How to Get Rid of Throat & Nasal Mucus

Mucus in your throat and nose can be a big inconvenience, and unfortunately a common side effect if you have a cold or the flu. Thankfully, there are some easy remedies for these common afflictions, and with few simple steps you can get rid of throat and nasal mucus.

Instructions

• 1

  Take an expectorant, such as Mucinex. Expectorants help to loosen up and thin mucus, making it easier to cough up and expel from the throat.

• 2

  Drink plenty of water. Water will help thin mucus and keep you hydrated while fighting your illness. Drink plenty of water when taking an expectorant.

• 3

  Use a saline or decongestant nasal spray, like Afrin, for a few days. Decongestant nasal sprays carry some risk as they are only intended for use for three to four days. When picking out a spray, talk to a pharmacist to find the spray that works best for you and follow all instructions. In most cases, nasal spray is not intended for use in children.

• 4

  Boil a pot of water with a few eucalyptus leaves or a little eucalyptus oil. When it steams, remove from the stove and position your face above the pot just close enough to breathe in the steam. Place a towel over your head to lock in steam and breath slowly for about five minutes. This will help loosen mucus. After the steam, blow your nose and cough a few times.

• 5

  Make a hot tea. Drinking hot fluids can help breakup mucus, and herbal teas can also help soothe body aches related to colds and flu. A good tea to make for mucus is ginger and honey. Boil some ginger root in water for about 10 minutes, then strain into a cup and add a little honey. For an extra boost, add a little lemon juice which will further soothe the throat.

• 6

  Avoid dairy. Although dairy will not cause you to produce more mucus, which is a common misconception, it will thicken the coating on your throat.

• 7

  Refrain from smoking, if you smoke, for the duration of your illness. Smoking increases mucus production and can irritate the throat and lead to further infection.