IF you don't have any problems with salt intake...a 1/4 tsp of baking soda in a small glass of water will clear up the congestion in 5 minutes flat so you can breath again and your chest will lighten up. It is the best and quickest remedy I know. Vicks on the feet before bed with socks definitely will stop the night coughing.
And if anyone wants a really good recipe for a cough syrup...
Take a turnip and do it like you would a pumpkin...hollow out the inside, fill with brown sugar and replace the top. (hollowing out a turnip is hard work) Leave it in a cool dark place for twelve to 24 hours until it not only liquifies, but tastes more like medicine than brown sugar. Pour into a bottle and refridgerate. Not sure how long it lasts, but it sure does help a cough! It is a traditional family recipe...Canadian native medicine