Stuffy Nose,also called Nasal congestion, is caused by inflammation of blood vessels in the nose and swelling of the nasal tissue, which can result in excess mucus in the nose that makes breathing difficult.It is a very common condition that is annoying and uncomfortable for many people.

Nasal congestion can make people difficult to breathe, those who are stuffed always seek ways to get rid of the stuffy nose.You may have trouble breathing and you must breathe through your mouth. Headaches are another symptom that usually accompanies sinusitis and Nasal Congestion.

However, you should know that nasal congestion will not disappear completely until the underlying infection subsides completely. This is because your immune system will constantly produce mucus to kill infectious pathogens.

The common causes of nasal congestion include flu, rhinitis, cold,sinusitis,fever, and allergies.Mild nasal congestion caused by a common cold can be treated with some simple remedies, but if you experience a chronic congestion,you’d better see your doctor.

Common Causes of Stuffy Nose or Nasal Congestion

There are different possible causes why your nasal passages are congested such as the following:

• Rhinitis – This is also known as the inflammation of the nasal cavity that may be caused by allergies.
• Common Cold – An airborne virus normally causes this. It can affect your upper respiratory tract.
• Influenza – This is a type of infection that affects the whole respiratory system. A lot of people who have this condition normally have trouble with breathing and may also experience other symptoms such as painful bones and muscles and so much more. This can spread easily so if you have a low immune system; you should not mingle too much with people who have it.
• Hay Fever – This is also known as Allergic Rhinitis. When your body tries to expel what has caused the allergies, you may begin to feel uncomfortable. Itchy eyes and sneezing may characterize this.
• Sinusitis – This is also known as sinus infections. There are millions of people who become affected by this every day, and they do not realize it. This is a common condition that causes the sinus area to become inflamed.
• Enlarged Adenoids – If you are not familiar with adenoids, these are issues that are found at the back of the throat. Like the tonsils, they are responsible for protecting the body so that it can help fight possible bacteria and viruses. There are times when they become inflamed, and the body reacts by having a clogged sinus. Some people would need to remove their adenoids to get relief.
• Allergies – Some people assume that Allergic Rhinitis and allergies are the same, but allergies are considered to be more serious. This can help attack certain things that you have placed inside the body even when it is harmless. This can be a problem when it becomes severe. The face and other parts of the body may become inflamed, and the person may break out in itchy rashes. Some would require immediate medical attention. If you start to experience this, you may need to get treatment at the soonest possible time.
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection – This is a type of infection that usually affects children more than adults. This virus may go undetected for a while because of its similarities to the common cold, but a quick checkup will determine if this is the primary cause of the inflamed sinuses.
• Swine Flu – This is a severe condition that can be passed on from one person to another. When a person sneezes, thousands of germs will become airborne, and these germs can be breathed in by various individuals.

No matter what the cause of your stuffy nose is, you should get relief from it at the soonest possible time.

16 Natural Home Remedies To Get Rid of a Stuffy Nose Fast

1.Saline Nasal Spray

Saline nasal spray is a very effective way to reduce nasal congestion. It can increase the moisture in the nostrils and make the mucus in the nasal cavity thin. At the same time, saline can help you discharge the mucus or bacteria to relieve the inflammation of your nose.

When choosing the right saline spray, choose the ones that are labeled saline-only. This means that you are getting pure saline and you will not be exposed to other medications.

This is not recommended for pregnant women.Some saline sprays also include decongestants, you should consult your physician before using.

• You can buy sterile saline spray at most pharmacies.
• Mix 1 cup warm water and 1/4 teaspoon salt in sterile water.
• Leaning against the edge of the sink, choose a suitable posture.
• Slowly spray saline into a nostril. You can direct your nostrils toward the drain, allowing water to flow easily from your nose.
• You can do this 2-3 times a day.Using it too much might aggravate the condition.

2.Warm Compress

Your nose needs warmth and moisture when it is already inflamed and stuffy. Placing a warm compress on your nasal area may help improve your breathing. If you do not have a heating pad, you can use a warm towel and place it on your face.

• First soak the towel in warm water,You should not use water that is too hot, or you may burn the skin on your face.
• Squeezethe water out of the towel and lie down.
• Put the towel on the bridge of the nose.
• Rewet the washcloth when the temperature of the towel decreases.
• Repeat this for multiple times, and if you feel bored you can listen to music.

