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Phlegm: What You Need to Know and Do

What's going on? Why do I have to have all this awful stuff?
Phlegm, believe it or not, is your friend. Let's find out why:

What is phlegm?

It is a frontline defense mechanism of the respiratory system. It uses a specialized type of mucus produced only in the breathing organs, but not in the nasal cavity. Besides having the usual chemical contents of mucus--mucins, salts, electrolytes, etc--it also packs a very powerful array of virus and bacteria fighting substances. It is very sticky so it can hang on securely where it's needed and trap and destroy those unwanted invaders. When its job is done it begins to detach itself and move, with the help of the cilia, toward the throat area, laden with dead bacteria, viruses, germs. This is why phlegm should not be swallowed.

Where is phlegm produced?
Unlike yellow or green mucus which are produced by the nasal and sinus cavities, phlegm is produced by:

• the lungs
• throat passages
• bronchial tubes
• bronchiole
• other parts of the respiratory systems except the nasal cavity

Nasal Cavity and Upper Respiratory Tract
a - vertebrae, b - esophagus, c - trachea
d - cricoid cartilage, e - laryngopharynx, f -
pharynx, g - nasopharynx, k - tongue,
l - hard palate, o - superior turbinate,
p - middle turbinate, q - inferior turbinate

The purpose of phlegm
Phlegm is sometimes preceded by post-nasal drip and is a water based gel consisting of strong germ fighting substances produced by the body. Its primary purpose is to:

• aid the regular immune system when it gets overloaded
• trap microbes, viruses, bacteria, unwanted particles
• protect the lungs from infections and damage from any of the above organisms, etc.
• protect all other parts of the respiratory system likewise

Once it has done its job and it's loaded with those trapped elements it detaches itself. Then moves toward the throat where it can be coughed out. This explains why phlegm should never be swallowed.

Phlegm can be a symptom of:

• acute upper respiratory tract infection caused by a "cold" or "flu"
• pneumonia
• bronchitis
• bronchiectasis
• tuberculosis--especially when accompanied by blood in the sputum
• lung cancer
• asthma
• chronic sinus problems

Sinus infection and phlegm:
Sinus infection symptoms can be associated with phlegm and often start with an irritation of the sinuses caused by:

• a virus or bacteria
• allergic reaction to pollens, sometimes with drainage
• smog or smoke
• house dust
• smog or other environmental elements

Mucus accumulates in the sinus cavities, stagnates, nasal and sinus pressure builds up. After several days of this an infection starts. Clear mucus comes through the nose or as sinus drainage, followed by a yellow one. And in some cases followed by coughing up yellow mucus or green mucus and pain in the sinus cavities areas. These symptoms would indicate that a bacterial or viral infection has set in, especially when the mucus is accompanied by bad breath. If the immune system gets overloaded it will produce phlegm in the chest area, which I would cough up and out not swallow. A way to help keep sinus infections out is to address sinus pressure caused by allergic reactions as the basic cause of sinus infection and phlegm.

How to Get Rid of Phlegm

General approach
Inasmuch as phlegm is produced only in the breathing organs, except in the nasal cavity, there is a general treatment approach that can get rid of it.

What to Do:
I would:

1. Start drinking as much lukewarm or room temperature water as possible
2. Do not swallow phlegm
3. If I were a smoker I would do myself a favor and quit
4. Unless my physician says otherwise, I would not use a cough suppressant since what is needed is to cough up and out the gooey stuff
5. Possibly the fastest natural way to physically get rid of phlegm and used by some is a chest percussion procedure. I would:
   • get into a sauna bath or otherwise inhale steam for about 10 minutes; steam reaching the nose should be kept below 102 degrees Fahrenheit
     • some people add eucalyptus oil to the steam water
     • thyme leaves are also used as a decongestant in the same manner
   • lay face down on a padded table with the arms hanging out and down from the end of table
   • have someone tap on your back with cupped hands for about 15 minutes
   • cough up the phlegm as it loosens and spit into a bucket--do not swallow it
   • sleep or rest for at least an hour thereafter
6. If step number 5 is not followed some people use OTC remedies that can help loosen the phlegm such as:
   • guaifenesin
   • Mucinex
   • some other expectorant your pharmacist mat suggest
   • read the labels carefully of OTC remedies before using; they should not conflict with other medication I am taking and would consult my doctor if in doubt
7. If any of the following symptoms appear you should contact your physician right away:
   • painful breathing
   • chills and/or high fever
   • coughing up blood
   • shortness of breath
   • coughing up yellow, green, brown phlegm for more than 2-3 days
   • any combination of the above symptoms
8. The best cure is prevention. A well balanced diet containing high antioxidants foods: fresh fruits-especially pomegranates and blueberries--fresh vegetables, etc. can do much to avoid sickness and a next bout with phlegm

