A runny nose can be frustrating, especially when you have to be around people the whole day. Usually, a runny nose is the result of an excess production of mucus in the nasal passages due to the presence of foreign substances like allergens and bacteria. The common cold, a viral infection, is the most popular cause of a runny nose but cold temperatures, sinus infections, and flu are also to blame. Besides the clear, watery discharge that characterizes this condition, you can also experience sneezing and coughing. For treatment, home remedies for runny nose are excellent options because they don’t pose the same side effects as some of the common medications people turn to. Additionally, you can whip up a home concoction in a matter of minutes without spending anything or if necessary, very little.
Find out how to stop a runny nose from ruining your day!
1. Steam
Steam inhalation is one of the favorite home remedies for runny nose for a lot of people because it is simple and effective. The hot air clears out the nasal passages, leaving them free of mucus congestion and allergens.
Instructions
- Heat a bowl of water and add a few drops of menthol, thyme or eucalyptus oil.
- Inhale for about ten minutes with your face over the bowl, while covering your face with a towel or cloth to stop the steam from escaping.
- Blow your nose.
- Repeat the treatment three or four times, depending on the severity of the condition.
- Alternatively, take a hot shower or bath for about ten to fifteen minutes
2. Ginger
Ginger has various medicinal uses because of the antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral properties it contains. You can make several home remedies for runny nose using ginger, depending on your preferences. It is particularly effective for someone who sneezes at night.
Instructions
- Peel fresh ginger, cut into small pieces then sprinkle with salt and chew it raw several times a day.
- Alternatively, make a ginger paste with cloves and salt then take ½ a spoon of the blend twice daily.
- Mix dry ginger powder with jaggery (natural sweetener) and clarified butter. Take the mixture every morning before eating anything.
- Peel and thinly slice the ginger then add it to hot water and allow to boil for a few minutes. After straining the tea, add honey or lemon juice for flavor. Take ginger tea three times a day.
3. Diet Change
You can keep a runny nose under control with the right combination of foods. Some foods have compounds like omega-3 fatty acids and anti-inflammatory properties, which make them useful as home remedies for runny nose. Take many fluids, particularly warm ones, in order to thin the nasal mucus and allow it to expel more freely. However, don’t include caffeinated beverages like soda and coffee.
Instructions
- Keep your diet free from substances with a tendency to produce mucus like milk saturated fats and wheat.
- Ensure that your meals contain foods rich in antioxidants to get rid of the free radicals that are responsible for a runny nose. Oranges and almonds are great choices, and they are also high in Vitamins C and E.
- Stay away from foods that have antihistamines such as dried fruits, yogurt, and processed meats.
4. Garlic
Another natural plant that makes great home remedies for runny nose is garlic due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic traits. Besides the runny nose symptom, the healing properties of garlic are excellent at treating influenza, the common cold, and sinus infections.
Instructions
- Chew small pieces of garlic thrice a day to warm up the body and get rid of the mucus discharge.
- Inhale the garlic aroma by crushing 3 cloves into a fine paste. This treatment clears up the passageway very fast, hence it’s recommended for anyone with a stuffy nose.
- Make garlic soup by slicing three cloves and boiling them in water then add sugar. You can also add slices of garlic in salads and other dishes to cure sneezing and other symptoms.
5. Warm Compress
Placing a warm compress on the forehead when suffering from a cold relieves the congestion of mucus in the sinuses. The compress provides a steady supply of heat that breaks down the mucus, making it easier to leave the passageway. A warm compress as a home remedy for runny nose is, especially appropriate for someone with allergies.
Instructions
- Dip a towel or cloth in warm water and place it on your forehead.
- Repeat the process throughout the day until you feel the nasal passages clearing up.
- Put the cloth on your eyes if you have watery eyes so that the heat can unblock the tear ducts.
6. Spice Tea
For a runny nose and cough, mixing several spices in our tea offers relief. You can find different kitchen spices with healing properties like cumin, which is an antioxidant that is excellent in curing respiratory disorder and coriander, which provides calcium and Vitamin C.
Instructions
- Grind and dry roast ¼-cup coriander seeds, ¼ teaspoon of fenugreek seeds, and 5 tablespoons of cumin.
- Add 5 tablespoons of fennel seeds.
- Add 1 ½ teaspoon rock candy and put all of the above in a cup of boiling water then leave to simmer for 3 minutes.
- Pour two tablespoons of milk and bring to a boil.
- Strain the solution and drink until the symptoms subside.
7. Horseradish
Horseradish is capable of draining the mucus membranes due to its mucolytic traits. It is an effective remedy for a runny nose because of its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. This can also work perfectly as a home remedy for sinus infection.
