Got to sniff many times? The higher chances are that your Nose is running quicker than a waterfall! But thankfully, you still have a lot of natural home remedies for Running Nose to try out. Having a running nose is one of the most irritating symptoms of your cold, right? But before learning some smart ways to stop that running nose, let’s find out what is a running nose exactly!

What is A Running Nose?

Running nose is an extremely common yet annoying issue. It happens when there is excessive mucus from the sinus as well as the nasal passage. This increases the production of mucus is the response of the body in order to get rid of the cold or viruses of flu as well as allergens and irritants from the body^[1].

What causes Running Nose?

There are several common causes which trigger a runny nose are an allergic reaction, common cold, sinus infection as well as abnormal changes of the weather. If those problems are not attended properly and timely, it will lead to headaches, earaches, coughing and some other uncomfortable problems.

Your doctor often uses the term “rhinorrhea” to make the further diagnosis about a running nose. And the word “Rhino” is a Greek prefix that means “nose” while “rrhea” indicates the “discharge”. Whenever you have a running nose, it’s called the result of your excess nasal mucus release. Such an issue will lead to your more watery nasal secretions, which tend to discharge or drip down into your throat.

What causes a running nose?

Viral infection

Out of so many common reasons why your running nose occurs, catching a cold, cough, or flu would be the main ones you should beware. Most of these infections will grow further right after a specific virus infected the upper respiratory tract of your own, not to mention your nose, mouth, throat, and sinuses.

Once any of those infections set in, you’re more likely to experience the inflammation and irritation of the respiratory tract. This might become worse than expected when the immune system starts to join to fight the virus. The swelling will occur in the sinuses (congestion and the inflammation of the mucous membrane inside your nose). For this reason, it raises the mucus production.

And right after the immunity is fighting off your infection, the inflammation plus the congestion that go with it would begin to become less intense. At this moment, your running nose tends to get better than before.

Possible Causes

At the time when your cold season is always the one causing your nasal congestion, the upper respiratory tract infection won’t be the sole reasons for that stuffy nose. With the constant exposure to some irritants, including smoke and other particulates in the air, the inflammation can be easily triggered in the nasal passages. It would lead to a running nose without a doubt.

Besides, every allergy can activate the immune system of humans, leading to an immune reaction and attached inflammation. These naturally trigger some cold-like signs without needing to have a real infection.

Following the Health Publications of Harvard Medical School, there will be less certain elements, such as hormone fluctuations, stress, and exposure to hot or cold weather, foods, medications, and other potent smells. These certainly cause the nose to run.

Most common symptoms of a running nose

I’m going to tell you the best home remedies for running nose soon after telling you this – its typical symptoms. Apparently, your running nose or the stuffed pressure of your nasal congestion is quite similar. A running nose could refer to some other signs that you won’t expect from the start.

In detail, the excess mucus discharge in the nose, which might drain down into the throat. It’s known as a common condition known as the post-nasal drip that would trigger a sore throat. Also, you probably have a rough voice and feel as if you’ve got one lump in the throat at that time, or when you want to cough to get rid of that excess mucus. Does it sound like you in reality?

Some similar conditions that trigger your running nose would lead to other symptoms as well. For example, the allergies are meant to cause your eyes to be itchy, sneezing, the itchy root of your mouth, cough, or flu that make your body ache and get hotter.

As the cold of flu is always supposed to be the main culprit of that running nose, you should keep in mind that this can be the outcome of some allergies.

There are several common causes which trigger a running nose are an allergic reaction, common cold, sinus infection as well as abnormal changes of the weather. If those problems are not attended properly and timely, it will lead to headaches, earaches, coughing and some other uncomfortable issues.

Even though there are plenty of OTC medicines to treat a running nose but they all bring side effects such as drowsiness which is very unpleasant.

Here are the most intelligent home remedies for running nose you can take advantages to improve the problem. In other words, they are the top 17 most effective home remedies for running nose which you can apply easily from home to get rid of excessive mucus and strengthen your health.

