Treatment Of Nasal Congestion With Folk Remedies: 5 Best Ways

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Treating nasal congestion

Content:

• Rinsing the nose for nasal congestion
• Treatment of nasal congestion with thuja oil
• Treatment of nasal congestion with Kalanchoe juice
• How to quickly get rid of nasal congestion in one day
• Treating nasal congestion at home
• Breathing exercises for nasal congestion
• If all else fails …

Rinsing the nose for nasal congestion

There are many ways to get rid of nasal congestion with folk remedies, but not all of them are as effective and safe for the nose as rinsing. Washing is a procedure that is gentle on the mucous membrane, while its effectiveness is very high, since the solution penetrates deep into the nasopharynx and nasal sinuses.

The recipe for a solution for rinsing the nose was created and tested countless times in ancient India, leaving a legacy to the modern teaching of yoga called the jala neti procedure. Its essence is to pour sea water (or, in urban conditions, its analogue - a solution of sea salt) into one nostril until it flows through all the nasal cavities and starts pouring out of the other.

Sea water is valuable for its high content of minerals and iodine, necessary for strengthening blood vessels and disinfecting the mucous membrane.

To carry out this procedure correctly, you need to know about several features:

• You need to use only warm water, with a temperature of approximately 38-42 degrees Celsius;
• In the process of preparing a solution from sea salt, you need to make sure that it is not much saltier than blood. A solution of too high a concentration can burn the nasal mucosa, therefore it is recommended not to put more than one teaspoon of salt in the glass of boiled water;

• It is necessary to avoid the presence of salt crystals in the solution, which can damage the delicate skin of the mucous membrane. If a certain amount of salt remains undissolved even after thorough mixing, it is better to pour the normal solution into another container, and pour out the lower part with the sediment;
• When pouring the solution into the nose, you cannot suck it in on your own. Water should flow into one and flow out of the other nostril without outside interference.

Further, we offer the following recipes for a therapeutic solution of sea salt for rinsing the nose with a cold:

• For children - dissolve a teaspoon of sea salt in one liter of boiled water. Even small children (starting from 2 years old) can rinse the nose with such a solution, however, you need to monitor the first reaction to the procedure. If there is severe dryness or aggravation of mucosal edema, the salt concentration should be reduced.
• For adults - stir a teaspoon of salt in half a liter of water.

• For advanced, the same solution for adults, but with the addition of a quarter teaspoon of baking soda and a couple of drops of iodine. Such a remedy can defeat both nasal congestion and the disease of which it is a symptom: sinusitis, sinusitis. Intensively destroys bacteria on the nasal mucosa, maxillary sinuses and larynx.
• Recipe without rinsing - such a solution is prepared for a special inhalation. The dose of sea salt is increased to a whole tablespoon per glass of water. This product moistens a linen napkin, which then needs to be squeezed vigorously so that it is wet, but the drops of the solution do not run off. The napkin must be placed on the face and kept for about 10-15 minutes. All this time, you need to try to breathe only through your nose, so that inhalation of iodine vapors occurs, due to which the mucus separation is normalized and the nasal air passages are cleared.

Treatment of nasal congestion with thuja oil

For the treatment of nasal congestion and diseases of the respiratory system, the symptoms of which it is, folk remedies from thuja have long been used in East Asia. Thuja is the Asian analogue of European pine - this evergreen plant also contains essential oils and special coniferous resins, which have a strong effect on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. In addition, traditional medicines from thuja have also proven to be excellent in the fight against intestinal disorders, when it is urgently necessary to strengthen the immune system.

In homeopathic practice, thuja oil is considered to be of high quality if it is made from plants that are more than 15 years old, since the amount of active substances contained in the needles increases with age.

Thuja oil properties useful for nasal congestion:

• Strong antiseptic effect due to which thuja oil successfully fights upper respiratory tract infections. Infectious agents that provoke inflammation of the nasal mucosa die over the entire area of penetration of the essential components of the oil, which, due to their volatility, can even get into the area of the maxillary sinuses;
• With the constant use of thuja oil, the immune system is stimulated, which the body needs when changing climatic or weather conditions in order to avoid destabilization of the condition leading to disease;
• Regular inhalation of aromatic oils accelerates the regeneration of the mucous membrane after any damage, thereby maintaining its barrier properties;
• The aromatic components of the oil soothe irritated mucous membranes and normalize blood flow, thereby relieving swelling that interferes with the respiratory process.