Warm can help ease the inflammation of the nose, ease uncomfortable.If you would like to improve how potent it is, you may also place a slice of ginger along with the warm cloth.

3.Take A Hot Shower

If you are having problems with nasal decongestion, taking a hot shower may be the best option for you to have. The steam that comes from the hot water will help drain the mucus stuck in your nose. When the mucus is removed, you can start breathing better.

• Get ready for hot water, close the bathroom door and do not allow steam to escape.
• Take a steamy shower.
• If you do not want to take a bath, you can also inhale the vapors by other methods.
• Boil hot water in a pot and carefully lean on the steam to inhale the steam.
• Make sure  do not scald your face. If you feel too hot, just slightly further away.

Just one thing to remember, the effect of the steam will not last, but it will provide temporary relief.

4.Neti Pot

Neti Pot has been used for centuries to clear out the sinuses. They are meant to make a pathway so that the mucus can be effectively cleared. It contain a saline solution that will help remove the mucus from each nostril. You can get relief within minutes provided that you will use it correctly.

• Mix a heaping 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt with 6 ounces of warm boiled water until the salt dissolve completely.
• Leaning against the edge of the sink and turn your head to the side.Keep your forehead slightly higher than the chin.
• Avoid talking and breathe through your mouth to close off your mouth and throat.
• Slowly Insert the spout in one nostril and spray the saline.Repeat the process on the other side nostril.If the saline drains out,lower your forehead slightly.
• Clear your nose gently and remove the excess water.
• At last clean and dry your neti pot to prevent bacteria growth.

5.Use A Humidifier

If you would like to improve your ability to breathe in a short amount of time, you can turn on your humidifier. This can provide a quick and easy way to get rid of sinus pain and at the same time, clear your stuffy nose.

The machine is in charge of converting the water into the air to moisture so that your inflamed sinuses can get relief. This can also help thin out the mucus from your nose so you will be able to breathe better. Investing in a good humidifier can be a good thing especially if you want to get relief.

Remember to clean the humidifier frequently and use distilled or boiled water. Tap water contains bacteria that may aggravate the condition further.

• Plug in the humidifier inside your room.
• Breathe in about an arm away from the humidifier.
• Wait for your nasal passages to clear up.

6.Drinking Plenty of Fluid

It may be easy to forget about hydrating yourself when all that you can think about is how you cannot breathe. There are different types of liquids that you can take. Water is still the best option, but if you want to drink other liquids, this will be fine too. You can take sports drinks, juices, and even clear soups.

Through the fluids, the mucus will be removed from your nose. The less pressure there is, the less inflamed your sinuses are going to be. Remember that if you are also experiencing a sore throat along with your stuffy nose, it is best that you take only warm fluids to soothe the irritation.

7. Exercises For Stuffy Nose

Pressure Exercise:Acupressure may help you clear out your sinuses so that you can breathe easy. Just do this process:

Place your tongue at the foot of your mouth.Push a finger in between your two eyebrows.Apply pressure on these areas for about 20 seconds.You will start to get relief from the symptoms you are experiencing after that.

Mini massage: You can massage the area near your neck and collarbone so that the blockage will be removed and the fluid from your head will go downward.

Tongue Exercise:Place your tongue against the top of your mouth,Move your tongue between your eyebrows about 30 seconds.

8.Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil can be very helpful for people who are suffering from nasal congestion.Eucalyptus oil comes from the Eucalyptus tree, and it has been used for a long time because of its healing properties.

When you inhale Eucalyptus oil, this can help decrease the inflammation of the nasal lining.This will be effective in making you breathe easy.

Method 1

• Place a few drops of the Eucalyptus oil on a pot of boiling water and allow yourself to inhale the steam.
• If you have an oil diffuser inside your room, you can also place a few drops and let yourself to inhale the healing scent of Eucalyptus.

Method 2

• Place a few drops of the eucalyptus oil on a clean cloth or handkerchief.
• Inhale the eucalyptus oil whenever needed for instant nasal relief.
• To sleep better, eucalyptus oil can also be placed on the pillow for relief at night.

9.Apply Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV has always been listed as one of the home remedies that people should use for a wide array of various conditions. It is not surprising that this can be effective against stuffy nose as well.It can help thin out the mucus so that you can breathe better.If you want instant relief, you just need to add some ACV into your diet.

