Nasal Congestion Home Remedies

Nasal congestion occurs when the mucus drainage is blocked by the swollen mucus membrane which lines the nasal passage. This problem is always comes with flu, colds, influenza, sinusitis infection and nose allergies. In some cases however, nasal congestion is due to food allergies which lead to the inflammation of blood vessels and this will directly affects the mucus membranes. Patients with nasal congestion may also experience other problems such as headache, fever and sore throat in the case of having colds, and pain in the sinus area in the case of sinusitis infection. They will tend to snore and can't sleep properly at night.

There are various ways to treat nasal congestion problem. Decongestants in medicine form help to reduce the inflammation while nasal spray will relieve the congestion.  Antihistamines on the other hand, reduce the congestion of mucus in the nasal passage. However nasal spray should not be used for more than 3 days or it will worsen the congestion. The medicines also have side effects, the most common is drowsiness. To avoid these, you can try using home remedies to treat your nose congestion problem.

Among the nasal congestion home remedies you can try are:

Hot Spicy Tomato Tea: Heat up the mixture of V8 tomato juice (2 cups), lemon juice (2 tbsp) and hot sauce (as much as you like) in the microwave. Sip the hot spicy tea slowly and hold in your throat. Suck the fumes through your sinuses. Drink as much as you can until you feel better.

Cayenne Pepper Mixture: Add 1 tbsp of cayenne pepper powder into a cup of hot water. Stir for 1 minute and then strain. Blow the mixture to cool it a bit before taking a sip for gargling. Gargle for 20 seconds and then spit out, it won't hurt if you take in a bit of the mixture. Repeat this for 4 times before clearing up all the mucus from your nose. Take a rest and then start the process again after 15 minutes until your feel better.

Apple Cider Vinegar-Honey Tea: Mix apple cider vinegar with honey, 2 tbsp each with 4 oz of water (cold or hot). Drink for 2 days for best result. The tea taste bad but will clear the congestion.

Apple Cider Vinegar-Garlic-Oregano Oil-Sea Salt Tea:  Put 2 cloves of garlic, 2 tsp of oregano oil, 2 tbsp of organic apple cider vinegar and a dash of sea salt in a mug. Add in 8 oz of water and heat it up in a microwave for about 2 to 3 minutes. Then, drink the tea.

Fresh Ginger Root Tea: Peel about 3 oz of ginger root and cut into chunks. Steeped the ginger chucks and 2 green tea bags in a pot of water for 4 hours. Drink the tea in every evening to have a nice sleep.

Eucalyptus Oil or Mentholatum with Hot Steam:  Add 2 drops of eucalyptus oil or 1 tbsp of Mentholatum in steaming water. Cover your head with a towel and inhale all the steam. Then, blow your nose to clear it up. You can also replace eucalyptus oil with fresh eucalyptus leaves, mint or thyme.

Baking Soda Rinse: Mix salt and baking soda (1/4 tsp each) in 8 ozs of warm water. Tilt your head backward and put a few drops in each nose using an eye dropper. Blow your nose to clear it up after a moment.

Nasal Irrigation: Prepare the solution by mixing 1/4 tsp of salt to a cup of lukewarm water. Then, run the solution through your nose using a device called nasal douche. You can also do it by using an eye dropper. Put a few drops of solution in each nose with your head tilted backward. When the mucus has soften, blow the nose to clear it up.

Chamomile Essential Oil: Chamomile is a very good antihistamine. Put a drop of essential oil in each nose when you feel sinus pressure, congestion, burning, etc.