Difficulty breathing gives a person a lot of inconvenience. It is difficult to talk with a stuffy nose, it is difficult to sleep, eating also causes discomfort. If this condition is left untreated, there is a possibility of complications.
Most often, with a cold, we go to the pharmacy for vasoconstrictor drops. They seem to us the simplest and most harmless way of treatment. However, drops are addictive.
Natural medicines can also be a good method to overcome the disease. Today, there are many homemade recipes for pain relief.
What folk remedies for the common cold can be used and what are the nuances of traditional medicine treatment, we will tell in our article.
How to deal with a runny nose
Measures to eliminate the common cold should not be postponed until later. Inflammation of the nasal mucosa will not go away on its own, moreover, it can turn into an acute form,provoke ear diseases and cough development.
When the first symptoms of the disease appear, take action. Treatment of a runny nose with folk remedies can be carried out in various ways.
For example:
- washing;
- warming up;
- by inhalation;
- sinus massage method;
- using ointments.
With complex treatment, you can eliminate unpleasant symptoms much faster and bring recovery closer. Procedures must be performed in accordance with certain rules. Consider the features of using each method.
Important! Treatment at home is advisable to carry out only at the initial stage of the disease. If your condition worsens, do not delay. Go see a therapist. Runny nose is fraught with serious complications.
Nose wash
In the fight against nasal congestion, the first measures should be aimed at freeing the airways from mucus. This task is best handled by rinsing.
If the treatment of the common cold with folk remedies was started immediately, then the disease disappears quickly enough. The sputum in the nose is well liquefied, the mucus comes out and it becomes easy to breathe. The procedure contributes to the disinfection of the mucous membrane, due to which the development and spread of the disease stops.
Flushing can be done with a small syringe or syringe. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Fill the selected container with healingcomposition.
- Pushing your head forward (above the sink), inject the liquid first into one nostril, then into the other.
When you inject the solution into one nostril, the liquid passes through all the nasal passages, washes out sputum, pathogens, crusts, and exits through the second nostril.
This method can be used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of viral infections. It is applicable for both adults and children.
Recipes for making a solution for washing
Treatment of nasal congestion by washing involves the use of various formulations. To prepare them, you can use one of the following recipes:
- In one glass of liquid (room temperature), add 0.5 tablespoon of baking soda. If desired, you can supplement the composition with a couple of drops of iodine.
- Add half a teaspoon of sea s alt to a glass of warm water. If one is not available, you can use the usual food.
- A tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers, eucalyptus leaves or St. John's wort pour 250 ml of boiling water. Let the broth brew for 40 minutes. Strain the resulting infusion and rinse your nose with it several times a day.
- Furacilin tablet grind into powder and pour a glass of water. Stir the solution thoroughly and use as needed.
Folk remedies for the common cold include rinsing with mineral water (without gas), a solution of beetroot juice (diluted 1:1 with water), green tea and lemon juice. In the latter case, the main component is diluted with boiled water (1: 1). If this is not done, you can burn the mucous membrane!
The use of inhalation in the struggle for free breathing
To get rid of a runny nose and nasal congestion, folk remedies in the form of inhalation help very quickly. During the procedures, you can use a special inhaler or a large towel and a container for a treatment solution.
The latter is prepared using herbs and essential oils. If you use a steam apparatus for breathing procedures, then it is forbidden to add oils.
To prepare the solution, take the herb of thyme, St. John's wort and lavender in equal parts. Fill them with boiling water, strain and pour into a special container of a nebulizer (inhaler).
If you do not have such a device at home, do not despair. Use methods that for several decades have allowed you to get rid of unpleasant symptoms even before the advent of specialized equipment.
To carry out the procedure, you will need potatoes. The recipe is quite simple:
- Boil a few unpeeled potatoes in a saucepan. Wash them first!
- When the potatoes are cooked, drain the liquid and lightly crush it in the pan.
- Take a comfortable position over a bowl of boiled vegetables, cover your head and pot with a large blanket or towel.
- Inhale the steam for 15 minutes.
Such actions can be carried out 2 times a day. The last inhalation is best done before going to bed. Potato vapor will ease your breathing, relaxand set to rest.
Therapeutic warming: pros and cons
Nose warming with dry heat has been popular for many years. However, not many people know that such folk remedies for the common cold can not only improve the condition, but also cause serious harm.
So, in what cases it is impossible to warm up the nose:
- if a purulent form of sinusitis is diagnosed;
- if the patient has a high fever;
- if mucosal edema is caused by fungal pathogens;
- for meningococcal infection.
With a slight runny nose, it is possible and even necessary to warm up the nose. This is done as follows:
- Boil one chicken egg.
- Wrap it in a handkerchief or piece of clean cloth.
- Apply a warm compress to the bridge of your nose.
The heat exposure time should not exceed 15 minutes. The blood in the capillaries will begin to move faster, the secretion of mucus will stop. Such treatment of a runny nose with folk remedies will quickly relieve you of swelling of the mucous membrane and provide easy breathing.
For this purpose, you can use not only eggs, but also buckwheat, s alt, wheat. They must be preheated in a pan, wrapped in a thick cloth and used in the same way.
Important! The temperature of the compress should be pleasant for the skin. It is strictly forbidden to overheat the nose!
Acupressure technique for colds
Do you think what folk remedy cancure a runny nose if there is no time to prepare medicines? Try a massage. This method surprises many, but it effectively helps the body cope with the disease.
To properly carry out the procedure, you need to consider the following rules:
- fingers should be warm;
- movements - careful and smooth;
- pressure and rotation - continuous;
- treatment duration - 10 minutes.
If you have a high fever, this treatment should be postponed! During the massage, you may feel some pain. Don't be scared, it's quite normal.
It is necessary to massage several points:
- The area of intersection of the bridge of the nose and the line of the eyebrows.
- Two symmetrical depressions in the temple area (located 2 cm from the eyebrows).
- Points located on both sides at the base of the nose (near the inner edges of the eyes).
- The points between the nostrils and the upper lip.
The listed areas are massaged one by one. If we are talking about paired points, then clicking on them must be performed simultaneously. During the massage, the eyes should be closed. Each point should be massaged for about 1 minute. Movement can be directed both clockwise and counterclockwise.
This treatment of a runny nose with folk remedies will quickly relieve you of a headache and a feeling of heaviness in your nose. During the massage, you may feel pressure on the bridge of your nose. After the procedure, you will feel much better.
Ointments from the common cold according to folk recipes
Another way to treat a runny nose with folk remedies is ointments. They have been added to the arsenal of alternative medicine for a long time, so they have already managed to demonstrate their effectiveness.
There are many recipes for making ointments for nasal congestion. Here are some examples of the most popular options.
The simplest recipe involves the use of lemon, honey and sunflower oil. To prepare the ointment, you need to grind a couple of citrus fruits in a blender, add a tablespoon of honey and oil to the resulting mixture. The resulting gruel should be lubricated with a nose in the morning and before bedtime.
Folk remedies for the treatment of rhinitis in adults speak of the high effectiveness of onion ointment. To prepare it, a glass of sunflower oil should be brought to a boil in a water bath, add an onion to it (previously cut into large half rings). The composition must be insisted for about 8 hours, and then used to lubricate the nose twice a day.
You can also try the following ointment recipes:
- Take 0.5 cups of vegetable oil, a couple of tablespoons of Kalanchoe juice, a couple of streptocide tablets, 2 grams of beeswax and propolis. Heat oil, beeswax and honey in a water bath. In a separate container, grind streptocide tablets and propolis. Fill them with hot liquid and add aloe juice to the composition. Mix the ointment thoroughly and refrigerate. Use it to lubricate your nose several times a day. This toolhelps to cope not only with a runny nose, but also with a cough. If it occurs, lubricate the chest with ointment and wrap yourself in a blanket.
- To make the second remedy, prepare 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, milk, alcohol, honey and onion juice. Also grate laundry soap on a fine grater. You will need 2 spoons of it. All components must be mixed and placed in a water bath. The composition must be heated until the soap is completely dissolved. In the resulting mixture, you need to moisten cotton swabs and smear your nose. After 15 minutes, the product must be washed off. Use it three times a day.
