There is a myriad of ways to relieve nasal congestion granted there is no serious underlying cause to it. If you have been experiencing nasal congestion for longer than a couple of weeks, get in contact with your physician right away. Otherwise, give these tips a whirl to clear your stuffy nose.
Nasal Lavage
Using a nasal lavage (also referred to as nasal irrigation) kit or a neti pot, you can soften and flush out mucus from your nose for an instant relief of nasal congestion. A neti pot resembles a tiny teapot which is sold at every pharmacy; while you are getting your neti pot, also purchase some saline solution. You can also opt to make your own solution at home by mixing a cup of lukewarm distilled water, 1/2 a teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of baking soda. Wash out your nose with your neti pot a couple of times per day for optimal results.
Steaming
Regardless of its source–may it be from a hot shower or a scalding bowl of water–steam can loosen and drain mucus from the nose. For quicker results, fill a large bowl with hot water, place your face closely over the bowl, cover your head using a towel, and inhale the steam without letting it escape. You may apply steam to your stuffy nose a few times throughout the day.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint and its primary ingredient menthol naturally decongest and can even loosen all the muck in the chest, which is why these two are active ingredients in most lozenges and topical gels for chest and nasal congestion. An even more natural alternative, however, is having peppermint tea, which you can either purchase from a grocery store or make yourself at home. If you decide to make it yourself, all you will need to do is soak a teaspoon of peppermint in a mug of hot water for about 10 minutes. You can have up to 5 cups of peppermint tea per day.
Nasal Decongestant
Your nose usually gets stuffy because the nasal passages and surrounding blood vessels dilate and obstruct your nasal cavities. Over-the-counter nasal decongestants containing phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine can reduce the swelling of the blood vessels and allow you to breathe better. Avoid using decongestants for longer than 4-5 days consecutively, however, as this can worsen your condition.
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup can really work miracles when you have the flu or a cold. Have a bowl of hot chicken soup to loosen mucus and relieve nasal congestion. It is the tastiest nasal congestion remedy.
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