Home remedies for stuffy nose. It is quite discomforting to get a stuffy nose. It often occurs when one is going to sleep and one feels irritated because sleep is disturbed. Babies and kids are at a greater risk because they may not show signs of a congested nose early on. It leads to low oxygen in the body which causes dizziness and weakness. Home remedies can help one to unblock a stuffy nose easily.
Stuffy nose is just a one time case of nasal congestion. When it becomes chronic and mucosal walls of nostrils are inflamed, then the person suffers from chronic nasal congestion.
My personal experience
As a child, I suffered from stuffy nose, probably because of the medications I was given. Relief was not easy to come by. I often used the nasal decongestant solutions available but they caused severe nasal irritation in some uses. Then I got a peppermint nasal inhaler which saved my life ( not literally ). All I do is inhale few deep breaths from the peppermint inhaler. It comes in small stick shape, which is light and convenient, easy to carry in pocket. So, this is about my struggle with stuffy nose and eventual victory using a home remedy.
Stuffy nose is not a major problem. Its symptoms are quite discomforting though. One is unable to smell and get tastes of food. Exercising becomes tough as one is unable to breathe through the nose. There can be fatigue from low oxygen concentrations in blood. One can also experience dizziness or fainting if stuffy nose continues for long.
Stuffy nose is a big problem in newborn babies and toddlers. But that too can be relieved using home remedies.
( Photo Courtesy: jennycu )
How to clear a stuffy nose ?
These are some really effective natural remedies to unclog a stuffy nose and get all the mucus out.
1. Walking in fresh air
If one often gets stuffy nose without any explicit cause ( like cold or allergies or sinusitis ), then one can easily relieve stuffy nose by going out the house. Walk in the balcony, roof or in the garden. Fresh air promotes opening of a blocked nostril.
It works fast, sometimes within a few seconds. Most of the times, we just do not realize how stifling the environments can be indoors. There is low body requirement of oxygen and therefore our lungs may go into a more relaxed state with shallower breathing. However this has a negative effect on the nostrils. They tend to constrict. When they suddenly get oxygen rich fresh air, then open fully to allow the fresh air to come in.
It works for babies and newborns too. Just take them outside in nice cool breeze.
( Photo credit : centermez )
2. Yawning
Act as if you are yawning. This mechanism affects the nostrils and provide simple and quick relief from stuffy nose. This effect may be long lasting but many times it isn't. Yawning can promote draining of eustachian tubes and promote opening of nasal passage. It can stimulate mucus to go down the throat, known as post nasal drip. It can return back up, but for the time being, one can get un stuff a stuffy nose.
( Photo credit : Tony Alter )
3. Throw out the phlegm ( The best remedy for stuffy nose )
Try these
remedies for cough that emits phlegm. Once it is expelled, the stuffy nose condition would improve and would stay that way. Most of the times, it is just phlegm that blocks up the nose. Once it is thrown out, one experiences great relief. Congestion in throat, chest or nose is relieved.
4. Workout
If one has time, then workout or sports can force the body to open both the nostrils because of the higher oxygen required in sports. Regular physical activity also keeps the body healthy. There is a popular activity which can unblock nostrils quickly.
Pace A Few Steps
Hold both nostrils close and keep mouth close. Walk a few steps in open air. Try to hold your breath for a good length of time. Then quickly release it through the nose. After that, start normal breathing. The sudden spurt of exhalation is enough to unclog the stuffy nose.
5. Mouthwash
Do it and one can get instant relief from stuffy nose. Mouthwash containing thymol ( extract of thyme ) is quite effective at unclogging stuffy nose. So, you should find one which has thymol in it.
Do not put the mouthwash in the nose. Use it to rinse the mouth and this can unclog a nose.
( Photo credit : colink )
6. Facial Massage With Olive oil
Rub olive oil along the sides of the nose and near the eyes and centre of eyebrows. This may help too. One can also add a few drops of fragrant essential oil ( like lavender oil ) to make the nose want to smell it.
7. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
This is a wonderful essential oil for getting rid of chronic stuffy nose, especially the one caused by sinus infection.
- Ingredients
Large vessel
Eucalyptus essential oil
- Directions / How to use
Add about 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a large pot of boiling water. Let the water boil for some time after adding the oil. Keep the pot covered. Then bring it out and inhale steam from this steam. Eucalyptus oil steam can unstuff a stuffy nose within minutes.
- Why it works ?
Eucalyptus essential oil is natural decongestant. It relieves inflammation in the respiratory passage, allowing the walls to ease. This promotes better flow of air into the lungs and relieves a stuffy congested nose.
"Breathing eucalyptus oil steam provides considerable relief for large period of time."
( Photo credit : azadam )
8. Cold water splash
A cold water splash improves blood flow on the face which causes the nostrils to open up. It acts a natural decongestant.