Instructions
- Grate the root of a horseradish then put ½ -1 teaspoon in the mouth.
- Let it stay there until it loses flavor then swallow it. Doing this also clears the mucus lodged in the throat.
- Add four tablespoons of honey to a grated horseradish.
- Stir the mixture then let it steep for five to ten minutes.
- Use a cheesecloth or gauze to strain the concoction then put this first extract aside.
- Take the residue left, add water then put it on a flame to simmer for a few minutes.
- Remove it from the fire and strain then let it cool.
- Mix this solution with the first extract of horseradish then store in a container.
- Take 3-4 teaspoons of the syrup three times a day.
8. Basil
Holy basil, also called Tulsi, has antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, hence its use as a medicinal herb for a runny nose. It is also an effective antioxidant that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to treat various health conditions besides the common cold.
Instructions
- Chew three-four basil leaves to warm the body, before eating anything in the morning.
- Repeat regularly. You can add jaggery for flavor.
- Make a solution by boiling ten basil leaves, five cloves and a cup of water.
- Add sugar and drink after the solution cools down.
9. Honey
Honey is one of the most popular home remedies for runny nose, especially when your runny nose it is the result of a cough. The antibacterial and antiviral traits of honey loosen mucus secretions, thereby curing a runny nose. It also soothes an irritated throat. You can take honey as a remedy in several ways.
Instructions
- Take a spoonful of raw honey twice daily to alleviate a runny nose and cough. Also, you can add the honey to warm water and drink it.
- Mix a spoonful of lemon juice with every two of honey to get a mixture that strengthens the immune systems. Drink twice daily. A pinch of cinnamon powder can increase the effectiveness of the solution.
10. Sage
This herb is a top choice for runny nose home remedies because it contains thujone, which helps fight bacterial, infections. It also has rosmarinic and phenolic acids, which are powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidants. You can get creative with sage and come up with several home remedies for runny nose.
Instructions
- Mix dried sage with a teaspoon of honey. You can make the mixture in advance and store it in a jar for when it’s needed.
- Keep the jar in a cool and dark area.
- Add a teaspoon of sage leaves to a cup of hot water.
- Cover the solution and leave it for five to eight minutes.
- Strain and flavor with honey.
- Taking it once a day is enough to bring down the effects of a runny nose.
11. Salt Solution
Spraying the nose with a salt solution eliminates the irritation caused by a runny nose. The solution thins the mucus as well, which allows the passages to clear without trouble.
Instructions
- Warm 2 cups of water and then mix it with ½ teaspoon of table salt.
- Use an eyedropper to draw the solution drip a few drops into the nostrils.
- Breathe the solution in gently then blow your nose.
- It may take a few sprays, twice a day before feeling better.
12. Herbal Tea
You can also make tea with selected herbs to treat a runny nose. By combing some of the herbs already discussed like ginger and garlic, you come up with a powerful concoction that tastes good, meaning even children can have it. You can have any number of ingredients, depending on what you have available.
Instructions
- Add ½ each of ginger, cinnamon, and garlic, to one cup of water.
- Let the concoction simmer for 5 minutes.
- Strain the solution then add a tablespoon of honey and lemon juice.
- Flavor to taste then drink while still hot.
13. Onion
Onions contain sulfur, which gives it powerful antibacterial properties, enabling it to loosen the phlegm and drain it out. If your runny nose is a result of a virus, fungi, or bacteria, then an onion home remedy will be helpful.
Instructions
- Thinly slice 2 onions.
- Boil 2 cups of water and put in the onion slices then let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the fire and pour into a cup.
- Drink the solution while hot as you inhale the vapors.
14. Turmeric
Turmeric can be blended with other herbs to make home remedies for runny nose. Its antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties have made it a popular herb in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. The curcuminoids in turmeric are what make it a powerful treatment for many ailments. Turmeric is available in yellow and white forms.
Instructions
- Add ½ teaspoon of dry turmeric powder to a cup of linseed oil and let it soak for several minutes.
- Heat the mixture and then remove it from the heat as soon as it starts smoking.
- Inhale this smoke slowly, first with one nostril and then the other. Do this twice daily.
- Put ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder, a teaspoon of grated ginger, ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a pinch of clove powder to 2 cups of water.
- Boil this blend for eight to ten minutes then strain.
- Add honey and stir then drink once or twice daily.
Conclusion
With these home remedies for runny nose, you can expect relief in a matter of a few days. However, the symptoms may persist or develop into a cough in which case, the expertise of a qualified physician is necessary. Have you tried any specific treatment at home when dealing with a runny nose? How effective was it?
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