bedridden elderly and phlegm

[casnrod]

My mother in law is bedridden due to two strokes. she has a lot of phlegm in her chest but cannot
cough them up. Hospital cannot do anything about it unless if she is coughing, which she tried but the cough would not start. she has taken med's for it but does not seem to work. Is there a home remedy that i can try for her without using salt/lemon or liquor.  THANKS

[National Jewish Health]

It would be helpful to have your mother-in-law sit-up, out of bed, several times a day, if only for short periods of time.  There are no good medications for this condition but physical measures could be helpful.  These would include postural drainage and clapping of the chest with the cupped palms of the hands or with a mechanical vibrator made for the purpose of loosening phlegm.  You might ask her doctor about this.  It might be possible, through Medicare, to arrange for home care by a nurse who could then perform and then demonstrate these techniques to you.  Please read our information about techniques to bring up mucus at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/copd/living/mucus.aspx to learn more.