Is your nose blocked? Covid-19, a common cold or sinus infection, pollution, or an allergy can cause a stuffy nose. If you think you might have Covid, it’s best to take a test and self-isolate until you know you are in the clear, and if the test is positive, follow professional advice. Allergies and sinus infections might require medicine, so be sure to get a diagnosis. In any case, however, you can use home remedies to ease sinus congestion.
What causes nasal congestion?
When you have a blocked nose, doubtless it feels as though excess mucus is to blame for your discomfort. However, your nasal congestion is created by inflamed blood vessels in your sinuses. An irritant, such as a virus or allergen, provokes blood to flood your nasal cavity vessels, and your nasal passages swell. Mucus can get trapped and further hamper airflow, making breathing hard.
Home Remedies to ease nasal congestion
Increase fluids
Drink plenty of fluids when you have a blocked nose. Opt for hot drinks over cold, which can exacerbate phlegm, and avoid alcohol since it reduces immunity. Staying hydrated can help thin nasal mucus and aid sinus drainage.
Inhale steam
Inhaling steam from hot water can help to ease a blocked nose. You could take a hot shower and breathe in the water vapor or lean over a sink or bowl full of hot water. If choosing the latter, add a few drops of essential oils that make breathing easier, like eucalyptus or peppermint.
Increase air moisture
Run a mist vaporizer or humidifier to lessen nasal congestion. Humid air soothes nasal tissues and reduces mucus and swelling in the nose. Remember to keep the unit you use clean and prevent bacteria growth.
Use a natural decongestant
Add a lemon slice to hot water to decrease the length of a cold and symptom severity. Or crush peeled fresh ginger and let it steep in a teapot before you drink the liquid. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and is especially useful if your blocked nose stems from an allergen.
Irrigate your nose
Use a neti pot and flush mucus from your nose. Make sure you follow the product instructions and fill the pot with distilled or sterile water and some salt. Tilt your head to the side while leaning over a sink.
Now put the spout in your upper nostril, and the water that flushes out your nose will drain from the lower nostril. Repeat the process, tilting your head to the opposite side. Keep the neti pot clean and dry when not in use.
Try a warm compress
Nasal congestion can cause sinus pain or a headache, but you can ease them with a warm compress applied to the forehead and nose to relieve pressure. Use a microwavable compress to add warmth or soak a cloth in hot water, squeeze it out, and lay it over congested areas.
Rest
Cut out unnecessary activity while you have nasal congestion, and your body will have maximum energy to ramp up your immune system and get rid of your blocked nose. You might want to sleep longer than usual and leave chores and exercise for when you recover.
A stuffy nose is uncomfortable, and it’s unpleasant not breathing well. Reduce your nasal congestion with these natural home remedies. They can reduce inflammation, increase sinus drainage, and boost your immunity.
