Clear up mucus build up with these 6+ home remedies

Whether from a cold or allergies, mucus and phlegm lodged in your respiratory system can be difficult to expel. Congestion in the lungs often comes with a rattling cough.
Pumping yourself full of over-the-counter medications is definitely an option, but there are a number of things that can be done at home that will still give you some relief. Here are 6+ ways to relieve your congestion at home.
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1. Hydrate. The best thing to do when fighting mucus is to drink lots of fluids. Healthline shares that staying hydrated will keep mucus thin and make it easier to expel. Hot soup, hot tea, water, or juice will do the job.
2. Steam. The Mayo Clinic shares that keeping your area humidified will help loosen the mucus so you can get rid of it. If you don't have a humidifier, you can heat a pan of water, stand over the steam, and inhale it, or you can turn on a hot shower, and inhale the warm, moist air.
3. Salt water gargle. If you have a sore throat along with the congestion, Healthline recommends trying a salt water gargle. Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Gargle until the water is gone.
4. Moist compress. If the mucus is the result of sickness, standing in a steamy bathroom may take more energy than you have. Medical News Today recommends placing a warm, moist towel over your eyes and nose. The heat will help relieve pain, and the moisture will help the mucus flow.
5. Honey. If the congestion has settled in your chest, Healthline shares that buckwheat honey appears to be just as effective as over-the-counter decongestants at loosening mucus and calming a cough.
6. Saline spray. To help unclog the nasal passages, the Mayo Clinic recommends using a saline spray. You can also place a saline solution in a Neti pot, and run the solution through your sinus cavities.
7. Eucalyptus. Medical News Today says that eucalyptus essential oil has been shown to help relieve sinus and chest congestion. Place a few drops in a warm bath, or use an oil diffuser in your room.
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8. Avoid cough suppressants. Medical News Today cautions people against using cough suppressants. These tend to do more harm than good as they may keep your body from expelling excess mucus.
Don't suffer with congestion. Try some these remedies for relief.
RemedyDaily.com does not give medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.