Cures for Chest Congestion

Chest congestion usually appears during a cold or other illness and can often be painful. Chest congestion can cause an irritating cough and difficulty breathing, but there are things you can do to relieve your symptoms and cure your chest congestion.

Breathe It In

• Breathing in the vapors from a humidifier or vaporizer can help clear your nasal and chest passages and relieve symptoms of chest congestion. You can also use a pan of boiling water or a hot shower to substitute in this activity.

  Add a few drops of some aromatherapy oils to make this process even more effective. Try oil of eucalyptus, jasmine or peppermint in the boiling water to soothe your congestion and break up the mucus in your chest.

Drink It Up

• Choosing the right beverages can mean a lot to the success of your chest congestion treatment. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to break up the mucus; water is one of the best expectorants you can possibly use, and it will also help to flush out the germs from your body.

  Hot tea can also be beneficial, because the heat soothes your throat and the moisture opens up your airways. Chamomile, ginger or peppermint teas can be especially effective.

  You may also try mixing a little carrot juice with honey and warm water and taking them by the tablespoon a few times throughout the day.

  If your congestion is also in your throat, gargling with salt water is the most effective way to eliminate it.

Things to Avoid

• If you are trying to recover from chest congestion, you should not smoke. This will only aggravate your symptoms.

  Contrary to popular belief, over-the-counter cough medicines and expectorants can actually make your condition worse. These remedies will mask your symptoms but not cure them, so your congestion will continue to irritate you.

  Some foods will increase your mucus production, so you should avoid those as well. These include dairy products, fried foods and meats.