18 Effective home remedies for running nose you can’t miss

1. Salt Water

It is by far the best tip in the list of home remedies for the running nose as it can efficiently alleviate the irritation from running nose. Furthermore, salt water will help you thin out mucus which is easier and convenient to expel. Additionally, it will also assist in clearing irritants from nasal passages^[2].

How to use:

• Take ½ teaspoon of salt into some warm distilled water.
• Take the dropper to insert some drops of that solution into both nostrils while the head is tilted back.
• Breathe in gently in order to move the solution deeper into the nasal passages. Then have your nose blown to get rid of the excessive solution as well as mucus.
• Perform several turns until the nose feels relief.
• Repeat few more times per day until the issue is improved.

2. Steam

Another simple yet surprisingly effective from the list of home remedies for running nose is steam. It is capable of clearing out excessive mucus which triggers sneezing as well as running nose.

How to use:

• Take your face to over the bowl of hot water and place a towel on your head to capture the steam. Inhale steam for at least 10 minutes and then have your nose blown. Perform 3 to 4 times per day.
• Also, you might put some eucalyptus oil or even menthol into the hot water for better effect.
• Another way is taking some hot bath or shower.

3. Mustard Oil

With antihistamine, antiviral and antibiotic properties, mustard oil is definitely needed to be included in the list of home remedies for the running nose as it can relieve instantly the symptoms of the running nose^[3].

How to use:

• Take some mustard oil and heat it up. Take the dropper to insert 1 to 2 drops into both nostrils. It will help you in clearing nasal passages. Perform 2 to 3 times per day.
• Also, you can take 2 to 3 tablespoons of mustard oil with a tablespoon of caraway seeds into some boiling water. Breathe in its steam. The aroma of mustard oil will heat up your respiratory system which will relieve instantly runny nose’s symptoms. Perform twice every day.

Note: This oil is edible as well; therefore, you might include it in your daily cooking.

4. Turmeric

This versatile ingredient can treat various problems which also include a running nose. With antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it will be hard to ignore the effectiveness of turmeric in the list of home remedies for a running nose^[4][5].

How to use:

• Take ½ teaspoon of grounded turmeric to soak in linseed oil. Heat up the mixture until smoke comes out. Breathe in the smoke one nostril at a time. Perform twice every day.
• Also, you can consume ½a teaspoon of turmeric powder with some water for 2 times per day.
• Another way is taking a teaspoon of turmeric powder into some warm milk and consume before bedtime. Also, you might consider put in a little bit of black pepper.

5. Ginger

The multiple properties of ginger which is antifungal, antitoxic, anti-viral and antioxidant are what make ginger secure a spot in the list of home remedies for running nose as it is capable of relieving runny nose’s symptoms effectively^[6][7].

How to use:

• Take some small pieces of raw ginger and have them sprinkled with salt then chew on couples of time per day.
• Take some slices of ginger into some boiling water to prepare the tea. Put in a little bit of honey for better taste and consume 3 to 4 times per day.
• Take a teaspoon of its powder into some boiling water and breathe in the steam.
• Also, you might take the lozenges which contain the ginger extract and available at the market.

You can read more about Home Remedies for Postnasal Drip and Home Remedies for Chest Congestion.

6. Garlic

The powerful antiseptic and antibacterial properties are enough for garlic to make the list of home remedies for running nose^[8].

How to use:

• Make garlic soup by taking 3 to 4 cloves of garlic and having them chopped then put in the boiling water for few minutes. Have the solution strained, put in some sugar and then consume twice per day.
• Take some small pieces of garlic to chew 3 to 4 times per day in order to increase and maintain warmness for your body as well as alleviate your runny nose.
• Also, you might take the supplement of garlic regularly in order to decrease the frequency of your runny nose.

Learn more other ways to use garlic to benefit your health at Home Remedies for Oral Thrush.

7. Eucalyptus Oil

Considered an excellent decongestant, it is definitely the oil that you need to choose from the list of home remedies for running nose.

