Quick and effective treatments to ward off a runny nose

Got the sniffles? Cold, cough, runny nose, nasal congestion – everyone gets affected by these problems often through their lifetime. Of all these, a runny nose can be really irritating constantly needing to be cleared, making your nose red and sensitive.
A runny nose treatment ranges from OTC medications to simple home remedies. Have a look at the effective treatments to keep a runny nose at bay.

How to stop a runny nose
A runny nose is called Rhinorrhea in medical terminology. Rhino refers to the nose in Greek, and Rhea means flow. So, Rhinorrhea means a nasal flow. It can have different causes of common cold, flu, allergies.
Excess mucus production in the nasal passages caused by cold or an allergy results in this nasal discharge. This is the body’s way of getting rid of the cold virus or allergies. However, you can tre a runny nose with antihistamines that are available as over the counter medicines. Still, antihistamines can make you drowsy, and can also cause dryness in your mouth, nose, and eyes.

Runny nose treatments and home remedies

Instead of antihistamines or in addition to these medicines, you can try some simple natural runny nose remedy measures to get relief from a runny nose.

• Saline Solution or Mustard Oil
  Saltwater can help make the mucus thin and thus easier to get rid of. Create a solution of a ½ teaspoon of table salt in clean, warm water. Lift your head up and using a dropper, put one or two drops in each nostril. Inhale slowly so that this liquid goes up your nose.
  This helps thin the mucus and also clears the nose of any irritants. After inhaling the saline solution, blow your nose to clear it. Do this a few more times. Repeat this process twice a day to quickly clear the mucus.
  Instead of saline water, you can also use mustard oil. Mustard has antiviral properties and can also act as an antihistamine. Warm a small amount of mustard oil. Pour a few drops of this oil down each nostril and follow the same process as with saline solution to let this oil reach up your nasal passage. Then, blow your nose to clear it of mucus and allergens.
• Try a warm compress
  Your nose can get blocked up by the mucus. Place a warm compress over your nose to relieve this congestion. You can also use a small hand towel that you have immersed in warm water and wrung out. This can also help relieve pressure on your sinus and give you relief from headaches.
• Steam or Vapor
  Inhaling warm vapor can also help provide relief from a runny nose. Heat some water in a bowl it gets steamy and warm, not boiling hot. Place your face over this bowl and gently inhale the warm steam. You can also add an essential oil, Eucalyptus oil, an herb, or citrus fruit slices or peels to this water. Inhale this steam for about ten minutes to get a relief. This works as an effective treatment for a runny nose.
• Cayenne pepper
  The heat in cayenne pepper can help you find relief from the cold and runny nose. If you like hot dishes, include more cayenne pepper in your diet when you have a runny nose. It can increase the nasal discharge which may seem counter-productive. But, this helps you quickly get rid of the mucus and thus be free of rhinorrhea.
• Basil leaves
  These leaves have a lot of medicinal properties. Just chewing on a few basil leaves in the morning can help you fight off cold. You can also add a few basil leaves and cloves to water, and boil it. Let it cool down a little before drinking it. This treatment will help you get rid of a runny nose.
• Honey
  Try this sweet remedy. Honey has antibiotic properties and is also rich in antioxidants. Mix a teaspoon of honey in a cup of warm water and drink this. It can help reduce a cough and provide relief from congestion and runny nose
  Mix a tablespoon of honey with a half teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Take this mixture early in the morning to find relief from several ailments. Add honey to warm water, and squeeze a few drops of lemon juice into this mixture. Drink this to find relief from cold and related problems. The vitamin C in lemon is an added benefit to help deal with cold and cough
• Herbal Drinks
  You can concoct some spicy drinks that are good remedies for treating cough, running nose and other cold-related issues.
  Ginger can help you find relief from a runny nose. Boil a small piece of ginger or a teaspoon of ginger powder in a cup of water. Add a little bit of sugar to this and drink it to find relief.
  Boil a few cloves of garlic in a cup of water or milk. Add a bit of sugar and drink this. Garlic has antimicrobial properties that can help provide relief from a runny nose.
• Turmeric
  This cooking ingredient contains a compound called curcumin. This makes turmeric a powerful antiseptic, and antimicrobial. Add a teaspoon of turmeric and a pinch of black pepper to a cup of milk and boil it. Add a spoon of honey to this after the milk has cooled down a bit. Drink this milk to find quick relief from a cough, cold, runny nose, and related problems. This is a powerful treatment for a runny nose which has been used since the bygone era.
• Drink plenty of water
  Keep yourself hydrated by drinking a lot of water. This helps break down the mucus and this helps you get rid of the nasal discharge quickly.

Stay warm, take good rest, sleep well at night and take naps to give your body the time to fight off the virus that is causing the runny nose.