Herbs For Congestion - Natural Supplements That Act As Expectorants

Sure, being achy and feverish is no fun when you have a cold or the flu, but sneezing and coughing up thick phlegm is the least attractive symptom. There is an entire aisle dedicated to loosening the mucus, but you don't want to take a lot of over-the-counter products chock full of drugs. Luckily, there are natural herbal supplements that act as expectorants to help clear your lungs and sinuses.

Here are some of the more common herbs for congestion:

Licorice- When it comes to clearing out your passages, this herb is way better than just an ingredient in candy. It has been used for thousands of years to treat upper respiratory conditions that accompany allergies and colds.

While it gives a boost to the immune system and aids in fighting off viruses, it is most notably used as an expectorant and as a laxative. Hot tea is a flavorful way to take this herb and break up the mucus.

Peppermint- Inhaling the essential oils of peppermint is a great way to clear the sinus passages and hot peppermint tea works its magic on the bronchial tubes in the chest. Sucking on a peppermint candy can also help clear the congestion in your chest and sinuses.

There's just something about mint that opens up the airways and it is pleasing to the senses as well. While it is one of the herbs for congestion, peppermint also acts as a fever reducer.

Juniper- It isn't necessary to ingest the herb to get the benefits. A couple of drops of juniper essential oil and some boiling hot water are all you need to start breaking up the congestion in your sinuses and chest. Cover your head with a towel, lean over the bowl and breathe in deeply.

Borage- You may not have heard of this particular flowering plant, but it has been used for its medicinal properties for years. Borage is also called starflower and it has great expectorant properties. While it helps break up congestion, it also helps the body break a fever by causing it to sweat.

Fenugreek- The seeds of this plant are used in a variety of foods, spices and teas. But, it is also used for its expectorant properties. It also helps fight infection and kill the bacteria that cause cold and flu viruses. A nice hot tea with some honey can help break up the mucus in the lungs and repair the damage that coughing does to the throat.

While these herbs for congestion are all natural and safe to take, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking supplements, especially if you are taking prescription medications either for your cold or for some other medical condition.

Though they are natural, it is possible that prescription medications will either adversely react to the natural compounds in the herbs or reduce the efficacy of the prescription drugs. Just to be on the safe side, always check before taking supplements, natural or otherwise. Most of these can be found in tea, capsule or essential oil form in any drugstore, but you may need to check out your local natural food store for a bigger selection.