Natural or home remedies

i am sick with serious chest congestion, when i cough its a little painful in my back and chest. i am a smoker but havent been doing that since i been sick. i am not a fan of the doctors office, nor the emergency room. i can't see spending all that money for them to tell you to drink fluids and take medicine. so i felt i would ask. i have been taking mucinex to loosen my congestion but are there any home remedies that can soothe the discomfort?

Fennel

Fennel is useful to relieve abdominal cramps and flatulence, and to get rid of mucus... Oil of fennel relieves muscular or rheumatic pains Adele Dawson

Hyssop

The pytochemical marrubin helps break up congestion. Two other chemicals, diosmin and ursolic acid relieve inflammation. Hyssop is our best source of diosin, which protects capillaries and eases tissue swelling.

Colt's Foot

Coltsfoot's active ingredients help break up mucus and expel it from your system. Coltsfoot hinders the body's production of an inflammatory protein, which narrows the air passages and prompts asthma attacks. James Duke

Colt's Foot

You will notice by reading the characteristics of coltsfoot that it is both emollient and expectorant. It will soothe the tissues of the throat as well as cause phlegm to be expelled.

Elecampane

Elecampane, notably the phytochemical inulin, is a pretty good expectorant assisting in breaking up bronchial congestion. Inulin also aids in maintaining a good balance of intestinal bacteria