Which home remedy for sinus congestion will work best for YOU?
Membranes that line the nasal passages get inflamed and irritated when you have either a cold or your allergies flare up. Excess mucus is produced as a way to get rid of the irritants, but nasal passages get clogged up as the excess mucus dries up. Read more on what sinus congestion is. The best home remedy for sinus congestion is thus to make sure your nasal passages and sinuses are moist at all times; this is not achieved by the thinking that dry air will clear up your runny nose however. Dry air actually dries out the nasal passages and sinuses even more.
Which of these will be your favorite home remedy for sinus congestion?
Here are some sinus congestion remedies which will help to keep the nasal passages moist:
- Make use of either a vaporizer or humidifier
- A long hot shower produces lots of steam – breathe in the steam
- Put boiling water in a bowl and breathe in the steam while your head is covered with a towel. If preferred, add dried herbs such as peppermint or rosemary to the water; alternatively, stir 2-3 tablespoons of decongestant ointment such as Vicks into the water, making it one of the most potent home remedies for severe nasal congestion.
- Steam therapy using chamomile tea is a sinus congestion cure favored by many. Instead of a decongestant ointment, boil water in a pot and add chamomile tea in any of its forms (dried, powder or tea bag) to it. Put on the lid and leave for 10 minutes. Remove lid and breathe in the vapors while covering your head with a towel.
- Do not allow a stuffy nose to keep you from going out. Just sprinkle some eucalyptus oil on a tissue; whenever your nose feels blocked, sniff the tissue for quick relief. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your pillow cover at bedtime will also help you sleep better.
- Take in lots of fluids; it thins out mucus thus preventing clogging up of the sinuses. Drink peppermint tea as it contains menthol. Menthol combined with the steam and warm liquid is great for thinning mucus and opening nasal passages. Other herbal teas you can drink are sage, chamomile, ginger, blackberry, thyme and eucalyptus.
- One of the best sinus congestion herbal remedies is ginger root. The herb’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-emetic (reduces nausea and vomiting) properties makes it a popular cure for many ailments. You can either drink the ginger tea, or use it as a compress to get relief from sinus congestion symptoms. Prepare the tea or compress as follows:
“Ginger Tea
Step 1
Place the grated ginger in the measuring cup.
Step 2
Pour boiling water into the measuring cup until it reaches the 1-1/2 cup mark on the glass. Let the tea sit, or steep, for 10 minutes.
Step 3
Place the cheesecloth or coffee filter in a coffee mug and fold the edges over the outside of the mug. Hold it firmly in place with one hand and slowly pour the tea through the cloth into the mug. Remove the cloth or filter.
Step 4
Add lemon and honey to taste.
Ginger Compress
Step 1
Brew ginger tea as above. Let it cool slightly until it’s still hot, but not hot enough to burn you when you dip your finger in.
Step 2
Dip a hand towel into the hot tea and squeeze out the excess.
Step 3
Lie back and close your eyes. Place the tea-soaked towel over your face and breathe in the steam. Repeat four to five times, or until the tea is too cool to use.
Warnings
- The tea will be hot, so let it cool for a few moments before you drink it.
Tips
- Ginger has a spicy, pungent flavor that is tempered by the addition of sweetener. If the tea is too strong add more water next time.
- You can use sugar to sweeten the tea, but honey helps soothe the sore throat that often accompanies cold and sinus symptoms.
- Fresh ginger is often sold in the produce section of grocery stores.
- If you can’t find or prefer not to use fresh ginger, you can usually find ginger tea bags in the coffee and tea section of your grocery store. Prepare as you would any other tea and sweeten with lemon and honey
Things You’ll Need
- 1-1/2 tsp. fresh grated ginger root
- Boiling water
- 2-cup glass measuring cup
- Cheesecloth or coffee filter
- Coffee mug
- Honey
- Lemon
- Spoon
- Hand towel.”
Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/514285-how-to-use-ginger-to-treat-sinus-problems/
- Apparently studies have been conducted which suggest chicken soup may be very beneficial in reducing the production of mucus. As chicken soup is well-known as a cold remedy, this makes perfect sense. Spice up the soup with some garlic and pepper, and voila, you have one of the tastiest sinus congestion natural remedies!
- Get sinus congestion relief by preparing a simple compress. Wet a towel or face cloth with warm water and cover your face with it
- Stay away from chlorinated pools. Chlorine may be an irritant to the membranes of the nasal passages, aggravating the condition
- Another sinus congestion home remedy which is quite popular is to use a homemade saline nasal spray (this remedy is not recommended for anyone who has nasal problems such as a deformity or with the septum – discus with your doctor first). Nasal sprays bring about the thinning of mucus; also soothes the inflammation in nasal passages. Diligent use of saline sprays can flush out bacteria or pollen which irritates the nose. Take 1 pint of boiled water (let it cool first) and add 2 to 3 teaspoons of non-iodized salt to it. Use a bulb syringe and in a gentle manner, squirt the mixture into your nose towards the back of your head, and not upwards. Gently blow your nose when done. You can also use a solution of 1 glass (8 oz) of water and 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar.
- A popular sinus congestion remedy is neti pots (originated in India), available in most drug stores. When used correctly, this “irrigation” system can unblock a stuffy nose; also fight off bacteria which caused the problem originally. Follow enclosed instructions, or the label on the box in which you bought it. Note: always use only distilled or sterilized water (just boil tap water and let it cool down). Mix ¾ cup warm distilled (or sterilized) water with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon baking soda. With your head tilted to the side over the sink, pour the mixture into the one nostril. The water should come out the other nostril. Now tilt your head to the other side and repeat. The solution flushes out mucus and irritants in the nasal passages.
- Spicy food generally is not for the faint of heart. If however you need instant nasal congestion relief, and you prefer a sinus congestion natural remedy, this is your best option. Eat some hot chili peppers to get your nose running straight away. Tabasco sauce can also help, but going overboard with either can upset your stomach.
- Make sure you get a good night’s sleep by trying this sinus congestion treatment at bedtime: Use ointments like Vicks or Tiger Balm. Apply a little bit to your throat, forehead and nose; if suffering from a bad cold apply some to your back and chest also. Prop yourself up on more pillows so you sleep with your head in an elevated position.
- Some of the sinus congestion home remedies I came across make so much sense, I however tend to think they’re not all that well known. Sniffing deeply on a cut onion works just as well as decongestants; it will unclog a stuffy nose, allowing for easier breathing.
- Breathing strips work well; you’ll probably prefer to use these at bedtime though as they are placed across the bridge of the nose, and may be considered unsightly by some people. They bring fast relief from sinus congestion and prevent snoring too. Do not moisturize before using them; they may not stick to your skin.
- Last, but by absolutely no means least, is raw (unfiltered, unrefined, not pasteurized and without any additives or preservatives added) apple cider vinegar. You’ll find the raw ACV always is cloudy at the bottom of the bottle; this is the good stuff in ACV which makes it such a popular home remedy. Mix 1 tablespoon of ACV with 1 glass (8 oz) of water in a vaporizer. Cover your head and the vaporizer with a towel and inhale the infused air for 5 minutes.
In conclusion: When sinus congestion symptoms persist for more than a week; rather consult your doctor. It may be an underlying condition which needs medical treatment that is causing your sinus congestion; hence the reason no home remedy for sinus congestion is achieving results .
