What Is an Expectorant?
Expectorants are cough medicines that help you cough up mucus from your throat and lungs. You can take them to clear your airway if you feel congestion from the cold or flu. However, they do not stop you from coughing.
These medicines may have just one ingredient, the expectorant itself, or they may be added along with other ingredients in a cold or flu medicine.
What Does an Expectorant Do?
Expectorants help stop mucus from building up in your respiratory system. This is important because coughing up mucus is your body's way of removing microorganisms, foreign bodies, and excess mucus from your airways. Although expectorants are used to treat coughs, they don't prevent coughing.
So how do expectorants work? They loosen mucus by adding moisture or increasing its water content. This makes the mucus less sticky, thinning it out and making it easier to cough up.
Over time, they provide greater relief of your symptoms. They're also used as a supportive treatment with other medications to help you recover from coughing.
Several expectorants are available as over-the-counter medicines, but some expectorants and cough remedies also occur naturally.
Natural Expectorants
Natural expectorants and cough remedies include various herbs and natural substances that help clear your airways. Other natural treatments help soothe symptoms caused by inflammation of the upper airways. When infected or irritated by a cough or sore throat, the cells in your throat or upper airway trigger your immune system to help fight back. Reducing inflammation can offer relief from these symptoms. Here are some natural methods that may help treat your cough:
Water. Water increases the moisture in mucus, making it easier to expel. You can use water as an expectorant by drinking plenty of it — either on its own or as herbal tea — or by gargling with salty water. You can also benefit by using a humidifier, via steam inhalation, or by taking a hot shower or bath. You should avoid taking diuretics that make you lose water by peeing, such as alcohol and caffeine.
Honey. Honey has been used to ease cough and congestion for ages, with studies proving that it is an effective natural expectorant. To use honey as an expectorant, dissolve a tablespoon of honey in a glass of warm water. Drink the mixture throughout the day. You can also add it to hot tea and then you get the double benefit of the honey and the steam to ease your symptoms.
But, you shouldn't give honey to children aged below 1 year because it can make them very sick.
Ginger. Ginger comes from the roots of the ginger plant. It is widely used as medicine and food. Ginger relieves congestion and acts as an expectorant. To use it, crush the ginger bulb and boil it in a pan of water for a few minutes. Sip the drink throughout the day. But, before you consume ginger, remember that:
- It may cause stomach upsets, heartburn, and nausea.
- It shouldn't be used if you're taking anticoagulants, or medicines that prevent blood clotting.
- It lowers blood pressure in high doses, so avoid it if you are taking antihypertensive medication.
Holy basil. Also known as tulsi, holy basilis a herb that helps thin mucus. To use it as a natural expectorant, boil about 10 leaves of holy basil in a cup of water for 10 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool, and drink it three times a day. You can also add a few drops of holy basil oil to boiling water, and use it for steam inhalation.
But, you should avoid using holy basil if you're pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if you have diabetes or hypothyroidism.
Licorice. Licorice is a medicinal herb native to some parts of Europe and Asia. It contains chemicals that can thin mucus secretions and ease sore throat symptoms that happen after certain surgeries.
Add half a teaspoon of licorice to a cup of water, and boil it for 10 minutes. Then, drink this tea. You can also gargle half a teaspoon of licorice in a cup of warm water thrice a day or eat a licorice candy.
But make sure you avoid using licorice if you have high blood pressure.
Peppermint. Peppermint contains menthol, which can relieve the symptoms of throat and chest infections. To use it as a natural expectorant, put a drop of peppermint oil in hot water and use it for steam inhalation. You can also drink peppermint tea made from prepared peppermint tea bags or dried or fresh peppermint leaves. But remember that:
- Peppermint can cause heartburn and vomiting.
- Peppermint aromatherapy can be toxic for children and women.
- Peppermint tea should never be prepared from peppermint oil.
Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus is used in many cough lozenges, inhalants, and vaporizers to loosen mucus and ease congestion. You can use it for steam inhalation by adding two drops of eucalyptus oil in water. But eucalyptus oil is toxic when consumed orally.
Menthol. Menthol is used for its anesthetic properties as well as its ability to counter irritants. It can relieve both a cough and sore throat.
Aloe vera. Aloe has anti-inflammatory properties and helps soothe and reduce irritation of the airways.
Ivy leaf. The leaves of the ivy leaf plant Hedera helix are an effective expectorant. They work by widening your airways and stimulating the release of mucus or phlegm. This herb and its extracts should be taken orally to get their expectorant benefits. You can add the dried herb or leaf into warm water to make ivy leaf teas.
Make sure ivy leaf extracts aren't given to children aged less than 2 years. Also, ivy leaf can cause stomach upsets and allergic reactions, so use it carefully.
Mullein.Mullein is a flowering plant used as a medicinal herb to manage respiratory symptoms. It is a natural expectorant with anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antioxidant properties. It helps thin mucus, making it easier to expel from your airways.
You can make mullein tea with mullein tea bags or dried loose leaves or flowers. To make the tea, put one to two teaspoons of the dried leaves or flowers in a cup of hot water. Take the tea three or four times a day.
Precautions Using Natural Expectorants
It’s unlikely that you’ll have any health problems or side effects when using natural expectorants. However, as with any remedy, moderation is key to using them safely. If you take more than the recommended dose, are allergic to it, or take expectorants with other medicines containing similar ingredients, you might have side effects, such as:
- Hives
- Skin rash
- Trouble breathing
- Wheezing
- Face and throat swelling
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Restlessness
Check the labels on expectorants and follow the directions carefully before using them. Don’t take more than recommended. See a doctor if you don’t feel better. Also, if you have a chronic health condition or are taking any medicines, talk to your doctor before taking natural expectorants, such as ginger and licorice.
Takeaways
Natural expectorants can help ease respiratory symptoms such as cough or congestion by clearing your airways. These expectorants are available over the counter at pharmacies or grocery stores. The benefits of some natural expectorants, like honey, ginger, or licorice, can come from dissolving them in hot water or tea. If you have any adverse reactions or don’t feel better, stop using the natural expectorants and speak with your doctor.
Natural Expectorant FAQs
What’s the best natural expectorant?
The best natural expectorant is the one that works best for your symptoms. However, water could be the best natural expectorant because it is readily available.
What food is a natural expectorant?
Ginger, garlic, honey, and foods with high water content, such as bone broth, watermelon, and cucumber, can act as natural expectorants.
Who shouldn’t use natural expectorants?
Don’t use natural expectorants if you’re allergic to them or if your symptoms continue after taking them.
Do natural expectorants interact with other medications?
Yes, some natural expectorants can interact with medications. Ginger, for example, can interact with anticoagulants.
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to menthol?
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to menthol include itching, hives, trouble breathing, wheezing, and swelling in the face or throat.
