Runny Nose Home Remedies: Home remedies that help you stay hydrated and keep the nasal area moist can make you feel more comfortable if you have a runny nose. Treatment can also depend on the underlying cause.
A runny nose is caused by excess mucus production in your nasal passages. This leads to watery secretions that drip from your nose and sometimes also drip down the back of your throat.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, A runny nose can occur with or without nasal congestion, also known as a stuffy nose. Nasal congestion is caused by inflammation of the lining of your nasal passages, which makes it harder to breathe through your nose.
There are a few reasons why you might have a runny nose. The most common is a viral infection of the sinuses — typically the common cold. In other cases, a runny nose may be due to cold weather, allergies, sinusitis, or other causes.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, When you breathe in a virus or an allergen like dust or pollen, it irritates the lining of your nasal passages and sinuses. This causes your nose to start making clear mucus that traps the germs or allergens and helps flush these harmful substances out of your nose.
This article explores home remedies you can use to help ease the symptoms of a runny nose.
7 Home Remedies For Helping To ease A Runny Nose
Runny Nose Home Remedies, On its own, a runny nose isn’t usually a cause for concern. If you don’t have any other symptoms, there are several ways to manage a runny nose at home with natural self-care options that don’t involve medication.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the at-home treatments that may help a runny nose.
1. Drink Plenty Of Fluids
Runny Nose Home Remedies, Drinking fluids and staying hydrated when dealing with a runny nose can be helpful if you also have symptoms of nasal congestion.
This ensures that mucus in your sinuses thins out to a runny consistency and is easy for you to expel. Otherwise, it may be thick and sticky, which can make your nose more congested.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, Avoid beverages that dehydrate rather than hydrate. This includes drinks like coffee and beverages containing alcohol.
2. Hot Teas
Runny Nose Home Remedies, On the other hand, hot beverages like tea may sometimes be more helpful than cold ones. This is because of their heat and steam, which help open and decongest airways.
Certain herbal teas contain herbs that are mild decongestants. Look for teas that contain anti-inflammatory and antihistamine herbs, such as chamomile, ginger, mint, or nettle.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, Make a cup of hot herbal tea (preferably noncaffeinated) and inhale the steam before drinking. Sore throats often accompany runny noses — drinking hot herbal tea can help soothe a sore throat, too.
3. Humidifier
Runny Nose Home Remedies, According to a 2019 study, inhaling warm steam from a humidifier significantly improves mucus buildup caused by allergic rhinitis.
Similarly, a 2015 study of people with the common cold found that using steam inhalation was quite effective. It reduced illness recovery time by about 1 week compared to no steam inhalation at all.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, Humidifiers work by transforming water into vapor to moisten otherwise dry air. When you breathe in moisture, it helps to thin and dislodge mucus and soothe irritated sinuses.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, If you decide to use a humidifier, it’s important to clean it regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Otherwise, it can become a breeding ground for microorganisms such as mold and bacteria, which can exacerbate sinus problems.
4. Facial Steam
Runny Nose Home Remedies, Much like a humidifier or a hot cup of tea, a facial steam can help loosen mucus and relieve your runny nose. Here’s how to do it:
Heat water in a clean pot on your stove, just enough so that steam is created — DON’T let it reach a boil.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, Place your face about 8 to 12 inches above the steam for about 5 minutes at a time. Don’t let your face touch the water. Close your eyes and take deep breaths through your nose. Take breaks if your face gets too hot.
Blow your nose afterward to get rid of mucus.
Repeat the process 2 or 3 times a day if you still have symptoms.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, If desired, add a few drops of decongestant essential oils to your facial steam water. About 2 drops per ounce of water is sufficient.
Eucalyptus, peppermint, pine, rosemary, sage, spearmint, tea tree (melaleuca), and thyme essential oils are great options. Compounds in these plants (like menthol and thymol) are also found in many over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, If you don’t have these essential oils, you can use these herbs in dried form instead. Make your facial steam into an herbal tea and inhale the vapors — you’ll get the same benefits.
5. Hot Shower
Runny Nose Home Remedies, Need some quick relief? Try a hot shower. Just like humidifiers and facial steam, a shower’s hot vapors can help alleviate a runny and stuffy nose.
Place your face and sinuses directly in the steam and spray of the shower for best results.
6. Neti Pot
Runny Nose Home Remedies, Using a neti pot for nasal irrigation (also called nasal lavage) is a common approach to sinus issues. This includes runny nose problems and discomfort.
Neti pots are small teapot-like containers with a spout. You add a warm saline or saltwater solution to the pot and then pour the solution through one nostril and out the other. This rinses out your sinuses quite thoroughly.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, You can purchase a neti pot kit at your local pharmacy, store, or online. Make sure to follow directions for your neti pot exactly. Improper use of neti pots can, on rare occasions, make runny noses worse or cause sinus infections.
Make sure to use sterile and distilled water rather than tap water.
7. Warm Compress
Runny Nose Home Remedies, Applying a warm compress or washcloth to your forehead and nose several times per day may help improve your runny nose and soothe sinus pressure.
A warm compress works by boosting blood circulation in your sinus area. A washcloth or wet compress can help break up nasal stuffiness by adding moisture to the air you breathe.
Runny Nose Home Remedies, To make your own warm compress at home, soak a clean cloth in hot (not boiling) tap water and place it across your forehead and nose for 15 to 20 minutes. Reapply as needed.
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