According to the Mayo Clinic, guaifenesin is used to help coughs, clear mucus and relieve congestion in the chest due to a cold or similar illness. This medicine works by thinning mucus or phlegm. Guiafenesin is available over the counter under...
If you purchase an over-the-counter expectorant, the active ingredient is almost certain to be guaifenesin. Guaifenesin thins secretions in the lungs and nasal passages, makes it easier to cough up phlegm and eases lung congestion. Guaifenesin has...
If you have a congested cough, also known as a wet cough, seek relief in natural expectorants. These substances thin out and break up the mucus stuck in your lungs, making it easier to breathe and your cough more productive. Remember to spit out...
Deep, consistent coughs that are tied to respiratory infections are often triggered by mucus that's trapped in your lungs. The mucus is usually quite thick and difficult to dislodge simply by coughing. An expectorant can help thin and loosen the...
An expectorant is a type of medication that is used to loosen congestion in your chest and throat to allow you to cough up mucus easier. The most commonly used ingredient is guafenesin. Taking an expectorant as directed can help clean the lungs of...
If you have a deep, persistent cough, the issue is likely triggered by phlegm packed in your chest after a respiratory infection. Many homemade expectorant syrups are made with onions, which can help bring up some of that mucus. Though this...
Upper respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia often produce a cough, which is the body's attempt to clear the airways of mucus. Commercial cough expectorants thin mucus secretions and help remove them from the lungs, but they can have...
Chest congestion can occur when people get colds or the flu. It can make breathing difficult and cause chest pain. An expectorant is a substance that helps to free the breathing passages. It does this by thinning the mucus that lines the breathing...
Decongestants typically work to relieve mucous congestion or “stuffiness” in your nose and sinuses, while expectorants loosen and thin phlegm or mucous in your lungs, allowing you to cough it up more easily. Certain herbs might provide...
If you have a cough and want to use a natural expectorant, a substance that helps thin the mucus in your airways so you can cough up phlegm, you have a wide variety of herbs to choose from. Although there's little scientific research on most of...
An estimated 10 percent or more of birth defects are the result of maternal drug exposure, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP. If you’re pregnant, it’s important to ask your doctor before using any...
Mucous becomes trapped in your throat due to varying reasons such as post nasal drip, the common cold or allergies. When this occurs you may find yourself suffering a nonproductive cough and scratchy throat. Eliminating allergens and thinning...
Herbs can provide a safe, natural way to get rid of mucus and phlegm in the lungs, both as a result from infection and when due to a chronic condition such as asthma. In addition, several herbs, when taken regularly, serve to strengthen and...
Some people decide to treat their cough with natural medicine or herbal remedies. For coughs, look for herbal remedies and herbs with expectorant properties. These cough remedies from natural medicine have an allergy risk and potential side...
If you are looking to get rid of mucus from a cold or flu virus, you should choose a medication that contains an expectorant. According to the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinic's Health Topics website, expectorants should be used instead of...
Mucus may accumulate in your lungs and elsewhere in your body and can cause numerous health problems. Mucus is a thick and slippery substance comprised of water, cells, mucin and inorganic salts. It serves as a lubricant that is secreted by...
It can be hard to focus or enjoy the things around you when your lungs feel congested. There are a few herbs that may help you breathe easier during those times. Many of the herbs that can help are considered natural expectorants. However, these...
Mucinex, or guaifenesin, is an over-the-counter expectorant that relieves chest congestion typically associated with a cold, allergy or flulike condition by loosening up mucus that then can be coughed up and expelled from the lungs. Thus...
Herbal teas and syrups can be used to gently treat coughs arising from lung infections or chronic conditions, without the harsh effects on the body that many over-the-counter drugs produce. Honeysuckle is one common herb that's effective in...
Chest congestion is an accumulation of fluids or phlegm in the lungs that causes coughing, chest pains and breathing difficulties. Chest congestion occurs from a viral, bacterial or fungal infection in the upper respiratory system. Home remedies...
Certain dietary supplements may be helpful in reducing your mucus. According to the Canadian Lung Association, mucus, a sticky substance secreted by your mucus membranes, can block airflow into and out of your lungs. The blockage can cause...
The National Cancer Institute reports that tobacco is the leading cause of cancer and can cause lung cancer and other lung-related diseases. Herbal medicine denotes certain qualities on plants, such as expectorants. Expectorant herbs may help...
Mucus, or phlegm, in the throat may be the result of smoking, the common cold or another respiratory condition, such as allergies or bronchitis. Regardless of what is causing the problem, getting rid of the buildup might take some time. For those...
When a child has a cough, options are available for relief, including medications and natural remedies. When cough medicine is the best option, a parent can choose between two types: expectorants and suppressants. Knowing which type of cough...
According to the American Cancer Society, cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, of which 60 can cause cancer. Over time, the radioactive chemicals that a smoker inhales builds up in the lungs and may also be another cause of cancer....
According to the Mayo Clinic, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths and that people who smoke are at greatest risk. Quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of developing lung cancer. There are herbal remedies that have been...
Mucus, or phlegm, in the throat can be uncomfortable and lead to bad breath or other health problems. Chronic mucus may be caused by postnasal drip, allergies, acid reflux, sinusitis or other inflammatory infections. Determining the exact cause of...
Emphysema is a chronic lung disease; the term is sometimes used interchangeably with COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition of which emphysema is one factor. If you have emphysema, the minuscule sacs in your lungs that contain...
Whether coughing is related to colds, flu or chronic conditions like emphysema, chronic bronchitis or cigarette smoking, certain herbs work better than others to treat coughs. Some herbs are more effective at treating coughs related to a buildup...
