7 Ways to remove phlegm naturally and medicinally

The condition of excess phlegm in the airways can be very disturbing. There are various ways you can do to get rid of phlegm effectively, either with sputum thinners, respiratory therapy, natural remedies or home remedies. This treatment is done as a way to get rid of the accumulated phlegm while controlling the production of phlegm in the airways.

How to remove phlegm with coughing and breathing techniques

Phlegm actually functions to moisturize, cleanse, and protect organs in the respiratory system from foreign irritating substances. However, disorders in the lungs, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can cause excess phlegm production.

As a result, phlegm builds up, causes a feeling of blockage, and interferes with breathing. When sputum production increases, the body usually tries to expel phlegm through a cough mechanism. This condition causes a cough with phlegm.

Well, if you often feel annoyed by the phlegm that has accumulated in your throat, you can try various ways to get rid of phlegm.

Controlling coughs

Coughing also has its own techniques so that you can get rid of phlegm easily. This technique involves moving the chest and abdominal muscles. There are two cough techniques you can try, namely:

• Cough deeply
  First of all, sit in a chair with your feet touching the floor. Fold your arms in front of you so that they press on your stomach and take a deep breath. With your body tied with your hands and your stomach pressed, cough vigorously until the phlegm comes out of your throat.

• Cough hard
  How to get rid of phlegm with a loud cough technique begins by taking a breath until it fills your lungs. Tighten your stomach muscles, exhale by opening your mouth while saying "ha". Exhale three times in the same manner.

Breathe deeply

Apart from coughing techniques, breathing techniques can also be used as an effective way to get rid of phlegm. Do deep breathing exercises with a longer breath of air until your lungs expand. After that, exhale again until the lungs are again deflating.

This breathing technique helps clear the lungs of mucus that keeps air moving in the airways.

How to get rid of phlegm naturally

Natural ingredients can also be a reliable way to get rid of phlegm. There are several natural ingredients you can find at home that will help loosen phlegm.

Here are natural phlegm thinners:

1. Warm drink

Increase the consumption of warm fluids when you have a cough with phlegm. Warm drinks, such as warm water, bone broth soup, and tea can help loosen phlegm as well as provide a soothing sensation.

In addition, gargling with warm salt water for several times can also help dissolve the phlegm that has clumped up around the throat

2. Onions

Onions are a natural phlegm thinner because they are thought to work like an expectorant (thin out phlegm).

This cooking spice actually contains anti-inflammatory compounds that can stimulate you to cough and expel phlegm.

You can add chopped onions to warm broth soup with added protein sources such as chicken or meat.

3. Honey

Not only does it taste good, you can use honey to deal with excess phlegm in the throat. Honey has been shown to be effective in relieving cough and sore throat symptoms experienced by children if consumed regularly. Honey has been successful in accelerating the healing of inflammation and eliminating phlegm.

If phlegm is especially annoying, you can try mixing honey into warm tea. Also mix lemon juice for a fresher taste. However, do not give honey as a sputum thinner to children under one year of age. This can put your child at risk for botulism.

4. Ginger

This natural sputum thinner is certainly very easy to obtain. Apart from being a basic spice in cooking, ginger is often used as an alternative medicine that is effective in dealing with several health problems such as flatulence and nausea.

How to get rid of phlegm using ginger can be done by adding pieces of ginger to warm drinks such as tea, milk, or warm water.

5. Mint leaves

Leaf taste mint strong ones can make your throat easier. According to studies in journals Thorax, mint leaves contain menthol which has a function to reduce phlegm production and liquefy clotted phlegm.

To use mint leaves as a natural phlegm thinner, you can put it in warm tea and drink it when the phlegm feels stuck in your throat.

6. Radishes

Radishes are a type of vegetable that are believed to help free your throat from build-up of phlegm. In addition, radishes are also able to help with sore throat, increase appetite, and help heal you from colds and coughs.

These food ingredients work by stimulating the immune system to be stronger in attacking infecting bacteria and viruses. Like onions, radishes can be processed into natural phlegm thinners by adding radishes to warm soup.

7. Use a humidifier

Use it humidifier to increase humidity in the room while cleaning the air from dust, pollution, and germs. That way, you can avoid things that can aggravate irritation in the airways so that phlegm doesn't build up.

Choice of sputum thinners and other medications

The use of medical drugs, such as non-prescription cough medicines and lung therapy for breathing can be a medical treatment option to get rid of annoying phlegm.

Sputum thinning medication

There are two types of sputum thinning drugs that are commonly consumed, namely:

1. Expectorant
2. Mucolithic

One type of OTC cough medicine, an expectorant, is a commonly consumed sputum thinner.

The expectorant (guaifenesin) is a sputum thinner that you can get over the counter (OTC). This drug works by thinning thick and clotted phlegm so that it is easier to pass when coughing.

In addition, this sputum thinner drug also inhibits the production of phlegm-producing proteins so that it can significantly reduce the amount of phlegm.

Meanwhile, mucolytics (bromhexine) is a common cough medicine, but a doctor's prescription is required to obtain it. Mucolytics work by breaking the chemical bonds in sputum so that the texture of the sputum becomes more fluid and is easily expelled by coughing.

Lung therapy

Lung therapy (chest physiotherapy) using medical instruments may be necessary when the condition of excess phlegm makes it very difficult for you to breathe normally. In chest therapy treatment, a device is usually used that can lift the blocked phlegm out of the airway.

This treatment can be done in a hospital under the supervision of a therapist. During therapy, you may also be taught certain coughing and breathing techniques as effective ways to get rid of phlegm.

In addition, you can also do chest therapy at home using a nebulizer. It would be better if therapy to get rid of phlegm is done regularly every week until your health condition improves and breathing returns smoothly.

Apart from using the various methods above to get rid of phlegm, you should also keep resting. What's more, coughing sometimes makes you tired. Resting will help your body recover more quickly. If the phlegm is accompanied by a cough that doesn't go away, immediately see a doctor to find the cause of your cough.