One of the major causes of coughing and breathing problems are triggered by obstructions that are found in the nasal and throat cavity. The major culprit in these obstructions is usually phlegm that gets built up in the lungs.
Phlegm is a gooey substance that is produced by the respiratory system as a way to protect itself from harmful contaminants and foreign bodies. Its primary role is to just put a stranglehold on all the dust, contaminants, germs, and allergens that might enter the respiratory tract.
However, sometimes, the body is going to create excessive amounts of phlegm which might eventually lead to excessive coughing and colds. Phlegm is something that is often attached to a weakened body. It can trigger difficulty in breathing, fever, and runny noses. If it isn’t eliminated quickly, then the accumulation of phlegm might potentially cause an obstruction within the body’s bronchial tubes.
You always want to be acting fast when you feel like your phlegm situation is getting a little excessive. And that’s why you should turn to the following natural remedies if you really want to get rid of the amount of phlegm that is in your body. Because admit it, it’s pretty annoying.
1. Turmeric
Turmeric has an active ingredient called curcumin which provides a strong antiseptic and antibacterial presence in the human body. Curcumin can aid in the elimination of bacteria which causes the buildup of mucus. Curcumin can also help reduce the amount of phlegm in the body while simultaneously boosting the immune system as well.
Try adding a teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of warm water and then add a half-teaspoon of salt as well. Stir the mixture and gargle it for three times every day. This is going to help treat a few of your respiratory infections and it can help eliminate phlegm in your chest.
2. Honey and Lemon
One of the most effective ways to treat phlegm and colds is to combine lemon and honey. Both of these ingredients are going to offer very strong antibacterial and antifungal properties that can really help revitalize the human body. It particularly helps boost the body’s immune system and it also prevents congestion as a result of excess phlegm.
Take a tablespoon of honey and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and mix it in a bowl. You may add it to some water or take it as it is. Consume it three times a day to help you stave off congestion and eliminate excess phlegm that is already in your body.
3. Salt Water
If you want to sooth your sore throat and clear the phlegm in your body, you can go ahead and gargle some salt water twice daily. Take a cup of filtered water and add half a teaspoon of salt to it. Stir the mixture and allow the salt to dissolve.
Sip the mixture a little bit and tilt your head back ever so slightly. Let the solution swish and splash around your throat for a little bit without actually drinking it. Gargle the solution in your throat by blowing air up from your lungs into your esophagus for about a minute. When you’re done, spit out the water.
4. Steam Inhalation
Heat is always going to be effective when fighting off mucus and phlegm. That’s why you should try to enter a sauna or a steam bath to get some of that heat into your lungs. It can be particularly therapeutic if you incorporate eucalyptus oil into the steam as well. Not to mention that it can help relieve and relax tension of the muscles.
5. Ginger
Not too many people are going to be too fond of the taste of ginger. However, this is a very powerful ingredient when dealing with throat and chest congestions. Just suck it up and try to eat around 3-4 slices of ginger on a daily basis.
FINAL THOUGHTS
You should always make it a point to eat food and drinks that contain a lot of lemon, ginger, and garlic. There is a lot of compelling evidence which suggests that all of this food can help treat coughs, colds, and excess mucus. Spicy foods like cayenne and chilli pepper are also going to help treat excessive mucus in the body.
That is because they contain capsaicin which can help move mucus along and can also relieve sinuses. There is also substantial scientific evidence which says that the following foods and supplements can actually help in the prevention and treatment of various viral respiratory diseases: licorice root, Echinacea, ginseng root, berries, guava tea, and oral zinc.
So, there you have it. whenever you are dealing with a bad case of the coughs and colds, then you should probably try out the tips that have been laid out for you in this article. At the end of the day, you really have nothing left to lose. And you have everything to gain.