Categories: Alternative Medicine

Natural Ways to Ease Nasal Congestion

Stuffy noses can happen any time of the year, and while many of us associate a stuffy nose with a cold or flu, nasal congestion may happen for a number of other reasons. Some of us get stuffy noses through exercise or being in the cold air, while others develop congestion by eating certain types of spicy food or even crying. To relieve those stuffy noses in both adults and older children, there are all sorts of methods to ease the congestion the natural way.

Salt irrigation

My in-laws used a device called a nasal douche to irrigate the nasal cavities during the winter months. Irrigating with salt water is an old fashioned cure that is still highly effective and can be done with an eye dropper.

To make the solution, add 1/4 tsp of salt to a cup of boiling water. Stir to dissolve, and wait for the liquid reaches a lukewarm temperature. Using the eye dropper, place three or four drops of solution in your nose with head tilted backward. Wait a few minutes for the mucus to soften, then blow the nose.

Baking soda rinse

Another effective rinse combines a 1/4 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp of baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. Use the eye dropper to place several drops of the liquid in the nose, with the head tilted backward. Wait a few minutes, then blow the nose.

Mentholatum

Mentholatum has long been a favorite remedy of mine because it seems to give those raw nasal passages some relief, as well as easing the symptoms of congestion. When the kids were small, I’d rub some on their chest. For adults, a dab of Mentholatum under the nose works wonders.

Hot showers or steam

Hot showers or a hot bath is also a great way of easing congestion. For those times when a shower isn’t practical, a facial sauna also works.

To make a facial sauna, boil a soup kettle of water and place on a protected surface at the kitchen table. Use a towel over the head to create a tent and lean over the kettle, breathing in the warm air with your nose. If available, a drop or two of eucalyptus oil or a tablespoon of Mentholatum can be added to the water.

Drink plenty of hot liquids

Hot liquids hydrate the body and also help to open those nasal passages. Some of our favorite remedies include a cup of hot Campbell’s chicken noodle soup or hot tea, sweetened with honey and lemon juice.

Vaporizer

Vaporizers are a way of adding warm moisture to a room, which also helps ease the symptoms of a stuffy nose. Vicks still makes an old style vaporizer for around $10 which is both safe and easy to use.

Spicy foods

If you’ve got an iron stomach, spicy foods also will work to unclog the nose. I prefer extra spicy Chinese mustard on crackers myself, though some of my friends use horseradish instead. When I was in college, we’d make a “Bloodless Mary” to sober up our drunk friends. These concoctions were also fabulous for unstuffing a congested nose. To make a “Bloodless Mary,” combine 8 ounces of tomato juice, a dash of garlic, a dash of celery seed, three or four drops of Tabasco sauce, and a tablespoon of lemon juice.

In most cases, nasal congestion doesn’t usually last for more than a couple of days. If symptoms persist for longer than a week, you should see a health care professional.