Home Remedies to Clear Chest Congestion

Chest congestion is very common problem in winter caused due to inflammation of the lower tract of the respiratory system. Some of the common symptoms of chest congestion are coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, tightness, wheezing and even fever. It’s very important to take proper medication for chest congestion but there are certain home remedies and food for chest congestion that relieve and clear up congestion before it worsens.

Effective home remedies to fight chest congestion

• Cinnamon a very aromatic spice and used in many cuisines. It has antiseptic properties helpful to clear up chest congestion and in relieving cough. Boil 11/2 cups of water add one teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1 teaspoon chopped ginger and 1 teaspoon mulethi powder allow it to boil till it reduces to half. Sieve the water in a cup and this concoction thrice a day to get relief from congestion in the lungs. (Health benefits of cinnamon) (How to use cinnamon)

• Ginger is used as spice in many cuisines especially in India. It has significant inflammatory, anti-emetic and chemo-protective effect which helps to cure many health related problems. Ginger is very effective in treatment of respiratory problems like lung congestion, cough, cold and allergies. Use fresh ginger to get maximum benefits from it. Add ginger in your regular tea to enjoy the ginger tea benefits. Ginger candies can be used to soothe the cough due to cold. Mix powdered ginger along with honey to reduce the problem of throat infections and chest congestion.

• Mulethi (Licorice) is very effective in relieving irritation of the mucous membranes it works on the tough mucous cells which can then easily be coughed out by the lungs. Boil Mulethi in water along with other herbs to make a healing decoction. Drinking tea made with ½ tsp mulethi root thrice a day can soothe the irritated throats and inflamed lungs. Pregnant women and blood pressure patients should not consume mulethi.

• Eucalyptus oil has antibacterial properties and analgesic properties and a very good antiseptic for the lungs. Add three to four drops of it in hot water and inhale the steam coming from the pot containing the inhalation solution by covering your head and pot using a bath towel. Repeat this treatment twice daily to get faster result. You can also purchase eucalyptus oil capsule from the market, just break them in a cotton ball and inhale the vapours.

• Sesame oil massage can give you relief from chest congestion. Warm 2 tbsp of sesame oil with a pinch of black salt and massage onto the chest followed by a eucalyptus steam inhalation to get rid from congestion. Massage your chest with sesame oil mixed with almond oil also rubs some oil on the soles of your feet.

• Soups with lots of spices and herbs like garlic, galangal and black pepper are very useful for clearing chest congestion. Consume hot soups to get some instant relief from the cough and cold. (Soup recipes)

• Honey is very effective remedy to get rid from chest congestion because o its antiseptic properties. Mix one teaspoon of honey with half teaspoon of black pepper powder to make a paste swallow this paste at least thrice a day to get faster relief from the chest congestion problem.

• Onion has sulfur and quercetin helps to break down the mucus and eases the chest congestion. You can use onions raw or in cooked forms. Chew and swallow about 5-6 shallots (small onions) along with sugar before you go to bed at night. Eat cooked onion with little black pepper powder and salt to taste to treat this problem.