( Photo credit : tearstone )
9. Warm wash cloth compress
This remedy helps to unclog stuffy nose which is not responding to treatment easily. Prepare some warm water. Then dip wash cloth in it and apply it on different parts of your face. The areas to cover are forehead, cheeks, nostrils and the region between nose and eyes. Press gently into the face and towards the direction of nose. Do this continuously till some liquid starts to drain from the nose.
Warmth of the cloth thins mucus and detaches it from wall of the nostrils and throat. This phlegm becomes thinner and passes out easily through the nose. It provides long lasting relief from clogged nose by addressing the root cause of it.
10. Nasal irrigation
One can do this using a neti pot which is commonly found in homes. However, make sure to use absolutely clean water when doing it. Contaminated water poses a risk for infection to take seat in the sinus which may even reach the brain and turn fatal, like meningitis.
Nevertheless, if water is pure, nasal irrigation using saline water is great for stuffy nose and congestion all around.
( Photo credit : shezamm )
11. Change the sleeping posture
If you are unable to sleep because of a stuffy nose, try things like lying to the side, elevating the head, or elevating the head and feet both. If these all look like lame remedies, you have a bad case of stuffy nose and then you should use a strong home remedy like eucalyptus essential oil.
12. Vapor rub
Use this on the chest and a small amount near the nose. Keep the eyes closed or they would start watering from the menthol in the vapor rub. Another way to use it is to inhale the vapor rub by placing some on a cloth.
Vapor rub is the perfect substance to relieve congestion in the chest and nose. I mean, it is made for this. But, sometimes it does not work. Although there is no harm in trying the good old vapor rub.
13. Eat chili peppers ( In some recipe )
Some people are capable of eating chilli peppers directly. Otherwise, one can combine it with salad to reduce the intense heat generated by chili peppers in the mouth. However, it does help in opening a stuffy nose.
Chili Pepper ( also cayenne pepper ) really boosts up the blood flow all over the body. It takes just a few minutes for it to work.
The drawback is that if the stuffy nose returns, you wouldn't be in a mood to eat chili pepper again.
If you do not like the idea of eating chili peppers, you can use it as a gargle. Add 1/4 tablespoon of chili pepper in 1 glass of warm water. Gargle with this water. It should provide relief from the stuffy nose.
14. Take A Hot Shower
It might seem trivial, but a hot shower can really relieve a stuff nose. Showering late at night can also improve the quality of sleep. The steam from the hot water unclogs the stuffy nose. The relaxation provided by this bath is enough for a person to sleep soundly all night, which seems quite difficult in the beginning.
15. Avoid Drinking Milk
Nutrition scientists have identified a specific substance in milk which can increase phlegm production in body. This contributes to nasal and lung congestion and also may provide a clue to those people who witness such an increase in congestion.
Nevertheless, if you suffer from chronic stuffy nose and you are a milk drinker, try taking milk off your diet for a few days. If results are better, then you have found a secret !
Milk could be the culprit for numerous people who always have stuffy nose.
16. My Peppermint Inhaler
You can either buy a peppermint based herbal inhaler or create one of your own. Use this whenever you feel stuffy nose coming up. It is a fantastic remedy which works for most people. The best thing about this remedy is that it can be used anywhere.
17. Cool Mist Humidifier
A humidifier helps in a stuffy nose situation, but cool mist humidifier is even better. Align it to an environment you like in the house, one which mimics outside environment. This humidifier sprays cool mist which is really benefits a stuffy nose in about 10 minutes.
If it is not working, increase the humidity value.
Stuffy nose in babies and infants
Keep a watch on the baby for signs of heavier breathing, noise while breathing and baby showing discomfort. Place a finger outside the nostrils to check the air flow. If a nostril is stuffed, then one can relieve it using above home remedies except the mouthwash and essential oil.
Home remedies for babies ( infant stuffy nose )
- Vapor rub is ideal for babies. Rub it on their chest and nostrils, allowing the cool air to flow into the nose.
- Warm washcloth remedy can be used to relieve a baby's stuffy nose.
- Give the baby a steam bath.
- A chicken broth, made warm is excellent remedy to get rid of stuffy nose in a toddler.
Stuffy nose is a very common problem. If it occurs again and again, check the ventilation in the house and the humidity. If the
hvac are all fine, and your indoor air quality seems fine to you, then probably it is something that needs to be checked by a doctor.
Chronic Stuffy Nose ( Why is my nose always stuffy ? )
There are many conditions which lead to recurring episodes of stuffy nose. You are unable to get rid of it by using home remedies or other home based treatment.
The common causes of chronic stuffy nose are
chronic sinusitis,
allergies like allergic rhinitis or just a bad cold.
If a newborn suffers from stuffy nose, then he or she should be taken to a doctor. Stuffy nose can be frustrating, especially at night. But now you know how to get rid of it, quick , using natural remedies.
