Stuffy Nose Remedies

Stuffy nose is a state of nasal congestion. Stuffy nose can be caused by many factors. Allergies are one of the reasons for stuffy nose. Allergies can be caused by pollens, animals, dust, etc. When a person contracts an allergy, chemicals like histamine are released by the body, which results in nasal congestion. Also, in rhinitis, stuffy nose is experienced. If a person suffers from rhinitis, he/she experiences inflammation of nose and nasal membranes. This might also be accompanied by nasal polyps. A person can suffer from stuffy nose also due to deformities formed in the nose and nasal cartilage. But a stuffy nose is mostly caused due to infection by common cold.

Common cold is so common, that it does not fall in the category of serious diseases. But this nasty disease, is worse than serious diseases, as it renders you unable to sleep, eat or concentrate. Some of the common cold symptoms experienced are headache, sneezing and stuffy nose. A simple home remedy for the common cold, can provide you relief. Though, it just takes its course of seven days to abate from your system.

List of Stuffy Nose Remedies

Blocked nose, nasal congestion or stuffy nose, whichever name you refer to it by, the condition is exasperating, to say the least. It drains your energy and leaves you helpless, with tissues as constant companions. Here are various remedies to get rid of stuffy nose, that will provide you with relief, when you need it most.

Blow Your Nose Properly
	Before you start using any remedies, here is a simple technique that will help you clear your stuffy nose. Blowing your nose properly can help you get rid of mucus which is creating the block. So, to blow the nose properly with one hand hold the tissue very close to one nostril and close the other nostril with other hand. Then open your mouth and blow loudly. It is important to keep your mouth slightly open, so that the pressure on the ears is reduced. Now, repeat blowing the other nostril too.
Steam Therapy with Decongestant Ointment
	This one is my favorite instant stuffy nose remedies. This stuffy nose remedy works well at night, when breathing is very difficult, due to cold. Boil water in a pot and place the pot on a table. Add 2-3 tablespoons of decongestant ointment in water and stir a bit. Place your head above the pot. Cover your head and the pot with a towel and inhale the medicated vapors. Keep a box of tissues near you and repeat, if necessary.
Steam Therapy with Chamomile
	This is a variation of the above remedy. Instead of using a decongestant ointment, chamomile is used for this herbal remedy for stuffy nose. Boil some water in a pot. Use chamomile in any form like tea bags, powder, or dried herbs. Add chamomile to the pot and cover with a lid for 10 minutes. Place the pot on a table, remove the lid and inhale the vapors, with a towel covering your head.
Eucalyptus Oil
	If you are at your workplace or going out and have a stuffy nose, then sprinkle few drops of eucalyptus oil on the tissue and carry it with you. Whenever you feel the nose is blocked, keep sniffing the tissue for instant relief from stuffy nose. This remedy works well with tea tree oil too.
Decongestant Ointment
	This is a good remedy which you can use before you are going to bed. Just take a decongestant ointment like Tiger Balm or Vicks and apply it bit on your nose, forehead and throat. If you have a bad cold then apply it on your chest and back too and go to sleep. This remedy too will provide instant relief and aid in sleeping. You can also prop yourself on some pillows and then sleep to keep your head elevated. This will prevent further blocking of the nose.
Sniffing Onion
	Apart from cooking, onions are useful in stuffy nose situations too. They perform the same action that decongestants do. Cut an onion and sniff it as deeply as possible. This stuffy nose natural remedy will unblock your nose and allow you to breathe freely.
Chicken Soup
	Chicken soup for the cold! Yes, chicken soup has medicinal quality. Prepare chicken soup with garlic and sprinkle some pepper on it. You can also add a bit of lemon juice to the soup. Pepper and garlic have been used traditionally, to cure many respiratory problems. Chicken combined with pepper and garlic is one tasty and best stuffy nose remedy.
Hot Shower
	This is one instant stuffy nose remedy. Take a hot shower and keep inhaling the warm steam till you feel better. This will not only unblock your nose, but also soothe your nerves and make you more relaxed. This remedy is especially good, before you go to bed. A bit of caution; if you have fever, it is not a good idea to opt for this remedy.
Spicy Food
	This stuffy nose remedy is for the brave, and for long-time sufferers of stuffy nose in search of an instant remedy. Eating spicy food is an instant natural stuffy nose remedy. Eat few hot chilly peppers and your nose will start running immediately. You can also opt for some Tabasco sauce.
Nasal Sprays
	Nasal sprays are also very effective. They are many good ones available over-the-counter. To prepare a nasal spray for stuffy nose home remedy, use salt and water. Take a cup of water and ¼ teaspoon of salt, in a pot and boil. Let this mixture cool. Fill a nasal spray bottle with this liquid and put 7 drops in each of the nostrils. This will help you get rid of the stuffy nose. But it's advisable to be careful while using over the counter nasal sprays as they can be habit-forming.
Ginger Tea
	Ginger is used to flavor many recipes. But, it is also an excellent herb which can cure many ailments. It has antibiotic properties which help to get rid of infections. For a herbal stuffy nose remedy, sip ginger tea and inhale the steam from the same. This will clear your nose and throat, allowing easy breathing.
Homeopathy Remedies
	Homeopathy considers all the symptoms of the disease, before the prescription of a medicine. Homeopathic remedy for stuffy nose is quite beneficial. If you have a yellow-thick discharge of mucus, and the stuffy nose gets better when outside your house, take Pulsatilla. To take Pulsatilla, warm the lotion, fill a syringe and pour the lotion into the nose. This intake of Pulsatilla can be repeated 4-5 times in a day. Take Kali bichromicum, if you have a sticky whitish mucus in your nose and throat, and you are at a later stage of the cold. The dosage for Kali bichromicum is 4 drops, 3 times a day, and in the form of pills, 2 pills, 3 times a day. If you have allergies, and catch a cold after you get wet or with changes in the weather, take Dulcamara. The dosage for Dulcamara is 10 drops orally, 3 times a day. Whenever you buy a homeopathy medicine, always read the instructions on the label, as the dosage differs according to acute and chronic conditions.
Neti Pot
	Using a neti pot helps unblock a stuffy nose. Neti pots are available with most chemists. It is a pot with a handle on one side and a spout on the other side. It uses saline water for nasal irrigation to clear mucus.
Breathing Strips
	Using breathing strips, helps unblock a stuffy nose, and they very easy to use them. Stick one strip across the bridge of the nose and you will be relieved from stuffy nose within minutes. These nasal strips also help prevent snoring, and are good to be used at night.
OTC Anti-Allergic Pills
	You might be suffering from stuffy nose also due to some allergy. Some nasal allergy medications are also available over-the-counter like antihistamines and decongestants. Taking these pills can help you avoid allergic reactions like blocking of nose.
Humidifier
	Dry air can irritate your sinuses, and installing a room humidifier can greatly help. However, make sure you buy a quality humidifier and keep it free of fungus and dust, otherwise this will only aggravate your nasal passages. Always use distilled water in the humidifier to keep your room free of any dust or fungus.

Note: If you have tried some of these remedies and are still suffering from a stuffy nose, consult a doctor. Also, if you experience a greenish mucus discharge, fever, facial pain and have trouble sleeping, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

These were the stuffy nose remedies to relieve you from a blocked nose. But you can always prevent common cold by increasing the immunity of the body, by intake of Vitamin C. I have been a long sufferer of cold. Eating vitamin C rich, Indian gooseberries (Amla), on a regular basis, with moderate exercise has helped me, and I hardly catch a cold. For a stuffy nose use the above remedies and increase your resistance power against common cold and other allergies that cause stuffy nose.