Home remedies for congestion offer a gentler approach to relieving nasal congestion and stuffiness so you can breathe better.
The discomfort of nasal congestion and the inability to inhale deeply can leave you feeling annoyed, exhausted, and too ill to do anything.
Several over-the-counter relief remedies are very effective for immediate relief from congestion. While these are okay to use for short-term relief, they can lose their efficacy if used for extended periods. This means you’ll need to increase the dosage for the medication to work the next time.
For long-term relief from the stuffiness and discomfort, it’s far better and safer to use home remedies for congestion.
Fortunately, there are a few proven herbal and natural remedies that act as effective decongestants. They’ll clear your stuffy nose and reduce sinus pressure so you can breathe better.
All of the home remedies for basal congestion listed below have been used for hundreds of years in various cultures around the world.
12 NATURAL REMEDIES FOR NASAL CONGESTION
1. PLACE A HOT PACK OVER CONGESTED SINUSES
Placing a hot pack across your nasal bridge is an excellent home remedy for congestion. The heat reduces the thickness of the mucus and relieves congestion.
The four hot packs above are designed to conform properly to the face area with different mechanisms for maintaining consistent moist heat, providing effective congestion relief.
You can also make your own hot pack. Wet a clean, soft, hand towel. Squeeze out the excess water and heat the damp towel in the microwave for about a minute. Be sure to check that it is not too hot before placing it over your sinuses.
3. USE A HUMIDIFIER TO INCREASE MOISTURE IN THE AIR
The flu and cold can leave you dehydrated, which can exacerbate existing symptoms. Vaporizers or humidifiers add much-needed humidity to the home or office.
This additional humidity can lead to quick relief as it helps in breaking up decongestion by increasing moisture content in the air, which aids in thinning nasal mucus.
While cool-mist and warm-mist are just as effective, using a cool-mist humidifier for kids is better as it eliminates the risk of accidental burn from higher temperatures.
Cleaning your humidifier regularly is important to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. If you find the cleaning instructions in the manual too tedious, simply wipe the device daily with a 10% bleach solution, which is a 9:1 water-to-bleach ratio.
3. HAVE A HOT SHOWER WITH OR WITHOUT ESSENTIAL OILS
Standing under a hot shower – as hot as you can handle – is one of the best natural remedies for congestion. The steam helps to dislodge the stubborn mucus and helps you breathe more easily.
Adding a few drops of Eucalyptus, Peppermint, or Rosemary essential oil to the shower floor will increase the efficacy of the steam. All of these essential oils are rich in menthol and breathing in the menthol-filled steam will help open up the sinuses.