Runny Nose is a condition caused by irritation and inflammation of the inner lining of the nasal passages and sinuses that leads to excessive nasal discharge. This troublesome condition is more common in children. In medical terms, Runny Nose is known as Rhinorrhea.
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This common ailment is often associated with common colds and allergies. Effective treatment of Runny Nose calls for the use of a number of conventional medicines as well as natural remedies.
The benefit of adopting the natural home remedies for Runny Nose home treatment is that the natural treatment is relatively inexpensive and consists of simple remedies like mustard oil, salt water etc. Unlike the over-the-counter medicines, Runny Nose herbal remedies do not have any side effects.
Causes and Symptoms of Runny Nose
Basically, the nose produces mucus to fight infections, trap foreign matter humidify the air so as to produce moisture in the nasal membranes. Therefore, Runny Nose characterized by increased mucus production is usually triggered by viral infections such as common cold and influenza.
However, conditions like sinusitis, hay fever and allergies due to dust, animal dander, pollen or food allergies may also cause give rise to this problem. Runny Nose due to allergies is mostly characterized by the presence of clear mucus.
Similarly, Runny Nose with cloudy or white colored mucus is generally associated with common viral infections and cold weather. Although, green or yellow colored mucus also indicates the presence of infections, whether viral or bacterial.
The condition is generally related to upper respiratory tract infections in which green or yellow colored mucus appears during the first week of infection. Depending on the cause, Runny Nose may also be accompanied by symptoms like chest pain, sneezing, headache and other similar flu-like symptoms.
It may also cause post nasal drip in which the mucus tends to drip down the back of the throat. At times, factors like certain immune suppreses medications, hormonal changes, or stress also tend to encourage Runny Nose.
Natural Home Remedies for Runny Nose
- Salt water is one of the best natural home remedies for Runny Nose. To prepare this home remedy, mix half teaspoon of table salt in about eight ounces of lukewarm water. Next, put this solution in a nose dropper and suck the water in the nostrils. Finally, blow the nose to remove the excess mucus and the saline solution.
- Putting plain heated mustard oil in the nostrils through a dropper is another popular natural cure for Runny Nose. Use this oil on one nostril at a time as it has a strong smell.
- Having a cup of warm water mixed with about two to three drops of lime juice and a tablespoon of honey is useful in providing relief from this condition.
- Keeping the head elevated at least ten inches while sleeping helps to drain out nasal fluids and hence serves as one of the simplest Runny Nose home remedies.
- Inhaling turmeric smoke is another highly beneficial Runny Nose natural remedy. This smoke can be created by heating ground turmeric soaked in linseed oil.
- Herbal teas like that of ginger and nettle are regarded as excellent and safest home remedies for Runny Nose. Herbal tea prepared by boiling one teaspoon each of elderberry, yarrow root, mint and a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper for about five minutes is also beneficial in this regard.
- Thyme whether in the form of crushed dry thyme or thyme oil also is also useful in reducing and healing this problem greatly. Crushed dry thyme can be inhaled and thyme oil can be used in the same way as the mustard oil remedy by putting it in the nostrils through a dropper.
Diet for reducing Runny Nose should particularly include folic vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, cabbage, and fruits and fruit juices rich in vitamin C.
Orange juice and grapefruit juice are highly beneficial in this regard. Having fresh watercresses either in the form of salad or as tea by boiling 2-3 teaspoons of dry watercresses in boiling water is also considered good for getting rid of Runny Nose and cough caused by viral infections.
Plus, foods like onion and garlic with their therapeutic properties help to reduce the increased mucus production. In addition, having green tea mixed with cayenne pepper and mint and having spicy foods and soups like garlic soup also serves as one of the simplest natural home remedies for Runny Nose.
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