more articles like this

Nasal Congestion Remedy
updated: Oct 24, 2012, 11:13 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

Does anyone know of a good remedy (over the counter or holistic) for severe nasal congestion? I feel like there is cement inside my head.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 335143	2012-10-24 11:15 AM
I like my neti pot
COMMENT 335147	2012-10-24 11:20 AM
I too suffer severe nasal congestion. Due to a medical condition I can not take decongestant medicines. My solution is: hot shower, facial massage (google it, "massage, sinus congestion") and saline solution.
ROGER DODGER	2012-10-24 11:22 AM
Sinus Rinse helps same thing the above two mention.
COMMENT 335167	2012-10-24 11:49 AM
I used to be totally holistic, until I could not taste or smell for 2 years. I finaaly had to go to an ENT to have sinus surgery. Best thing I have ever done and no infections or swelling in sinuses for over 3 years! But a temporary aid is taking shots of apple cider vinegar. Wont cure the cement head-that only gets worse and calcifies in your nasal cavity.
COMMENT 335183	2012-10-24 12:21 PM
My mom always had us put a few drops of eucalyptus and/or peppermint oil into a couple inches of boiling water over the stove then turn off the heat, throw a towel over your head and the pot, then breathe in the vapor...you'd be amazed!
COMMENT 335197	2012-10-24 12:39 PM
When I had a severe sinus infection, my ENT doctor recommended using a nasal irrigator (a small plastic device) with Alkalol (brown bottle). No prescription required, but both are available behind the counter at CVS. My experience is it sometimes helps. What works more often for me is to go out and excercise, followed by a hot shower, then the irrigator. When all else fails, I also take the CVS-branded version of Sudafed (pseudoephedrine hydrochloride). It makes me jumpy though.
SHAKEY	2012-10-24 12:51 PM
TP and strong winds blowing from inside to out... And time..
COMMENT 335211	2012-10-24 12:54 PM
I second the surgery - had it over 10 years ago, and haven't had a sinus infection since. I still have to manage my allergies (with the occasional benadryl), but the septoplasty/turbinoplasty was well worth it - a whole new world of being able to breathe through my nose!
COMMENT 335217	2012-10-24 01:10 PM
Vicks Vapor Rub! Mom always used to put some on my chest and a little under my nose!
COMMENT 335225	2012-10-24 01:21 PM
@211 May I ask who performed your septoplasty/turbinoplasty? I have a deviated septum and have been thinking about having that corrected & enhanced. Breathing is not easy for me.
COMMENT 335229	2012-10-24 01:30 PM
Flonase stopped working for me. Now I lay on my tummy in the very warm bathtub with my head angled towards my back so my nose can get a gentle soak "crocodile style". The water rises up to the top of the inside of my nose and loosens everything up. Sometimes saline solution for when you can't get in the tub. Also (yoga) alternate nostril breathing "when practiced regularly" opens things up.
COMMENT 335231P	2012-10-24 01:31 PM
I use Vick's Vapo Rub every night under my chin & a bit around the nostrils and it's amazing!
QUAD-LIX	2012-10-24 01:39 PM
I agree with 197. Some strenuous exercise will move the stuff out of your nose so that you can use saline nasal rinse. I recommend a hike up in the SB hills - the physical demand for oxygen + forced dry air + increasing elevation will help clear you out. I also think ocean exercise helps - you can open your nasal pathways and get the saline irrigation at the same time! Otherwise advil can help with the pain of cement head as well as help subdue the histamines that are creating so much mucus.
COMMENT 335262	2012-10-24 02:12 PM
I like to go for a swim, dive down deep and exhale through my nose on the way up, preferably in the ocean or a private pool. Really cleans the gunk out.
COMMENT 335266P	2012-10-24 02:19 PM
Go see an ENT. It may be swollen nasal tissues, not mucus, giving you that plugged up feeling. You'll need something to reduce the swelling.
