Table of Contents
What is Phlegm?
Phlegm is not a fatal disease; however, it ruins the patients’ lives by a series of embarrassing conditions. When you see one of these common symptoms, please consult on a doctor to figure it out whether you suffer from phlegm or not:
- Have difficulties breathing or even breathing faster than normal.
- Coughing (sometimes along with pain in the throat and chest).
- Colored mucus
- Fever
- Sweat
How to cure phlegm forever remains a mystery, despite medical advances. But luckily, there are few home remedies for phlegm that can help you stop the growth of phlegm and reduce the complexity of these symptoms.
Here are the top 15 natural yet simple home remedies for phlegm which you can effortlessly apply in order to reduce the uncomfortable symptoms as well as prevent phlegm from emerging again.
1. Salt Water
This is one of the simplest home remedies for phlegm, as it takes only few minutes, but has a significant impact on your throat pain[1]. The properties of salt make it ideal to deteriorate the bacteria which might cause pain and destroy your immune system[2]. Therefore, the development of phlegm in your body will be stopped.
- Take a small amount of salt (about one-fourth of a teaspoon) and mix it with warm water.
- Gargle it a few times a day for the best results.
Salt water is also very helpful to relieve the discomforts caused by post-nasal drip as well as few other problems. You can find out more at: Home Remedies for Hangnails and Abscess Tooth.
2. Ginger
Among various applications of ginger in medicine stands out its ability to cure phlegm. It has been widely used to relieve the pain caused by phlegm. Some anti-bacterial compounds which are presented in ginger help stopping the growth of phlegm and make you breathe more easily[3][4].
Ginger can be consumed raw or cooked. Just add some slices to your dishes every meal. In case it is not your favorite way, you can follow these steps:
- Put some slices of fresh ginger into a glass of warm water.
- Steep it for 4-5 minutes, and then add a spoonful of honey to enhance its effects.
- Drink the mixture a few times daily.
Ginger is a rich source of vitamins and essential minerals. You can find out more at: Home Remedies for Mumps and Dehydration.
3. Lemon Tea
- Squeeze a lemon.
- Make black tea.
- Mix the lemon juice and black tea. You can also add honey to maximize the results.
The lemon contains citric acid which is known to relieve the throat pain, while some properties of honey can help stopping the phlegm. This combination makes a simple, but very effective answer to the question “how to cure the phlegm”.
4. Honey
One of the best home remedies for phlegm which come from the nature is raw honey[5][6]. If you want to know how to cure phlegm effortlessly, you’d better learn about some benefits of honey.
In 2007, ABC NEWs published a report which indicated the positive results of raw honey from a study of the Penn State College of Medicine. When the 2 to 18-years-old children were provided with a cup of honey before they go to bed, it helped them sleeping better and stopping coughing at night.
You can drink two spoons of raw honey or you can mix it with hot water. For children, only a spoon is recommended. You can find out more about the benefits of honey at: Home Remedies for Moles and Measles.
5. Chicken Soup
Chicken soup is not only a part of your daily meal, but also one of the most effective ways to cure phlegm naturally. Doctors at the University of Nebraska Medical Centre carried out an experiment on the impacts of chicken soup on the treatment of phlegm. They concluded that some properties of chicken soup help stopping fever, sweat, and other symptoms of phlegm. It reduces the pain in the throat and chest and stimulates the strength of your immune system[7].
6. Pepper
Spicy foods are among the most effective home remedies for phlegm and the growth of mucus. Pepper will enable the body to stop the development of mucus in the nose or throat. It may also ease your pain[8][9].
- Mix a half teaspoon of pepper with a tablespoon of raw honey.
- Put it in the microwave for 15 seconds.
- Drink the mixture several times a day.
7. Grape Juice
Every time people make a list of home remedies for phlegm, grapes are among the top remedies. It helps soothing your throat and preventing the phlegm from destroying your lungs. Drink a spoonful of grape juice every day and you will be amazed by the results. To make the flavor better, you can add two spoons of honey with grape juice.
8. Steam
It may sound irrelevant, but steam does helps a lot in the treatment of phlegm. Steam from hot water can help eradicating the mucus in the nose or throat and reducing the growth of phlegm. All you need to do is to inhale steam from hot water. With the help of water, how to cure phlegm seems much easier.
Steam inhalation is also well-known as a home remedy for acute sinusitis.
9. Onion and Sugar
The combination of onion and sugar does not sound actually effective, but in fact, it is one of the most popular home remedies for phlegm. The essential minerals and compounds of onion can help relieving the pain caused by phlegm[10][11].
- Chop an onion.
- Mix it with a half cup of white sugar.
- Leave the mixture overnight. If you want the process to happen faster, you can simmer it for 30 minutes.
- Drink a spoonful of this mixture several times a day.
10. Carrot
With a richness of vitamin C, carrots can enhance the immune system and stop coughing[12]. You need to squeeze some carrots to make delicious juice which helps eliminating the phlegm inside your body. Drink it several times a day to decrease the adverse effects of phlegm. Honey might be added to make it better.
11. Turmeric
Killing the bacteria which trigger an excessive amount of mucus in your throat is the goal of using turmeric. With its anti-septic property, turmeric is considered as a great suggestion on how to cure phlegm. In addition, it nurtures the immune system; enable the body to fight against the phlegm[13][14].
- Mix a spoon of turmeric with a cup of hot milk.
- Drink it twice a day: after waking up and before going to bed.
12. Chili
This is one of the less known home remedies for phlegm. Few people know that chili can eradicate your mucus within seconds. Mix chili flakes or a half spoon of chili powder with hot milk. Drink this mixture several times a day.
13. Oregano Oil
This natural anti-biotic home remedy can slow down or even stop the respiratory infection. Many people use it to stay away from yellow mucus and relieve the pain caused by phlegm.
14. Marshmallow Tea
Marshmallow, when is mixed with water, becomes one of the best home remedies for phlegm as it has great impacts on your lungs. It thins the mucus and prevents coughing from disturbing your daily life.
- Pour two spoons of the dried marshmallow into hot water.
- Steep the mixture.
- Drink it 3 times a day.
15. Avoid Harmful Foods
In order to be well-aware of how to cure phlegm, you also need to know which foods you have to avoid unless you want the phlegm to become worse. Processed foods and those which contain excess sugars are the first to be eliminated from your daily life. Stay away from alcohol and cigarettes which produce more mucus in your throat and worsen the condition of your lungs.
To help us reach out millions of outside readers, do not forget to LIKE and SHARE if you find this article helpful!