Flu season, allergies, the occasional cold; there’s any number of factors that might cause the sniffles. We’ve all had a running nose at one point or another and it’s a pretty safe bet that no one likes it. Home remedies for runny nose problems are a dime a dozen, so it’s hard to tell what really works outside of medicine.
If you’re looking for a cure or treatment for how to stop a runny nose, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are 15 easy treatment methods to get rid of your ailments.
1. Chicken Soup
Everyone knows this one, but that’s because it works so well. A hot bowl of chicken soup (or any soup, really) can make you feel ten times better when you’re under the weather.
The vegetables and chicken are packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals that your body needs, and the soup itself is a great way to stay hydrated when you’re constantly blowing your nose.
2. Nose Plugs
This is more of a temporary solution than anything else, but if you’re looking for how to stop a runny nose, plugging up that nose would definitely take care of it.
Wad up some toilet paper or a tissue and push it up a nostril that’s bothering you to soak up that snot. You’ll have to change it frequently and be careful not to snort for fear of losing it up there, but it should help keep your face clean for a little while.
3. Salt Water Drops
While it might sound peculiar, dropping warm salt water into your nose can actually remedy your runny nose problems.
Mix half a teaspoon into two cups of warm water, suck it up with a dropper, and drop it in with your head back. Blow your nose after you’ve placed a few drops in each side and repeat as needed.
The salt helps to thin out the snot in your nose to make it easier to blow, so you might experience some extra runniness at first, but it’s worth it in the long run.
4. Ginger
Ginger is packed with antioxidants and other great things that make your body feel good. Adding some extra ginger to your diet can help when you’re not feeling great. There’s also the options of brewing it into a tea, chewing on it raw, taking ginger lozenges, and much more.
5. Honey
Honey is loaded with health benefits, from the way natural bacteria in raw honey can help to treat ulcers to its consistency can help to alleviate soar throats. Naturally antibacterial, it works great at helping to ease a runny nose, too. Take it straight or add it to teas or foods and watch the magic happen.
6. Peppers
Certain types of peppers, like cayenne, bell pepper, and even pink peppercorns, contain compounds that act as anti-inflammatory and antihistamine substances.
These work to thin out the mucous clogging you up and improve your circulation, helping you get better faster and feel better overall.
Be careful, though, as some scientists think peppers might slightly inhibit your body’s ability to absorb medication, meaning that fixing the symptoms you experience may just be helping the cause of them.
7. Massage
If you want to get rid of your runny nose quick, then try massaging different areas of your face. Around the nose, above and below the eyes, and the sides of the face just above the ears are a good place to start.
Applying gentle pressure to these areas can help relieve inflammation and drain your sinuses of excess snot, plus it’s really relaxing. While a regular full body massage can do this, too, you should probably wait to go for one of those until you’re feeling a bit better.
8. Steam
Breathing in steam can make both your nose and throat feel better while sick. Soothing pain, clearing mucus, and relaxing your body are all ways to help improve your condition. You can even add a bit of essential oils into whatever source of steam you’re using for some extra soothing power.
9. Drink Water
Water and other fluids are probably the best cure for a runny nose that isn’t medicine. The more you blow and the more your nose runs, the more dehydrated you become.
Dehydration can lead to all sorts of nasty things, one of which being prolonging or worsening whatever’s causing your nose to run in the first place. That’s why it’s important to drink plenty of water while you’re not feeling great.
But while water is the most efficient way to rehydrate, it’s not the only. Unless it contains alcohol, just about any fluid will do.
10. Warm Compress
Placing a warm compress over your face can really help to alleviate the sinus pressure that causes a runny nose. The warmth of the compress or even just a warm washcloth or towel can help to sooth congestion, improve circulation in your face, and relax your muscles.
11. Topical Balm
A spot of topical balm on or under your nose or on your chest can help to open up your nose and provide soothing relief to inflamed nasal passages. Apply as needed and breathe deeply through your nose. Despite the sharp, frigid smell initially, you’ll soon understand why this remedy is so popular and effective.
12. Chewing Gum
Chewing gum, especially minty flavors, is a good way to alleviate the symptoms associated with things like allergies, including a runny nose. The strong flavors and scent released by chewing the gum can unclog noses and help to generate saliva, which kills bacteria in the mouth. Just be careful not to swallow it when you have to sneeze.
13. Hot Showers
Everyone can enjoy a relaxing hot shower, but it’s especially effective for unclogging a nose. The steam inhaled can help to flush out the mucus stuck inside, meaning you’ll be able to breathe again by the time you get out.
Not only that, if your runny nose is caused by some kind of disease, a hot shower will clean you up and help prevent it from spreading to others. It’s also great for helping soar muscles relax after a hard day of sneezing and blowing your nose.
14. Garlic
Home remedies for runny nose invariably include garlic, and for good reason. This herb is antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial in nature, making it just about the best thing you can put in your body when you’re not feeling too good.
Putting it in food, making it into tea, or just eating it raw can help to cure the underlying causes of a runny nose, plus open up your sinuses.
15. Sleep
Every answer for how to stop a runny nose eventually leads to bed rest, and that’s what you need to do. No matter what other remedy or you incorporate into your day, sleep needs to follow at some point.
Sleeping helps your body repair itself and gives you some much needed rest after all your congestion and the normal rigors of the day. Not only do you get a chance to heal, the time you spend sleeping equates to time you don’t have to be awake blowing your nose. It’s a win-win.
The next time you find yourself asking how to stop a runny nose, think back to these great tips. These home remedies for runny nose issues can be a real lifesaver when you want to get rid of your congestion and stuffiness, especially if you don’t have any medicine on hand.
Always be careful of symptoms that last for an unusually long amount of time or get unexpectedly severe. If you suspect your runny nose might be a sign of something worse to come, go see a doctor for treatment as soon as possible.
