Natural things you can try
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Drink plenty of water. Good hydration helps thin mucus so it’s easier to cough up.
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Sip warm liquids such as tea, warm water, or broth. They can soothe the throat and help loosen congestion.
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Honey: 1–2 teaspoons in warm water or tea can soothe coughing. Never give honey to a child under 1 year old.
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Use humidified air. A clean cool-mist humidifier or a warm shower can make mucus easier to clear. Keep humidifiers clean because dirty units can spread mold or bacteria.
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Gargle warm salt water if mucus is irritating your throat: about ½ teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, then spit it out.
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Sleep with your head slightly elevated if mucus is accumulating at night.
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Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. Smoke irritates the airways and can make coughing and mucus worse.
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Don’t forcefully suppress a productive cough. Coughing is one of the ways your airways remove mucus.
What about ginger, turmeric, or herbal drinks?
They may feel soothing, but there isn’t strong evidence that a particular herbal remedy will clear mucus from the lungs. Warm fluids and hydration are the better-supported measures
