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Chronic Mucus Remedies

| Modified on Jan 20, 2024
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Natural Remedies for Mucus Conditions - Earth Clinic

A variety of treatments for mucus conditions are available; however, some of the most effective include natural dietary supplements. Clarifying aids eliminate toxins from the system as well as balance natural nutrient levels offering relief from a variety of mucus issues. Common treatments include apple cider vinegar as well as other herbs and spices.

What is Mucus?

An incredibly important component in the body, mucus can be likened to that of the oil in a car. Several mucus-producing tissues are present in the body including those that line the mouth, nose, throat, sinuses, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Mucus serves as a protective lining to these surfaces. However, an excess of mucus may cause issues including trouble breathing, coughing, sinus pressure, stuffy nose, chest congestion, sore throat and headache.

Natural Remedies for Chronic Mucus

Treating chronic mucus typically involves treating the underlying issues. Natural options like apple cider vinegar, cayenne and ginger regulate the body’s systems to prevent overflow of mucus. Likewise, these options eliminate allergens and other toxins that may be causing mucus issues.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Achieving a normal level of mucus requires an active state of homeostasis or equilibrium in the body. Apple cider vinegar aids in this balance by regulating the body’s pH balance. Apple cider vinegar assists the body in reaching an alkaline state and an appropriate pH level to prevent excess mucus.

Cayenne

Cayenne is a natural space that contains a high concentration of capsaicin. Capsaicin aids in the regulation of mucus as it thins the mucus. This thinning of mucus facilitates more effective breathing and prevention of buildup in the system.

Ginger

A natural decongestant and antihistamine, ginger has been used for years to loosen and breakup mucus. Additionally, ginger dries out excessive amounts of mucus and stimulates the removal of buildup. As concentrated as its treatment properties are a small dose of ginger is all that is required to experience the benefits.

While mucus is a necessary component in the body, excess mucus can cause a number of issues including coughing, trouble breathing and digestive issues. Natural treatments including a variety of spices and herbs are effective at limiting excess phlegm as well as removing it from the system.

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Allimax

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Posted by Sallie (Sunshine Coast, Qld. Australia) on 01/30/2012
 ★★★★★

I am hoping that Tricia reads this as she was suffering with mucous in her throat. I take Allimax capsules daily for healthy lungs & got some for my friend who suffered badly with postnasal drip & an irritating cough, she had suffered for years & had tried numerous medications & "remedies". @ Allimax capsules daily the first week & then 1 per day thereafter has fixed the lot!

Allimax contains fresh garlic bulb (but does not make you smell! ) & Golden seal. I was looking at this site for info on taking H2O2 as my son is taking it & bought me some.... Any negatives?

Replied by Timh
(Louisville, Ky, Usa)
01/31/2012
2048 posts

Sallie, the active ingredient "Berberine" found in Goldenseal is known to inhibit B Vitamins, so it has long been suggested to not use it for extended periods; otherwise it's a great natural antibiotic.

Replied by Tricia
(Ireland)
02/02/2012
84 posts

Hi, Sallie. Thank you for your tip. I'm not sure that I can get Allimax here but I'll certainly try out the ingredients that are in it. As for H2o2 I didn't find any negatives with it. I only used it in order to clear the backlog of mucous that weaved it's way onto my lung/chest area. I knew that if I didn't do that I would be looking at a different set of problems down the line. The H2o2 opened the airways enough for me to take a strong healthy cough to clear everything, which I had previously been unable to do. Now I will intermttantly use it if I haven't been able to 'spit or blow' my nasal drips. I have only found H2o2 to be a benefit. Thank you again for the tip.

Replied by Katy
(Pleasant Valley)
04/16/2014

Go on the mucousless diet, mucous is you body response to something, it doesn't like or a protection. Usually it is an allergic reaction to food that your eating that you are allergic to.

Apple Cider Vinegar

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Posted by Tonyb (Edmond Ok) on 06/05/2015

Have chronic cough with phlegm, taking prednisone, started using echinecea herbs and essiac with cat claw, went from 50 mg of prednisone to 15, then had gum infection, cough started back, took two tablespoon of ACV and phlegm/cough got worse, back to 50 mg prednisone and still coughing with phlegm, why is that when other posters states ACV reduces phlegm? Any other natural remedies for reducing phlegm?

Replied by Marcin
(Toronto, Canada)
06/06/2015

Do not eat sugary foods or cold foods and beverages (ice cream would be the worst thing to eat). It will build up the phlegm. Dairy products, especially when eaten cold, will also build up the phlegm. Instead, eat meals that are hot, in temperature and in spice. Warm soups, stews, tea, baked vegetables and so on.

