10 Home Remedies for Nasal Congestion, Sinus, Cold & Cough, Stuffy/Runny Nose

Nasal congestion is generally known as ‘blocked nose’ or ‘stuffy nose’. Nasal congestion occurs when there is swelling on the nasal hole, and its leading to build up of mucus, and this situation makes difficult to breathe easily. Nasal congestion can be occurring during beginning of pregnancy and hormonal changes. 

Nasal congestion can be marked as

1. Sinus pain due to infections

2. Stuffy or runny nose

3. Mucus buildup

4. Swollen/inflamed nasal tissues

 
Reasons behind nasal congestion/ stuffy or runny nose/ Sinus –

1. Common Cold

2. Chronic Rhinitis and Post-Nasal Drip

3. Sinus Infection

4. Whooping Cough

5. Nasal Polyps

6. Other Viral infections

7. Bronchitis

8. Environmental Irritants

9. Swine flue

10. Smoking

11. Rhinitis

12. Food allergies

13. Chemical exposures

Infants and Children

Nasal congestion/ stuffy or runny nose can be more frightening in kids and infants than in adults and older children. Nasal congestion can obstruct kid/infant feedings and can even lead to serious breathing problems. Sometimes it may also prevent normal speech and hearing growth in kids. 

Some natural home remedies can help greatly when you are suffering from nasal congestion/ stuffy or runny nose. You can easily get rid of this common problem by using some ingredients which are available in our kitchen.

1. Garlic

You can easily & quickly fix your nasal congestion with the help of garlic. Always use fresh garlic for alleviating annoying symptoms of nasal congestion/sinus.

      1.      Eat fresh garlic on the empty stomach or on half stomach, this will reduce the stuffiness, body pain, irritation and discomfort due to nasal congestion/ stuffy or runny nose.

      2.      Crush 2-3 fresh garlic and inhale the aroma, this trick makes your congested nostrils free.

2. Garlic, Lemon Tea

Ingredients

3-4 cloves of garlic

2 cups water

1 teaspoon mint/green tea or normal tea

2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1-2 tablespoon honey instead of sugar

Boil mint/green or normal tea with crushed garlic in 2 cups of water and make tea. When tea is ready, add honey and lemon juice in it, and never boil lemon juice and honey. Drink this hot mixture 2-3 times a day for fast result. This tea is very beneficial in common cold, cough and sinus.

3. Carom Seeds / ajwain

Carom seeds/ajwain has strong aroma and essential oils such as thymol, which has therapeutic and cleaning qualities. Carom seeds can work marvelously against cough, nasal congestion/sinus and influenza.

1.      Chew 1-2 tablespoon of carom seeds/ajwain with or without fresh basil or betel leaves to get fast relieve from nasal congestion and sinus.

      2.      Heat 2-3 tablespoon of carom seeds/ajwain on pan for 5 minutes on slow flame, do not roast it too much. Keep this carom seeds/ajwain in your handkerchief or small piece of cloth. Tie this carom seeds/ajwain in the centre of piece of cloth or handkerchief. Deeply smell this carom seeds/ajwain from cloth regularly; you will see the magical results quickly. When the carom seeds/ajwain aroma goes in the respiration pipes, it starts fighting against the congesting materials in the nasal passage and eases the breathing by pushing them away. 

4. Cinnamon

Cinnamon contains high amount of antioxidant, cinnamon has strong antibacterial antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, this is a familiar and very useful spice that has been used as a natural home remedy to treat many respiratory problems such as nasal congestion, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, flu etc. 

Cinnamon is very effective in reducing headache due to sinus, nasal congestion, add cinnamon in your tea and see the fast effect.

1.      Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with ½ tablespoon of cinnamon powder, consume this mixture twice a day. Follow this 2-3 days regularly. This mixture gives fast relief from nasal congestion, cough, and cold and sinus problem.

2.      For reducing headache and stress, apply cinnamon paste on forehead. Crush 3-5 cinnamon and add few drops of water or coconut oil in it to make smooth paste of it.

