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Humans perform several complicated acts every day. Breathing is the simplest one that we need to complete every moment. But this simple act of breathing can also be a challenge at times. Imagine the time when you had a stuffy or congested nose last time. You could hardly breathe smoothly, and the struggle left you feeling dreary, right? While medications can give you relief from such situations, it is not wise to become dependent on them every time. Hence today, let us talk about nasal congestion and some of the most effective home remedies for it so that you can always breathe easily and naturally.
What Is Nasal Congestion?
Nasal congestion is a condition where the nose is blocked by mucus. The build-ups of mucus in the nose mainly happen due to the swelling in the nasal cavity. Nasal congestion generally occurs the most during the winter, but there could be many reasons behind it. If not treated on time, the condition can worsen and lead to further complications, such as a headache, ear infection, etc. (1)
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What Causes Nasal Congestion?
As said earlier, there are several factors responsible for the congestion of our nose, which include a cold, flu, nasal allergies, or a sinus infection. But whatever the factor is, there is only one root cause, i.e., the irritation of nasal blood vessels. Our nose contains tons of blood vessels, and each of them has valves. Therefore, when an irritant stimulates our nose, our nervous system also gets stimulated, which opens up the valves in nasal blood vessels. This increases blood flow to the nose, making the nasal passages swell up. As a result, the nose gets blocked, making it difficult to breathe. (2)
Symptoms Of Nasal Congestion
It becomes tough to deal with the consequences when you have a congested nose. It worsens for people suffering from sinus problems as they get affected very quickly. Hence, it is essential to know about the symptoms beforehand. Some of the most common symptoms of nasal congestion are breathing difficulty, headache, difficulty in smelling, ear pain, etc.
Why Try Home Remedies For Nasal Congestion?
It is easy to rush to a doctor and start taking over-the-counter medications while suffering from nasal congestion. But even if it gives you temporary relief, you may not be healed completely. Moreover, certain OTC medications, especially decongestants, are used for opening up stuffy noses frequently but have more dangerous results. They are pretty habit-forming and can leave you worse off by causing rebound swelling of nasal passages. Here comes the importance of non-drug approaches like simple, at-home remedies. They are low-cost and easily accessible options and help us stay away from adverse reactions of the treatment.
Home Remedies For Nasal Congestion
You can manage nasal congestion on your own with the following home remedies that are simple, easy, and quick: (3)
1. Steam Inhalation
This age-old technique to clear nasal congestion is undoubtedly the most effective natural remedy you can ever try. All you need for this purpose are a large vessel or steamer, a few drops of eucalyptus oil, and a big towel. First, start boiling the water in the steamer or the vessel and add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to it once it is boiled. Now, inhale the steam for as long as you are comfortable by covering your head with the towel and keeping it at least an arm’s length away from the vessel. Repeat it several times a day for the best results. Eucalyptus oil is known to be great for clearing nasal congestion. Hence, you can also try putting a few drops of it on your pillow while sleeping at night.
Make sure that you place the vessel on a stable surface and away from your children while practicing steam inhalation. It will ensure complete safety of you and others.
2. Carom Seeds
Take around 2 tablespoons of carom seeds and crush them well. Next, tie the crushed seeds in a small, clean cloth, and then keep inhaling it throughout the day for opening up your stuffy nose. Carom seeds can also be boiled in hot water for inhaling the steam.
3. Spicy Food
Spices like pepper, garlic, ginger, etc., are all enriched with medicinal properties that heal cold and reduce congestion effectively. Try consuming warm and spicy food, especially soups with the aforementioned spices, as they will relieve congestion and soothe your throat too.
4. Inhaling Black Pepper
This is another simple remedy to get quick relief from nasal congestion. All you need to do is grab some black pepper seeds and crush them well. Then, transfer the powder to a pan, put it on a flame for around two minutes, and keep inhaling the fumes until your nasal passage opens up.
5. Warm Compression
If you have a severe sinus problem, you may end up experiencing an extreme swelling of your nasal cavity. The warm compression on your face and your eyes will give you relief in such situations. Dip a towel in hot water and place it on your face gently. Keep repeating the process until you feel good.
6. Herbal Tea
During those tough times of nasal congestion, a homemade herbal tea can turn out to be your rescuer. Brew a cup of tea comprising fresh ginger, pepper, cumin seeds, small onion, etc., and sip it throughout the day. It also helps in reducing sinus pressure to a great extent.
7. Neti Pot
Neti pot is used for nasal irrigation, which is regarded as a personal hygiene practice. In this procedure, a mixture of saline water and tea tree oil is used to wash the nasal cavity by flushing the toxins and debris from the nose and the sinuses. It helps in clearing out the congestion by thinning out the mucus build-ups and reducing its pain.
8. Breathing Exercises
Regular practice of breathing exercises (pranayama) and/or yoga can also help keep nasal congestion away. However, make sure that you do it under the supervision of an expert, as you may end up worsening your condition otherwise.
Tips:
- Avoid certain types of food like bananas, dairy products, etc., to steer clear of nasal congestion.
- Use enough coverings, especially for your ears, while going out in winter to protect yourself from the cold.
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References:
- “Nasal congestion” – mayoclinic.org
- “Nasal Congestion” – clevelandclinic.org
- “9 Ways to Naturally Clear Up Your Congestion” – healthline.com
