A good hot cup of herbal tea will help dilute stubborn phlegm. If you'd like to get rid of your phlegm, a nice cup of mint, thyme, chamomile or echinacea tea is a good option. Our Echinaforce Hot Drink, with echinacea and elderberry, works wonders against persistent mucus.
Like ice for a burn or a lozenge for a cough, a cup of hot tea is an age-old balm for sniffles, sneezing and stuffiness. Hot liquids, it is said, help loosen secretions in the chest and sinuses, making them easier to expel and ultimately clearing up congestion. The fluids are also meant to reverse dehydration.
Eucalyptus
This herb is an expectorant, which means it makes it easier for your body to get rid of mucous and clear your airways. Like mullein, eucalyptus also has anti-inflammatory properties, easing the symptoms of respiratory infections.
“Hot liquids with honey can soothe and treat cough for short-term periods,” says Dr. Russell. Use plain hot water or a favorite hot tea, and add honey and lemon to taste (the lemon is just for flavor).
Peppermint and its main active agent, menthol, are effective decongestants. Because menthol thins mucus, it is also a good expectorant, meaning it helps loosen phlegm and breaks up coughs. It is soothing and calming for sore throats (pharyngitis) and dry coughs.
Stirring a few drops of honey into your favourite herbal tea may also help to loosen phlegm, soothe pain, and suppress a cough.
Using a small facial steamer or humidifier, taking a hot steamy shower, or even breathing through a warm wet washcloth can give you some relief from thick, crusty mucus.
It is a common symptom of conditions such as the common cold, sinusitis, and allergies. The excess mucus can be caused by inflammation or swelling of the nasal passages, which can be due to a variety of factors such as viral or bacterial infections, allergies, or irritants in the air.
If you struggle with heartburn, or have a hiatus hernia or kidney stones, it may be prudent to avoid peppermint tea too, as while no adverse reactions have been found, it may, in some, make symptoms worse. Some people are allergic to mint.
Honey and lemon tea is an old remedy for curing a cold or sore throat. Honey is full of anti-bacterial properties good for getting rid of infection. It also coats the throat which can suppress a cough. Lemon is full of vitamin C and helps break up mucus.
Things like allergies, eating spicy food, and being outside in the cold can result in a more watery nasal leakage. Your body usually makes thicker mucus when you have a cold (caused by viruses) or sinus infection (caused by bacteria).
A: Phlegm refers to the thick mucus we cough up, which often lasts as long as the underlying medical condition. For instance, the phlegm least for one to two weeks if you have a cold. Meanwhile, bronchitis can take a few weeks to several months for the mucus to disappear.
Phlegm is a thick mucus from the lower airways due to lung inflammation or injury. Infection is a common cause, but other conditions like allergies, lung disease, and GERD can cause a productive cough. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and includes supportive care and medications.
Mucus may become thinner with vitamin C, making it easier to remove from the airways.
Coughing up phlegm is a symptom of infections like the flu and common cold. Phlegm is a specific type of mucus that originates in your lungs and throat. It's slightly thicker than the mucus that's produced in your nose and sinuses. Another name for phlegm is sputum.
Coughing up mucus is the body's way of producing phlegm to get rid of harmful microbes that can spread infection. And based on its appearance, mucus can also give a clear sign when we are fighting off harmful bacterial or viral infections.