COMMENT 335279	2012-10-24 02:41 PM
@262 You're never allowed in my pool.
COMMENT 335282P	2012-10-24 02:43 PM
I know someone whose life was changed by surgery, but I hope the OP is just suffering from the wind-blown crud and/or that it's occasional. OP did say OTC or holistic. I've encountered a lot of neti pot converts and true believers. Start small; I hope exercise, steam and irrigation works for you. Use some caution; tap water has been associated with weird and _rare_ infections. Do your research. Here's a start: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm316375.htm This weekend should be extremely dry; my skin is already whitish from dryness. Grab yourself some saline spray to start and take a steamy hot shower before the temp rises. Or those steam inhalers; they used to be popular. Buy or order a neti pot if you're into it. Quad-Lix, I had no idea ibuprofen is a histamine receptor antagonist. I thought it only worked on prostaglandin. Thanks for giving me another fun topic! That is, once I'm done with Gershon's "The Second Brain," a primer about the enteric nervous system.
COMMENT 335285	2012-10-24 02:47 PM
OP here - thanks for all the great tips! I seem to have the pretty common cold symptoms (headache, sore throat, stuffy/runny nose, etc) so I hope I don't need surgery. But it's just that my nose is SOOO congested it's starting to worry me. Anyways, thanks again!
COMMENT 335287	2012-10-24 02:48 PM
Hot Chinese mustard. Enough of that stuff will open things right up. (Eat it, don't snort it.)
COMMENT 335293	2012-10-24 03:00 PM
2 TBSP raw unprocessed apple cider vinegar + 2 tspn honey in I cup warm water....not boiling hot. Drink it. This worked within 30 minutes for me and was so effective, I was actually angry for about 30 seconds that no one had ever told me about it before. Seriously, it was like a minor miracle. Good luck.
COMMENT 335307	2012-10-24 03:33 PM
My doctor highly recommends the neti pot; I however hate it and feel like I'm swallowing water while swimming. I do recommend the Ocean brand saline rinse system. You can buy the kit at Costco. The saline helps to break up the mucus without drowning you. My doctor recommends using this multiple times a day when sick and once a day for those prone to sinus problems.
COMMENT 335309P	2012-10-24 03:40 PM
mucinex D, it's a little pricey for otc medicine but when i've got a bad sinus cold nothing works better.
COMMENT 335312	2012-10-24 03:48 PM
@225, I had the septoplasty/turbinoplasty performed by Dr. Merrin here in SB.
COMMENT 335351P	2012-10-24 04:57 PM
You can get Mucinex generic (much cheaper), it's guaifenesin, like in cough syrup. "Mucinex D" adds pseudoephedrine, AKA Sudafed, which if you want it you can also get generic.
QUAD-LIX	2012-10-24 07:15 PM
335282P : No, I think you're right about the prostaglandin and not histamines like I said. I was told that the anti-inflammatory effects of ibuprofen would help my aggravated allergy symptoms (I usually don't get any pain so I know it wasn't for that) but I don't remember exactly how. I really thought it had something to do inflammation being part of the hyper-active immune system response but it's been a while. So OP, I was basically just saying what works for me but I shouldn't have tried to explain why/how it works! I'm no doctor afterall.
COMMENT 335394	2012-10-24 07:37 PM
Salt cave. It opens next week.
COMMENT 335423P	2012-10-25 02:38 AM
I love my neti pot, but I don't think it would work if you're so congested. Just sayin'. The vinegar drink thing sounds like a great method to try, if you're determined to be more healthy about it all. My method of choice is to have a small tin of tiger balm (no tigers in it now, hooray) on hand. I take a small piece of toilet paper and coat it with the balm. Then I wrap that up in more toilet paper (you don't want the balm to make contact with sensitive nasal tissue), creating a small "plug." That plug goes up into whichever nostril is not functioning properly. Works within minutes, opening up everything; much like Vicks Vapo Rub, I would guess.