For your remedy, buy cinnamon (preferably ceylon cinnamon) powder, ginger powder or grated fresh ginger, black pepper powder, cardamom pods or powder (if available; but cinnamon, ginger and black pepper you should be able to get). Pour water into a boiling pot and add a big pinch of each of these spices into it, and boil for 10-15 minutes. You can use milk instead of water if you do not like the taste. Take this tea three times a day. Also, buy cayenne pepper tablets and take them or just make sure you eat something hot every day.

All of these mentioned spices are very warming, liquefy the mucous and remove obstructions in the respiratory channel. They improve blood circulation to the lungs. Cinnamon, particularly, expectorates mucus adhered to the bronchial tubes. The liquefying quality of cinnamon can be observed when you make a tea out of cinnamon powder and see that a thick, sluggish substance has formed at the bottom of the cup.

Prednisone suppresses the immune system and makes you more vulnerable to infections, and you wrote you developed a gum infection.

I hope you get better, I also used to struggle with mucus.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Brooke (Montgomery, Tx) on 01/08/2010
 ★★★☆☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

I need help with excessive mucous.I have it in my nose and my lungs. It has been about 2 months and I am going crazy. ACV helps a little but it comes back. I will try potassium and see if that helps. If anyone else has any suggestions I would appreciate it.

Apple Cider Vinegar + Ginger Root

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Posted by Dave (Connecticut) on 07/31/2019
 ★★★★★

OK, so here is what happened.

I had quite a few struggles with nagging mucus in my chest. I later found out it was due to my cpap machine and the water in it even though I was cleaning it with vinegar like I was told. So then I had to super clean it with soap and water then vinegar after and dry it completely after the hose is not easy to dry I had to push paper towels though with a long stick. problem solved. Not quite 1 1/2 months ago, I started another bout w/ mucus I tried all the over the counter junk and my doctor gave me a prescription. then I came to (EARTHCLINIC.COM) and read about what to do.

I went with acv and fresh ginger root 1 tsp of acv in a half cup water then chopping the ginger root small enough to take as pills 3 or 4 pieces drink it down with the acv mix. 1 hr later major relief I also have breathing problems from an accident (lung damage) so now doing this 3 days into it 0 mucus and my breathing has improved 100% and no drugs

Thank God. I so love this site it has helped me with so many issues I come here before I call my doctor for a lot of things Thank You E C.com.

Apple Cider Vinegar + Hydrogen Peroxide

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Posted by healer Larry (central point oregon) on 11/26/2023
 ★★★★★

I woke up choking, gasping for air, stumbled to the bathroom trying to clear the mucus clogging my lungs and sinuses. I knew I had to figure it out quick and do some bathroom chemistry. so I grabbed a cup and poured 1/3 hydrogen peroxide and added 1/3 apple cider vinegar and1/3 hot tap water.

I quickly started gargling the mixture and spit it out, it started cutting the phlegm immediately. I continued gargling, rinsing with another cup of water between.it seems to have a drawing effect pulling from the sinus and the lungs. This is hands down the best mucus busting gargle ever. It's cheap, fast and works. It has never not worked for the people I have recommended it to. I call it Larry's gargle.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda, Vitamins

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Posted by Teena (Melbourne, Australia) on 09/09/2017 233 posts
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Was off work because of constant mucous and sneezing fits. Took acv/baking soda and vitamin c (homemade liposomal) every 2 hours, had about 8000 mg D3 over the day as well. Mucous and sneezing started to clear pretty quick. I thought taking vitamin c like this I would get past tolerance level, (sorry, but that's diarrhea) but this didn't happen. So thinking I must still be with deficient and will raise daily dose.

The reason I got sick I think was I usually drink 2 liters of water with dissolved sea salt, borax and magnesium daily and I had not for a few days. Anyway I was back to work the next day the cold or whatever it was, was unable to progress.

Cayenne, Ginger, Turmeric, Cinnamon

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Posted by Wendy (Brisbane, Australia ) on 04/16/2013

I suffer badly from excess mucous, occasional palpitations and also candida in my body which I have been trying to rid for years. I have been taking a drink of 1 level teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, and 1/3 teaspoon of cinnamon in half a glass of warm water. I take this after my lunch each day. My query is if this is too much to have mixed together and whether they are counteracting each other, ie due to blood thinning properties will this be harmful to me. I started this about 3 weeks ago and find that I have had a lot more mucous in my throat and also sinus problems. Is this my bodies way of getting rid of these problems? Any information will be helpful.