All ointments are applied to the inside of the wings of the nose. It is best to use cotton swabs for this. However, you should not smear the nose too deeply.
Folk remedies for the common cold in the form of drops
Alternative medicine offers quite a few options for making drops to eliminate the common cold. There are separate means to combat nasal congestion, to stop the production of mucus. Drops are convenient in that they can be prepared once, poured into a convenient container and taken with you to work.
Treatment of a runny nose with folk remedies (quickly) in adults can be done using one of these recipes:
- Take a medium-sized onion, peel it. Grind the vegetable in a blender or on a fine grater.
- Pour the resulting gruel with boiling water (for 2 tablespoons of onion 1 cup of boiling water).
- Let the mixture steep forhalf an hour.
- Add 1 teaspoon of liquid honey to the cooled liquid and mix well.
- Strain the tincture. Place 2 drops in each nostril.
After getting the product on the irritated mucous membrane, you may feel a slight burning sensation. It will pass in a few minutes. And after 3 days (according to reviews), you will completely forget about the common cold.
An alternative to onion drops is the following infusion:
- Take a freshly cut and washed aloe leaf.
- Crush it and squeeze out all the juice through cheesecloth.
- Mix it with liquid honey (1:1 ratio).
The resulting drops have an anti-inflammatory effect on the nasal mucosa. As a result, patients note a decrease in swelling and a reduction in the formation of mucus.
An effective nasal instillation can be made with a couple of drops of sunflower oil, beetroot juice and garlic juice. All ingredients must be mixed and used for nasal instillation.
Please note that beet juice can bake! If after instillation you notice a similar reaction, stop using this recipe.
Treatment of the common cold in children
Traditional medicine has many ways to deal with the common cold. Some are considered more benign, others are radical. Reviews of treatment with natural ingredients are so positive that many even use them to treat children.
Pay attention! Folk remedies fromrhinitis in adults can not always be used to treat children. If a child has an ailment, first of all discuss the treatment regimen with a doctor.
When a runny nose has just appeared, rinse the child's nose with a water-s alt solution. This method is absolutely safe and is used even for the treatment of infants. For this purpose, you can use sea s alt with water (1: 0.5) or pharmacy saline. A harmless and useful remedy for washing the nose is a decoction of chamomile flowers.
As drops, you can use Kalanchoe juice diluted with water. The ingredients are mixed in a ratio of 1:10. You can bury a child's nose with such compositions 2-4 times a day.
If the doctor allows, use inhalations with potato broth or soda solution. Potato is used in the above way. Soda inhalations are done in a ratio of 1:25 with water. Eucalyptus and sage oils can be added to a warm liquid. Exposure time - no more than 10 minutes.
If you decide to use herbs for inhalation, you must be sure that your child is not allergic to them. Otherwise, itching and swelling of the nasal mucosa will increase. Each method of treatment must be discussed with the pediatrician beforehand!
Features of the treatment of the common cold in pregnant women
Pregnancy is the period when you least want to take any medication. But what if the expectant mother caught a cold? It is possible to cure a runny nose with folk remedies (as soon as possible) in such a situation,but not all recipes can be used.
When an ailment occurs, consult a doctor immediately. Focusing on your condition and the nature of the course of pregnancy, the specialist will tell you the best method of treatment.
Remember! You can use folk remedies for a runny nose and congestion only if you are completely sure of its safety!
As mentioned above, first of all use harmless nasal rinses with a water-s alt solution. A decoction of chamomile is also not included in the list of prohibited substances.
To improve the condition, you can take a mixture of viburnum juice and honey. The components must be mixed in equal proportions and taken orally 1 tablespoon (before each meal). Currant fruit drink has a general strengthening effect on colds.
At the first signs of illness, you can use an onion compress. To do this, the vegetable must be chopped until gruel is formed and put in cheesecloth. Lubricate the skin in the area of the bridge of the nose with sunflower oil, attach gauze to it.
Summing up
Treatment of the common cold with folk remedies at home in many cases shows good results. However, this is not a reason for treatment without the participation of specialists. Consult your doctor! Rule out serious illnesses and only then use recipes for natural medicines.
