Learning About Autogenic Drainage to Clear Mucus From the Lungs

Autogenic drainage is a controlled technique of breathing to move mucus out of the deep areas of the lungs and up into the airways. Once there, mucus can be removed by coughing. Autogenic drainage uses different depths and speeds of breath to move the mucus.

You can do it by yourself without help, but it may take a little practice. You might want to work with a doctor, respiratory therapist, or physical therapist at first.

Autogenic drainage is done in three stages: unsticking, collecting, and evacuating.

Autogenic drainage helps you get more oxygen into your lungs. It can be helpful if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or other conditions that cause mucus to form in your lungs.

Mucus interferes with getting oxygen deep into your lungs. This is where oxygen is transferred to the blood, to be carried throughout the body. Too much mucus can deprive your body of much-needed oxygen.

Here’s how to do autogenic drainage. Stay in each phase until you hear a rattling of the mucus. You may also feel the mucus rattling when you put a hand on your upper chest. This tells you when to move to the next phase.

Start with controlled breathing. Sit comfortably with your head tilted up slightly. Relax. Breathe in through your nose, inflating from your belly, not your chest. Breathe out through your mouth, like a forceful sigh.

Phase 1: Unsticking. Move the mucus out of the tiny airways.

• Take a deep breath and blow it all out through your mouth until it feels like your lungs are empty.
• Inhale a small breath through your nose.
• Hold it for 3 or 4 seconds, and then exhale all the air out.
• Do this 3 times.

Phase 2: Collecting. Move the mucus from the small airways to the medium-sized ones.

• Take a normal breath to moderately fill your lungs.
• Hold your breath for 3 or 4 seconds. With gentle force, exhale almost completely. Try not to cough at this point.
• Do this 3 times.

Phase 3: Evacuation. Move the mucus from the medium-sized airways to the large airways, to be coughed out.

• Take a large breath to completely fill your lungs.
• Hold your breath for 3 or 4 seconds.
• Exhale normally.
• Take a large breath.
• Hold your breath for 3 or 4 seconds.
• This time, huff when you exhale. Huffing is like fogging up a mirror with your breath. Use moderate force through your open mouth.
• Take in another breath and cough it out.
• Take your time when you’re doing these steps. Resist the urge to cough before the last step. You’ll clear out more mucus if you wait.