Congestion in the lungs is a common problem that occurs when there is an irritant present in the respiratory tract. This irritant could be either some sort of particle irritant as in the case of smoke or pollutant particles or it could be a bacterial infection. The body tries to get rid of any irritant by producing a larger amount of mucous secretions within the respiratory tract which can then be coughed up and expelled. This allows your body to get rid of the irritation within the tract. In many cases, the mucous starts to thicken within the respiratory tract and this causes congestion which often causes a severe hacking cough. There are several home remedies that you can use to get rid of congestion in the lungs.

The first thing that you will have to do is identify the cause of the congestion. If you have not been exposed to higher amounts of particulate pollutants, it is very probable that you have a respiratory infection. You will also notice that any sputum that you cough up will be white in color and this is because the body has expended a larger amount of white blood cells towards getting rid of the infection. Steam inhalation is a very effective way of loosening up thickened mucus and so you should use this method at least twice a day. You can heat a large saucepan of water on high heat and then turn the heat down when the water boils. Allow the water to simmer on low heat for a few minutes and then place it on a low table or any other stable surface.

Place a thick cloth or a clean towel over your head and covering the saucepan so that you trap the steam within the toweled enclosure. Breathe in deeply continuously and you will soon feel the mucous loosening up. Continue to do this, until the urge to cough is almost unbearable. You can then cough up and spit out the sputum. Repeat this a few times to ensure that your chest is free of congestion. You can also add a few drops of Eucalyptus oil to the water after you take it off the heat. You can also chop up one clove of garlic and drop it into the water. Eucalyptus oil and garlic are both very effective in eliminating bacterial infections. You should also have plenty of hot soups and broths as this will help to loosen and liquefy the mucus and eliminate congestion.