3.      Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon oil or powder or crushed cinnamon in the boiling water and inhale the steam for few minutes for get rid of nasal congestion, cough, cold and sinus problem.

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25 Home Remedies for Chest, Nasal Congestion Relief. Clear Mucus, Congestion fast & naturally

Chest congestion is a very common respiratory tract issue being faced by many. It is characterized by inflammation in the lower tract of the respiratory system, which causes breathing difficulties along with chest pain and discomfort. 

In technical words, chest congestion is the accumulation of excess mucus and fluid in the lungs. Let’s go through some home remedies for curing this problem:

1. Onion and Honey

Onion has anti-inflammatory properties. The use of onion for curing chest congestion can amaze you when used with honey.

1.      Extract the juice out of an onion and mix it with equal quantity of lemon juice, honey and water. Consume this mixture lukewarm 3 to 4 times a day.

2.      Take a slice of onion and cover it with honey. Consume this honey after removing the onion from it the next day. Take one teaspoon of honey at a time for 4 times a day. You can also have raw, baked, or cooked onions to help mucus flow easily.

3.      Alternatively, consume 5 or 6 small onions or shallots along with sugar before you go to bed at night. You can also eat raw, baked or cooked onions to help mucus flow easily.

2. Salt Water Gargle

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water and a pinch of turmeric powder to boiling water. Take a swig of this liquid and gargle for 1-2 minutes. Repeat this for a soothing effect at least four to five times daily.

3. Cloves, carom seeds or fenugreek

To soothe chest congestion, dry roast some cloves, fenugreek or carom seeds for 2-3 minutes on medium flame. Put them in a cloth preferably thin and make a bundle of it. Place this bundle on your chest and throat for few minutes. It will give you tremendous relief from chest congestion.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar helps in killing bacteria, which is responsible for causing mucus in the chest and throat. Swig down a shot of apple cider vinegar. For best results, repeat this method after every eight hours.

Warning: If you consume it excessively; your stomach will get upset.

5. Lemons

Add some grated lemon rind or a lemon wedge in a cup of hot water. Let it soak for five minutes. Strain it and consume the liquid. You can also use this solution for gargling.

Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to a glass of warm water along with a little honey. Drink this solution several times daily.

6. Ginger

1.      Take a glass of hot water and add a teaspoon full of ginger, a pinch of ground cloves and cinnamon in it. Let it stay for some time and then filter it and drink it. You can also consume raw ginger.

2.      Alternatively, in a glass of hot water add a small piece of ginger, two or three black pepper and strain it. Add a teaspoon of honey to this and mix well. For better result from chest congestion as well as cough consume this twice or thrice a day.

7. Fennel

Another good and effective treatment for congestion is to have sautéed fennel. Adding some curry powder as well to fennel also helps to clear out chest congestion.

8. Boiled Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the essential remedies for various ailments. It is also beneficial for chest congestion. Boil some vinegar and inhale its vapour.

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9. Turmeric

Turmeric has an active compound called curcumin that helps expectorate the mucus. Its anti-inflammatory property helps cope with cough, pain and other symptoms of chest congestion.

      1.      Add half teaspoon of turmeric powder, two teaspoons of honey and a pinch of black pepper in one cup of hot milk. Mix it well and drink it hot. Drink it twice or thrice daily.

      2.      Mix a pinch of turmeric powder in a glass of lukewarm water. Use it for gargling a few times daily.

3.      Mix 1 teaspoons of turmeric powder and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Consume this mixture 2 times daily.

Warning: Turmeric is not recommended for people who have gallstones, hyperacidity or stomach ulcers.

10. Honey

Honey helps reduce the thickness of mucus. This promotes easy removal of mucus from the respiratory tract.

1.      Add enough honey to ½ teaspoon of powdered black pepper to make a paste. Swallow this paste 3 or 4 times daily until you get complete relief from the congestion.

2.      Eat 1 teaspoon of plain raw honey, or mix it with warm water and drink it. This will alleviate congestion for several hours.

