Certain foods
Some foods can cause mucus to become thicker and make you want to clear your throat more frequently.
According to researchers in the United States, it is a myth that dairy products generally cause excess mucus to form in the body.10 However, the Mayo Clinic says that dairy products do make mucus much thicker and harder to get rid of.11
Also, some people who are lactose intolerant may find that consuming dairy products cause them to have too much phlegm in their throat.
Pregnancy
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase mucus production and cause excess thin secretions to drip down the back of the throat.2
Breathing in toxins
Certain chemicals can irritate your nasal passages and throat and increase mucus buildup in your throat. They can also cause various respiratory problems, including burning sensation in the mouth, coughing, headaches and yellow or green mucus.
Dr. William Blahd on WebMD says that breathing in toxic chemicals can cause serious damage to your body and internal organs and can even be life-threatening. He advises calling a doctor as soon as possible if you have been exposed to toxic fumes or chemicals.12
Home Remedies To Get Rid of Throat Mucus
There are many effective home remedies to help clear mucus from the throat. These natural treatments can provide symptomatic relief and in some cases, treat the underlying reason for excess throat mucus.
Salt water gargle
Gargling with salt water is a simple home remedy which can help to kill mucus-causing infections in your throat and upper airways.
Researchers have discovered that even just gargling with water was enough to prevent upper respiratory tract infection.13
Adding the antibacterial properties of salt to a water gargle will help to effectively loosen phlegm and clear it from your throat quicker. All you have to do is dissolve 1/2 to 1 tsp. salt in an 8 oz. glass of warm water. Gargle several times a day with the salt remedy to get rid of throat mucus.
Gargling with salt water is just one of my natural treatment to cure tonsillitis.
Steam inhalation
An excellent home remedy to loosen throat mucus and clear your nasal passage is steam inhalation. The benefits of using steam to get rid of too much mucus in the throat can be boosted by adding essential oils that reduce inflammation, kill germs, and relieve congestion.
For example, tea tree oil has antimicrobial compounds that can help treat throat and upper respiratory tract infections.14 Also menthol oil is well-known for its ability to relieve congestion and treat the symptoms of sinus infections and asthma.15
All you need to do is add a few drops of tea tree oil or menthol oil to a large bowl of boiling water. Place you head over the bowl and cover your head with a towel. Breathe deeply for 10 minutes to allow the steam and essential oils clear your airways and get rid of mucus. Repeat the steam inhalation 2-3 times a day until your symptoms clear and you no longer have any infection in your airways.
Ginger
Ginger is another home remedy to help clear excessive mucus from your throat and suppress chronic coughing. Ginger contains antiviral properties that can get rid of infections in the respiratory tract and therefore clear thick, hard to get rid of phlegm.
A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that hot ginger tea is effective in treating viral respiratory infections. The antiviral effect of ginger is due to enzymes which attack viruses and inhibit their spread.16
It’s very easy to make ginger tea to get rid of mucus in your throat. Chop 1-inch piece of raw fresh ginger and put it in a cup of boiling water. Cover the cup and let the ginger infuse for a few minutes. Drink the ginger tea 2-3 times a day to help reduce the buildup of mucus and speed up the healing process of upper chest infections.
You can also find on this website a home recipe to make an even more potent anti-inflammatory tea using turmeric and ginger.
Horseradish is another therapeutic root that you can use to clear up symptoms of sinus infections and colds. To find out more, please read my article on how to use horseradish to clear up congestion.
Eat chilies
Eating chilies or spicy food is a surprising way to naturally relieve inflammation in the nose that causes too much mucus to form. Chilies contain a spicy compound called capsaicin which has antioxidant and decongestant properties. Capsaicin can also help to thin mucus and make it easier to get rid of.
Studies into the medicinal properties of capsaicin as a decongestant found that it helps to reduce symptoms of nasal discharge and inflammation.17
If you have a problem of constant mucus at the back of your throat, try adding more chilies to your cooking or sprinkling chili powder on your meals to help get rid of a mucus buildup in your throat.
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