Put an end to the common cold! We show you how to get rid of a runny nose and why nasal mucus is so important.
Haaatschi! The nose and eyes run and one sneezing attack follows the next.
There really are nicer things than those pesky symptoms of colds.
The mountain of handkerchiefs is growing.
Soon you could drown in wet paper towels, so high is the pile by now.
The nose itself is also quite affected. Red as a schnapps nose, you could probably light the way for Santa Claus with it.
You're already sore around the nose. Really annoying. Runny nose - We declare war on you. So your nose will be free again quickly!
By the way: Attention - a running nose is a classic cold symptom and contagious! Stay away from others as much as possible. A Colds are contagious longer than you think.
Table of contents
What is the cause of a runny nose?
A runny nose during a cold is no reason to go to the doctor. Because from a medical point of view, it is completely harmless.
But it can make life quite difficult for us. It's impossible to think about working when you have a cold. The runny nose doesn't allow us to keep our hands off the handkerchief.
And good and restful sleep is also out of the question. We can only recover with difficulty and are in zombie mode.
This ensures that our immune system is weakened, and as a result it takes even longer for us to get back up and running.
What we call a runny nose is called rhinitis in medicine. The rhinitis including runny nose is usually triggered by viruses. More rarely by bacteria.
Runny nose is an accompanying symptom of respiratory diseases. The viruses cause inflammation to occur. This irritates the nasal mucosa. The result: mucus in the nose.
The consistency reveals which pathogen is responsible for the infection. Bacteria cause very thick greenish discharge.
Viruses produce thin and transparent secretion in the nose. At first, it is usually still transparent and thin. Later, when we are already feeling a little better, it turns yellow to greenish and becomes thick.
Wow! These home remedies finally put an end to colds and co.
Why does nasal mucus need to drain?
A runny nose is terribly annoying. Sooner or later we are all sore and everything hurts. Still, it's not in vain. Because running our nose has a purpose: it helps our immune system.
Pathogens are flushed out of the body via the nasal mucus. This prevents bacteria and viruses from spreading in the respiratory tract.
If you didn't have a runny nose and an infection right now, you could catch pneumonia or sinus infections.
So it makes a lot of sense that the nose runs. You should even consciously make sure that the secretion can drain and support your body in doing so. It has to come out anyway, if you help your body, the spook will be over sooner.
You have three options: Decongestant nasal drops, inhalation or rinsing the nose.
When inhaling, you can either hold your head over a pot of hot water or take a one-time inhaler. Inhaler with built-in nasal irrigation* to add.
The inhaler is a good idea, because you can not only use it against stuffy or runny noses, but also do something for your body when sneezing and coughing. The inhaler cleanses the respiratory tract, decongests the mucous membranes and supports the healing of the cold.
And with the nasal rinse function, you can get the viruses and bacteria out of your body faster.
The device is also suitable for children and has various attachments. Read best times the over 850 reviews for the Inhaler with built-in nasal irrigation* on Amazon. They are all very positive. Incidentally, the device is currently on offer!
Do you know the secret how to solve your stuffy nose?
How you can stop the runny nose
If you are at the very beginning of the cold, you may still be able to fight it off. If you notice that your nose is starting to get blocked, you must succeed in clearing the airways. In other words, get the germs out of your body.
I'm not a fan of nasal sprays or drops, but they can still help you in this stadium.
It helps much more naturally if you get a Nasal douche*, which uses special salt or sea salt spray to combat runny nose. These preparations have a completely natural decongestant effect.
Whether spray, drops or sea salt - they all ensure that the blood flow to the vessels in the nasal mucosa is throttled. This allows the mucus to drain away and the nose no longer feels stuffy.
You have to be careful with nasal sprays. They can cause you to become dependent. Never use them for more than 7 days. If possible, do not use them at all. There is a whole range of home remedies that ensure a clear nose.
Drink plenty of fluids to keep mucous membranes moist.
You won't believe how easy it is to put an end to hoarseness!
5 simple home remedies for a runny nose
With home remedies we do not directly fight the runny nose. But rather the infection itself.
Very important when you have a cold: eat very healthy and drink a lot of water. Your body can use all the vitamins and nutrients you give it. Support your immune system with fresh fruits, vegetables and teas.
The most important vitamins for the immune system are vitamin C, B12, D3, K2. Together they are not only a good booster against colds, but also against fatigue and when you feel groggy.
1. honey against running nose
You should always have a jar of honey at home. It relieves all kinds of cold symptoms quickly and reliably.
As a natural product, honey has an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. It is good for a sore throat or a scratchy throat.
Just take a teaspoon of honey. You can repeat this several times throughout the day. By the way, it is best to keep it in your mouth for about a minute before swallowing it.
By the way, a very good cold killer is a homemade ginger shot with turmeric.