Replied by Tiana
(Wolverhamptonu, Uk)
04/17/2013

Hi, I found that cutting out dairy milk, using butter insead of margarine and no cheese made a huge difference.

I've also found that using the 2tsb of Apple cider vinegar (with or without the Bicarbonate Soda) give practically immediate relief to sinus problems and my general sense of well being. I drink it with a little hot water or add it to a cold drink for 5 days then take 2 days off and I use it on my salads.

Can't believe I suffered for years and the remedy is so simple. :)

Replied by Wendy
(Brisbane)
04/17/2013

Thanks for your reply. I have tried both of these remedies without any success. Whenever I take ACV my blood pressure goes up and I feel quite ill. I don't know why I have this reaction as it is supposed to bring pressure down.

Replied by Timh
(Louisville, Ky, Usa)
04/18/2013
2048 posts

Wendy: The herbal combo sounds OK, but you should also rotate to an entirely different herbal combo and then monitor results; pathogen killers like Grapefruit seed, Oregano, Garlic, Neem, and Olive Leaf will surely help. Zinc/Vit-A is critical to the epithelial tissues that secrete mucus. Supplementing NAC helps clear excessive mucus from the body.

Replied by Kazoo16
(Florida)
08/09/2013

Try eliminating all dairy products for 2 weeks. Be sure to read labels on any processed foods as it is amazing where you will find lactose products.

Replied by Dave
(Fountain Inn, Sc)
11/08/2013

To Nature 34,

Thank you Nature 34 for the Tumeric suggestion and esp the detail in which you present how you take it as well as the conditions you use it to treat.

That was a great post.

Replied by Cargie Dailey
(Oxford, England)
09/03/2016

I have just read your post from two years ago, but has given me some real hope that I can do something to cure the appalling mucous that is making my life a misery. I do hope you are well and if you read this have any other news or tips.

Replied by Carolynne
(Collierville, Tn)
09/10/2016

You should be drinking 1/2 ounce of water, for every pound you weigh. Example: If you weigh 150 pounds, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water.

Plenty of water with lemon and vinegar upon arising, plus drinking your 1/2 of water per pound body weight, will help a lot. Water thins out the mucus. The cinnamon/turmeric/garlic/cayenne pepper/apple cider vinegar, as described in the above posts, is great. Cut out sugar, and eat it only in natural form. Dairy is mucus forming. It's also full of natural hormones, fit for baby cows only. We do not need dairy.

Replied by Sarah
(Tx)
03/08/2017

A delicious way to take ginger is to finely grate it (with a hand grater), add fresh lemon juice and stevia. Unless you get so much ginger that it overpowers, this is an absolutely delicious drink!

Colloidal Silver

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Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 06/05/2015
 ★★★★★

Hello TonyB

Re; Cough and Mucus from Respiratory...

You ask for other natural remedies since the ACV hasn't worked. Any time I experience chronic cough and mucus I know I have a bronchial infection. I use colloidal silver in a "steamer-inhaler" and breath deeply for three or four minutes three times daily. After three days of this I find the infection is stable and usually has stopped. After a few more days of using the steamer with CS, I find the infection is gone. For long running infections I drink two tablespoons on empty stomach three times daily for a few months to make sure any infection left in my body is gone. Oh, and I also give myself an "irrigation" in both sinuses and ear canals which combined gets to the Eustachian tubes. Don't be surprised if when giving the irrigation the sinuses will sting when you squirt the CS deep into the recesses of the sinus cavity. I find that sometimes a sinus or ear infection will be feeding the bronchial infection. For the irrigation I use an ear syringe. Far superior to a Netie Pot.

Dietary Changes

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Posted by Trish (NY, US) on 09/26/2014
 ★★★★★

I agree. Do a search for mucus reducing diets.

When I did this, links come up from Ayurveda sites. Not all of what follows is exactly Ayurvedic, but much is.

I learned

1) what foods to avoid

2) what foods were recommended to eat

3) Use Spices! Ginger, Tumeric, are examples. They are anti inflammatory and aid in digestion which is key!

4) I drink 8-16 oz. plain filtered water upon rising, then 10 oz. fresh raw lemon in warm water, then tumeric/ginger tea. You can find that recipe on line.

5) Eat plenty of steamed vegetables throughout the day.

6) very key is letting food digest between meals without snacking. Leave 3-4 hrs btwn breakfast and lunch, and leave 6 hrs btwn lunch and dinner.

