Effective Home Remedies for Blocked Nose: Quick Ways to Relieve Nasal Congestion

What Causes a Blocked Nose?

• Each one of us experiences a blocked nose with a change in season. It occurs due to the common cold, allergies, sinusitis, deviated septum and other health condition. Other symptoms, including sneezing, irritation in the nasal passage, excess mucus, headache, difficulty in breathing and a decreased sense of smell, accompany a blocked nose. The severity of these symptoms depends on the underlying disease.
• A blocked nose due to a cold, flu or viral can be treated at home without medications. At the same time, a blocked nose due to asthma, sinusitis, or rhinitis needs combinational treatment of medications, nasal sprays and a few home remedies to alleviate a blocked nose.

Here is a List of Effective Home Remedies for a Blocked Nose:

1. Use a Humidifier

A humidifier works for a blocked nose by increasing the humidity levels in the air. A humidifier adds moisture to the air, helping to soothe and hydrate the nasal passages and relieve congestion. The dry air causes the nasal passages to become dry and irritated, leading to a blocked nose. 

2. Inhale Steam

Inhaling steam can help alleviate a blocked nose by softening and thinning out mucus, reducing irritation, and opening the nasal passages. You can use a facial steamer, take a hot water shower or take hot water in a container to inhale the steam. You can add a few pinches of menthol crystals to the water. Inhale this steam deeply through your nose for several minutes and repeat this process daily to get quick relief.

3. Stay Hydrated

Keeping up your hydration levels helps to thin mucus and reduce nasal inflammation. It also helps lessen the strain in your sinuses and relieve a sore throat. Drink plenty of water, soups, and herbal teas and have water-rich fruits and vegetables to stay hydrated.

4. Use a Neti Pot

A neti pot is a small ceramic or plastic pot filled with a saline solution that helps clear mucus from your nose. Here is how you can use a neti pot for nasal congestion:

• Mix 1 cup of warm, sterilised water with 1/4 teaspoon salt in the neti pot.
• Tilt your head to one side over a sink.
• The nozzle of the neti pot should be inserted into one nostril, and gently pump the saline solution into the nostril.
• The solution will flow throughout through the other nostril.
• Repeat the same procedure on another nostril.

5. Use a Warm Compression

Warm compression is an effective remedy for a blocked nose as it helps to increase blood flow, reduce swelling and relax the muscles in the nasal passages, making breathing easier and relieving congestion. Here is how you can take a warm compression for a blocked nose:

• Fill a cloth bag with rice, wheat, or beans.
• Heat this bag in a saucepan until it is warm but not hot. Alternatively, you can microwave it for 60 seconds.
• Place this warm bag over your nose, applying gentle pressure.
• Leave the bag for about 10-15 minutes.
• Repeat the process several times a day to relieve severe congestion.
• You can also use a warm water pad instead of a cloth bag. 

6. Use Saline Spray or Saline Water to Rinse

Over-the-counter saline sprays or saline water prepared at home helps moisturise the mucous membranes, thinning out the mucus and making it easier to clear. It also helps wash away irritants, such as pollen, dust, and other allergens, that may be causing inflammation and contributing to nasal congestion.

Both of these things can help to clear up the stuff in your nose. Here is how you can prepare saltwater at home:

• Mix the salt and baking soda in a cup or bowl.
• Add boiled or sterilised water to the cup till the contents are completely dissolved.
• Use a dropper or a nasal spray bottle to apply this solution to your nostrils.
• Lean your head forward slightly and sniff the solution into one nostril at a time.
• Now blow your nose gently to remove mucus or solution in the nostril.

7. Use Mentholated Salve

Mentholated salves are topical ointments containing menthol that exhibit a cooling and soothing effect on the skin. When applied to the nose, it helps alleviate symptoms of nasal congestion by providing a refreshing and invigorating sensation that helps to clear the sinuses. 

However, it’s important to note that mentholated salves should not be used inside the nostrils, as they can cause irritation and other adverse effects. 

8. Wear a Nasal Strip During Sleep

Nasal strips are adhesive strips that you can place on the outside of your nose to open up your nasal passages and breathe in nasal congestion. These work by gently pulling the sides of your nose apart, which helps to increase the diameter of your nasal passages and improve airflow. It helps you sleep soundly during the common cold, allergies, or sinusitis.

9. Spice Inhalation

Spice inhalation is a method of using aromatic spices to help clear a congested or blocked nose. The idea behind this technique is that inhaling the steam and aroma of herbs such as eucalyptus, menthol, peppermint, or thyme can help to relieve nasal congestion by loosening mucus and opening up the nasal passages. Here’s how you can perform spice inhalation to help clear a blocked nose:

• Boil 2-3 cups of water in a vessel
• Turn off the flame when the water starts boiling, and add 1-2 tsp of your chosen herbs or spices.
• Cover the pot and let the spices steep for a few minutes to release their aroma and essential oils.
• Hold your face over the pot, and cover it with a towel to trap the steam and concentrate the aroma.
• Inhale deeply for several minutes and repeat this process twice a day.

