Top 10 Natural Home Remedies For Nasal Congestion
For the most part, having nasal congestion is more annoying than it is harmful. Usually coming along with colds or allergies, nasal congestion seems to get in the way. As you already know, they often come with a runny nose, the opposite, but still annoying condition.
Luckily, I have the cure for you! Follow these simple home remedies to get rid of your nasal congestion.
#1. Peppermint Oil
Using peppermint oil is a great natural remedy to make steam treatments more effective. If you’ve never used steam to treat nasal congestion before here’s how to do it. Boil a pot of water on the stove, and once it’s boiling, dump it in a bowl.
Put a towel over your head and breathe in the stream. This can act as a decongestant for your sinus infection. By adding peppermint oil to the water while it is boiling you can make the steam work even better. Try adding in five drops of peppermint oil to get the best results.
#2. Drink Tea
Tea is a wonderful beverage to have when you are feeling under the weather. Whether you think that your nasal congestion is caused by a cold or by allergies, tea can act as an excellent home remedy.
While some teas work better than others, all teas can help at least a little bit. Some teas to try are fennel, chamomile, green, and black tea. Drink a warm cup of tea several times a day to ease your congestion.
#3. Pollen Allergies
Pollen allergies can be quit annoying and can cause a good deal of congestion. Luckily, there are several ways to combat pollen. One way to start out is to take some allergy pills before you go outside. When you do go outside, try to cover your skin and face as much as possible.
Hats, scarves, and sunglasses are great ideas to add to your outside to keep the pollen away. When you get home, take a shower. This will help to get all of the pollen off of you. For best results shower before bed. If you can do all of these things than you may even be able to completely avoid cold and cough.
#4. Get A Humidifier
Part of the problem with your nasal congestion may be because the air is too dry for your sinuses to like. Humidifiers can effectively add moisture to the air. This can help during the day, and especially at night when you are trying to get some rest.
Humidifiers can be bought at any major store, and for a relatively cheap price as well. If you cannot find one, then adding a kettle on the stove full of water can also help to add at least a little moisture into the air. This can do a little bit of good as well.
#5. Stay Hydrated
Just like it’s important to keep the air moist, it is also important to keep your body full of water. When you are thirsty you should opt for water instead of a sugary drink. The less sugar that is in the drink, the better it will be able to hydrate you.
A healthy person should drink at least six glasses of water a day. However, a sick or congested person should drink even more than that. Remember to drink water as often as you can. This may even help to heal you faster.
#6. Chicken Soup
Eating chicken soup is a great home remedy to fix a congested nose. Studies have shown that eating chicken soup can help to cut down on the production of mucus.
As an added bonus, chicken soup is also a great way to keep yourself hydrated. When you are sick, or congested, it would be wise to eat at least one bowl of chicken soup to see if it can help you.
#7. Eat Spicy Foods
One way to get rid of all the mucus in your nose is to east spicy food. Any kind of spicy food should work. However, if your congestion comes with a runny nose, then you should skip this tip. While spicy food can get rid of mucus, it can make your nose runny for a little bit.
If you don’t mind a little bit of a runny nose, then this is a great natural cure for you. However, if a runny nose will only make things worse for you, then you should not try this.
#8. Drink Orange Juice
Orange juice contains a high amount of vitamin C and is one of the best natural remedies for nasal congestion. This is a great vitamin if you want to be healthy faster. The best way to take in the vitamin while you are ill is just to drink at least once glass of orange juice as well.
If you aren’t a fan or orange juice, some other juices that you can try are pineapple juice or lemonade. Also, the more pulp the juice has, the better. Even if you don’t like the taste of pulp, you might want to consider drinking it anyway.
#9. Cut Back On Dairy
Although dairy products are usually pretty healthy for you, they should be avoided while you have a congested nose or any other type of mucus-causing illness like a sore throat.
Consuming dairy products can actually make more mucus in your body. This can result in more congestion, runny or stuffy noses, and a slower time in healing. Stay away from milk, cheeses, yogurt, and ice cream until your sinuses feel better.
#10. Refrain From Smoking
While breathing in steam is good for a congested nose, breathing in cigarette smoke can actually irritate your sinuses and make even more problems for you.
While smoking is generally very bad for you, it’s even worse while you are sick. Try to avoid smoking, or being around someone who smokes while you are congested. Being near a person who smokes, or smoking can make it take longer to recover.
Hopefully, these natural home remedies can help you get relief from your nasal congestion.