Yellow phlegm

What to Do
I would:
Light yellow or clear - breathing dry air can cause it. It can indicate also that I have a cold probably caused by a virus in your URT (upper respiratory tract). Antibiotics won't touch it. It will have to run its course--usually just a few days. But I would treat it this way I would::

1. If I were a smoker I would quit. Until I do so I would probably have a recurring phlegm problem
2. Avoid eating phlegm and mucus producing foods
3. Some people take immune system boosting antioxidant botanicals right away. For example: herbs EB, PGL, G
4. Drink lots of plain, room temperature water to help loosen the phlegm and aid the immune system
5. Keep your sinuses clear thus avoiding congestion and possible sinus pressure and infection.
6. Rest as much as I can so it won't develop into a full blown sinus infection
7. Cough the stuff out, Iwould not swallow phlegm
8. Dry air is often the cause of light yellow phlegm. A cool steam humidifier can keep the respiratory passages clear and could help my phlegm issue.
9. Continue to drink lots of water indefinitely to avoid a recurrence of yellow mucus and sinus congestion

Dark yellow - a probable sign of sinus infection or an infection in the LRT (lower respiratory tract) like bronchitis or bacterial pneumonia, especially if the phlegm is accompanied by coughing, chest pain and short breath; in which case I would see a doctor. If the illness does not go away in a few days--a week or less--it is probably a bacterial infection. I would:

1. Follow the same protocol for Light yellow, above
2. Some people use some OTC remedies to loosen and expectorate the phlegm. For example: plain gaieties or Muncinex. I would do so
3. Consider a chest percussion procedure if the phlegm is not addressded by the OTC remedies
4. Consider using a steam humidifier to help keep the respiratory tissues from drying out, especially at night in the winter
5. Watch the color of the sputum. If it has blood in it I would see my physician right away
6. See my physician if no improvement is seen within a few days, otherwise it couldl linger on for weeks
7. Bring sinus pressure relief soon, whenever pressure begins to build up and phlegm appears
8. Eat right. Some foods are phlegm and mucus producers which can lead to congestion, sinus pressure and a potential infection
9. Consider fasting as a way to fight infections that lead to yellow phlegm
10. Correct any misalignment impeding full flow of nerve energy. This is a relatively unknown procedure, yet very important, explained in Three Steps to Sinus ans Mucus Relief

The meaning of green phlegm
Phlegm often appears toward the end of a respiratory tract infection. What makes phlegm green? Technically, it is done by an enzyme commonly named MPO--which has a green pigment common to many white cells. Bacterias draw more white cells containing MPO than viruses, hence the characteristic green color associated with bacterial infections. In other words, green phlegm can indicate that a bacterial infection in present. Unlike a viral infection which is not touched by antibiotics, for a bacterial sinus infection the standard medication is an antibiotic. Otherwise the infection will linger on probably for a long time. Of course, you need a prescription to get the antibiotic, thus the sensible thing to do when green phlegm is present, in connection with a sinus infection, is to go see a physician, if it does not go away in a few days..

