Asked by: Leonard Glockle
medical health lung and respiratory health

What is a good natural expectorant?

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Some natural expectorants are honey, steamandpeppermint. These work best when taken with amedicinalexpectorant. Staying hydrated and drinking up to 8glassesof water a day, in conjunction with expectorants,will helploosen mucus.


Likewise, what's a good natural expectorant?

Peppermint Peppermint contains a compound known as menthol.Mentholmay help thin mucus and loosen phlegm. Peppermint tea iswidelyavailable in stores or online and is considered safe. Youcan alsosimply add a few fresh peppermint leaves to hot water tomake yourown tea.

Secondly, how can I get rid of mucus in my lungs naturally? Home remedies for mucus in the chest
  1. Warm fluids. Hot beverages can provide immediate andsustainedrelief from a mucus buildup in the chest.
  2. Steam. Keeping the air moist can loosen mucus andreducecongestion and coughing.
  3. Saltwater.
  4. Honey.
  5. Foods and herbs.
  6. Essential oils.
  7. Elevate the head.
  8. N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

Also asked, what is the best over the counter expectorant?

The only expectorant available inOTCproducts is guaifenesin (2 brand names: Mucinex,Robitussin ChestCongestion).

What foods get rid of mucus?

Clear broth soups, meaning soups without cream ordairy,and warm decaffeinated tea can loosen mucus andprovideadded hydration. Certain fish, seeds, nuts and morecontainessential fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids can helpreduceinflammation and phlegm.

Related Question Answers

Saikou Clapes

Professional

Which is better expectorant or mucolytic?

An expectorant increases bronchial secretionsandmucolytics help loosen thick bronchialsecretions.Expectorants reduce the thickness or viscosity ofbronchialsecretions thus increasing mucus flow that can be removedmoreeasily through coughing. Mucolytics break down thechemicalstructure of mucus molecules.

Emigdia Villares

Professional

Is Lemon an expectorant?

But the main reason honey is a bronchitissufferer'sfriend is that it soothes irritated mucus membranes, andit's asweet addition to tea or warm lemon water.(Lemon iswidely used as an expectorant.)

Valle Zschieschak

Professional

Why do I feel like I have mucus stuck in my throat?

The sensation caused by throat mucus, orcatarrh,can be difficult to understand and to remedy. Itisoften attributed to sinusitis and treated as such.Thefeeling of something "stuck" at the back ofthethroat can also be caused by the backflow of gastricfluids,or acid reflux.

Khaira Matzievich

Explainer

How do I get rid of a cough ASAP?

19 natrual and home remedies to cure and sootheacough
  1. Stay hydrated: Drink lots of water to thin mucus.
  2. Inhale steam: Take a hot shower, or boil water and pour intoabowl, face the bowl (stay at least 1 foot away), place a toweloverthe back of your head to form a tent and inhale.
  3. Use a humidifier to loosen mucus.

Melchor Duverge

Explainer

How do I stop coughing in bed?

The following 10 tips may help a person reduce or easetheirnighttime coughing:
  1. Try a humidifier. A humidifier machine may help if thecoughingis caused by dry air.
  2. Decrease allergens.
  3. Manage GERD.
  4. Drink tea with honey.
  5. Consider over-the-counter medicine.
  6. Elevate the head.
  7. Gargle with warm salt water before bed.
  8. Quit smoking.

Osagie Stephens

Explainer

Do expectorants make you cough more?

But when you get sick, your body oftenproducesmore mucus, which can get thick and stuck in yourlungs andairways. This makes it hard to breathe and easy togetinfections. The expectorants incertainRobitussin® formulas can thin mucus andloosen it,making it easier for your body to cough itup.

Peligros Eliezer

Pundit

Is garlic an expectorant?

Garlic can be used as a naturalexpectorantwhich can help in breaking down phlegm build-up.Anti-microbialproperties of garlic can help in fightingviral, fungal andbacterial infections which causes respiratoryglands to produce morephlegm.

Eluska Cursach

Pundit

What medicine will loosen phlegm?

You can try products like guaifenesin(Mucinex)that thin mucus so it won't sit in the back of yourthroator your chest. This type of medication is calledanexpectorant, which means it helps you to expel mucusbythinning and loosening it.

Sellam Ehret

Pundit

What do doctors prescribe for a cough?

Medications used to treat chronic coughmayinclude:
  • Antihistamines, corticosteroids and decongestants. Thesedrugsare standard treatment for allergies and postnasal drip.
  • Inhaled asthma drugs.
  • Antibiotics.
  • Acid blockers.

Romaissae Bartkowia

Pundit

Is there a cough medicine that actually works?

But despite all that, most studies on thetopichave found no evidence that over-the-countercoldmedicines actually suppress orstopcoughing.

Kebba Cortada

Pundit

How long does it take for cough syrup to work?

A dose of medication will reach a peak, or maximum,levelin the blood 30 minutes to 4 or 6 hours after itistaken.

Es Gunthermann

Teacher

What's the difference between a decongestant and expectorant?

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helpsloosencongestion in your chest and throat, making it easiertocough out through your mouth. Pseudoephedrine isadecongestant that shrinks blood vessels in thenasalpassages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion(stuffynose).

Kenai Sotero

Teacher

Is Benadryl an expectorant?

BENADRYL Original is used to relieve thesymptomsof dry raspy coughs due to a cold. BENADRYLOriginalcontains medicines called diphenhydramine andammoniumchloride. Diphenhydramine belongs to a group ofmedicinescalled 'antihistamines'. Ammonium chloride isanexpectorant.

Italia Gashibayazov

Teacher

How do you get the mucus out of your lungs?

Hold the breath for 2-3 seconds. Use yourstomachmuscles to forcefully expel the air. Avoid a hacking coughormerely clearing the throat. A deep cough is less tiring andmoreeffective in clearing mucus out ofthelungs.

Hristina Jellenik

Teacher

Should I take mucinex at night?

Talk to your doctor
You can take Mucinex and NyQuil togethersafelyif you follow the recommended dosage for each drug.However,taking Mucinex at night with NyQuil might actuallykeep youfrom falling asleep. Mucinex will loosen your mucus,whichcan cause you to wake up to cough.

Kheireddine Ortel

Reviewer

Why does putting Vicks on your feet stop coughing?

Putting Vicks VapoRub on Your Feet HelpsaCough
Ari Sarsalari explains how puttingmentholatumointment on your feet can help cold symptoms.People swearit works: putting Vicks VapoRub on thesouls ofyour feet and covering them with a towel or sockscan get ridof your cough overnight.

Cyrstal Isak

Reviewer

What is the difference between an expectorant and a cough suppressant?

Cough suppressants (also known asantitussives)are supposed to help control coughing bydecreasing the urgeto cough. Expectorants actuallymake you coughmore. They promote more mucus production tomake coughingmore effective at removing bacteria. Learn whatmedication is best,depending on your type ofcough.

Dimitru Alve

Reviewer

Can lungs heal after 40 years of smoking?

When you stop smoking, the lungs begintoheal immediately. Within the first month afteryouquit smoking, your lung function willimprove,and this will increase circulation, too. Within ninemonths,the cilia begin to function normally and symptoms likecoughing andshortness of breath become less frequent.

Metodio Viviane

Reviewer

How do I stop mucus production?

Are there natural ways to address mucus orphlegm?
  1. Hydrate more. Drink more water.
  2. Use a humidifier. This can help your body moisturize yourthroatand nasal passages and may help you reduce mucus andphlegmproduction.
  3. Check filters on heating and cooling systems.
  4. Use a nasal saline spray.