All You Need To Know About Treating A Stuffy Nose With Home Remedies

by Chaitra Ramalingegowda · April 7, 2017

Having a stuffy nose is not a pleasant experience. It makes it difficult to breathe caused by inflamed blood vessels in the sinuses. This could be due to a sinus infection, a common cold, the flu, or even allergies. A stuffy nose drips, your voice changes, and you can breathe easily only when you blow your nose. But this respite is short-lived since your nose is blocked up in no time at all.

Some of the other common symptoms of a stuffy nose include:

Watery eyes
Difficulty breathing
Coughing
Sneezing
Sinus pain
Hoarse voice
Headache
Mild fever
Mucus buildup in nasal passages

Home remedies for a stuffy nose

A stuffy nose needs to be addressed because if left untreated, it could lead to sinus problems or an ear infection. Instead of suffering through these unpleasant symptoms, try these effective home remedies for a stuffy nose that help clear out the nasal passages and help you breathe easily. Take a look:

1. Apple cider vinegar

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Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License

Apple cider vinegar is one of the easiest and most effective remedies to treat a stuffy nose. It is rich in potassium, which helps in thinning the mucus, thereby clearing your nasal passages. Also, it contains acetic acid, which helps prevent bacterial growth, while also speeding up the healing process.

Remedies

To 1 cup of warm water, add 2 tablespoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of raw honey, stirring well. Drink this concoction twice a day for relief from a stuffy nose.
Take a saucepan. Add half a cup each of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and water. Bring this to a boil and let it simmer for a few minutes. Take it off the heat and cover it with a lid. Put a large towel over your head and inhale the steam rising up and above the saucepan for about 5 minutes with your eyes and mouth closed. Repeat this remedy a few times in a day for relief from a stuffy nose.

2. Cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper is a natural decongestant that helps thin and loosen the phlegm from the lungs, thus making it easier to breathe. It contains a compound called capsaicin, which helps bring down the inflammation and swelling.

Remedies

Add a quarter cup each of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar to a saucepan, bringing it to a boil. Then, stir in half a teaspoon each of cayenne pepper and ground ginger. Finally, add 3 tablespoons of honey and stir well. Take it off the heat and let it cool down, post which, you can store it in an airtight container. Consume 2 teaspoons of this mixture every day to help with the stuffiness.
Sprinkle cayenne pepper on your dishes to help clear your nasal passages.
To 1 cup of boiling water, add a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper and stir well. Let it steep for 10 minutes, and then sip this tea a few times a day for relief from a stuffy nose.

3. Garlic

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Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License

Garlic is an excellent home remedy to get rid of a stuffy nose. It possesses decongestant and expectorant properties that help clear the blockage in your nasal passages. Additionally, it also helps bring down the inflammation, while helping strengthen the immune system and fight off the infection.

Remedies

In a saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil and add 4 cloves of garlic, letting it simmer for a few minutes. Add half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a pinch of black pepper powder, stirring well. Take off the head and eat this soup twice a day for quick relief.
Consume fresh garlic by adding it in your dishes to help relieve discomfort and stuffiness caused by a stuffy nose.
Take 5 cloves of garlic and make a paste out of them. To this, add 2 teaspoon of honey and mix well. Consume this thrice a day for best results.

4. Ginger

Ginger contains anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce the stuffiness in your nose by loosening up the mucus. It also gives a much-needed boost to the immune system.

Remedies

To 2 cups of boiling water, add 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger. Bring this to a boil in a saucepan and let it simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup of this tea, chewing on the ginger slices. Don’t throw away the leftover solution. Instead, soak a washcloth in it, wring out the excess, and place it over your face, covering your nose and forehead. Repeat this remedy twice a day for best results.
In a clean bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger with 1 teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice. Consume this mixture thrice a day for positive results.

5. Horseradish

Horseradish is known to be quite effective in unclogging a stuffy nose. It helps thin the mucus and makes breathing easier.

