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Causes of Green Mucus
Here are some of the causes of green snot:

1. Common colds
2. Acute sinusitis
3. Nasal polyps
4. Bronchitis
5. Unadderessed sinus pressure
6. Bacterial infection

Probably the most common of those illnesses is the common cold. Therefore we will address it here.

The Common Cold and Green Mucus
A common cold is usually a viral infection that may begin to go away in a few days. It is often accompanied by a yellowish mucus or greenish mucus
Symptoms of a Common Cold:
They usually appear about one to three days after exposure and may include:

1. Sneezing
2. Low-grade fever
3. Congestion
4. Runny or congested nose
5. Mucus from nose can be greenish or yellowish
6. Coughing
7. Watery eyes
8. Sore throat
9. Fatigue, body aches, malaise

Stop Green Mucus:
Being a viral infection a common cold cannot be addressed with antibiotics, unless there is a bacterial infection of some kind accompanying it. Therefore there isn't very much a person can do to stop a cold per se, but one can relieve the accompanying symptoms by lessening their bothersome impact. Again, a common cold must run its course and the green mucus will also stop flowing once the immune system is through doing its virus fighting work. It should be recognized that an unaddressed sinus pressure could start a sinus infection from mucus stagnation; in other words, at the first indication of sinus pressure a quick fix could help prevent complications and hrlp stop snot before it begins. These are things that can be done to lessen some of the symptoms:

OTC Remedies I Would Use:

1. A decongestant nasal spray for an adult patient if needed
   • Consult your pharmacist for the best one for your situation
   • Do not use for more than a few days
   • Be sure they do not contain steroids
   • Do not use in young children
   • Follow label instructions
2. Consider the use of a cough syrup
   • Again, consult your pharmacy first
   • Do not use in children under 4 years of age
   • Remember it doesn't make the cold go away it just relieves symptoms
   • Follow label instructions

Alternative Medicine

1. Eat good foods for the sinuses and avoid the bad ones
2. Zinc lozenges
   • Follow label instructions
   • They can cause nausea in some people
   • Zinc-based nasal sprays can take away your sense of smell, possibly for good
   • If not sure do not use
3. Vitamin C
   1. Taken at the outset of the cold it may lessen symptoms
   2. It will not help prevent a cold for most people
4. Echinacea herb
   • Research results are mixed
   • They are usually harmless
5. Thyme tea is said to be a decongestant
6. Do not eat mucus producing foods while having bout with green mucus
7. Other herbal teas can help flush out viruses, etc.

Sometimes the general cry goes out: Stop mucus! So, let's have some tips on how to do that:

Appendix

Stop Mucus
To stop mucus effectively I would do the following:

• Consider possible causes
  • allergic reaction
  • rhinitis
  • bacterial sinus infection
  • mucus producing foods
  • viral infection
  • air pollutants
  • colds
• Mucus color
  • yellow and green signal sinus infection
  • clear
    • from allergic reaction
    • early stage of viral infection
    • irritation from air pollutants
  • pink or reddish--requires medical attention
• Post-nasal drip
  • possible sinus infection
  • irritation from air pollutants, etc.
• Other symptoms present
  • coughing
  • bad breath
  • fever
  • itchy eyes
  • runny nose, etc
• Food and drink
  • some foods and drinks can produce mucus
    • sugar
    • soft drinks
    • dairy products
  • eating too much of some foods, e.g., starches, refined foods
• Smoking--if one has the habit
• Phlegm
• Allergic reactions
  • from environment
    • household dust
    • plants, etc.
  • allergic rhinitis
• Stress level
  • extended periods of stress can weaken the immune system
  • a weakened immune system makes the body more susceptible to:
    • colds
    • infections
    • other illnesses

An excessive amount of even good mucus--the clear, normal one--is annoying and can cause irritation of the sinus cavity and its passages, and even other more serious sinus cavity diseases. On the other hand, yellow and green mucus indicate that there is a problem, e.g., the immune system is fighting some bacteria, virus or germ. At any rate, this is is why I would stop mucus preferibly by going to the cause of the problem.

Nasal Cavity and Upper Respiratory Tract
a - vertebrae, b - esophagus, c - trachea
d - cricoid cartilage, e - laryngopharynx, f -
pharynx, g - nasopharynx, k - tongue,
l - hard palate, o - superior turbinate,
p - middle turbinate, q - inferior turbinate

Stop Mucus: Things I would Do:

1. Smoking exacerbates excessive mucus, I would quit
2. If the mucus is dark yellow or green it can be indicative of a sinus infection or infected mucus in the nasal cavity membranes
3. If it has been going on for several days or if it is chronic, you probably have a bacterial infection and you may need an antibiotic, please, see your doctor
4. If it has just started then you may consider following some of the tips being offered below
5. If you want a permanent solution, please, consider getting a copy of: Three Steps to Sinus & Mucus Relief click
6. Drink plenty of room temperature water
7. Avoid: cold water and sugary soft drinks
8. Acupressure can strengthen your immune system to combat sinus infection
9. Drink fresh fruit juices
10. If you have household pets check for allergic reaction to dander
    • put your nose close to areas where your pet likes to stay and inhale deeply
      • if you are allergic to dander you will get some of these symptoms
        • watery eyes
        • coughing
        • headache
        • get itchy eyes or nose
        • have breathing difficulties
        • pain around your sinuses
        • sinus drainage
      • you will not have those reactions if you are not
    • based on the intensity of the reaction decide whether to
      • see an allergist physician for desensitization therapy or
      • get rid of the pet or
      • reconsider pet re-location
    • avoid mucus producing foods if you have allergies
11. Test for allergic reaction to house dust--especially dust mite droppings therein
    • use same general approach as for house pets, above
    • based on reaction decide next step as shown above
12. Test for pollen allergies for your area
13. Guard the cilia against:
    • nasal sprays that would interfere with its normal functioning
    • steam inhalation high temperature
    • severe cold weather
14. Some foods are mucus producing avoid them as much as possible
15. Be sure to get enough antioxidants in your diet
16. Since ancient times fasting has been used to clean the body for healing; you may want to consider this possibility

Stop Snot
As we have seen to stop snot for good, whether it be green, yellow or clear mucus, one has to go the cause of the problem and try to eliminate it. Some of the main causes of snot are:

1. Mucus producing food we eat
2. Allergies
3. Viruses
4. Colds
5. Allergic rhinitis
6. A combination of causes
7. Infected nasal mucus from fungi

Once you have pinpointed the cause, at least tentatively, then see what happens when you eliminate it. If nothing else by
trial and error you may get there. In the meantime, eliminate symptoms as safely as you can. Consult your pharmacist for the latest OTC remedy to alleviate your particulate symptoms based upon your estimate of what may be causing the snot. Under the section: Stop Mucus, above, you will find a protocol of specific thing you can do.

Use your common sense and see a doctor if symptoms worsen or after a few days of trying self-care it does not seem to be working.