Have you ever heard a whistling sound while you breathe? If yes, then you are suffering from a condition called wheezing. This typically happens when you breathe out, and it sounds like a high-pitched whistle. However, you can sometimes hear it, too, while breathing in. 

Wheezing is a common symptom of various respiratory disorders that will cause tightening of the throat. You can try loads of home remedies for wheezing without needing to use an inhaler. However, it will depend on the cause. 

Wheezing is commonly attached to asthma attacks as it can cause the structure of your throat to tighten and make breathing harder. Mucus is another reason why you may suffer from wheezing. If you are suffering from a condition like COPD or even have mistakenly inhaled a foreign object, all this can affect your throat and cause wheezing. 

Due to the tightening of the air passage, breathing problems are common in patients with wheezing problems. A person can also feel tightness in the chest area as well during dealing with a wheezing attack. These symptoms are uncomfortable and worrying, but, fortunately, you can use natural remedies for wheezing to get relief from this discomfort. 

So, here are some of the home remedies for wheezing that can help you treat high-pitched voices. 

Helpful Natural Remedies for Wheezing

Wheezing is a discomforting problem as it can also deteriorate the quality of your life to quite an extent. Thankfully, it is curable as you can use these home remedies for wheezing: 

Steam Inhalation

Steam is one of the best home remedies for wheezing; you can try it to provide your blocked airways with rapid relief. Any phlegm stored there will be melted due to hot steam. Also, the vapor will humidify the respiratory tracts and make breathing easier. 

A hot, steamy bath is another option to get rid of wheezing. Additionally, invest in a good humidifier as a dry throat causes wheezing, and the humidifier will provide you with good mist-type air in your living areas. 

Check the humidity of your bedroom, as nighttime dryness is one of the prime reasons why you wake up coughing or wheezing. So, keep the humidifier in your bedroom at night, as inhaling warm, and moisture-rich air will help you clear the sinus and open up your nasal airways. 

To try this remedy: 

  • Pour hot water into a large bowl. 
  • Now, place a towel before your head to trap the extra moisture. 
  • Breathe in the hot steam through your nasal pathways and mouth. 
  • You can also add a few drops of menthol oil to the water to make the steam more effective.

You can drop some eucalyptus or peppermint oil into the hot water as they will work as pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory agents. Peppermint oil is said to have relaxing effects on the respiratory system muscles and help you get rid of wheezing and many other respiratory problems.

You can purchase peppermint or eucalyptus from any drug store, or you can also order it online. If you don’t want to try these home remedies for wheezing, you can also use a sauna room to loosen your nasal congestion. 

Consume Warm Drinks 

Dry throat or post nasal drip can be prime reasons for wheezing. In this case, sipping a warm drink can help you deal with this condition. Warm beverages are one of the best ways to deal with wheezing as they can clear any mucus from the nasal airway and unclog the narrowing nasal pathway. 

Try any type of warm liquid from hot water, lemonade to black tea, and herbal drink. However, make sure that you avoid milk-based hot drinks like hot chocolate, as milk is known to worsen the mucus problem in the throat. Soup and broth are considered the best home remedies for wheezing. 

These warm drinks can clear the mucus stored in your windpipe. Many doctors advise herbal tea as it can break up any stubborn mucus. You can also try hot water, as hydration is the key to stay away from wheezing and any type of congestion. 

Change Your Diet

Various studies have found that implementing adequate dietary levels of vitamin C, D, and E can help your lung tissue, reducing the attacks of wheezing. Additionally, you can’t go wrong by adding some essential vitamins to your diet. 

Try fruits that are rich in vitamin C, for example, citrus. You can also add wild salmon for vitamin D and almond for vitamin E. Avoid taking vitamin supplements. Getting vitamins from food sources is always better as you will be getting the fiber and micronutrients contained in the whole food.

To get vitamin C, try adding some of the following food items to your diet: 

  • Spinach 
  • Broccoli 
  • Tomatoes 
  • Bell peppers
  • Oranges 

Add the following foods to get vitamin D: 

  • Dairy products
  • Red meat
  • Oily fish, such as swordfish or salmon
  • Egg yolks

Get vitamin E from: 

  • Sunflower seeds
  • Almonds 
  • Spinach 
  • Peanut butter

According to a study published in 2013, fresh ginger tea is one of the best food items that can help you combat certain viruses of the respiratory system. You can make your fresh ginger tea to get the benefits of its healthy compounds. These potential antiviral properties make ginger one of the best natural remedies for wheezing and effective in treating various viral infections.

Try Breathing Exercises 

Breathing exercises are one of the best when dealing with respiratory conditions such as COPD, bronchitis, allergies, and other common causes of wheezing. This is the reason why these breathing exercises are considered one of the best home remedies for wheezing. 

According to a 2009 study, specific yoga breathing exercises can help you with breathing difficulties related to bronchial asthma, including wheezing. These exercises often include deep breathing in and out operations. Consult a respiratory therapist to know the most effective breathing techniques.

Do not worry if you are suffering from panic attacks, as breathing exercises can assist you during such episodes. These exercises insist you try slow breathing, focus on breathing deeply into the stomach, and count breaths to thwart the effects of panic attacks. 

Hence, if you suffer from wheezing due to asthma or COPD, breathing exercises can help you immensely. This is how you can try breathing exercises: 

To do yoga breathing:

  • First, lie on your back and keep your eyes closed. 
  • Now, take a steady breath through your nose until your lungs are full. 
  • Then, hold your breath for two counts and constrict some of the breath at the back of your throat. 
  • Exhale slowly through your nostrils until you feel that you have fully exhaled.
  • Wait for a second or two and repeat it 25 times. 

Also Read: 10 Home Remedies For Chest Congestion

Quit Smoking

Not only for wheezing, but smoking is also one of the worst habits that can harm your overall health. It can hurt your lung tissues the most, and if you smoke on top of having a chronic breathing condition, you will worsen your condition and may suffer wheezing attacks frequently. 

You can try nicotine gum patches along with counseling to quit smoking. It is never too late to quit smoking. By stopping the habit, you will preserve what lung function you have left to enhance and improve the quality of your life. 

Smoking can also cause blocked airways, and it is not limited to first-hand smocking. Second-hand smoking is also known to disturb the windpipe. 

According to recent studies, kids in danger of second-hand smoking are more likely to suffer from asthma attacks and respiratory infections compared to the rest. It is not limited to cigarette smoke; smoke from fireplaces and barbecues can also harm you. 

Vaping (e-cigarettes) is strongly associated with an increase in wheezing and other respiratory conditions, according to a study published in 2020. Smoking will not only irritate your nasal airways but will also lead to severe conditions that cause wheezing in COPD, including conditions like emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Avoiding smoke from barbecues, grills, fireplaces, and other non-tobacco sources can prove to be one of the best home remedies for wheezing. 

Final Words

When your airways become narrow due to illness, irritation, or an underlying condition, you can suffer from wheezing. It is essential to consult your doctor as wheezing can indicate an underlying respiratory problem. Till then, you can try these home remedies for wheezing.