Colds and flu can cause congestion in your nose making it difficult for you to breathe normally. Most would buy over-the-counter medications to decongest their stuffy nose but if you are looking for an alternative, going for natural treatments can prove to be more beneficial in the long run.
Which natural remedies are appropriate for decongesting your clogged nose? Here are some that are worth taking note of.
Use a vaporizer or a humidifier. The feeling of being dehydrated or dried out is often a side effect of flu or colds. Most turn to their humidifier or vaporizer to help alleviate the congestion on their nose. Increasing the humidity levels through cool-mist and warm-mist humidifiers can certainly offer relief but you should opt for the cool-mist machine when it comes to your kids to prevent accidents. Don’t forget to clean your vaporizer or humidifier regularly to prevent molds from occurring.
Hot ginger compress. For this home remedy you will need three inches of ginger and place it in a saucepan filled with two cups of water. Cover the saucepan and let it simmer on low heat for 20 minutes. Get a clean washcloth and soak it in the saucepan. Make sure that the cloth is not too hot to the touch otherwise you’ll burn yourself. When it is at the right temperature, place the cloth on your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. You should do this while lying down with your head elevated so that your sinuses can drain easily. You can also drink ginger tea if you like to help open your nasal passages so you can breathe better.
Give yourself a massage. Another possible remedy for your clogged nose is massaging your sinuses. Massaging the affected area can increase blood circulation in your nose to help minimize the pain. What you need to do is to place your index fingers on the outer edge of your nostrils then press hard at the base of your nose for 30 seconds. Release the pressure and repeat.
Sip some apple cider vinegar. For those who are battling clogged nose, you might want to get the apple cider vinegar from the kitchen and start treating your stuffed nose. Mix a teaspoon of this vinegar in a glass of water and take a sip every now and then. The potassium present in the apple cider vinegar is effective in thinning the mucus in your nose while at the same time prevent the growth of bacteria in your nasal passages because of the acids in the vinegar.
Hydrate. When it comes to alleviating clogged nose, make sure that you are drinking enough fluids to help thin the mucus and to open your nasal passages. You can drink up to 10 glasses of water or intersperse it with tea or fresh juice. Mint and ginger teas come highly recommended as they are also effective in lessening mucus production so you can breathe better. Keep in mind that keeping yourself hydrated can increase the humidity in your body which alleviates stuffy nose.
