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Q: Is the hawk-hawk-hawking cough a productive and efficient way to expell phlegm?
My mother (and father) in-law live in my home with me, my wife and my kid (I guess without the latter two, it'd just be weird), and we get on fine; I just have a hard time with my mother in-law hawking her throat up every morning like she has a dog wedged in there. And i've told my wife to tell her that I don't think it's actually helping; on the contrary, I think it irritates her throat more, so much so that she seems perpetually convinced that she has something large lodged in there. (My foot if she doesn't quit it). But I smile it off and, thankfully, have never been much of one for breakfast, otherwise i'd complain every morning that she's putting me off my appetite. But am I just bitching or is this just a gross, unproductive approach to clearing ones throat? I'd like a good reason to convince her to do otherwise, so anyone practised in medicine who has a positive argument for continuing such a practice as this, just shut up, I only want to hear reasons to make her f**king stop.
If it is, I haven't seen any evidence to back it up. Usually when I hear the sound, I'm trying my best to head in the opposite direction. However, on the chance few occasions that I've seen the result of the phlegm expulsion, I've been less than impressed by the size and consistency that ends up on the sidewalk, store floor, subway seat, wherever. Meaning, I could make the same sized spit ball with a modest 0dB sound effect.
I am pretty sure that it becomes a habit and then it is done without actually being needed.
The best ways of dealing with stuff in the throat I know are
1. Drink plenty of water. Many Chinese people drink ceremonial when getting up, when eating etc, but not throughout the day. Continuously drink something, perhaps just plain water, could be with some honey, or drink plenty of tea.
2. Breathe some steam. Fill a suitable vessel with boiling water, put MILs head over (not in) the steaming water, cover with a towel to capture the steam. You can add some essential oils like menthol to the water
Both of these are ancient old wives advice from back home, but my old doctor would also suggest this before resorting to medical problem solving.
You can of course also buy a pack of Vicks but I am sure it is an easier solution to just plug your ears permanently than to make an old Chinese woman eat something that resembles evil Western candy
smoglife:
These are both my go-to tactics. A Spoonful of honey is great as well, especially before bed so that you don't wake up in the middle of the night.
The other option is hot toddys - whisky, honey, hot water, lemon juice, ginger wine (if you can find, which I have never been able to do in China - so I just add more whisky and throw some ginger chunks in)
Nessquick:
Yeah, one guy in office, he is doing it automatized now. he hawk , but don't spit. maybe he swallow it :-)
Perhaps one day Chinese scientist will discover a cure and be able to medically extract phlegm from the bodies of Chinese, rendering such a menial task unnecessary.
Actually it has been proven scientifically to be beneficial to clearing the throat....
Nah. I messing with you. I have never seen any reason to do that, I can see the benefit if you have a cold, or you generally feel there is something there but to do it out of habit can't be good for you.
I recently discovered a faster and quieter way that is more effective, I put my thumb and forefinger on my throat just around the adams apple area, gently squeeze and then hawk, it brings up about 80-90% more. Obviously as a Westerner I do this only when I have a cold.
It's gonna be hard to make them change their ways, even if you show them medical evidence they are just going to brush it aside saying that it's bull. You know what the Chinese are like when it comes to medical stuff, everyone has there old wives tales that they swear by.
Clearing phlegm is a leading cause of male erectile dysfunction. Who can seriously get aroused when the women are doing this.
Scandinavian:
he went out to get a can of coke and got covered in phlegm
he didn't slip….
Chinese 'thingy' must be very, very sticky. I think, their phlegm must be
(super) 'glued' to the lower, lower, lower parts of their throats.
She might make the problem worse by irritating her throat some more, thus promoting the production of more phlegm. A bit of sparkling water does a great job to clear the throat of the most sticky phlegms. St Pelligrino water does the trick. You might buy a bottle of sparkling water (not cold, MIL will think you try to harm her ^^) and suggest the trick to MIL.
tell her deep throat something when she's doing it, a two for one deal, may be a good career choice
seen pretty darn cute young girl today spitting on sidewalk (1st tier city suburbia)... wow,, imo hominids are weird. (yes, I'm a hominid (I think) )
mArtiAn:
You're a hominid? Woah, how cool is that? You mean like the Terminator, right? Synthetic human life form and that? Farrrking coool! "I - AM - HUMAN - TISSUE - OVER - METAL - ENDO - SKELETON" errrm "I'LL - BE - BACK" errrm "YOU - HAD - ME - AT - HELLO" Fucking harrrd-corrre, dude, i've seen all that shit.
