Chest congestion is very common and it is something that every person will experience at some point in his or her life. It can be caused by a variety of different things, but most commonly, it is associated with the common cold or a respiratory infection. Most people will go to a doctor or buy over the counter medicine to treat this condition, but there are home remedies that can be used to treat chest congestion.
Bay Leaf Tea
The bay leaf can be used to treat a wide range of different illnesses and of these, are the symptoms of chest congestion. Take some fresh bay leaves and place them in a pot of boiling water, let the leaves soak for about 20-minutes and then remove from heat and strain the water from the pot. Drink the tea warm and it should provide relief from the congestion and irritation.
Steam Inhalation
Steam can be one of the most effective treatments for congestion of the chest or nasal passages. The individual can boil a pot of water and then once a good amount of steam is coming off the pot, turn off the heat, cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam. This will loosen up the phlegm and provide relief to the irritated airway.
Radish
The radish has some natural properties as an expectorant, so it can be good for treating chest congestion. Chop a radish into small pieces and then pour a small amount of lemon juice on the pieces. Eat this every morning while you are experiencing symptoms and it should help to relieve the congestion. As an alternative, you could take radishes and put them in a juice extractor to make radish juice.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil can be a great remedy for loosening chest congestion and for providing relief. It also has antibacterial properties, so it can be good for treating the cause in some cases. For this treatment, you would boil water, as with the steam inhalation method, add a few drops of the oil to the boiling water and then cover your head and inhale the steam. The eucalyptus oil adds a medicinal quality to the steam treatment, so it can help to increase the effectiveness.
Nasal Spray
Consumers can purchase all sorts of nasal sprays that can be good for respiratory issues, but you can also make your own nasal spray to treat congestion at home. Add about a quarter teaspoon of salt, and a half-teaspoon of baking soda, to boiling water and extract the solution into a bulb syringe. Tilt you’re your head, place the syringe in your nostril and apply a few drops to each side of the nose.
Regardless of the cause, chest congestion can be a real problem. It makes it hard to breath, it can be painful and it can make you feel tired. If you are experiencing chest congestion, then a few home remedies might be the perfect solution for finding relief. Try one of these options, or combine them with other treatments, and it should reduce the congestion and make you feel better.
