Chest congestion – five natural remedies

Chest congestion involves a series of symptoms, these come from the accumulation of fluids and mucus in the lungs. So, it could lead to difficulty breathing, chest pain, and overall discomfort.

Nex, we’d like to go over some of the causes and give you five effective homemade treatments that will promote relief.

Causes of chest congestion

To begin with, chest congestion is directly connected to several types of viruses and bacteria that make their way into the airways. However, it can also be due to allergies and inflammatory diseases.

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

Finally, treatment may vary depending on the severity, so always consult your doctor. However, you can still use some natural remedies to relieve it in addition to your prescription medications.

The symptoms of chest congestion

The main symptom of chest congestion is a tight feeling in your chest that reduces your ability to breathe. You may experience other symptoms along with this discomfort such as:

• severe coughing
• nasal secretions
• headache
• chest pain and wheezing when breathing
• throat pain and difficulty swallowing food
• lung phlegm

Read also 5 Natural Oils for Congestion

Natural remedies for the relief of chest congestion

If your chest congestion doesn’t require hospitalization or medical treatment, you can resort to some homemade remedies that’ll minimize the severity of your symptoms.

1. Onion and honey

This remedy has expectorant and mucolytic properties, that is, they help dissolve phlegm and clear up your airways.

Ingredients

• 1/2 onion
• 8 tbsp of honey (200 g)

Preparation

• Firstly, cut up the onion into small slices and place them in a bowl.
• Then, cover them with the honey and let them sit for 10 to 12 hours at room temperature.
• Finally, remove the onions and drink the resulting syrup the next morning.

How to consume it

• Take 3 or 4 tablespoons of this remedy a day, until your chest is no longer congested.

2. Lemon drink for chest congestion

Secondly, a lemon drink has antibacterial and antiviral properties that help fight the microorganisms that cause respiratory infections.

Overall, its nutrients strengthen the immune system. Vitamin C is a great ally in the relief of colds.

Ingredients

• The juice from 1/2 lemon
• 1 c. 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 honey.

How to consume it

• Drink a cup in the morning and one before going to bed at night.

3. Bay leaf infusion

Next, a bay leaf infusion has expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, it can help to reduce the irritation in the airways so it will reduce your congestion.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp of chopped bay leaves (5 g)
• A c. of water (250 ml)

Preparation

• Firstly, pour the bay leaves in a cup of boiling water and cover.
• Then, let steep for 10 minutes and then strain.

How to consume it

• Drink 2 or 3 cups a day
• Also, you can apply it as a compress on your chest.

Check out Seven Things You Didn’t Know About Bay Leaf

4. Ginger and black pepper infusion

This antioxidant, anti-inflammatory remedy helps clear chest congestion by decreasing the production of excess mucus. So, it takes advantage of the properties of ginger and black pepper.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp of shredded ginger (5 g)
• 3 peppercorns
• A c. of water (250 ml)
• 1 tbsp of honey (25 g)

Preparation

• Firstly, add the shredded ginger and the black pepper to a cup of boiling water.
• Then, cover and let it sit for 10 minutes.
• Finally, strain and sweeten it with the honey.

How to consume it

• Drink the infusion twice a day whenever your chest feels very congested.

5. Thyme infusion for chest congestion

Finally, 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 mucus and have a calming effect on irritated bronchi.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp of thyme (5 g)
• A c. of water (250 ml)
• 1 tbsp of honey (25 g)

Preparation

• Firstly, add the thyme to a cup of boiling water and cover it.
• Then, let sit for 10 minutes.
• Finally, strain it and sweeten it with the honey.

How to consume it

• 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.

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