According to Healthline,
Postnasal drip is a common occurrence, affecting almost everyone at some point in their lives. The glands in your nose and throat continually produce mucus to:
- fight infection
- moisten nasal membranes
- filter out foreign matter
You typically swallow the mucus without even realizing it.
When your body starts producing extra mucus, you might feel it accumulate in the back of your throat. You may also feel it dripping down your throat from your nose. This is called postnasal drip.
Suggested read: The Most Effective Home Remedies For Nasal Polyps
Here are some home remedies for post-nasal drip that you can try to treat your condition effectively. But before diving into them, let us read about the symptoms and the risk factors of the condition.
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
The symptoms of this condition include,
- A feeling of constantly needing to clear your throat
- A feeling of constantly needing to swallow
- Cough that gets worse at night
- Excess mucus moves into the stomach which causes nausea and vomiting
- A sore throat
- An itchy throat
- Bad breath
Post-nasal drips make it difficult for a person to swallow. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, a number of factors make swallowing very difficult,
-
With age, swallowing muscles often lose strength and coordination, making it difficult for even normal secretions to pass smoothly into the stomach.
-
During sleep, swallowing occurs much less frequently, and secretions may gather. Coughing and vigorous throat clearing are often needed upon waking.
-
When nervous or under stress, throat muscles can trigger spasms that make it feel as if there is a lump in the throat. Frequent throat clearing, which usually produces little or no mucus, can make the problem worse by increasing irritation.
-
Growths or swelling in the food passage can slow or prevent the movement of liquids and/or solids.
It further talks about the causes of these thin secretions and says,
Increased thin clear secretions can be due to colds and flu, allergies, cold temperatures, bright lights, certain foods/spices, pregnancy, and other hormonal changes. Various drugs (including birth control pills and high blood pressure medications) and structural abnormalities can also produce increased secretions. These abnormalities might include a deviated or irregular nasal septum (the cartilage and bony dividing wall that separates the two nostrils).
Home remedies for post-nasal drip
Here are the most effective home remedies to treat your post-nasal drip.
1. Gargle with Salt Water
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
The first remedy on our list of natural treatments for post-nasal drip is gargling. Gargling with salt water will give you instant relief from the discomfort caused by the drips. It will thin the mucus, and by doing so, it will make it easier for you to get rid of the mucus.
Gargling with salt water will also help you flush out irritants from the nasal passages.
For the remedy, you need to first heat a cup of water. Once it is just warm, add half a teaspoon of salt to it. Now stir vigorously so that the salt dissolves. You need to gargle with this saline solution many times through the day until the condition is completely treated.
2. Steam Inhalation
Image source: Pixabay under Creative Commons License
The next natural treatment involves using steam to get rid of the mucus easily. You can do this steam treatment with or without essential oils. The therapy will control the product of excess mucus, which is usually causes post-nasal drip.
For the remedy, you need to first heat a boil of water. Once the water has boiled, add a few drops of some essential oil of your choice. This step is optional. If essential oils make you sneezy due to the fragrance worsening the post-nasal drip, then you can avoid it. Next take a clean towel and drape it over your head. Keep the bowl of water in front of you and hold your face over the water.
You need to inhale the steam through your nose for at least 10-odd minutes. Now remove the towel and blow you nose.
This treatment should be repeated two times a day, if not more, until you are cured completely.
Taking warm showers can also have the same effect.
Note: Steam treatment is not recommended for little children.
3. Nasal Irrigation
Next remedy, nasal irrigation, will help you get rid of the excess mucus, thus giving you instant relief.
This treatment also helps you throw out the irritants from the nasal passages, thus preventing infections in the future.
For the remedy, you need to heat a cup of distilled water. Once it is warm, add a quarter of teaspoon of salt. Add to this a pinch of baking soda and mix well. You need to fill a neti pot which is used for sinus infections. Now stand over the sink, and tilt your head to a side. You need to spray the solution into your nostril. Tilt your head back, forward and also side-to-side so that the solution enters the nasal cavities. Now blow you nose. This will help you get rid of the mucus and the irritants from the nasal passages. Now repeat the process with the other nostril.
This treatment should be repeated once every day until the condition is completely cured.
Suggested read: Treat Sties Once And For All With These Home Remedies
4. Garlic
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
Garlic helps treat post-nasal drips because of its antibiotic properties. It will lower the production of mucus, which in turn, will avert the chances of you developing an infection.
Garlic being a potent herb promotes a speedy recovery.
Garlic is a potent herb with powerful antibiotic properties. It helps control overproduction of mucus and prevents infection. It even promotes quick recovery.
For the remedy, chop 4 garlic cloves. Now roast the cloves with half a tablespoon of clarified butter. Roast them for a minute, and then take them with a glass of warm milk two times every day for a few weeks.
You can also take garlic supplements; however, do consult a doctor for proper dosage.
5. Ginger
Ginger being a natural decongestant, is antiviral as well as antibacterial in nature. Since it is an expectorant, it will help you reduce the production of mucus and also help in the expulsion of the irritants from the nasal passages.
Prepare a cup of ginger tea. To make it, you need to bring two cups of water to boil. Now add a tablespoon of grated ginger to the water and allow it to simmer on low heat. After 10-odd minutes, strain the tea and drink it. You can also add some raw honey to the tea for taste.
6. Cayenne Pepper
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
An antihistamine, cayenne pepper will treat your post-nasal drip in no time. The pepper contains capsaicin, which will thin your mucus, making its expulsion easier. Also, if you have an irritated throat, cayenne pepper will soothe it.
For the remedy, you need to first mix a teaspoon of cayenne pepper with a teaspoon of honey. Now take this thrice a day for a couple of days.
You can also include the pepper in your daily diet.
7. Lemon
The next remedy lemon, which make your mucus loose, which will help you eliminate it easily. Lemon, as we all know, is a rich source of vitamin C. As a result, it will improve your immunity and thus help your body resist infections easily.
For the remedy, begin by heating a cup of water. Now squeeze half a lemon into the cup. Add a teaspoon of honey to this mix. Drink it two times a day, once in the morning on an empty stomach, and once in the afternoon.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
The last remedy on our list of natural treatments for post-nasal drip is apple cider vinegar. What makes this vinegar such a great remedy? Well, firstly, apple cider vinegar being alkaline in nature will help you thin the mucus. The thinning of the mucus accumulated in your nasal passages, will make their expulsion easier.
Apple cider vinegar also helps strengthen one’s immune system. As a result, your body will be equipped to fight infections effectively in the future.
For the remedy, you need to first heat a cup of water. Now add two to three teaspoons of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar to the water. Also add some raw honey for taste. Mix the tonic well, and drink it.
You need to repeat the remedy twice or thrice a day for at least a few days or until your condition is cured completely.
An alternative to this treatment, is to prepare a solution of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar and water. Now bring the mix to boil. Once you see steams, start inhaling the steam.
Repeat the remedy two times a day until you fully recover.
Suggested read: Treat Croup In Your Child With These Home Remedies
If despite using these natural treatments, your condition does not improve, then you need to visit the doctor immediately and get yourself treated well.
That is all we have on today’s post on home remedies for post-nasal drip. Was this helpful? Will you be recommending it to others too? If you have some remedies that you would like to share with us, then please do so in the comment section below.
You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive these articles in your inbox every day.
See you again tomorrow!
Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
Facebook
Disqus
Google + 
