I

admit that I recently have become quite an amateur expert on the issue of (please put that fork down for a minute if you are about to eat breakfast) phlegm. I have become a veritable mine of information, sourced from websites, YouTube and also advice from friends.

Like many around me, the last few weeks brought what appears to be a very virulent strain of flu, accompanied by a hard-to-shake cough. From the office to public spaces, a chorus of coughs has been heard, as well as sightings of the unwanted accessory of face masks.

For me, although the flu symptoms of fever and a sore throat quickly subsided, the problem of phlegm — the slimy, mucus-like substance that our bodies produce in overdrive when we fight an infection — has taken longer to bid goodbye.

Popping antibiotics is not a sensible approach, my doctor said, because they will not work on a virus (unless there is an underlying bacterial cause). The best approach is to get sufficient rest, eat well and try these natural remedies, recommended from various sources far and wide.

Honey and lemon: The age-old cure used in Europe and other Western nations. Some studies have found that a spoonful of honey is as soothing for a sore throat as many cold syrups, while the lemon provides a huge boost of vitamin C (in its natural form, instead of in a heavily sugared drink).

Tamarind and palm sugar: A German acquaintance based in Yogyakarta recommends drinking copious amounts of this local brew, with tamarind boiled with palm sugar. If you cannot deal with shelling all the real tamarinds, then the packaged fruit is also available at most supermarkets. I could not find palm sugar at my local supermarket, and substituted the similar gula aren. It probably did not help that I developed a taste for eating the sugar blocks like pieces of candy, but that’s another story.

Liquids, liquids: My doctor recommends drinking a small amount of hot fluid at least every hour to help clear the phlegm. I switched from coffee to drinking ginger and lemon infusions, which helped, as well as plain hot water. Over the years, I also have tried drinking Lo Han Kuo, a fruit-based sore throat remedy from China. The green packages with the distinctive fruit on the box (looks a bit like a slug) is available at most supermarkets. Also consume a lot of liquid-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables and clear soups.

No ice (or spice): Not that we are about to crunch our way through cubes of ice, but cold drinks and also very hot foods are said to irritate the throat lining. When it comes to ice-cream, there is the double whammy of the cold and also dairy, which is a notorious phlegm producer. Likewise, greasy foods will stimulate phlegm.

Wine time: One “cure” for phlegm shown in a video on YouTube involves soaking pieces of orange in wine overnight, and then sucking the oranges the next day.

Guess the alkaline and acidity should somehow clear your senses. It’s worth a try, and it is a liquid after all. + Bruce Emond