Inhalation with thuja oil is a reliable prevention of polyps in the nasal cavity, and also prevents an increase in adenoids. And, as you know, it is polyps and inflamed adenoids that are among the main causes of sinusitis and sinusitis, which can ultimately lead to initial sinusitis or its recurrence even after successful recovery. Considering that adenoiditis is mainly a children's ailment, in many cases its surgical treatment is contraindicated or has a high risk of complications. The best way to solve the problem without surgery and unnecessary risks is drops based on thuja oil.

Read more: Thuja oil for nose and adenoids

Recipes for treating rhinitis with thuja oil

1. In order to completely get rid of sinusitis with thuja oil, it will take a month and a half. Every day, three times a day, it is necessary to carry out a complex procedure, which consists of rinsing the nose with sea water (or sea salt solution), instilling a couple of drops of distilled water and two drops of thuja essential oil in each nostril.
2. A more intensive treatment regimen for nasal congestion involves the daily instillation of eight drops of thuja oil three times a day for two weeks. Next, you need to take a break - during the week, do not take any remedies for the common cold. After a break, you need to reproduce the scheme to consolidate the result until complete recovery.

Remember that in any case, the program of treatment with essential oils should be drawn up by a homeopathic physician, and the attending physician exercises control over the use of medicines and oils.

Treatment of nasal congestion with Kalanchoe juice

Kalanchoe juice is one of the most popular treatments for nasal congestion, and, at the same time, one of the most controversial because of its side effects. It is impossible to predict the body's reaction to Kalanchoe - for someone the juice of this plant helps to relieve swelling and ease breathing, someone does not show the slightest effect, and in some people it can provoke allergic rhinitis.

The effectiveness of Kalanchoe juice is explained by its such beneficial effects:

• Anti-inflammatory - after instillation with Kalanchoe juice, swelling and inflammation of the mucous membrane subsides, which immediately and significantly facilitates the patient's breathing. However, at elevated temperatures, when inflammation serves as a sign of activation of the immune system against infection, Kalanchoe juice cannot be used.
• Irritant effect on the mucous membrane helps to get rid of excess mucus. The patient, after being instilled with juice, begins to sneeze hard, and most of the snot comes out. This is useful in the later stages of the disease, if a large amount of snot comes out in the early stages of a cold, then the mucous membrane will dry out, which will lead to a complication of rhinitis.
• The bactericidal properties of Kalanchoe juice are not a myth, the juice of this plant really contains substances that stop the growth and reproduction of bacteria - phytoncides. But its use for the treatment of most types of rhinitis is impractical - bacterial rhinitis is relatively rare, and with viral and allergic, these properties of Kalanchoe do not help to cope with a runny nose and congestion.
• Wound healing properties - Kalanchoe juice is able to enhance the regeneration of the mucous membrane, healing of wounds and microcracks on its surface. However, the same juice can also provoke the appearance of ulcers and microdamages in response to its irritating effect. Therefore, it is rarely used as a wound healing agent.

Rules for using Kalanchoe juice in the treatment of a runny nose and nasal congestion:

• It is advisable to use Kalanchoe for the treatment of bacterial rhinitis, which provokes the microorganism Legionella, in the case of viral or allergic rhinitis, Kalanchoe juice may have the opposite effect;
• Do not treat a cold with Kalanchoe juice for more than five days. So, the right time to start treating rhinitis is the third day from the onset of the disease, in the first stages, self-medication is dangerous and can disrupt the functioning of the immune system. If after that you used Kalanchoe juice or other folk remedy for five days, and the runny nose does not go away, then you need the help of a specialist;
• For small children with a slight nasal congestion with transparent secretions, it is impossible to bury Kalanchoe juice so as not to provoke complications. Use the product only when the snot becomes yellow or greenish, becomes thick;
• Before instilling the nose, it is recommended to test for an allergic reaction - a drop of the product is applied to the area of the skin above the upper lip, if after 12 hours redness and rashes do not appear, then you can use Kalanchoe juice for instillation;
• Kalanchoe juice should not be dripped into the nose at elevated temperatures.