Warning: Do not give honey to infants i.e. children under age 1 as it can lead to botulism.

11. Garlic

The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of garlic help fight respiratory infections that cause congestion.

1.      Add 2 crushed garlic cloves and juice from 3 lemons to a cup of very hot water. Next, add salt and ½ teaspoon of crushed black pepper. Drink it while it is still warm to get instant relief. Do this 2 times a day for a few days.

2.      Boil 2 to 3 crushed garlic cloves and ½ teaspoon of honey in 1 cup of water or milk. Strain and drink it 2 times daily until the congestion clears.

3.      Eating fresh garlic cloves directly can also help relieve congestion.

12. Lemon Honey tea

One of the simplest home remedies for chest congestion is hot tea with lemon and honey. To get relief from sore throat, prepare tea and add a little honey and lemon juice. Consuming it gives a calming relief in the throat and chest.

13. Chilli powder

Take some chilli flakes and 1/2 tablespoon chilli powder, drink with hot milk. It will clear out your whole mucus in a second.

14. Oregano Oil

Oregano oil is good for relieving the symptoms of the chest congestion. Massage it on the chest and throat.

15. Radish

Radish is effective in clearing congestion related to cold, bronchitis and allergies.

1.      Have juice prepared from radish: Wash some radishes and dice them and use a juicer to extract fresh juice. Drink it on a regular basis.

2.      Take one radish and chop it. Squeeze some lemon juice on it and consume it every morning.

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16. Steam

Steam’s heat and moisture help break up and dissolve mucus. Follow either of these remedies 2 or 3 times daily until the congestion goes away.

      1.      Fill a bowl with very hot water. Put in a few drops of eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil. Inhale its steam by placing your face over the bowl a towel over your head. Hold this position and inhale the steam as long as you can and breathe deeply.

17. Steamy Shower

Take a hot shower and breathe in the steam vapors for 5 minutes. Bathing with hot water helps in loosening of mucus that is stuck in the throat and lungs. It works in a similar way to drinking hot water and treats chest congestion at a faster pace.

18. Mustard Plaster

Mustard plaster is effective against several respiratory infections, like bronchitis, chest congestion, etc. For preparing a mustard plaster, mix 1 tbsp of dry mustard with 4 tbsp of flour. Add a little water to it to make a runny paste. Apply some olive oil and spread a coat of mustard plaster on the chest. Alternatively, spread mustard paste on a clean muslin cloth and place it onto the chest. Leave it as it is until it cools down.

Warning - Remove the plaster immediately if it causes a burning sensation.

19. Herbal Tea

Herbal teas are very helpful source for providing relief from chest congestion. Tea brewed from a variety of herbs like chamomile, ginger, etc. is very beneficial. Anti-inflammatory properties of herbal tea deal with the bacteria that cause congestion.

20. Black Coffee

Black coffee is also an effective remedy for congestion. When you suffer shortness of breath and cough, have two or three cups of black coffee. The presence of caffeine in coffee acts as a medication against shortness of breath and clears mucus.

21. Bay Leaf

1.      Prepare tea from bay leaves. Take fresh bay leaves and put them into a cup of boiling water. Leave it for soaking for some time. Strain it and drink it warm.

2.      Combine some bay leaves with hot water and let it to a boil for some time. Strain the mix. Next, dip a clean cloth in the strained water and place it on the chest to get relief from chest congestion.

22. Garlic oil

Application of cayenne extract or garlic oil to the chest can also give relief from congestion.

23. Parsley

Parsley is another herb that can help assuage chest congestion by releasing histamines in the body and fighting infections. Parsley leaves can be chewed plain also.

24. Chickweed

Drink chickweed or liquorice tea for mucus in the respiratory tract.

25. More Tips

1.      Drinking chicken soup may help ease chest congestion as it reduces inflammation in the lungs.

2.      Avoid drinking alcohol to a great extent and quit smoking to get relief from chest congestion.

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