Nasal or sinus congestion is a very common problem that many people experience. Whenever there is an irritant that enters the nose, the hollow spot between the two sinuses called the ostium will either get really itchy or clogged up. Some of the common causes of sinus congestion are fluffy or powdery substances in the air such as dust balls or pollen. Sometimes extreme weather can be a factor as well. Whenever it is extremely cold, the sinuses tend to swell up which can cause nose blockage. The same thing happens when it is extremely hot like during the summer. Depending on how bad the condition is, the causes may actually vary. However, the most common causes would still be weather conditions and irritants in the air. So how do you treat this kind of condition? What are some of the nasal congestion remedies that work?
For the sake of staying healthy, let’s take a look at some natural home remedies instead of going straight to medical drugs. Over-the-counter medicines are very helpful because they work right away; however, taking too much would lead to some long term side effects. So to avoid those nasty side effects, why not try some natural alternatives instead?
Inhaling steam is one of the best methods of nasal congestion relief and sinus congestion relief. Steam can actually soften or even melt the mucus that is clogged in the ostium. After inhaling steam for a while, it will become easier to blow out mucus. All you have to do is boil some water, pour the water into a bowl and start inhaling the steam coming from it.
Another effective method for nasal congestion relief is irrigation. Irrigation is the process of spraying salt water up both nostrils so that the mucus can be forced out. Doing this may hurt a bit, but it is very effective. To do this, first you have to mix some salt in distilled water. After that, you can use a spraying device to shoot water up the nose. It is useful to note that these methods also help with sinus congestion relief.
Drinking peppermint tea is one of the most well-known nasal congestion remedies. The reason peppermint tea is very effective is because it contains a high amount of menthol. Menthol is a substance that is able to loosen up thick mucus in a short span of time. Thus, if you have a blocked nose and want to clear it right away, try some peppermint tea.
Apple Cider Vinegar is a drink that has substances known to help thin mucus. Most people drink this warm because warm liquids also have a mucus thinning effect. So if you were to drink some warm Apple Cider Vinegar when you have a blocked nose, expect that blocked nose to clear up in a few seconds.
Having a stuffy nose and blocked sinuses can be really annoying because it affects the way you talk, the way you smell, and also the way you breathe! So if you are prone to these kinds of issues, then try out some of the natural remedies stated above. They are much safer than over-the-counter drugs and are equally effective.
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NasalGuard USA, Blog 