A stuffy nose is a very annoying symptom of allergies or problems with the respiratory system. Learn seven tricks to clear a stuffy nose here.

When your nose is blocked, the mucous lining that lines your nose becomes inflamed, making it difficult to breathe  as the airways become blocked.

A rapidly increasing virus or a weakened immune system can make this problem worse and cause even more discomfort.

In general, a stuffy nose will go away on its own after a few days or at most a week, but you can also speed up this process by using a few handy home remedies.

In this article, we share seven remedies that you can use to ease this discomfort. Let’s take a look!

Tricks that clear a stuffy nose

1. Saline solution for a stuffy nose

Homemade saline is one of the oldest remedies to treat a stuffy nose and get rid of excess mucus.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon sea salt (10 grams)
• 1 liter of water
• a syringe without a needle

Instructions

• Bring the water to a boil, add the tablespoon of salt and let the mixture cool.
• Use five milliliters of this solution and inject it into both nostrils.
• Repeat this process every day, twice a day.

2. Steam

Steaming is a good trick to clear the airways and prevent a stuffy nose.

Bring a little water to the boil and add a few herbs, such as chamomile or eucalyptus.

Ingredients

• 2 liters of water
• 1 handful of chamomile flowers or eucalyptus leaves

Instructions

• Add the handful of herbs of your choice to a pan of water and let it boil for five minutes.
• Then remove the pan from the heat. Put a towel over your head and then hang your head over the pan, allowing you to naturally inhale the steam from the boiling water.
• This method will provide immediate relief as the steam and heat will calm the inflammation.

3. Heat compress

Another way to use heat to relieve inflamed nasal passages is to apply a heat pack to the nose.

Ingredients

• 1 soft, absorbent cloth
• 1 cup hot water (250 ml)

Instructions

• Soak the cloth in the hot water. Make sure the temperature is pleasant.
• Apply the compress to your nose and forehead and let it do its work for a few minutes.

4. Warm water with honey

The antibiotic properties of honey can help treat respiratory problems and reduce nasal congestion. Mixing honey with a little warm water will also help improve breathing.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons honey (15 grams)

• 1 cup water (250 ml)

Instructions

• Dissolve two teaspoons of honey in a cup of warm water and drink this mixture just before going to bed.
• Drink this remedy every night until the symptoms have disappeared.

5. Ginger and Lemon Infusion

Ginger has properties that can fight the flu and nasal congestion and improve the health of the respiratory system when attacked by a virus.

Ingredients

• 1 piece of ginger
• The juice of half a lemon
• 1 teaspoon honey (7.5 grams)
• 1 cup water (250 ml)

Instructions

• Bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, remove it from the heat and add a piece of ginger to it.

• Let the ginger steep for ten minutes and then add the honey and lemon juice.
• Drink up to three cups a day.

6. Garlic

The antibiotic properties of garlic are very beneficial to counteract viruses and bacteria present in the respiratory tract.

The sulfur in garlic can help reduce inflammation in the nostrils, making it helpful for nasal congestion as well.

Ingredients

• 1 garlic clove
• ½ glass of water (100 ml)

Instructions

• Crush the raw garlic clove and mix it in a bowl with the water.
• Let the garlic steep for a few minutes, then pour the water into a dropper bottle.
• Put ten drops in each nostril twice a day .

7. Onion

Because onion has a similar effect to garlic, this is also a good means of clearing the airways and reducing a blocked nose.

Ingredients

• 1 piece of onion

Instructions

• Cut the onion in half and try to smell it for  four to five minutes.
• Do this twice a day until the inflammation has healed.

These simple remedies to get rid of a stuffy nose are just a few of the most commonly used and, above all, most effective remedies out there. However, it is important that you support these remedies with a diet rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.

If symptoms persist for more than a week, it is best to consult your doctor for alternative solutions.