7) Wait minimum of 3 hours after eating dinner before lying down! Sit up and read or watch tv, don't recline or put pressure on the belly either.

8) drink water 1 hour, or 30 minutes before a meal, then not again until 1.5 to 2 hrs after eating.

9) Don't eat recooked meats. From what I have read, the oils in the meat go rancid upon the second cooking, and the meats becomes hard to digest and thus inflammatory, causing mucus to form.

10) again, don't snack between meals. Let your meal digest, folks.

All these tips help reduce inflammation and thus mucus. Helps me immensely. Try it for two weeks, you'll be feeling the difference as I did.

Best of health to you all.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Jance (Ontario) on 08/28/2013

I am a 58 years young gluten-free female with digestive problems for about 7 years. I have since been diagnosed celiac and following that continued to lose weight. I am far below a healthy weight. I started a candida diet 8 weeks ago with some success. Here is a list of issues:

  • Difficulty swallowing
  • When food does go down, I often vomit large amounts of thick bubbly clear mucous
  • Shortness of breath
  • Mouth sores (bleeding) throughout my mouth
  • badly receding gums
  • Eye discharge in the mornings

These symptoms appeared gradually one at a time, with the shortness of breath being last. I have started inhaling H202 this week for my lungs. Would you know what is causing the mucous when I start a meal and how to remedy? Are the mouth sores connected? Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Janice

Replied by Happy
(Up The Creek In Wv, Usa)
08/28/2013

In response to 08/28/2013: Jance from Ontario who writes: "I am a 58 years...." Sounds like you have been poisoned. Now you have to figure out what type of poison it is, and how it ended up in your body... Are you in the midst of a divorce? Good luck.

Replied by Mt
(Ottawa, Ontario)
08/28/2013

You may have a partial blockage of the small/ large intestine. Also it can be that your stomach/ pancreas/ liver may not work properly.

Less acid in your stomach can lead to malabsorbtion of nutrients -this is the reason for your symptoms. Same can happen if you don't have enough bile or pancreatic enzymes.

Read about Calamus root and also Swedish Bitter.

For the pancreas a juice of papaya and aloe in equal parts will help to reduce inflamation (1/3 cup of each 3 times daily)

For intestinal polyps, Horse tail is a good herb.

Replied by Jessie
(Riverdale, Md)
08/29/2013

Jance, so sorry to hear about your difficulties! I have been reading the stories on the hydrogen peroxide inhalation page and it make me think of you. You might read some of those pages. Also, if you have mercury fillings or root canals, those things can cause a body to have all sorts of ailments. It might be something to look in to. Hope you find relief soon. Jessie

Replied by Hotlava
(Seattle)
09/03/2013

Possibly try bottle dosage of Vitamin A and betaine HCL (stomach digestion aid). Sounds like you have gastroparesis (slowed and delayed stomach emptying), overgrowth of something in your gi tract, and impaired immmunity. could be due to heavy metals in your environment- silver colored mercury filings in your mouth, or living in an old house. But since you mention celiac (auto-immune dz), and receeding gums, I think mercury. So sorry for your troubles! Good luck!

Replied by Mary
(Edmonton)
11/21/2013

Frothy sputum can be a sign of heart problems especially with the shortness of breath. Better see a specialist as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis before you do anything.

Replied by Becky
(Columbus, Oh)
11/27/2013

Janice, I agree with Mary! ASAP- do not delay - do not continue to treat yourself- esp due to shortness of breath- locate a reputable health practitioner in your area!

Replied by Debra
(California)
10/19/2015
★★★☆☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

You are having candida die off symptoms. I had almost the exact same thing it was awful for about 5 6 weeks and is now slowing up. It can last I'm told 6 mos or more. I started Diflucan and it is a wonderful anti-fungual that you should try. It will help you kill the candida faster than that diet. You will also feel better quicker. Good Luck!

Replied by Debbi
(Los Angeles)
01/26/2016

I have the same exact thing. Have lost 40 lbs over 5 months and look too thin. Have you found any relief? I also have acid re flux and non-alcoholic stage 4 cirrhosis. HELP

Replied by Hisjewel
(America, New York)
01/29/2016
★★★★★

Debbi, when desperate fast, fast! It is great to have people to pray and fast for us, but if we know the Lord, He wants us to fast for our selves. It's ok to get someone to fast with you the more the better, but you fast too no matter what your problem is.

A couple of times my results were already in, the hospital called me in to confirm the results. When I got the call and letter, I shuttered, so I fasted and God turned the situation around even after the results were in.

