With the rising temperatures outside, it seems like every store, restaurant, and home is blasting the AC. And while it may feel good, the constant back and forth between hot and cold can cause us to get a cold - and unfortunately, leave us with so much unwanted phlegm. Luckily for you, we have some great tips and tricks on how to get rid of it naturally. Here's how.
Before getting to the how of getting rid of phlegm, let's understand the what. What is phlegm? It's a fluid that is there to protect the tissues lining our airways, basically the nasal and sinus passages, throat, and lungs. The mucus confines dirt and allergens so that it doesn't go to our soft tissues or down to our lungs. The phlegm also has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties so that it can keep the areas clean. So while it may be icky and annoying, mucus is a crucial feature our bodies need to keep us healthy.
This may sound obvious, but a great way to get rid of unwanted phlegm is to drink a lot of water. Mucus is made out of water and ions, so it's crucial to not become dehydrated or more phlegm will be made. Another simple but effective trick is to use a humidifier. Mucus is there to protect the soft tissues in our airways from drying out, so the extra dry air caused by cold weather can lead to even more mucus being produced! Luckily any at-home humidifier will help by bringing back moisture into the air and the passageways. It's basically hydration from the inside out.
Essential oils are immensely helpful in actually removing and breaking down the mucus that's been stuck in your throat even though your cold has been gone for nearly a week. Oils such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus all have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. But that is not all - because they have a natural cooling effect, it not only will instantly feel good, but it will allow the passageway to open up and decompress. What a win-win! Check out some of these humidifiers that allow you to put essential oils in them to get rid of that phlegm in no time.
Related