COMMENT 335445	2012-10-25 07:08 AM
Nasal congestion is not just mucous, it's inflammation and swelling. Saline solution up your nose is great. It is not fun to snuff water up your nose, but the relief is worth it, because the saline removes the mucous (and its germs) but soothes the inflammation and begins to reduce the swelling. No need for special kit for this. Just put some warm water into a small cup, add a shake or two of salt, and standing over the toilet, start snuffing. The solution will go up into your sinuses and flush them out. Do this about once an hour until the swelling goes away.
COMMENT 335451	2012-10-25 07:19 AM
Clip a small piece of paper towel soaked in eucalyptus oil on your collar, or on an old shirt.
COMMENT 335459	2012-10-25 07:42 AM
Wasabi clears sinuses so quickly. ;)
COMMENT 335465P	2012-10-25 07:57 AM
You have to be careful with nose sprays - you can get rebound congestion. It could be allergies....
COMMENT 335476P	2012-10-25 08:32 AM
Years ago when I was recovering from a bad sinus infection, I was prescribed Septra. Boy does that stuff dry you out. I had to carry a gallon jug of water in the car. Ever since then I am very proactive about taking congestion seriously. I went to an ENT once who said it's better to snort/sniff salt water than to squirt it up your nose. I use warm water and sea salt, sniffed out of the palm of my hand over the sink. This only works if you can get at least a little air through your nostril. With saline, it doesn't sting; if you use fresh water, it stings like crazy up in your brain (that's how it feels, anyway). I use pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (brand name Sudafed), like so many have recommended above. It's mildly stimulant, so not great right before bed. Because it can be used to make meth, you now have to buy it at the drug counter at your pharmacy. No prescription necessary. Ask for the generic, it's much cheaper. You have to swipe your driver's license and sign something. Big brother needs to know how your sinuses are doing.
COMMENT 335483P	2012-10-25 08:40 AM
I get congested at night and also have a deviated septum. I use "Flight Spray" purchased at Magellens. Ingredients are tumeric root, spearmint and purified water. Takes about 10 minutes, then my nose is clear.
FLICKA	2012-10-25 08:52 AM
For clogged breathing, from a cold or sinus, use those "Breath Right" strips. Soon as you put one on the air comes through. They are used for snoring too.
COMMENT 335497	2012-10-25 09:13 AM
(1) Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar. Lazy Acres in deli aisle, across from hot foods, bottom shelf. (2) Strenuous exercise reduces inflamation. (3) Irrigation or steam. (4) Remove saturated fats, sugars, process carbs, butters and oil from diet. (Yeah, toughest but illiminate what you can)
EZ2	2012-10-25 10:00 AM
chrysanthemum tea works great
GOODLAND MOMMA	2012-10-25 11:42 AM
I used to get a sinus infection every time I got a cold - a couple of years ago I discovered Olive Leaf capsules - they get rid of the pounding pretty quickly and now I actually use them at the first signs of a cold and have much shorter, less severe colds. More importantly - I haven't had a sinus infection in three years! I also love my neti pot, but as other have pointed out, if you're totally stuffed, it won't do too much. Lastly, IV co-op sells drops called cold and sinus blaster. I put a dropperful on my tongue (it is a mix of herbs and is fairly spicy) and immediately get cleared up - also seems to significantly reduce the length and symptoms of colds. Good luck!!
COMMENT 335613	2012-10-25 03:23 PM
OP here again. Thanks again to all and especially for the apple cider vinegar remedy! I grabbed some last night and boy howdy does it taste terrible but it worked in about 10 minutes! I've tried the neti pot in the past but it hasn't worked when I'm really stuffed up. Thanks again everyone!
COMMENT 335615P	2012-10-25 03:27 PM
neti pot .... kinda gross, but amazing results ! I was a skeptic but now a believer.
SCEPTIC	2012-10-26 02:32 PM
Another vote for wasabi.

45% of comments on this page were made by Edhat Community Members.