Remedies

Blend 1 tablespoon of horseradish, 1 teaspoon each of lemon juice and olive oil, in a mixer till it’s a smooth paste. Spread this on a cracker and nibble on it to help with a stuffy nose.
Toss a tablespoon or two of grated horseradish to mashed potatoes or cooked rice to help with the stuffy nose.

6. Massage

Sometimes a simple massage helps clear the blockage in the nasal passages. Not only will this help improve the blood circulation in this area, it also helps thin out the mucus, thus providing relief.

Remedy

Warm a teaspoon or two of olive oil. Apply this oil on your nose using clean fingertips. Use your left thumb and index finger to apply slight pressure on the area next to the inner eyes on both sides of your nose, around the cheekbones, and the bridge of the nose. Do this for about 20 seconds, before releasing the pressure. Repeat this cycle at least 5 times. Use this remedy several times a day for relief from a stuffy nose.

7. Nasal irrigation

It is a very effective remedy to clear a stuffy nose, but not a popular one. It helps break up nasal congestion by thinning out the mucus. Additionally, it helps keep your nostrils wet, thus reducing the inflammation of the blood vessels.

Remedy

In an airtight container, mix together 3 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Add 1 teaspoon of this mixture to a clean cup and add 1 cup of lukewarm boiled water. Load a bulb syringe with this solution. Lean your head over a wash basin and gently squirt the syringe into one nostril, while keeping the other closed with a finger. Take the pressure off the closed nostril and let the solution drain from the same. Repeat the procedure with the other nostril as well. Follow this remedy at least twice a day for relief from a stuffy nose.

8. Peppermint

Peppermint contains menthol that is very useful in stimulating the nerve receptors in the nose, which then make breathing easy and comfortable. Also, peppermint helps thin the mucus, while helping open up the nasal passage to restore breathing to normal.

Remedies

Add a few drops of peppermint oil to 1 pot of hot water and inhale the steam rising up out of it.
Add 1 teaspoon of fresh peppermint leaves to 1 cup of hot water and cover it with a lid. Let it steep for 10 minutes, before straining it. Add a bit of honey and drink it twice a day for best results.
Dilute a few drops of peppermint oil with 2 teaspoons of coconut oil and apply it on your nose to help unclog your sinuses.

9. Steam inhalation

Plain steam inhalation or one infused with essential oils or Vicks is known to be quite effective in relieving a stuffy nose. It works as a natural expectorant to help clear the blockage in the nasal passages. Additionally, by keeping the inflamed blood vessels damp, it brings down the inflammation.

Remedy

Take a saucepan and fill it with plain water. Bring this to a boil and let it simmer for a few minutes, before taking it off the heat. Add a few drops of eucalyptus or peppermint oil to this and inhale the steam rising up and out of it with a towel over your head. Breathe in and out slowly, inhaling the steam till the water cools down. Repeat this remedy at least thrice a day for best results.

Tip: If you’re pregnant, or younger than 12 years old, this is not a suitable remedy.

10. Warm compress

A warm compress helps thin the mucus effectively, thus helping drain it from your nose. It also provides comfort from any pain, while also helping relief inflammation of the nostrils.

Remedy

Soak a towel in a pan of hot water, wring out the excess, fold it neatly, and place it over your face, covering your nose and forehead. Replace the towel as needed, through the day for relief from a stuffy nose.

Additional tips

Use a humidifier in your room to help keep the ambience moist, so that your nasal passages don’t dry out.
Take a hot shower so that the steam buildup helps clear your nasal passages.
Avoid typical aggravations like cigarette smoke and sudden temperature changes.
Increase your intake of spicy foods since they help thin out the mucus in the nasal passages.
Keep yourself hydrated by drinking adequate water through the day.
Drink warm water to help soothe the inflamed lining of your nose and throat.
Avoid smoking as it tends to exacerbate the condition.
Eat hot chicken/vegetable soup to speed up the healing process.

These are all the most effective home remedies for a stuffy nose you need to breathe easy. For more updates on health tips and fitness secrets, subscribe to our newsletter today!

Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License

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