Get Rid of Throat Mucus Faster With These Home Treatments (Evidence Based)

Having excessive throat mucus is a frustrating condition that can make you want to constantly clear your throat. This buildup of throat mucus can give you the feeling like there is always something stuck in your throat. Although an infection in the upper respiratory tract can be one cause, conditions like allergies, asthma, and heartburn can leave you feeling that there is too much phlegm in your throat.

Sometimes, just coughing isn’t enough to get rid of throat mucus. If you constantly have a lot of mucus in your throat, you may have to find and treat the underlying reason for the buildup. If the excessive mucus is caused by irritants or allergies, then avoiding those triggers can help to reduce the amount of mucus in your throat. If a digestive disorder or infection causes the accumulation of mucus, then home remedies like baking soda, honey, ginger, or steam inhalation can help to loosen phlegm and clear your throat.

Read on to learn about the different causes for constantly having mucus in your throat. At the end of the article, you can read about the many effective home treatments for getting rid of a phlegmy throat.

Causes of Excessive Mucus in Throat
Your body produces mucus to prevent bacteria and viruses from causing infections, and it is completely normal to have mucus in the throat. According to Dr. Melinda Ratini on WebMD, our noses alone produce around 2 pints of mucus a day.1 This usually drips down the back of the throat unnoticed by us. Problems occur when the mucus become thicker and more noticeable or when too much mucus gets produced which has unusual color such as dark yellow, green or brown.

Post nasal drip
A buildup of mucus in the throat is often called a post nasal drip or post nasal discharge. The American Academy of Otolaryngology explains that excessive thin mucus secretions caused by irritation, colds, allergies, or hormonal changes can cause more mucus to flow down the throat. Or sinus infections and dryness in the throat can cause a thick mucus buildup in the throat.2

This constant drip of excess mucus in the throat can cause irritation, swelling, and discomfort. It can also give a sensation of constantly having something stuck in your throat.

Heartburn / acid reflux
A common reason for constant phlegm in the throat is heartburn. The excess phlegm is caused because stomach acid comes back up the esophagus and irritates the lining of the upper respiratory system. This is also referred to as acid reflux. You may also experience a bitter taste in your mouth or a burning sensation in your chest.

According to Dr. Jennifer Robinson on WebMD, you could experience reflux without the other symptoms of heartburn. This condition is called laryngopharyngeal reflux, or silent reflux. The mucus forms when the stomach acid irritates the back or your throat and nasal airways and causes irritation and inflammation. This causes excessive throat clearing, a persistent cough, and a feeling of a lump in your throat.3

Allergies
Allergies can cause irritation at the back of the throat which can cause more mucus to be produced. Allergies are the body’s immune response to allergens and are most commonly caused by pollen in the air (seasonal allergies) or dust mites, animal dander, or mold (perennial allergies).

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that one of the symptoms of an allergic reaction is mucus in the throat. This will usually be accompanied with sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose.4

It’s important to try and remove the source of the allergy by vacuuming your home regularly and keeping bedding clean. Also, try to avoid touching your nose or eyes to prevent allergic reactions in your upper respiratory system.

You could also try one of my natural antihistamines which help to fight allergic reactions.

Asthma
Constant mucus in the throat is often experienced by people who suffer from asthma. Asthma causes inflammation in the bronchial tube and stimulates more production of mucus.

Although asthma is usually associated with wheezing and frequent coughing, the Food and Drug Association (FDA) says that mild and severe asthma results in an “excessive production of mucus.”5 This can build up in the throat and cause allergy-like symptoms.

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that chronic throat clearing could be an indication of asthma in children.6

Infections
Various infections of the upper airways and throat can lead to excessive throat mucus that is hard to get rid of. When bacteria or viruses cause infection, the body produces more mucus to trap and destroy the germs. This can cause chronic coughing, clearing of the throat, and sneezing.

Sinusitis is an infection that causes the sinuses to become inflamed, swollen and filled with mucus. Among other symptoms, sinusitis can cause postnasal drip with thick, dark-colored mucus or phlegm.7

The American Academy of Otolaryngology says that a strep throat caused by a bacterial infection can cause excess mucus in the throat which drains down the throat.8

Laryngitis is an infection of your voice box which causes inflammation, irritation, and swelling. This cause excess mucus to form in the throat and give a constant urge to clear your throat.9

Smoking
Smoking causes irritation in a person’s lungs which results in black or brown mucus in the throat and airways that won’t go away. This causes smokers to constantly cough, often referred to as a “smoker’s cough.”

The University of Pittsburg Medical Center says that in addition to excess mucus, smoking causes the mucus to become thicker. Smoking also damages the lungs’ clearing system and it can become more difficult to get rid of the thick mucus in the airways.

Smoking also puts you at risk for developing a number of other health problems like cancer, infections, pneumonia, and emphysema. To help kick the smoking habit, read my article on 5 scientifically proven natural ways to quit smoking.