Runny Nose Treatment

A runny nose is a symptom of some allergy or the common cold. In medical terminology, a runny nose is called rhinitis, and it is harmless and benign. In fact, it is one of the ways our body clears off foreign bodies. However, its occurrence is always annoying and distracting. It actually ruins your entire day. You cannot escape the common cold or allergies. But you surely can take some measures for runny nose treatment. Let's learn about various runny nose remedies.

Over-The-Counter Runny Nose Medicines

• If you are afflicted by a runny nose due to some sort of allergy, you should take antihistamines such as Zyrtec, Beclomethasone, Budesonide, Triamcinolone and Flunisolide.
• To remove congestion in the nose, you can use a mild steroid spray like Fixonase.
• Zinc is believed to be a fast runny nose treatment. It is available in the form of lozenges and nasal sprays. But take it only when prescribed by a doctor as it may cause nausea and destroy your sense of smell.
• Glucocorticoids like Triamcilone and Prednisone relieve a runny nose to a great extent. But they are accompanied by certain side-effects. Use them when recommended by a health care professional only.
• If you have a runny nose because of a bacterial infection, you should take antibiotics to inhibit the causative bacteria.
• Sometimes, a runny nose is due to a sinus infection or some other nasal disorder. You may have to opt for surgical treatments for complete elimination of the problem.
• A decongestant spray will also work to remove congestion. The most common spray is Otrivin. It comes in a number of variants, separate for children and adults. It can either be mentholated or unmentholated. Always remember that Otrivin is meant to be used for a brief period of time and its continuous use may revert the nose congestion. Click here to know more on runny nose medicines.

Home Remedies for Runny Nose

• Breathe in steam from a mixture of lukewarm water and 2-3 tablespoon of salt. The steam removes dust, secretions and allergenic molecules from mucosa and helps in getting the mucus out.
• Keep yourself hydrated with non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated beverages or plain water. It helps in thinning the mucus.
• Make one cup of tea and add 1 teaspoon each of elder berry, fresh mint, yarrow root and cayenne pepper. This is a form of herbal tea. It will first make your nose run with a greater intensity but will relieve a runny nose within a couple of hours.
• Chew a small piece of ginger and swallow the juice. Ginger warms the body, increases blood circulation and helps in draining the nose. It is a great remedy for a sore throat and a runny nose.
• Take 400mg of Indian Echinacea three times a day. It is one of the very effective runny nose treatments that can be taken at home.
• Take 1 oz. of fresh watercress thrice a day for runny nose treatment. You can also mix 3-4 teaspoon of dry watercress to one glass of warm water. Allow it to cool, and then drink.
• Honey is another effective runny nose treatment that you can try at home. Add one tablespoon of honey and 2-3 drops of fresh lime-juice in one cup of water. Drink this solution when warm. Honey will relieve a runny nose and cough as well.

See how to cure allergies and how to treat a cold for detailed information. Chronic runny noses may lead to complications such as a raspy or hoarse voice because of the presence of mucus in the throat. It may also lead to sleeping disorders and ear or sinus infections. Therefore, it is very important to remove mucus from the sinus and nasal passages. If over-the-counter drugs and home remedies do not work in your case, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible for necessary medical intervention. Take care!