For medicinal purposes, you can use any type of plant cultivated at home, the most popular are Kalanchoe Degremona and tubotvetny bryophyllum.

To prepare Kalanchoe juice, take the bottom leaf of the plant, wash and grind it in a garlic press. Pure concentrated Kalanchoe juice causes severe irritation of the mucous membranes, therefore, before use, it must be diluted with water in a one-to-one ratio. A sensitivity test is recommended to determine the safe concentration of the substance yourself

If you buy ready-made juice in a pharmacy, then choose a product of the desired concentration - too concentrated juice causes irritation and needs to be further diluted, and homeopathic medicines in strong dilution are ineffective for treating nasal congestion. Alcoholic solutions of Kalanchoe juice are also not suitable for instillation.

The agent is instilled twice a day, 1-2 drops for children and 3-4 for adults. After consultation with the ENT and in the absence of contraindications, the number of instillations per day can be increased up to four times.

Read more: Useful properties and recipes for the use of Kalanchoe

How to quickly get rid of nasal congestion in one day at home?

In many cases, pathological nasal congestion can be overcome with the help of one folk remedy, which is very easy to prepare and quickly relieves of nasal congestion.

Onion nasal drops are easiest to prepare as follows:

• Take an onion, peel it and divide it into small enough pieces (4 or 8 pieces, depending on the size of the onion and garlic).
• Using a garlic maker, squeeze the juice from the onion into a suitable, preferably non-metallic, container.
• Filter the onion juice into another container through a double layer of cheesecloth.
• Dilute the juice with boiled water in a 1: 2 ratio (2 parts of water).
• Pour the resulting solution into a small glass jar with a tightly closed lid.

For the correct dosage, a simple pipette is used; at a time, you can drip your nose with 1-2 drops of an onion solution.

It is enough to bury this remedy in the nose several times a day, and the very next day there will be no trace of nasal congestion.

When in contact with the nasal mucosa, the drops burn it a little. If the burning sensation is too strong, dilute the drops with water again.

Attention! This mixture is extremely hot, and if you don't dilute it enough with water, there is a risk of burning the nasal mucosa!

Treating nasal congestion at home

Another effective folk remedy with an intense effect is known to many, but few people decide to use it, shifting the problems with the common cold and diseases that provoke it onto the shoulders of medicines, which does not always give the desired result.

A mixture of ginger root, honey and lemon is able to bring the body out of a serious condition with the most common colds, in which nasal congestion is a common symptom. The secret of the mixture is that all three main components, which are usually used in the treatment of respiratory diseases, when taken together, produce a synergistic effect, due to which their stimulating and nourishing effect on the body is intensified several times.

Recipes for preparing a healing mixture differ from different authors, so we suggest using a simple and standard recipe first, and then changing it individually for yourself in an independent order.

Ginger root with lemon and honey - preparation

• Take ginger root and honey in a 2: 1 mass ratio. In terms of one average lemon, the weight of these components is, respectively, 300 and 150 grams.
• The ginger root can be peeled, but not required. Some recipe authors insist on using ginger with the peel, as it adds a vegetable component such as fiber to the mixture, which helps to improve peristalsis. Medical research shows that the effectiveness of the immune system, 70% of which is concentrated in the digestive system, largely depends on the proper functioning of the intestines. One way or another, the ginger root is first crushed with a knife into pieces, which are then turned into gruel with a blender or meat grinder.
• Similar manipulations are performed with lemon. Again, someone argues that the lemon must be peeled and pitted, although most sources still take the whole fruit, the peel and seeds of which contain a large amount of minerals. Lemon is ground in a meat grinder or blender, you can even do it at the same time as ginger, so as not to waste time mixing the two main components.
• Honey is added to the mixture of lemon and ginger root. After intensive mixing, the healing product is ready for use, but it is better to immediately place it in a jar or other suitable non-metallic vessel with a lid. The mixture is left in the refrigerator or other cool dark place for a day. In this state, it can be stored for a whole month.
• Read more about the benefits and contraindications of ginger in the article: the benefits and harms of ginger

Using a medicine based on ginger, honey and lemon

For the prevention of colds in the mid-season, ginger mixture is taken in a teaspoon dissolved in a glass of hot drink, after waking up and before bedtime. The temperature of the tea or water to which the medicine is added should not exceed 50 ° C, since in too hot an environment beneficial proteins, vitamins and other active components of the healing mixture are destroyed.

