Chest congestion involves a series of symptoms. These come from the accumulation of fluids and mucous in the lungs.
Basically, it’s the inflammation of the respiratory tract that can cause difficulties with breathing, chest pain and overall discomfort.
As you can imagine, it often comes with viral and bacterial attacks that filter through the airways. However, it can also be caused by allergies, toxin accumulation and inflammatory imbalances.
Its treatment can vary depending on its severity. However, in addition to prescribed medications, you can also use some natural remedies to calm it.
As we continue, we’ll go over some of the causes and 5 effective homemade treatments that will help to relieve it.
Causes of chest congestion
Overall, the main causes of chest congestion are viral and bacterial infections that proliferate in the mucous membranes of the airways.
The conditions that come with its development are:
- Common cold, pneumonia, asthma
- Respiratory or viral infections. Exposure to toxic gases
- Bronchitis, sinusitis
- Excess liquid in the lungs
- Cystic fibrosis
- Airborne allergies
- Tuberculosis
- Lung cancer
The symptoms of chest congestion
Chest congestion is characterized by a tight feeling in your chest that can reduce your ability to breathe. Along with this discomfort, you can also experience other symptoms:
- Severe cough
- Nasal secretion
- Head pain
- Chest pain. Strong sound when breathing or wheezing.
- Throat pain. Difficulty swallowing foods
- Thickening of your tongue.
- Phlegm in your lungs.
Natural remedies for alleviating chest congestion
If the cause of your congestion doesn’t require hospitalization or medical treatment, you can make some homemade remedies that will minimize the severity of the symptoms that you have.
Next, we’ll take a look at them!
1. Onion and honey
First of all, this remedy has expectorant and mucolytic properties. These help to dissolve phlegm to clear up your airways.
Ingredients:
- ½ onion
- 8 tbsp. of honey (200 g)
Preparation:
- First, cut up the onion into small slices and put them in a bowl.
- Then, cover them with the tablespoons of honey and let sit for 10 to 12 hours at room temperature.
- The next morning, remove the onions and drink the resulting syrup.
How to consume:
- Take 3 or 4 tablespoons of this remedy a day, until your chest is no longer congested.
2. Lemon water
Next, lemon water has antibacterial and antiviral properties that help fight the microorganisms that cause respiratory infections.
Overall, its nutrients strengthen the immune system and reduce mucous and toxin accumulation in the bronchi.
Ingredients:
- juice from ½ lemon
- a cup of water (250 ml)
- 1 tbsp. of honey (25 g)
Preparation:
- Dilute the lemon juice in the cup of warm water and sweeten with the tablespoon of honey.
How to consume:
- Drink in the morning and before going to bed.
3. Laurel infusion
Next, a laurel infusion has expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties. These can help to reduce the irritation in the airways which will calm the congestion.
Plus, its antioxidants promote the cleansing of the lungs and help to fight any particles that cause diseases.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. of chopped laurel leaves (5 g)
- a cup of water (250 ml)
Preparation:
- First, pour the laurel leaves in a cup of boiling water and cover.
- Then, let steep for 10 minutes and then strain.
How to consume:
- Drink 2 or 3 cups of the laurel infusion a day.
Note: you can also choose to apply compresses with this liquid to your chest.
4. Ginger and black pepper infusion
This antioxidant and anti-inflammatory remedy helps to clear chest congestion by decreasing the production of excess mucous.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. of shredded ginger (5 g)
- 3 peppercorns
- a cup of water (250 ml)
- 1 tbsp. of honey (25 g)
Preparation:
- First, add the shredded ginger and the black pepper to a cup of boiling water.
- Then, let sit for 10 minutes.
- Strain with a colander and sweeten with the tablespoon of honey.
How to consume:
- Drink the infusion twice a day whenever your chest feels very congested.
5. Thyme infusion
The natural extracts in thyme strengthen your lungs and improve your body’s response to attacks from pathogenic agents.
In addition, its expectorant properties help to eliminate excess mucous and have a calming effect on irritated bronchi.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. of thyme (5 g)
- a cup of water (250 ml)
- 1 tbsp. of honey (25 g)
Preparation:
- First, add the thyme to a cup of boiling water and cover.
- Then, let sit for 10 minutes.
- After, strain and add the honey.
How to consume:
- Drink the infusion up to three times a day, especially when you are having trouble breathing.
Does your chest feel tight and you are having trouble breathing normally? Are you congested and have phlegm? Don’t hesitate to try any of these remedies to control this discomfort.
Via: HealthyLine | DoctorsHealthPress
