If you go to your doctor with a common cold, he or she probably won't be able to do much for you than treat the symptoms. If the physician sends you home with the instructions, "get plenty or rest, drink fluids, call me if it gets worse," you may want to turn to herbal remedies. Herbs can help with nose problems caused by colds and allergies.
Nose Problems from a Cold
If your nose problems stem from a cold, echinacea purpurea can help you soften the impact of that cold, according to a study reported in the February 2004 issue of Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. Participants in the study received an echinacea formula during cold and flu season and were instructed to take it at the first sign of a cold. Severity of symptoms was 23.1 percent lower in participants who received the echinacea when compared to those who received a placebo.
Swollen Mucous Membranes
Whether from a cold or allergies, sometimes the mucous membranes in your nose feel raw and swollen. When that happens, inhaling chamomile steam may help. According to "Western Herbs for Martial Artists and Contact Athletes," the best way to make chamomile steam is to use a tincture of chamomile. Heat the water until it's steaming. Use 1.5 tablespoons of chamomile tincture per quart of hot water. Cover your head and the bowl of hot water with a towel and inhale the steam for 10 minutes. If you get a little dizzy, uncover your head for a moment. The steam should help the swelling for two to three hours.
Clogged Sinuses
For swollen and clogged sinuses, try inhaling eucalyptus steam. According to "Western Herbs for Martial Artists and Contact Athletes," the steam helps open clogged sinuses, while the eucalyptus vapors act as a mild disinfectant. It may also relax the sinuses. Put two or three drops of the essential oil in a quart of steaming water. Inhale the steam immediately because the essential oil tends to evaporate quickly.
Clogged Nasal Passages
If your nose is plugged and blowing it doesn't seem to help, an herb that can help you get things moving is horseradish. According to Andrea Pierce in her Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, horseradish not only makes your nose run, it also may have some antimicrobial properties. Mix an eighth of a teaspoon of freshly grated root into hot liquid and drink immediately. To avoid burning eyes, use a food processor to grate the root. Be sure to keep your eyes well back when opening the lid, or you will get a painful hit of horseradish's strength.
References
- "Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics" Efficacy of a Standardized Echinacea Preparation (Echinilin) for the Treatment of the Common Cold: a Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial; V. Goel; 2004
- "European Journal of Pharmacology"; Dose–Dependancy of Symptomatic Relief of Complaints by Chamomile Steam Inhalation in Patients with Common Cold; R. Saller; 1990
- "Western Herbs for Martial Artists and Contact Athletes"; Susan Lynn Peterson; 2010
- "American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines"; Andrea Pierce; 1999
