This article was medically reviewed by Ni-Cheng Liang, MD. Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang is a board certified Pulmonologist and the Director of Pulmonary Integrative Medicine at Coastal Pulmonary Associates affiliated with the Scripps Health Network in San Diego, California. She also serves as a Voluntary Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine while volunteering for the UCSD Medical Student-Run Free Clinic for uninsured patients. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Liang specializes in pulmonary and respiratory medical concerns, mindfulness teaching, physician wellness, and integrative medicine. Dr. Liang received her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Liang was voted as a San Diego Top Doctor in 2017 and 2019. She was also awarded the 2019 American Lung Association San Diego Lung Health Provider of the Year.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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A cold can give you a stuffy nose, but you might also notice thick mucus when you cough. Coughing is how your body gets rid of excess mucus, but thick mucus can be hard to cough up. If you have a mucus cough, then you will need to thin out the mucus to help your body clear it. You can do this by drinking lots of fluids, giving yourself a steam treatment, and by seeing your doctor.
Steps
Using Fluids
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1Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to thin out mucus and get rid of a mucus cough. You can keep yourself well-hydrated by drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water (warm or cold) every day and you can drink other fluids as well.
- You can add a squeeze of lemon juice to your water for flavor if you are not fond of the taste of plain water.
- Try adding honey to warm water. Honey can help clear up mucus. Do not give honey to toddlers.[1]
- Drinking tea with a sprig of fresh thyme in it can help clear up mucus.[2]
- You can also drink fruit juices to meet your daily fluid requirement, but try not to exceed one or two cups of juice per day.
- If you are vomiting, have diarrhea, or a fever, you will need to increase your water intake, as these can all be very dehydrating.
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2Eat soups and broths. You can also include fluids in the form of broth-based soups and broths. Eating soup or broth as a meal is often recommended when you are sick and it may even help to clear up a mucus cough. The warm of the broth can help to breathe up mucus and the fluid helps to hydrate you as well.[3]
- Warm broth can be very soothing and will also replenish electrolytes.
- Try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to your soup or broth to add some extra expectorant qualities.
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3Drink herbal teas. There are several herbs that are known as expectorants, so you may also want to try to include a few cups of herbal tea each day. To make a cup of herbal tea, place one teaspoon of herbs into a mug and pour one cup of boiling water over them. Let the tea steep for about 10 minutes and then strain the tea. Some good expectorant herbs include:
Using a Steam Treatment
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1Fill your sink with hot water. You can give yourself a steam treatment using your bathroom sink. Turn the tap on hot and fill the sink with water. If the tap water is not hot enough to create steam, then you can also boil some water and use that to fill the sink.
- If you prefer not to use your bathroom sink, you can also fill a large metal or glass bowl with boiling water.
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2Add a few drops of essential oil. Hot water alone can help to clear up mucus, but you can also add some essential oil to the water to increase the expectorant qualities. Add about three to four drops of the essential oil of your choice. Some good choices include:[9]
- Eucalyptus
- Camphor
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
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3Place a towel over your head. You will need a full-sized towel to cover your head and create a tent for the steam. Place the towel over the back of your head so that it hangs down on both sides of your head, similar to how long hair hangs when you are bending forward.
- The towel should be long enough to touch the edges of the sink or bowl with your head about 12 to 15 inches away from the water. If it is not, then you will need to find a longer towel or you can use a sheet or blanket.
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4Hold your face over the sink for 10 minutes. After you have the towel over your head, hold your head over the sink and breathe in the steam for about 10 minutes. Make sure that you are about 12 to 15 inches away from the steamy water.
- If you have trouble breathing or if it feels like the steam is burning you, then remove the towel and step away from the steam. If the water is just too hot, then try adding a bit of cool water to make it more bearable.
- Never hold your head over water that is boiling on a stovetop! This is extremely dangerous.
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5Try to blow your nose and cough during and after the treatment. The steam should loosen up some of the mucus in your throat and nasal passages, so it is important to blow your nose during and after the treatment. If you feel the need to blow your nose during the steam treatment, take a moment to do so.
- Make sure that you try to blow your nose at least once after the steam treatment as well.
- Repeat the steam treatment once every two hours.
Trying Other Approaches
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1Get plenty of rest. Rest is essential when you are sick and your sleep requirements can increase, as your body is working hard to fight off the infection or virus. You will likely need more than eight hours of sleep each night and may also need to take a nap during the day if you feel like you need one. If your mucus cough is making it hard for you to fall asleep and stay asleep, then you may want to consider taking some cough medicine before bed.[10]
- Listen to your body — if you feel fatigued, you need to get more rest.
- Applying a topical ointment that contains menthol and camphor may also help you to sleep at night. These expectorants can help to ease your coughing and thin out the mucus at the same time. Try rubbing some Vicks Vaporub or a similar ointment on your chest before you go to bed.
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2Breathe humid air. Breathing in humid air as much as possible may also help to get rid of your mucus cough. You can use a vaporizer to keep the air in your home humid all day and night or take a few hot, steamy showers throughout the day.[11]
- If you do not feel like taking a shower, then you can also just sit in the bathroom with the shower running and the door closed. You will still breathe in lots of steam by hanging out in the bathroom.
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4Talk to your doctor. Make sure that you talk to your doctor about any herbs you are using or that you plan to use. Some herbs can interact with prescription medications, so it is important to make your doctor aware of what you are taking.
- If you have not yet seen a doctor for your mucus cough, make sure that you do so if your symptoms do not improve within five to seven days.
References
- ↑ Ni-Cheng Liang, MD. Board Certified Pulmonologist. Expert Interview. 23 October 2020.
- ↑ Ni-Cheng Liang, MD. Board Certified Pulmonologist. Expert Interview. 23 October 2020.
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403
- ↑ http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-2114004#hn-2114004-how-it-works
- ↑ http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-2133009#hn-2133009-how-it-works
- ↑ http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-2174009#hn-2174009-how-it-works
- ↑ http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/d04487a1
- ↑ http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/d04414a1
- ↑ https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/most-commonly-used-essential-oils/
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403
- ↑ Ni-Cheng Liang, MD. Board Certified Pulmonologist. Expert Interview. 23 October 2020.
- ↑ http://www.drugs.com/drug-class/expectorants.html
- ↑ http://www.drugs.com/pro/mucomyst.html
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/acetylcysteine-inhalation-route/description/drg-20061456
About This Article
To get rid of a mucus cough, keep yourself hydrated with plenty of water, herbal tea, soup, and broth, since the extra fluids will help to thin out the mucous in your lungs. You can also take a warm, steamy shower, since breathing the humid air can help to break up the mucous so you can expel it. For fast relief, try an over-the-counter expectorant medication to make the mucous easier to cough up. For tips on trying an at-home steam treatment, read on!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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