2. onion against runny nose
I love onions. Even if they often make me cry. With colds they are super helpers. The juice of the onion has a disinfecting effect and relieves swelling. So the mucus can loosen and soon the cold is over.
But don't worry, you don't have to eat whole onions now. Fortunately, it also goes a little more pleasant.
We prepare onion syrup.
Cut an onion into small pieces. Pour a tablespoon of honey over it. It extracts the juice from the onion. Put the mixture in a place protected from the sun.
After about 3 hours, your onion syrup should be ready. Take a teaspoon of it. Repeat the process 4-5 times throughout the day.
If you're fit right now, this might sound mega gross. But if you have a real cold, you will hardly taste anything. At most the sweetness of the honey.
3. inhalation clears the airways
A home remedy that is very popular for runny nose is water vapor. Inhalation clears the upper nasal passages and has a decongestant effect.
You can fill a bowl with hot water for this. Put a towel over your head and bend over the bowl. Breathe in and out deeply through your nose.
Caution: It can happen very quickly that you scald yourself.
To be on the safe side, you can get yourself a Inhaler with built-in nasal irrigation* to the new one.
Your nose is constantly running and just won't stop? With all kinds of colds, the mucous membranes are too dry. This happens whenever we activate the radiators.
If you increase the humidity to around 60 percent, you keep the mucous membranes nice and moist. This ensures that the nasal mucus can drain more quickly.
In addition, the scratchy throat will then be a thing of the past.
You can simply hang a damp towel over the heater. Or you can buy a humidifier. You can put essential oils in the humidifier to speed up your recovery. Eucalyptus or chamomile are good examples.
By the way, very good also does a warm (not hot!) Bath with special bath additives, which are used for colds have a soothing effect.
Do vitamin C and zinc help against colds?
4. herbs and essential oils
Nature also has a lot to offer that can help us. So you can with Eucalyptus oil* or basil and thyme to combat the runny nose.
Add a few drops of the Eucalyptus oil* on a handkerchief and inhale firmly. It has a soothing and decongestant effect. If this is too intense for you, add it to the water for inhalation or to the bath water.
In the garden you can find basil and thyme. These two herbs have antibacterial and antiviral effects. Pluck a few leaves and chew them. Or make a tea with them. The essential oils in the herbs decongest the mucous membranes.
5. grab a pillow
We need to get rid of the infection. To do this, the mucus must drain away. But it doesn't do that when we lie horizontally. Especially the nights can become a big challenge.
Often the nose is then really clogged and breathing becomes difficult.
Therefore, grab a pillow. Position your head higher so that the mucus can drain away. The best way to do this is to apply a cream with essential oils. The oils open the airways and have a decongestant effect.
Make it yourself yet! DIY cold balm with essential oils
Help, I have a runny nose without a cold
A cold does not always have to be the reason for a runny nose. Allergies can also be responsible. Unlike a cold, the symptoms only last as long as you are in contact with the allergen.
For example, I have a dust mite allergy. This means that it is worst in the morning after getting up and in the evening on the sofa. My nose runs, I have to sneeze and my eyes water.
Animal hair, especially cats, is also often responsible for dripping noses.
Or if you only have the discomfort in the spring and early summer, then you could be suffering from a grass allergy.
Watch your symptoms closely if you have a runny nose without a cold. And then go to a doctor and do an allergy test. Then you will know for sure and you can do something about it.
Sometimes your nose starts to run when you
- you play sports intensively,
- eats something spicy,
- allergic to something,
- quickly from cold to warm.
In such cases, the mucous membrane of the nose and sinuses is heavily supplied with blood and lets things run smoothly. The good thing about it: After a few minutes the spook is over and the normal state is back.
Why the nose runs when you eat
Triggers for rhinitis and sneezing can also be food. Especially hot and spicy foods can cause runny nose.
This is because some ingredients in food irritate the nose. They stimulate the blood flow in the nose. As a result, it produces more mucus.
Foods rich in histamine, such as wine, seafood, tomatoes or kiwis, can also cause runny nose. You can take a test for a possible histamine overreaction with a doctor.
The running nose in old age
Many people complain of liquid nasal mucus as they age. This is because the blood vessels in the nose are dilated. So the mucous membranes swell more easily - and you have a runny nose.
There's little you can do about it except regular nasal irrigation, keeping your nose clean, and drinking a lot.
When do I need to see a doctor with a runny nose?
Normally, runny noses are not worth a visit to the doctor. However, if it is still not better after a week, it may still be worth seeking expert advice. Watery rhinitis may then be due to bacteria that the body cannot defeat on its own.
If you don't get them under control now, they can trigger an ear infection or sinusitis. When in doubt, it's better to see a doctor once too often than to risk something at home.
Our conclusion
If you have a runny nose, what you need most of all is rest. As annoying as it is, the body does nothing but get rid of harmful pathogens. So we have to support it so that the secretion can flow away. Cheer up! After a few days, everything will be over!
Get well soon :)
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