Drinking anything hot, either thermally (tea) or spicy (miso broth with a splash of tabasco) will loosen the secretions and make them more watery, so it's not so annoying in the back of your throat. Guaifenesin will do the same thing, but it's hard to find by itself except under the overpriced brand Mucinex (otherwise, it's usually mixed in cough syrups that make you feel like a zombie). I get it from guai-aid.com.

Love, Columbine