How to get rid of green phlegm
These are the steps I take. I would:

1. Not swallow phlegm
2. Take plain guaifenesin, which is perhaps the best OTC available to loosen and expectorate phlegm
   1. if sprays or other OTC remedies are used they should not damage in any way the respiratory system cilia
   2. always read labels and take special notice of side effects
   3. all medicinal drugs have side effects
3. Remember that pollens, especially during the growing or harvesting season, can cause serious allergy problems, sinus infection and green phlegm
4. Loratadine (Claritin) is taken by some to suppress excessive mucus and irritation--a precursor of sinus infection and green mucus
5. Drink lots of water and natural juices. Keep the urine clear
6. If a heater is in use or otherwise the air is dry, I would use a humidifier
   1. dry air dries the nasal cavity membranes and exposes them to infection
      1. cool steam ultrasonic humidifiers are inexpensive, easy to operate; can benefit greatly sinus and nasal membranes
      2. these membranes should be kept moist especially at night
   2. use a hygrometer to monitor room humidity level
7. Take botanicals: EB - 3 times a day for 4 -5 days; G and GN the same way
   1. to be effective they use it at the outset of the sinus infection
   2. these are natural products without known adverse side effects
   3. remember that botanicals usually take longer to produce visible results
8. Take antioxidant P on a regular basis, if it were a recurring problem, to boost my immune system. It is also a good anti-inflammatory
9. Consider a chest percussion procedure is the fastest, natural way to eliminate phlegm according to some professionals
10. Watch for any of the following symptoms:
    1. coughing up blood with or without phlegm
    2. shortness of breath
    3. high fever
    4. painful breathing
    5. hacking cough
    6. chills
    7. coughing up green or yellow sputum for longer than 3 days
    8. If any of the above symptoms occur, contact your physician
11. Remember that sinus pressure as an allergic reaction can start the sequence of events leading to an infection and green phlegm; nip, therefore, sinus pressure in the bud
12. Check for allergies and hay fever since they can lead to sinus infection and green phlegm. House dust is a common cause of allergic reaction
13. Some use acupressure regularly since they believe it can help keep the sinuses clear and avert sinus infection and green mucus and phlegm
14. Use natural supplements, like antioxidants, are used by many on a regular basis to boost the immune system and help avoid recurring bouts with green phlegm
15. Consider fasting as a way to detoxify my body, boost your immune system and help fight infection and phlegm, if I had a chronic phlegm problem

Additional Things I to Know About Green Phlegm:

1. Early morning green nasal mucus - having been there most of the night--can be normally green in the morning
2. If this condition worsens or persists you may need see an allergy specialist
3. House dust unknown to many, can be a powerful source of allergens
4. Dust mite droppings are a main allergenic element in house dust which can cause irritation, infection and phlegm
5. Loose body skin and warmth draws dust mites to mattresses which become a perfect breeding place
6. Mattresses should be sealed with an impermeable cover to avoid mites' migrations
7. Environment - molds, household chemicals around the house can also cause irritation of the nasal or sinus membranes
8. If I were a smoker I would quit today and seek some help. The green phlegm problems probably won't be resolved until I would do so
9. Swallowing phlegm - recycles viruses and bacteria back to the body. Always spit it out

Many of the above items are covered in:Three Steps to Sinus Relief, offered at the end of the page.

White, clear, brown, bloody phlegm
Determining the meaning of the color of phlegm is not an exact science. Other symptoms accompanying it are also important. Please, bear this in mind as you read this section.

What to Do
I would:

• White phlegm - essentially do the same as for light yellow - see section, above
• Clear, or pale phlegm - a possible indication of a viral infection in its initial stage
  • drink lots of water
  • rest
  • botanical EB,and G can be very helpful, if taken at the outset of the problem
• Brown, gray phlegm - the body is trying to expel tars or resins. Or I have inhaled a lot of dust or smog
  • if I smoked, the initial step, obviously is to quit. I would get some help, if necessary
  • try to isolate the cause and then decide your next step
• Bloody phlegm - this is a serious sign that there is something definitely wrong, like TB, etc. Please, go see your doctor

Smoking, alcohol, caffeine and phlegm
Phlegm is part of the mechanism the body has to expel things like tar, resins, infections, germs, etc. Smoking affects the cleaning action of the tiny hairlike cilia lining the lungs, nasal cavity and other respiratory organs--it paralyzes them--thus preventing germs, etc., from being swept out. Again, if I smoked I would quit. Alcohol, on the other hand, dries out the membranes in the sinus cavities and other areas of the respiratory system. These membranes must be kept moist at all times if disease is to be avoided. Phlegm comes in to carry out this protective function negated by alcohol damage to those membranes. This explains why heavy alcohol users and smokers have chronic phlegm problems. Caffeine--coffee, tea, cola soft drinks--have the same drying effect. What we eat and drink does matter.

