Headlines like that are usually exaggerated.
There isn’t a single drink that instantly “clears mucus from the sinuses, chest, and lungs.”
However, certain warm fluids can help thin mucus and make it easier to drain or cough up.
Here’s what actually helps:
🥣 1️⃣ Warm Fluids (Most Effective & Simple)
Warm water, herbal tea, or broth
✔ Thins mucus
✔ Keeps airways moist
✔ Helps sinus drainage
Steam from warm drinks also helps temporarily open nasal passages.
🍯 2️⃣ Honey + Warm Lemon Water
1 cup warm water + 1 tablespoon honey + squeeze of lemon
May:
- Soothe irritated throat
- Reduce coughing (especially at night)
- Encourage hydration
Honey has mild antimicrobial and cough-suppressing effects.
⚠️ Not for children under 1 year.
🫚 3️⃣ Ginger Tea
Ginger may:
- Help reduce inflammation
- Soothe throat irritation
- Promote mucus flow
🌬️ 4️⃣ Steam Inhalation (Often More Effective Than Drinking)
Inhaling warm steam:
- Loosens thick mucus
- Improves sinus drainage
Be cautious to avoid burns.
🚫 Important Reality
Mucus buildup is often caused by:
- Viral colds
- Allergies
- Sinus infections
- Asthma
- Smoking
- Acid reflux
A drink can thin mucus, but it doesn’t “clean the lungs.”
🚨 Seek Medical Care If You Have:
- Thick green or foul-smelling mucus lasting >10 days
- Fever
- Chest pain
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
- Cough lasting more than 3 weeks
If you tell me whether your mucus is mostly sinus, chest, allergy-related, or from a cold, I can give more specific guidance.