10. Drink Herbal Teas

Drinking herbal tea made with fenugreek, holy basil, or ginger can help to reduce inflammation and unclog your nose.

Here are some of the best herbal teas for a blocked nose:

• Peppermint tea: Peppermint is a natural decongestant and has menthol, which helps to soothe the nasal passages and relieve nasal congestion.
• Ginger tea: Ginger exhibits anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages, making it easier to breathe.
• Eucalyptus tea: Eucalyptus contains eucalyptol, which helps cool and soothe nasal passages and helps to relieve nasal congestion.

11. Elevate Your Head and How It Works

Sleeping with your head elevated is a simple yet effective way to relieve nasal congestion. When your head is raised, gravity helps mucus drain from the sinuses instead of accumulating and blocking airways. This position also reduces blood flow to the nasal passages, decreasing inflammation and swelling. Use an adjustable bed, wedge pillow, or an extra regular pillow to maintain a comfortable angle while sleeping. This method is especially beneficial for nighttime relief, improving sleep quality.

12. Hot Shower and How It Works

Taking a hot shower provides instant relief for a blocked nose by producing warm steam that penetrates the nasal passages. The steam moisturises and soothes irritated tissues, loosens mucus, and reduces airway inflammation. Breathing deeply in the steamy environment helps clear blocked sinuses, making it easier to breathe. For enhanced results, adding essential oils like eucalyptus or peppermint to the shower creates a cooling and decongestant effect, providing additional sinus relief.

13. Nasal Sprays: Which OTC Nasal Spray Helps and How It Works

Over-the-counter nasal sprays can effectively address nasal congestion. Saline sprays hydrate dry nasal passages, wash away mucus, and flush out allergens, offering gentle, everyday relief. Decongestant sprays like oxymetazoline work by constricting swollen blood vessels in the nasal lining, providing quick relief from congestion. However, decongestant sprays should be used sparingly (no longer than three consecutive days) to prevent rebound congestion. Saline sprays, on the other hand, are safe for long-term use and help maintain nasal moisture.

14. Drain Your Sinuses: Ways to Drain Sinuses

Draining your sinuses can significantly alleviate congestion and pressure. Gentle facial massages, focusing on the areas around the sinuses, encourage lymphatic drainage and relieve sinus pressure. For frontal sinus massage, place your index and middle fingers on your forehead, just above your eyebrows, and gently massage in small circles, moving outwards towards your temples. For maxillary sinus massage, use your index and middle fingers, apply pressure on the area below your cheekbones, near your nose, and massage in a circular motion towards your ears. Remember to warm your hands beforehand for better results.

15. Ginger and How It Works

Ginger is a natural remedy with powerful anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties that reduce swelling in the nasal passages and fight respiratory infections. Drinking ginger tea made from fresh ginger slices, honey, and lemon provides warmth and soothes the throat. Ginger stimulates mucus drainage, unclogs blocked nasal passages, and improves sinus airflow. Additionally, its antioxidant compounds help boost immunity, speeding up recovery from colds and congestion.

16. OTC Medicines and How They Work

Over-the-counter medications provide targeted relief for nasal congestion. Decongestants like pseudoephedrine shrink swollen blood vessels in the nasal lining, allowing for easier airflow. Antihistamines such as cetirizine are effective for allergy-induced congestion, blocking histamines that trigger inflammation. Pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen address sinus headaches and reduce inflammation. Always read the label for proper dosing and avoid prolonged use of decongestants to prevent rebound congestion. Consult a healthcare provider if symptoms persist.

17. Chicken Soup and How It Works

Chicken soup is a time-tested remedy for colds and nasal congestion. Its warmth and hydration help loosen mucus and soothe irritated nasal tissues. The steam from the soup clears nasal passages, while the soup itself contains compounds like cysteine, an amino acid that reduces inflammation in the respiratory system. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, chicken soup boosts immune function, helping the body fight off infections more effectively and speeding up recovery.

It’s important to note that these home remedies are not a substitute for medical treatment. These remedies can only help relieve mild congestion due to a common cold or viral. However, chronic nasal conditions such as sinuses, deviated septum, allergies, nasal tumours and nasal polyps need proper medical diagnosis and treatment.

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Disclaimer: The information given in this article is true to our best knowledge. Still, we recommend you consult your doctor first before taking any treatment for a blocked nose mentioned in this article. Also, it is important to note that some remedies may not be suitable for everyone, so it’s best to consult your doctor before trying a new treatment.

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