Candida albicans and phlegm
This is a common yeast found in the throat and digestive system. The body's good bacteria keeps it in check. But when we use medications which decimates good bacteria, or weakens the immune system, for instance:

• antibiotics
• corticosteroid
• prednisone
• birth control pills
• acne medications
• chemotherapy

Or large amounts of sugar are eaten, candida will overgrow--this is called candidiasis--and will cause toxins to flow into the blood stream. Among the symptoms of candidiasis, for some people, is the production of phlegm. Thus, if your phlegm problem does not react positively to the remedies suggested here you should check for candidiasis.

Antibiotics
When a bacterial sinus infection has set in and phlegm and other symptoms are present antibiotics are often used to get rid of it. The medical profession is, on the other hand, showing concern about the over use of antibiotics. The reasons: their effect on the stomach and intestinal flora and the loss of their efficacy. The answer to this may be: the use of natural remedies and prevention. Nevertheless, sometimes antibiotics are needed to prevent an infection from lingering on, for example:

• Bactrim DS
• Keflex

They require a medical prescription and can be very effective in eradicating phlegm produced by a bacterial sinus infection

OTC remedies
When buying OTC remedies for phlegm I would keep this in mind :

• when the chest is full of phlegm it should go up not down and should never be swallowed
• the remedy should be labeled: "Expectorant"
• it should contain mainly guayfenesin--to loosen the phlegm
• it should not contain DM (Dextromethorphan)--a cough suppressant--since what you need is to cough hard, unless my physician advices otherwise
• Four expectorants that meet the two previous criteria are:
  • Humibid
  • Mucinex
  • Congestat
  • plain guayfenesin--talk to your pharmacist about it

Natural remedies
There are several remedies many people use which they claim can be very effective to eliminate phlegm:

• steam inhalation followed by a chest percussion procedure
• hot drinks
• a cool steam humidifier to help loosen the phlegm
• eucalyptus oil used in inhalations linden, eucalyptus, lemon balm compounded in capsule form
• hot chili, horseradish
• acupressure can keep your sinuses clear and thus help avoid sinus congestion, pressure

How I would keep phlegm away permanently

• once again if I were a smoker I would kick the habit, phlegm could be caused by it
• drink lots of water and unsweetened fluids, all at room temperature
• eat the right foods and use the right herbals . Three Steps to Sinus and Mucus Relief addresses this in detail
• according to some fasting, done properly, can give the body a break and boost its defense mechanism
• the immune system can also be regularly boosted through acupressure (sinus pressure points)
• if I had rhinitis--also called "runny nose"--I would get this condition under control; since rhinitis can be a contributory element in respiratory infections and phlegm
• if I had used antibiotics, birth control. hormone replacement, etc., medications for some time and/or like to eat large amounts of sweets, I would check for candida albicans

The publication being offered, below, gives suggestions on how to apply many of the procedures outlined here and why.

Solution Summary

This is what I found out was the four key elements in my cure:
1. Eliminated some foods - I cut back significantly or eliminated completely mucus, phlegm, histamine producing foods

2. Kept sinuses clear always- I kept sinuses and passages clear--used acupressure techniques, natural remedies. Checked for allergies

3. Allowed full nerve energy flow - I remove a common--mostly unknown--impediment for full nerve energy flow--for sinus self healing and well being

4. Smoking - I don't smoke, but if I were one I would not hesitate to quit right away

This four-pronged approach led to my healing 2 years ago and are fully explained in Three Steps to Sinus and Mucus Relief, offered below: