Decongestant Remedies for Congestion Relief and Stuffy Nose

By Steven Harrisson, January 15, 2021

If you’re unfortunate enough to suffer from nasal congestion, then you know how painful and annoying it can feel. When you feel your head heavy, you can hardly concentrate, do your job or enjoy all the activities you love. Your chest can get full with mucus, your nose is runny and stuffy and sometimes it can be even difficult to breathe.

Luckily, regardless of the reasons for your stuffed-up nose, there are ways to get relief. Here are things you can do and decongestant remedies you can try now to feel and breathe better.

Use Essential Oils

Essential oils have amazing powers which is why they have been used for centuries. Besides offering relaxation, they are also great for relieving sinus congestion and unblocking a stuffy nose.

Many brands offer a wide range of essential oils for stuffy nose which can naturally fight the symptoms of cold and flu. One of the most commonly used essential oils for this purpose is eucalyptus oil. It contains a compound called cineole which is found to help relieve symptoms of sinusitis like congestion, headache and nasal secretion. Peppermint oil contains menthol which affects the mucus receptors in the nose and can also fight bacterial infections. Tea tree oil, lavender, oregano and clary sage are all excellent oils recommended for treating nasal congestion.

There are several ways you can use essential oils for stuffy nose:

1. Breathe in the essential oil directly – You can add a few drops of essential oil to a tissue and slowly breathe in. Be careful not to get the oil directly on your skin as it may cause irritation. Keep in mind that it’s always best to dilute essential oils with carrier oils and then breathe in the scent.
2. Use a humidifier – A very gentle and successful way to unblock your runny nose is to disperse essential oils in the air with a humidifier. This way, you’ll also add humidity to the air you breathe. In turn, this will increase the moisture in your nose and make it easier for you to breathe. You can use a humidifier during the day and also at night. Keeping it on while you sleep can open your nasal passages, meaning you’ll get better sleep. Add 5 – 10 drops of your favourite flu essential oils into a diffuser and get immediate relief.
3. Inhale steam – Add a few drops to a bowl of boiling water, place a towel over your head and inhale the steam.
4. Add to the bath – Add a few drops of oil to your bath and gently inhale while soaking in the water.
5. Topical application – Put a few drops of essential oil diluted with a carrier oil over your chest and back and rub.

Try Decongestant Nasal Sprays

Decongestant nasal sprays (DNS) are used for temporary relief of congestion caused by common colds, allergies, sinusitis or hay fever. A great example is the Logicin rapid relief nasal spray that can offer immediate relief thanks to its active ingredient called oxymetazoline hydrochloride. Oxymetazoline hydrochloride works by narrowing the blood vessels in your nasal passages which reduces swelling.

Nasal sprays offer the best results when you use them correctly. You only need to spray 1 – 2 sprays in each nostril 2 to 3 times a day and it will relieve your blocked nose within a few minutes and the effect can last up to 12 hours. But it’s important to make sure you point the nasal spray toward the back of your nose so that you can actually inhale the medicine. Also, you shouldn’t spray it directly onto the septum because it can damage the tissues and might lead to irritation and nose bleeding.

A DNS is a very effective decongestant remedy, but keep in mind that it may cause certain side effects like burning, stinging, dryness in the nose, sneezing, nausea, increased nasal discharge, dizziness and even a headache. Some side effects can be serious, like a fast or slow heartbeat. If you notice this, you should stop using the spray immediately. Using DNSs for too long can cause rebound congestion, known as rhinitis medicamentosa.

To prevent unfortunate side-effects, it’s good to know that you shouldn’t use Logicin rapid relief nasal spray or any other DNS for longer than three days. If your symptoms don’t get better after 3 days of treatment, you can consult your doctor or try some other natural alternative to relieve the congestion. If you use oxymetazoline nasal sprays longer than recommended, you can develop a tolerance to DNSs. This means that you would need a larger amount of spray to achieve the desired results. Although you can’t become drug-addicted to the nasal spray, it can lead to physical drug dependence.

Put a Warm Compress

In addition, you can help yourself by putting a warm compress on your face as this can unclog and open up nasal passages. To make a warm compress you need to take a clean cloth or small towel and soak it in warm water. Then squeeze the excess water from the cloth and place it over your upper nose. You can repeat the process several times, but avoid keeping it too long on your face as it may irritate and burn your skin.

Stay Hydrated & Eat Herbs and Spices

Staying hydrated and eating healthy are the most important pillars of good health. Especially when you’re congested, you need to take proper care and straighten your immunity with the right foods and supplements.

Staying hydrated will help loosen the mucus (which blocks your nose). Try to drink at least eight 250 ml cups of water each day. Eating spicy food such as peppers, ginger, garlic and turmeric will also help open up the nasal passages.

Using these decongestant remedies will surely make you feel better after a few days, but if your condition doesn’t improve, you should consider consulting your doctor.