Head congestion can be caused by a cold, the flu, allergies or a sinus infection. Your nasal passages become clogged, your ears pop, you blow your nose to no avail. Your speech becomes stuffy, and it feels like your whole head is stopped up and ready to burst. There are plenty of over-the-counter medicines that can help with head congestion, but there are also some cheap and natural ways to find relief.
Hydration
Try to avoid sugary drinks, but almost any liquids can help with congestion. Drinks such as water, an electrolyte-fueled sports drink, or tea can all help with hydration while keeping your throat moist and help to thin the mucus that’s building up in your sinuses.
Hot Tea
Hot tea can be especially good for clearing up congestion, especially teas with peppermint, echinacea, rosemary, thyme, or ginger. These herbs have anti-inflammatory properties, which will help relieve congestion by reducing swelling in the mucous membranes in your respiratory system.
Steam
Just a bowl of hot water and a dry towel used to create a natural steam bubble, as in the picture shown above, could help clear out the nasal passages. Similarly, a hot shower in a closed-off bathroom, a sauna, or a humidifier could have comparable effects. A little steam can go a long way.
Spicy Foods
Spices, like cayenne pepper and turmeric, can help to clear out the sinuses as well. Eating spicy foods can loosen up compacted mucus in your nasal cavities. Most spices are high in anti-inflammatory properties, which not only help loosen and drain the sinuses but also help to reduce swelling in the mucous membranes in your sinuses.
Soup
The steam that comes from a hot serving of soup can help clear the sinuses, too. Most soups are chock-full of healthy ingredients with antioxidants, which will help you fight whatever is causing your congestion as well as provide you with the nutrients to get through your day. There is a reason that mom’s chicken noodle soup was even better when you were sick — it was curing you on multiple levels.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix two to three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in with hot tea to help thin out mucus and relieve pressure in the sinuses. The pH levels of apple cider vinegar help break up mucus, while the antibacterial properties of apple cider vinegar help to prevent infection.
Neti Pot
Irrigating the nasal passages with a saline solution can clear out mucus and keep it from coming back. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a half cup of lukewarm water, and put the mixture into a neti pot. If you don’t have a neti pot, a squeeze bottle with a small top will work perfectly. Tilt your head, pour through one nostril, and let the water drain out of the other. This should soothe your nasal passages while ridding them of bacteria.
Nasal and head congestion is not something you can just deal with without a little bit of relief. You may find the next time your head gets stuffed up, that with using these remedies, you can fight head congestion and conduct your normal activities with ease simultaneously. Head congestion is a tough thing to deal with without help. Now you don’t have to do it alone.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
[Source: Food.NTDV.com, Healthline, Livestrong, Livestrong, WebMD ]
