Clear Chest Congestion at Home

Clear Chest Congestion at Home.

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When an ordinary cold or flu isn't treated with due care, it can trigger a build-up of excess fluid and mucus in the respiratory tract – specifically the lungs – which is called chest congestion. Symptoms include a wet cough and chest pains, and you can hear a wheeze when you breathe. This article will explain how to clear chest congestion at home, without the need for over-the-counter remedies or a visit to your doctor.

The most basic home remedy for relieving chest congestion is steam. Boil a pot of water and add some eucalyptus oil or peppermint to it. Put a tea towel over your head and hover it over the steaming solution; the tea towel should divert all the steam towards your air tracts (nose and mouth). The properties of the steam will help to loosen the phlegm in your respiratory tract and help to relieve your chest congestion.

• Hot fluids are great for colds and flu, and can help to relieve chest congestion as well. Herbal tea – such as anise, cardamom, rosemary or ginseng – really thins out the mucus and phlegm that is stuffing your lungs; peppermint tea is also a useful home remedy for clearing your chest congestion.
• Place a hot towel over your bare chest for a few moments. Try this a few times by dipping it in a basin of hot water and rinsing it to keep it hot. The temperature of your chest cavity will rise which will loosen you the phlegm and mucus in there and allow you to relieve the chest congestion with a couple of good coughs.
• Eating a bowl of hot chicken or homemade vegetable soup is great for a clearing chest congestion; their heat will help to free up the phlegm and mucus, but they also contain the essential vitamins needed in our daily diets.
• Ginger juice – if you have it at home – is a great reliever. Add some honey or lime juice to it for flavour, but it has been known to clear chest congestion.
• Add a teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of warm milk and drink it before you go to bed.
• Eating spicy foods, such as jalapeno peppers or chillis, causes a brief temperature rise in your respiratory system which helps to relieve the congestion.
• Massage any chest rubs you have into your chest; these are able to penetrate your lungs and free up the air passages.
• Stay hydrated as always. Maintain a high level of water consumption during a period of sickness; a hydrated body expedites recovery time for a number of reasons.
• Sleep with a raised pillow as this will promote nasal discharge and allow for easier breathing and a better quality of sleep. Getting rest during periods of illness is as important as any home remedy for clearing chest congestion.