At the very first symptoms of the disease, the healing mixture can be consumed independently, dissolving 2-3 teaspoons per day under the tongue. You can also add ginger medicine to fresh salads and other dishes, as long as their temperature is not higher than 50 ° C.

A mixture of ginger root, lemon and honey can be difficult for the gastrointestinal tract, therefore, with an exacerbation of ulcers, gastritis and other diseases of the digestive system, it is better to refrain from using this mixture.

Read more: Ginger with lemon and honey - a recipe for health

Breathing exercises for nasal congestion

Before you start exercising, you need to prepare. You will need a small jar of garlic and onions, which are finely chopped there. You have a stuffy nose, and you don't feel anything, this is the first problem that can be solved in an easy way: you need to tap the bridge of your nose with two fingers (you should not knock very hard). After that, do a simple massage of the wings of the nose. As soon as your nose gets stuck, take the jar in which you chopped the onion and garlic, now you can smell it.

The next step is breathing exercises:

1. First step. Inhale fully and exhale fully. It is clear that the nose is very difficult to breathe, but you should try to do so, and as fully as possible, but with two nostrils. Quite a little time will pass - and each time you will feel that it is easier for you to breathe.
2. Step two. It is necessary to make it so that one finger lies on the bridge of the nose, the other on the side of the nostril, and the third finger on the other side. As you understand, three fingers are involved. You probably already guessed what you will do. So you breathe in. You breathe in completely through your nose with two nostrils, then pinch one nostril, right or left - it doesn't matter, and exhale slowly. Then take a full breath again. Now pinch the other nostril and also slowly exhale. So you need to pinch each nostril three to four times.
3. Step three. Toes in the same position as in the previous exercise. But now you do it differently: you pinch one nostril at once. Inhale slowly, hold your breath a little and then release your nostril and pinch the other, changing them. While pinching the other nostril, do the same. You will need to do this again three to four times. Mucus may come out, this is normal, just wipe it off.

Next, you need to go back to tapping (your very first action). You need to tap carefully. At first it is easy, and so for about half a minute, then a short pause for about ten seconds - and again half a minute of tapping on the bridge of the nose, but already knock harder. Then you should do small circular tapping, that is, you should tap alternately from one side, then from the other. Also do it slowly and lightly at first, and then harder.

After all of the above, you need to smear your nostrils with Vaseline (you strained them, and therefore they need to soften a little). All these exercises should be done 3 times every day. In addition to all this, you will need to not drip any medication into your nose, as this will interfere with treatment.

If all else fails …

According to statistics, 68% of the adult population of the planet has a curvature of the nasal septum, due to which, under normal health conditions, the nose can be stuffy without any signs of nasal congestion. A slight curvature of the nasal septum is normal and is present in 95% of adults. Only 25% of them do not experience any discomfort from this, while some of the remaining 70% can spend years and years on treating congestion, which is caused by the peculiarity of the anatomy of the nose.

In some cases, getting rid of a chronic rhinitis does not work for a long time, despite the use of various medicines, folk or homeopathic remedies. Then, only on examination by an otolaryngologist, you can find out the reason for the constant nasal congestion.

Swelling and nasal congestion with curvature of its septum occurs due to mechanical irritation, which the formed longitudinal ridges exert on the internal mucous membrane of the nasal cavity. It is clear that medications are useless in this case, and treatment is most often performed surgically. The same applies to polyps - growths of the nasal mucosa - in the event of dry congestion without signs of a runny nose, which does not respond to drug treatment, you should consult an otolaryngologist.

The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist

Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).