One medicine is often used to thin lung secretions. It is guaifenesin (glyceryl guaiacolate), and is available simply as the sole active ingredient of a syrup (Robitussin) and as a tablet (Humi-bid L.A.). It also appears in many so-called cough mixtures, medicines that may contain several other ingredients. Those other ingredients are often either not helpful in asthma or potentially harmful. For example, most cough/cold medicines contain cough suppressants, members of the morphine family of medicines. Morphine-related drugs tend to increase spasm of the bronchial muscles, which is certainly not what is needed in the treatment of asthma.
Guaifenesin is the best of available medicines to make secretions more coughable in the asthmatic, but it works just slightly better than water. The additional combined medicines in cold/cough remedies may even be harmful. So your best bet for thinning lung secretions is simply to drink lots of water.
Medicines containing iodine are sometimes used by mouth to thin bronchial mucus. Their effectiveness has never been clearly demonstrated, and iodides also have important side effects that limit their usefulness.
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