How To Remove Mucus From the Lungs Naturally

If you have mucus in your lungs from an acute condition (a cold, the flu, etc.) or a chronic condition (like chronic bronchitis or COPD), getting it out of there lets you breathe easier. Over-the-counter or prescription expectorants can help, but many people prefer to use medication-free methods if possible.

This article explains how to remove mucus from your lungs naturally.

Why Keeping the Lungs Clear Is Crucial

Removing mucus from your lungs is helpful in multiple ways, including the following:

• Reduces symptoms. Clearing lung congestion helps you breathe more freely.
• Enhances healing. Mucus can trap viruses, bacteria and irritants in your lungs, delaying healing. So, expelling it is beneficial.
• Improves lung function. Removing mucus enables your lungs to deliver oxygen to your body more efficiently and effectively.
• Reduces the risk of complications. Clearing your lungs makes you less likely to develop a complication like pneumonia.

Tips for Clearing Your Lungs Without Medication

If you feel congestion developing in your lungs, try these actions to remove mucus naturally:

• Drink warm fluids. Warm (not hot) fluids moving down your throat can help loosen thickened mucus as they pass by your lungs. Being well-hydrated also helps thin mucus, making it easier to cough it up. Green tea is an excellent option, as it has helpful antioxidants and may also help reduce inflammation.
• Inhale moist air. Use a humidifier or steam vaporizer to generate warm, moist air. You can also inhale moist air when showering or from a bowl of hot water. Just ensure the air you breathe in is warm but not too hot.
• Use controlled coughing. Coughing is one of the ways your body naturally removes mucus from the lungs. You can cough intentionally and get that benefit. Sit comfortably in a chair with your feet on the floor. Wrap your arms around your stomach, take a deep breath and cough while pressing your arms forcefully against your stomach muscles. You can also do what’s called huff coughing. In the same seated position, inhale deeply, tense your stomach muscles and exhale three times very quickly, making a “ha” sound each time. With either approach, repeat several times.
• Do deep breathing. Slowly inhaling to expand your lungs fully before exhaling can help loosen mucus.
• Get chest physical therapy. Having someone “drum” on your chest or back with significant (but not harmful) force (or drumming on your chest yourself) can help loosen mucus, making it easier to cough up. There are also devices that generate vibrations to create the same effect.
• Use postural drainage. Lying on the floor with pillows keeping your hips higher than your chest promotes mucus drainage.
• Exercise. Physical activity can help you get mucus out of your lungs by increasing your breathing rate and facilitating coughing. Be sure to exercise at a pace that doesn’t create too much strain on your lungs or body in general.

Talk With Your Healthcare Provider About Persistent Lung Congestion

The actions above can help you eliminate mucus from your lungs naturally. However, if they aren’t enough to provide relief, you should talk with your healthcare provider. They can recommend other therapies or medications to help relieve congestion.

If you don’t have a Baptist Health provider, check out our online directory.

Next Steps and Helpful Resources

Learn More About Respiratory Care at Baptist Health
How to Improve Lung Health
Types of Lung Function Tests
Respiratory Infection Side Effects