• Prepare a cup of warm water.
• Add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of honey into the water.This will make the mixture to taste better.
• Drink about three times a day for a week or until the nasal congestion becomes better.

10.Peppermint Tea

There are different types of tea that can provide different purposes. This time, peppermint tea can be highly effective in helping you breathe better.

Peppermint has anti-inflammatory properties that can help get rid of the inflammation of your sinuses and make you feel better. The menthol of the peppermint tea may also reduce stuffiness. Simply take peppermint tea when you have a stuffy nose.

11.Green Tea

Green tea is a popular natural remedy that people can use for different conditions. At this point, it can be used to get rid of nasal congestion. Green tea has a lot of properties known to help get rid of sinus and nasal problems.

• Prepare boiling water.
• Place the green tea bag or you can also place green tea powder depending on your preference on one cup of hot water.
• Add honey to make the tea taste better.
• It might also help if you can inhale the fumes of the tea and honey first before drinking.
• Do this about 3 times a day.

12.Garlic

Garlic has antiviral and antifungal properties that can help get rid of nasal congestion.It can also be very effective in getting rid of colds and flu that might be causing nasal congestion.

• Boil about 3 cloves of peeled garlic.
• Once it comes to a boil, add a teaspoon of turmeric powder.
• Drink the garlic and turmeric mixture about 3 times a day.

13.Chamomile

A lot of people are not aware of the many benefits that they can get from chamomile. It has a lot of good benefits. It can help relieve nasal congestion immediately too.

• Boil some chamomile tea together with water.
• Add a bit of honey or peppermint oil.
• Inhale the fumes.
• Do this about 2 – 3 times a day.

Read: 18 Amazing Benefits of Chamomile Tea for Your Health

14.Vegetable Juices

It seems that many people underestimate the power of vegetables. Vegetable juices are infused with so many vitamins and nutrients that the body needs to make the immune system better.

• Make a vegetable juice made with cabbage and spinach mostly. You can add other vegetables if you please.
• Take this every day for 10 days.
• Nasal problems will be reduced significantly after the 10 day period.

15.Black Pepper

You may probably be surprised that black pepper is actually something that can be used in order to get rid of nasal congestion. It contains some properties that can help relieve the nasal passages at the soonest possible time.

• Bake about 4 pieces of whole black pepper for a few minutes.
• Ingest the baked black peppers every morning.

16.Horseradish and Cider Vinegar

This natural herbal remedy is very effective at treating nasal congestion and inflammation related to colds. Apart from being very effective, it is also very easy to prepare.

• Grate some fresh horseradish and put it in a glass jar.Then you will fill the jar with ½ liter of cider vinegar and close it tightly.
• Keep the jar for 10 days, Remember to shake it occasionally.
• After 10 days, you can open and breathe for 5 minutes to clear the sinuses.You can do this several times a day.
• Alternatively, you can also smell a cotton handkerchief moisten with this mixture.

You can take this treatment for five days. If the symptoms persist, you can repeat this cure.

Other Remedies to Remove Stuffy Nose

Let us say that you have tried some of the home remedies mentioned above to clear your stuffy nose but you were unable to get anything. What are you supposed to do then? You may try these remedies:

1.Use a Decongestant

If you would like to improve nasal congestion, taking a decongestant may be your best bet for fast relief. This will make the blood vessels in your nose narrower so that your nose will be less inflamed.

There are some decongestants that are available in sprays but with medications included. Some would rather take decongestants in pill form.

2.Take Allergy or Antihistamines Medicine

If your stuffy nose gets blocked because of an allergy., you may need to take antihistamines or allergy medications to relieve symptoms.

These drugs can reduce sinus pressure caused by allergic reactions, effectively reducing your nasal swelling and helping to unclog your nose.Please carefully follow the instructions for these medications. Antihistamines may take many forms. Some are more effective than others, so make sure you know what suits you.

Antihistamines usually make you feel sleepy, just beware. If you plan to drive, or if you need to concentrate on the work you are doing, taking antihistamines may not be your best bet.

3.Take Inhaled Corticosteroids

If you are having a severe congestion and you have tried doing all of the natural remedies plus you have tried taking medications to get relief but failed, this may be the best option for you.

You need to inhale them rather than take them orally because the side effects will not be pleasant. If you start experiencing some side effects after trying out this remedy, you can inform your doctor about it.

With all of the details that you have learned, you will be able to get relief from your clogged nose and your inflamed sinuses at the soonest possible time.

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