Phlegm isn’t pretty. Here are a few natural tips on clearing the lungs naturally, so you can start breathing better.
Nobody likes phlegm, and as it is generally related to disease, it can be difficult to excrete it from the body.
Mucus in the body is normal and generally helpful for the body (think mucus in your nostrils to keep them from drying); phlegm is secreted specifically as a result of disease and inflammation.
For those with lung disease in these conditions to breathe unobstructed, it’s critical to expel this phlegm from the body as often and completely as possible.
However, despite alternative treatment options to reduce these symptoms, the expulsion of phlegm can be difficult for those who suffer from respiratory fatigue and fits of abrasive coughing.
In relieving this build-up of phlegm, it’s important to utilize the benefits of naturally derived treatments.
With your health in mind, the Lung Institute is here to bring you 4 Simple Steps for Clearing the Lungs Naturally in order to help ease your breathing in these long winter months.
4. Eat the Right Foods for Clearing the Lungs Naturally
Perhaps the best part of clearing the lungs naturally with food is the personal care you can give yourself in relieving your symptoms.
Try making a nice lemon tea by adding a few teaspoons of lemon juice to a cup of warm water. The acidity present in the lemon juice will help break up the phlegm.
To help soothe a scratchy throat, fortunately, there is no better (and sweeter) ingredient than simple honey.
A few other natural ingredients to try when breaking up phlegm and killing bacteria are:
Cayenne Pepper (which can be added to soup)
Turmeric (which can be added to a warm glass of water)
Ginger (which can be boiled in water, strained, and made into a tea)
This will help loosen any latent phlegm and soothe an irritated throat.
3. Quit Smoking
As we’ve mentioned before, smoking is incredibly harmful to one’s health and quality of life.
Although smoking shaves time from one’s lifespan by introducing negative chemicals into the lungs and bloodstream, it can also serve to produce a significant amount of phlegm as the body’s immune response begins to cause inflammation within the lining of the lungs’ alveolar walls.
To reduce your phlegm levels and extend your lifespan and increase your quality of life, give up smoking for a day and take note of the effects you feel.
Your breathing should be easier, there should be less phlegm, and you should have a bit more energy for the day ahead.
2. Take a Hot Shower
Although taking a shower can be difficult for those with chronic lung disease, a quick and hot shower can be especially beneficial for those with excessive phlegm buildup.
When taking a shower, however, be sure to turn the exhaust fan on to prevent excess steam, as this may be more suffocating than beneficial.
Surprisingly, humming can have beneficial effects on loosening up phlegm and making it easier to spit out.
Since this can be done anywhere, we recommend putting on your favorite song and humming the melody until your phlegm has been loosened and is ready to spit.
Our personal favorite would be “Christmas Time is Here” from Charlie Brown by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.
Moving Forward…
It’s important to know the road ahead in the treatment of COPD.
Although COPD can seem insurmountable, new discoveries are being made every day in the field of cellular research, and the first step to living a longer life is finding a treatment that addresses the disease head-on.
Changing one’s diet and consistently exercising are among the best lifestyle changes one can do aside from quitting smoking. It may be time to consider cellular therapy.
Rather than only addressing the symptoms of lung disease, cellular therapy may affect disease progression and may improve quality of life and pulmonary function.
For people with lung disease, a change in their quality of life could mean the difference between struggling to walk to the mailbox and riding a bike.
Christine Kingsley, APRN is the Health and Wellness Director at the Lung Institute where she focuses on providing helpful online resources for people looking for information on various lung diseases, breathing exercises, and healthy lifestyle choices. She advocates for holistic care that involves working with your doctor to explore all options including traditional and alternative care while focusing on diet and exercise as proactive measures.