How to use:

• Take a large water bowl and heat up. Put in about 7 drops of this oil together with 4 drops each of peppermint and lavender oil. Take a towel to cover the head and place your face above the bowl to breathe in the aroma. Perform 2 to 3 times every day.
• Also, you can take some oil onto the handkerchief and breathe in the aroma through there during the day.

8. Honey

Also containing antiviral and antibacterial properties, honey is capable of support the treatment of a runny nose incredibly well^[9][10].

How to use:

• Take 2 tablespoons of honey with some cinnamon powder into a ½ tablespoon of lemon juice. Consume twice every day.
• Take 2 teaspoons of honey into some warm water and consume twice every day.
• Also, you can take a tablespoon of honey with 3 – 4 drops of lemon juice into some warm water. Consume warmly for twice every day.

9. Basil

The reason why basil is presented in the list of home remedies for running nose is due to its potent antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties.

How to use:

• Take 3 to 4 leaves of basil to chew in breakfast as well as before bedtime.
• Consume 2 to 3 leaves of basil with some jaggery for 2 times per day.
• A,lso you can take 8 – 10 leaves of basil with 5 cloves into some boiling water for about 10 minutes. Put in some sugar and let it cool down. Consume twice every day.

10. Cayenne Pepper

This strong spice contaian ns antihistamine which is capable of clearing nasal congestion efficiently, thus trea at runny nose fairly well. Furthermore, it will increase the discharge from nasal passages which will improve the flush of toxins and blockages that trigga er runny nose.

Moreover, it also promotes circulation which will maintain warmness for your body. Therefore, it is recommended to include this spice from the list of home remedies for running nose into your daily cooking.

11. Lemon

This fruit is the one you should definitely pay attention in the list of home remedies for running nose. You just need to take 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into some warm water and consume 2 – 3 times per day until this condition is completely cured.

Learn more about other benefits of lemon at Home Remedies for Acne Scars.

12. Drink Water

This is a compulsory tip from the list of home remedies for running nose. Due to the decrease of water which is in the mucus form through the nose, it is necessary that consume sufficient water in order to make up for that loss. Furthermore, consume more water will also help thin out the mucus.

13. Onion Tea

This tip from the list of home remedies for running nose is great at clearing the nasal pores which are clogged, thus ease the runny nose’s symptoms significantly. You just need to take some onion slices into some boiling water and have them steeped for about 10 minutes. Then have them strained and consume the tea while breathing in the steam.

14. Horseradish

In order to make use of this exotic herb from the list of home remedies for running nose, you can take a horseradish piece to chew and keep in your mouth until the flavor fades completely and then swallow.

Also, you take a horseradish piece with some onions into some boiling water and have them steeped for about 10 minutes. Then have them strained and consume 2 to 3 times per day.

15. Thyme

The last herb in the list of home remedies for running nose is thyme. For this herb, you just have to crush some of its dried leaves and breathe in the aroma.

Also, you can take some of its dried leaves into mustard oil and heat up together. Then breathe in the steam. It will help you decongest the nasal passages which are clogged and cure the symptoms of a runny nose.

16. Have hot drinks

You might surprise a bit, but merely drinking hot water can help a lot in easing your cold symptoms, like your running nose. Based on the studies, these types of hot drinks will offer the instant relief to other symptoms as well as long-lasting relief. According to the researchers, they trust that it’s because of the hot water ability to flush the excess mucus out easily.

Besides, feel free to add lemon to the hot drink, or simply add an anti-inflammatory herb (chamomile) for the optimal result. Don’t forget to add a dose of antibacterial if it’s necessary.

17. Licorice root

Thanks to the active components and glycyrrhizin, which have some excellent properties that can help break down the mucus, and shorten the period of your running nose. Isn’t that great? Apart from this, the licorice root is also antibacterial and having a high number of antioxidants to boost your immune system.

Let’s prepare the herb as how to make a tea. By doing this way, you’ll easily earn some great decongestant advantages of a hot drink, too. Or feel free to use it in the capsule form.

