Nasal congestion or a stuffy nose can be caused by colds or allergies. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this swelling of the tissue is caused by inflamed blood vessels. This can cause excess mucous, which further irritates the nasal canal. Nasal congestion can interfere with breathing, eating, hearing and even speech. However, there are a number of home remedies that you can try to relieve this congestion.
Nasal Lavage
Nasal lavage or nasal wash is the use of saline water to rinse out the nasal cavity. This helps to remove irritants and bacteria that are causing the swelling tissues in the nasal canal. A nasal wash can be easily made by taking a cup of warm (not hot) water, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. baking soda. Mix the ingredients together and, using a bulb syringe, squirt the solution into the nasal canal, allowing it to drain back out. Repeat this procedure a few times and then blow the nose out.
Moisture
Having moisture in your environment is key to relieving a congested nose. Moisture in the nasal canal helps to relieve congestion and reduce irritation that might cause the nasal tissue to swell. For this reason, vaporizers can be quite helpful with treating nasal congestion. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vaporizers help to increase the humidity in the air that we breathe. However, you should be sure to clean these machines on a daily basis because bacteria can build up and cause the nasal condition to worsen. Vaporizers help the nasal canal to retain more moisture, which makes it easier to blow out excess mucous that might be causing the nasal canal to be irritated and congested. Another way to keep moisture in the nasal canal is to use saline spray. This is a mild treatment consisting of salt water that can be easily sprayed into congested nasal passages to help relieve the congestion. According to the University of Colorado, salt water nose drops help to thin mucus secretions and unblock congested nasal passages. Finally, you can increase the moisture in your body by drinking lots of water. According to the University of Colorado, drinking eight to 10 glasses of water a day can go a long way to helping your nasal canal stay moist.
Hot Liquids & Spicy Foods
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, hot fluids can help to relieve a stuffy nose by moisturizing nasal passages. Try drinking hot teas, broth or soups to help release the congestion. In addition, spicy foods can help to relieve nasal congestion. According to the University of Colorado, eating spicy foods help to drain the sinuses and unblock nasal passages. Try eating spicy Mexican or Indian foods or eating jalapeno peppers.
