work hand in hand to speed up cold, cough, and flu treatment.
Making peppermint tea is quite simple. All you ought to do is, put some peppermint leaves in a cup and add boiling water to it and leave the leaves to sit in the water for up to 10inutes. Then sieve out the leaves, add honey and allow the water to cool a bit before drinking it. Repeat this similar process at least 2 times daily.
Onion Juice and Honey
Onion, like turmeric and garlic, has natural antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant properties, all of which work hand in hand and effectively improve respiratory infections and respiratory tract blockage. You can either chew onions raw or blend them with honey and drink the mixture. Whichever method you adopt is effective and will relieve your symptoms in some hours.
Another method of using onions for treating excess phlegm is by soaking some onions in water for up to 5-7 hours or even overnight. Then take out the onions and add honey to the water. This has been demonstrated to be the most effective of all the other remedies.
Pineapple Juice with Honey
Pineapple is an effective treatment for eliminating excess mucus. This is because it is packed with bromelain, an effective enzyme that regulates mucus and prevents it from going overboard. It is also a perfect treatment for respiratory issues associated with respiratory health conditions like asthma. This is courtesy of its anti-inflammatory properties. Coupled with these, pineapple also has a wealth of other properties like mucolytic properties that help combat and expel mucus from the body.
Blend a pineapple fruit and add honey to it while blending. Drink it 3 times daily until you see results. Since both pineapple and honey are sweet, it will be easier for you to stick to this remedy for your excess phlegm, cough, cold, or flu.
Conclusion
Excess phlegm can cause a lot of obstructions to both breathing and talking. This is why it should be cleared. One of the best ways to eliminate this phlegm from your airways is by using natural remedies.