On one occasion it was concerning a spot on my breast exam test results. While on my knees, I saw a plate filled with vegatables and heard the Lord say vegetables. So I went on a vegetable consecration.

I made a big pot of just vegetable soup. No meat, no tea, no coffiee, no soda. I continued with the vegatable soup breakfast, lunch and dinner and plenty of water, until my appointment day, which was at least a week away (really can remember, but it was more than a few days).

The new test came back clean, no spot. The doctor showed me the old results and the new, and shook his head, because he could not understand it, but I knew the Lord had cleansed me and healed me, because I followed His instructions.

I was able to return to my regular diet and the healing has remained, no more lumps. That was several years ago.

Dietary Changes, Iodine Saline Rinse

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Posted by Joy (Salem) on 02/06/2022
 ★★★★★

I had a mucus issue where I always felt a little congested. I'm a vegetarian and my ND had me cut out sugar, wheat, and dairy all of it. I also started a neti pot flushing my sinus with saline and three drops of iodine. Within a week my sinuses were totally clear no more congestion or mucus issue.

General Feedback

Posted by Ed2010 (Oakville, Canada) on 11/05/2012

Is Mucoid Plaque real? Has anyone really seen it when they cleanse believing they had mucoid plaque?

Replied by Kath
(Bangkok)
08/31/2013

Hi. I've never seen it in the way they describe it. I suspect these big sausage things they show on internet sites are moulds of the bentonite clay etc hardening in the guts.

However what I have seen - and this was while fasting (no use of bentonite or any thing else - nil by mouth apart from water)... I was doing an enema with salted water and apple cider vinegar... I think it was day 4 of a fast and I was feeling lousy, weak nauseous, toxic, aching back.

And these snakeskin like things exploded out of me. Weird looking. I investigated and they were mucus tubes, not skin - about 5cm long, each of them. So I'm assuming they were thick layers of hardened mucus that lined my intestines.

I am extremely toxic, sorry to say. I am assuming that candida or other pathogens had been hiding inside / behind this layer. I had to rest for a couple of hours after this expulsion... felt very tired.

So... my answer is yes and no to mucoid plaque. Definitely biofilms build up if you've been sick a long time then nasties have got a hold of parts of your body - the intestines being a nice hidie hole for them. And these are the sources for focal infections - repeated infections that get you when you are down. To recover fully, your body has to root out these axes of evil and destroy them. So you will feel sick probably each time while the immune system is trying to nuke them.

But I don't think the lurid pictures you see on the net are necessarily mucoid plaque.... I think that's the sensationalist tabloid version of the story.

Ginger

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Posted by Denise (Us) on 12/27/2018 50 posts
 ★★★★★

I give Ginger root grated, the real deal, a 5 star because it has almost cured my mucous in throat which I believe is from Silent Reflux. I grate 1/5 tsps of ginger I keep in the freezer and add boiling water, and blackstrap molasses (my choice of sweetner). Both ginger and Blackstrap Molasses have so many benefits for me.

Ginger
Posted by Dianna (Ohio. Usa) on 01/15/2014
 ★★★★★

I was having alot of mucus and chewed some ginger. It helped almost instantly to clear it up.

Replied by Amber
(Sandusky, Oh.)
01/15/2014

How much ginger did you eat to get rid of mucus? Was it in your throat it did you feel congested in the chest? Thanks if you reply!

Replied by Natali
(FL, US)
03/22/2015

Hello, past week I had a fever, took so many medicines but still nothing worked. At the moment, I have a lot of phlegm in my throat in my chest and lungs and my ear will not pop. I want to know what I can do as far as ginger. I don't want to go to the hospital because they just want to bill me adn walk in clinic will only give me medication that just won't work. What can I do ?

Replied by Dianna
(Ohio Usa)
01/16/2014

I slice off a piece about 1/8 inch thick and remove the outer peel. Place on back teeth and chew. I usually leave it im my teeth after chewing it for about five minutes. You can either swallow or spit it out. This also helps with a toothache and upset stomach and nausea.

Replied by Dianna
(Ohio. Usa)
01/16/2014

To Amber from Sandusky OH: I only had it in my throat. Sinuses acting up. It makes me nauseus and ginger always helps with that, too!

Ginger
Posted by Laura (Outback Nsw, Australia) on 05/24/2012

I have a big problem with excess mucous and after checking this site would like to try ginger. All of the suggestions say to use ginger root but I'm wondering if it is okay to use the ginger powder instead as I have limited access to fresh ginger.

Replied by Daphne
(Florida)
03/08/2017

Ginger roots are in abundance at Walmart and the Asian Stores.


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