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The stuffy nose, also known as nasal congestion, occurs when the blood vessels in the nose become inflamed or when there is excess mucus production, making breathing difficult. This problem can be caused by colds, colds, sinusitis or respiratory allergies and usually goes away on its own in about 1 week.
As the stuffy nose does not present a health risk, pharmacy nasal decongestants should only be used under medical guidance and prescription, as they can worsen nasal congestion, due to the rebound effect, in which the case may worsen or become chronic.
Therefore, before using any decongestant, there are some homemade measures that can help to unblock the nose, such as:
1. Wash your nose with warm saline
The nasal washer removes excess mucus and secretions from the sinuses, helping to unclog the nose. In addition, as the mixture contains salt, it allows to eliminate bacteria that may be worsening the production of secretions.
As it can cause mild discomfort, the washer is not normally used by children, being more practical for adults. This device should be placed next to one of the nostrils, in order to insert the salted water and let the liquid escape through the other nostril, dragging mucus and impurities present in the nasal passages. See step by step to do the nasal wash.
2. Inhale steam with eucalyptus
Inhalation with vapors does not cause any discomfort and therefore can be used on children under adult supervision. Steam fluidizes secretions and eucalyptus is a decongestant, helping to unclog the nose.
To do the inhalation just put 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil in a bowl with about 500 mL of boiling water and inhale the steam for about 5 minutes, placing a bath towel over your head, for the steam to be trapped.
3. Humidify the environment
Humidifying the air with water basins around the house, or with the electric humidifier itself, helps to make the airway tissues more hydrated and less irritated, relieving discomfort and facilitating the removal of secretions.
4. Drink 2 to 3 liters of water a day
Water is very important to keep secretions more fluid and easier to eliminate, even if no other techniques are used. In addition, teas can also be taken, especially those with decongestant properties, such as eucalyptus or mint, for example.
5. Consume foods rich in vitamin C
Vitamin C is a substance that is well known for stimulating the immune system and making it stronger, which allows the body to recover faster from colds and flu, which are the main causes of a stuffy nose.
Some of the foods that can be eaten include pineapple, orange, lemon or tangerine, for example. See a more complete list of foods with vitamin C.
6. Take a hot shower
During the hot bath, the steam helps to make the nasal mucus more fluid and easier to expel, thus reducing the discomfort of the stuffy nose.
7. Use warm towel with mint
The warm, moist towel with mint tea on the face relieves the symptoms of a stuffy nose because it is a natural expectorant, that is, it helps to release the phlegm and mucus that causes discomfort. See other benefits of mint.
8. Massage your cheekbones
To relieve the discomfort of a stuffy nose, you can massage your cheeks and nose with essential oils of peppermint, eucalyptus or lavender, for 5 minutes.
Get to know other home remedies to unclog your nose, when caused by sinusitis, in the following video:
How to unclog the baby's nose
The stuffy nose in babies is very common, due to the small diameter of their nostrils, which can cause a lot of discomfort, as they do not know how to get rid of the mucus to be able to breathe better.
To unblock the baby's nose, what you can do is:
- Use saline to wash the baby's nostrils, applying a few drops or jets in one of the nostrils and sucking with a nasal aspirator;
- Perform a gentle massage from the top of the nose to the bottom;
- Place a high pillow under the baby's mattress to facilitate breathing;
- Nebulize with 5ml of saline solution for 20 min, 3 to 4 times a day, helping to fluidize nasal secretion.
Eucalyptus essential oil should not be used in children because it can cause irritation in the respiratory tract and even a crisis of bronchitis. If the environment is very dry, it is recommended to use air humidifiers or leave a wet towel spread inside the baby's room, avoiding buckets to prevent accidents. Here's how to prepare home remedies to treat your baby's stuffy nose.