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As I type these words I am sniffling and snuffling thanks to a
very stuffy nose. It’s the frustrating kind, where you can’t even get some
relief by blowing it.
This is because the worst kind of stuffiness comes not from an
excess of mucous, but from inflamed and irritated tissue in the sinuses and
nasal passages. The mucous, well, that’s just the cherry on the sundae.
When fighting off a cold or the
flu, these tissues and the blood vessels inside them become swollen from excess
fluid. Other things, such as allergies or irritants like smoke, can also cause
that dreadful stuffy feeling.
Luckily, home remedies for a stuffy nose are some of the easiest
and least involved as they come. These do overlap with some remedies for the
cold, as is to be expected since a stuffy nose is the trademark symptom of
those pesky viruses.
Remedies to Relieve Nose Congestion #1- Take a Hot Shower
Yes, I have used this on the cold and flu remedy posts, and no,
it’s not cheating, because it really is one of the best ways to relieve
stuffiness.
The steam from the shower is almost guaranteed to relieve the
irritation and inflammation (temporarily, unfortunately, but still) and, if
your stuffy nose comes with an excess of mucous, the steam will thin the
secretions and help them drain.
You can also do a bowl of steaming water with some essential
oils added for an extra kick, and a towel over your head, but a shower is a
little less involved.
You will need…
-A shower with hot water
-A towel
-A towel
Directions
Get the water as hot as you can stand it and stay in there for
at least fifteen minutes. Make sure the bathroom door is closed, and shove a
towel under the door to keep that precious steam in.
Remedies
to Relieve Nose Congestion #2 - Make Your Own
Saline Drops
Saline drops (just water with salt added) are a tried and true
remedy for a stuffy nose. Remember how the worst kind of stuffiness (that
doesn’t improve when you blow your nose) is, in large part, excess fluids in
the tissue that lines the sinuses and nasal passages that causes the tissue to
swell, which makes it uncomfortable and hard to breathe.
A saline solution is a powerful remedy because it uses the power
of osmosis. Put very simply, when there is a higher concentration of salt
outside the cells in the tissue, water will pass out of the tissue to balance
things out again.
When you draw fluid out of the tissue the swelling decreases,
and your breathing opens up. In addition to this, the fluid can loosen up
trapped mucous and help flush irritants and germs out of your body.
This solution is hypertonic-it has a higher concentration of
salt than the body, which draws the water out-as opposed to isotonic, which is
balanced to match the bodies levels.
Do not use a hypertonic solution on children under the age of 5.
There is also baking soda added (optional) to help lessen the
potential for the drops to sting if you have a sore nose.
You will need…
-1 teaspoon of sea salt (not table salt, or any kind with
iodine!)
-1/2 teaspoon of baking soda (optional)
-8 ounce (1 cup) of water that is either purified or has been boiled
-A sterile glass jar
-A dropper
-1/2 teaspoon of baking soda (optional)
-8 ounce (1 cup) of water that is either purified or has been boiled
-A sterile glass jar
-A dropper
Directions
If you are using tap water, boil it first to get rid of any
impurities. If you are using purified/distilled bottled water, heat it in the
microwave until it is fairly warm - it needs to be a higher temperature to
dissolve the salt.
Add the salt and the baking soda to your jar, and then add the
water (if you boiled it, make sure it’s cooled some! Put the lid on and give it
a good shake. Shake before every use.
To use, make sure your dropper is clean and sterile, and blow as
much mucous out of your nose as possible just beforehand. Lie on your back with
your head hanging off the side of the bed (to prevent it from running out or
straight down your throat) and put the tip of the dropper just past the inside
of the nostril, taking care not to smear it all around inside your nose.
Use 1-3 drops per nostril. It may sting the first few times.
Stay in the same position for 5-10 minutes to allow the solution to flow into
the nasal passages. Wait a few minutes and then blow your nose.
You can repeat this process up to 3 times a day during the
duration of your cold. It is not for extended use for allergy season or to help
with (an isotonic solution should be made for that.)
I think it is more pleasant-and effective - to warm the solution
slightly before using it. Store at room temperature up to a week, and then make
a new batch.
If you prefer a spray to drops, get a container made
specifically for administering a nasal spray, and follow the instructions on
how to use it.
Remedies
to Relieve Nose Congestion #3 - Make a Spicy
Decongestant
Last but not least, few things beat the power of a good homemade
spicy decongestant. This recipe is one that I cherish, made with the faithful
ingredients of cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and
ginger.
Some people like the taste (I personally do) and some don’t, but
whichever camp you’re in you’ll love it for the relief that it brings you when
it feels like nothing else can!
You will need the following
ingredients
-
½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger
- 3 tablespoons of all natural organic honey
- 1/4 cup of lemon juice
- 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger
- 3 tablespoons of all natural organic honey
- 1/4 cup of lemon juice
- 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
Why the
ingredients?
Cayenne
pepper, honey, and ginger are all natural expectorants, meaning they help
loosen phlegm or mucous from the lungs, making it easier to rid yourself of it
and therefore relieving pressure and making you more comfortable.
Cayenne
also works as a decongestant, thanks to the natural
chemical capsaicin,
which helps relieve swelling and inflammation that is narrowing nasal passages.
Apple
cider vinegar is thought to help thin out mucous being secreted, making it
easier to drain the congestion.
Lemon
juice is also thought to help with congestion, although the exact scientific
reason isn’t known, and makes the whole thing go down a little easier.
Directions
Pour
¼ cup of lemon juice and ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar in pot and bring to a
gentle simmer. Stir in 2-3 tablespoons of raw organic honey and ¼-½ teaspoon of
cayenne pepper and powdered ginger each (the latter amount makes it quite
strong.)
Next,
you store it in a jar in a cool, dark, place indefinitely. Adults take 1-2
tablespoons daily as needed. Shake well before using, as the powder doesn’t
dissolve in the most pristine way. I find it pleasant sometimes to warm the
mixture before taking it.
By Claire Goodall
(a bee-obsessed natural-convert from Minnesota) who is a holistic health lover.
She is the author of Everyday Roots Book.
It's a Book that
she creates to help you replace the toxic products and medications in your home
with healthier, all-natural alternatives.
It contains 215+
effective home remedies and covers everything you will need to protect your
family and save money every month.
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