Natural Ways to Help Clear a Stuffy Nose

It is almost here: cold and flu season. The time for many of us to celebrate the holidays and spend time with our loved ones can also be a time of struggling with coughing, sneezing, and congestion. The latter can be the worst – it’s hard to talk, eat, or even breath with a clogged nose!

The following five tips will help you clear your stuffy nose so you can enjoy the winter season rather than be stricken with an irritated and blocked nasal cavity.

1. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Water or warm tea is best when dealing with congestion. Keeping your body full of liquids will help the mucus in your nasal cavity thin out, so it will drain rather than continuing to stop you up. A runny nose can be just as irritating, but it should be a bit comforting to know that the drainage will help you get over the cold faster.

2. Clear your sinus cavity with a homemade saline solution. The salt will help soothe the irritated area as well as increase your sneezing. Though it may not seem like it, sneezing more often will help to break up the crud that is causing your stuffy nose.

Use the saline once a day by inserting it into each nostril with a small dropper. To make the solution, add 1/2 teaspoon of table salt to 8 ounces of warm water. The same saline solution can be gargled a couple times each day to help relieve irritation and any mucus buildup in your throat.

3. Inhaling steam is another way to clear your stuffy nose. The heat in the air will help to break up congestion so that you can breathe easier. There are a few ways you can create the helpful steam, and the method you choose will depend on your preference.

You can get in a hot shower with the bathroom door closed. If you cannot take the heat, standing just outside with your head leaning inward toward the water will help you inhale the steam. An alternative involves boiling water on the stove and then standing while breathing in, preferably with a towel draped over your head so you can inhale as much steam as possible.

4. Ingesting herbs that are full of antihistamines and antioxidants is another good way to unclog up your nasal passages. Most green tea recipes contain ingredients that will give your immune system a natural boost to fight the cold that is causing your suffering. Chamomile is another option, as it works as a natural antihistamine to relieve cold symptoms such as congestion.

More Homemade Remedies:

• How to Make Homemade Vapor Rub
• Natural Sore Throat Remedies
• Easy DIY Hand Sanitizer
• 4 Steps to Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

Kecia is the founder and editor of Southern Girl Ramblings. Her site is dedicated to helping moms survive parenthood…one post at a time. She features information on parenting, health, travel, fun, and more to ease the craziness that goes on in kiddo-filled households!