18. Sage

It’s known as one of the best and most effective herbal remedies you can use for a running nose and other relevant infections as well. Sage itself is renowned as a great herb for curing a lot of medical conditions thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory features.

Use sage oil since it has thujone that can help fight other bacterial infections. Besides, the rosmarinic acid and phenolic acid within it are anti-inflammatory. Thus, it’s good to have dried sage used with a teaspoon of honey to relieve the running nose symptoms.

In reality, you still can prepare it in advance if your kids are prone to cold. To do this, you must put the dried leaves of sage in one jar and then cover it with honey on top. Leave it there for four or six weeks before getting this tasty sage remedy ready for your kids. Sage tea is also a great option you can try.

Other tips for handling your running nose

Look at below – these are some of my best tips on how to clear up your discharge apart from the above home remedies for running nose. They could make your entire experience less uncomfortable than ever!

• Avail smooth, essential oil-infused tissues: One of the most annoying parts of suffering a running nose is when you have to rub the skin constantly by wiping it. Then using some soft essential oil-infused tissues to soothe the skin and help yourself dodge any irritation. Feel free to purchase these types of tissues online.
• Utilize the most effective home remedies for running nose: Sleeping is the most necessary thing to do for boosting your mood and entire health, at least when you start to heal from the cold. Don’t mind relying on some treatments during the bedtime to guarantee your most restful night.
• Concentrate on relaxing yourself at home until the issue goes away: It would be challenging for you to experience a social meeting or event whenever you feel self-conscious about this running nose. Let’s consider the symptoms as a good reason for you to stay on the bed and focus on your healing.  
• Stay in a warm environment: Keep in mind that staying in an air-conditioned environment will only aggravate the cold and your running nose. As a result, you’re more likely to suffer some headaches as well. It tends to get drier and cause the mucus to be thicker.
• Boost the intake of Vitamin C: Consume fresh fruits that are enriched with a great amount of Vitamin C, such as citrus, oranges, and strawberries. If not, you can choose to take some Vitamin C tablets as an alternative.

Until you’ve finally seen your doctor, try out these simple tips as below to relieve the symptoms aside from my recommended home remedies for running nose:

• Sniff and swallow, or softly blow the nose.
• Dodge any well-known allergic trigger.
• When seeing your running nose a bit persistent, watery discharge, especially when accompanied by sneezing, itchy, or your watery eyes, then the signs could relate to the allergic situation. In this case, try the over-the-counter antihistamine! And try to read and follow the instructions correctly.  
• For infants, and small kids, you can avail a soft rubber suction that is made of rubber so that it can easily get rid of all of the secretions.

Do not hesitate to try out these measures to get a relief on your post-nasal drip, and as the excess mucus begins to accumulate right in the back of your throat:

• Dodge some common irritants, like cigarette smoke and some changes in the humidity.
• Drink a lot of water.
• Try out some nasal sprays/drops, or simply the rinses.

When to see your doctor?

Your running nose is extremely irritating and uncomfortable for sure, but it often recover on its own, so there’s no need to worry much about that. But at times, the condition here can be another sign of a more serious issue, especially when running nose could be quite worse in the infants.

So make sure to call your doctor if:

• Your symptoms last too long (over ten days).
• You’ve got a high temperature.
• Your nasal discharge is often yellowish and greenish and often accompanied by your sinus pain or high fever. It will be a common sign of your bacterial infection.
• You’ve got blood in the nasal discharge or a persistent discharge after getting an injury in your head.

Let’s see your doctor if:

• Your kid is younger than two months and always have a fever.
• Your kid’s running nose or his/her congestion causes more troubles in nursing or causes the breathing activity more difficult.

Conclusion

Having running noses will be a bit bothersome and occasionally distracting. So it’s much better to learn all causes and symptoms before getting the best home remedies for running nose. Well, if you’ve already read through my article today, then you’ve just learned lots of methods to fix them!

Lastly, when you see a running nose not improved after a few days, then we recommend you to make an appointment with your doctor. Do it especially when you or the child is experiencing some cold-like symptoms.