How To Stop A Runny Nose – 10 Home Remedies That Work

A runny nose is characterized by mucus pouring or ‘flowing’ out of your nostril. To figure out how to stop a runny nose using the most appropriate home remedies, you need to first understand what is causing it. There are various reasons why you may get a runny nose. Cold weather, illness, or allergies can all contribute to it. For instance, when a cold virus or an allergen like pollen or dust enters your body, it irritates the lining of your nose and sinuses (air-filled pockets around the face), causing your nose to produce a lot of clear mucus. This mucus holds germs, viruses, and allergens in your nose and sinuses, allowing them to be flushed out. This article lists some of the best home remedies to manage this condition. Keep scrolling to check them all out!

How To Stop A Runny Nose – The 10 Best Remedies

1. Essential Oils
2. Salt Water
3. Steam
4. Ginger
5. Garlic
6. Turmeric
7. Eucalyptus Oil
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
9. Honey And Lemon
10. Mustard Oil
11. Neti Pot

1. Essential Oils For Runny Nose

You Will Need

• 3 drops peppermint oil
• 5 drops lavender oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the essential oils and apply on the chest, neck, and the bridge of the nose.
2. Leave it on.

How Often You Should Do This

Reapply twice or thrice a day.

Why This Works

Peppermint oil contains menthol, which decongests the chest and thins the mucus. It also increases the sensation of nasal airflow and reduces respiratory discomfort (1).  Lavender oil is antibacterial and antifungal in nature and can treat the infection that might be causing the runny nose. It also calms the senses (2).

2. Salt Water For Runny Nose

You Will Need

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups warm water
• Dropper

What You Have To Do

1. Add the salt to the water and mix well.
2. Use the dropper to administer these saline drops into your nose.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this a few times in a day, till you get relief from a runny nose.

Why This Works

Salt water will thin down the mucus, thus making it easier for the body to expel it quicker. It also helps clear the nasal passages of any irritants (3).

Quick Tip

You can also use over-the-counter saline (salt water) drops to relieve a runny and stuffy nose.

Watch This Video To Learn How Salt Water Helps To Cure A Runny Nose

3. Steam For Runny Nose

You Will Need

• A bowl of hot water
• A large towel

What You Have To Do

1. Hold the towel over your head and inhale the steam from the hot water bowl.
2. Continue this for 10 minutes. Then, blow your nose.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this three to four times in a day.

Why This Works

The warmth of the steam breaks down the mucus that gives you the stuffy nose feeling (4). When you blow your nose, this accumulated mucus easily comes out.

Quick Tip

You can add two drops of peppermint and lavender essential oils to the bowl of hot water to reap the benefits of the oils along with the steam.

Ericka Eckles, a blogger, shared her experience with inhaling steam made with lavender, eucalyptus, and bergamot essential oils and water to treat her runny nose. She advises, “If you use too much essential oil then it can be too harsh for your delicate nose membranes (i).”

4. Ginger For Runny Nose

You Will Need

• Ginger
• Salt

What You Have To Do

1. Grate some ginger and add a pinch of salt and chomp away on it.
2. You can also brew some fresh ginger tea and drink it.

How Often You Should Do This

Chew ginger several times during the day.

Why This Works

We all know ginger has antioxidants that can cure a myriad of ailments. It also has antiviral and antifungal properties that get to the root and banish a runny nose (5).

5. Garlic For Runny Nose

You Will Need

Small garlic cloves

What You Have To Do

Chew the garlic clove and ingest it to get relief from a runny nose.

How Often You Should Do This

Have three to four small cloves in a day.

Why This Works

Garlic will warm up your body and give you immense relief from a runny nose.

The allicin present in it possesses antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that will kill the microbes causing the runny nose symptoms (6).

6. Turmeric For Runny Nose

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 cup linseed oil

What You Have To Do

Soak the turmeric powder in a cup of linseed oil, and inhale the smoke emitted. Use freshly ground turmeric powder preferably.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a day.

Why This Works

An antidote for cuts and wounds, turmeric also works wonders in putting a halt to that leaky nose. A small pinch of turmeric powder is loaded with antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and even antioxidant properties (7). This will loosen the mucus and make you feel less irritable.

7. Eucalyptus Oil For Runny Nose

You Will Need

• Eucalyptus oil
• A handkerchief

What You Have To Do

Just dab a few drops of eucalyptus oil on the hanky and inhale it through the day to appease the symptoms of a cold and runny nose.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every day until the runny nose clears up.

Why This Works

The antiviral and antimicrobial properties of eucalyptus oil and their benefits for cold symptoms are well known. This potent essential oil also has anti-inflammatory and analgesicⁱ  A medicating drug or substance that relieves the pain (mild or severe) and reduces inflammation. properties (8, 9).

8. Apple Cider Vinegar For Runny Nose

You Will Need

• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• A glass of warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Add the vinegar, honey, and cinnamon to the glass of water and mix well.
2. Drink this while it is still warm.

How Often You Should Do This

Have this drink twice a day.

Why This Works

The antibacterial and antiviral properties of apple cider vinegar come in handy when it comes to treating a runny nose.

It also exerts anti-inflammatory effects on the body. This property proves to be beneficial when the runny nose is due an allergic reaction that causes inflammation (10).

9. Honey And Lemon

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3-4 drops fresh lemon juice
• A glass of lukewarm water

What You Have To Do

Mix the honey and lemon juice in the water and drink this.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink this water twice daily.

Why This Works

The antimicrobial activity of honey works synergistically with that of lemon to treat the microbes causing the nasal infection. Honey also reduces inflammation of the nasal passages (11, 12).

10. Mustard Oil

You Will Need

Mustard oil

What You Have To Do

Heat a tablespoon of mustard oil until it’s a tad bit warm and gently put in a few drops of it into your nostrils.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this in the morning and night until the rhinorrhea symptoms go away.

Why This Works

This oil is enriched with antibiotic and antiviral properties that will get to work in no time (13). It will work at both eliminating the cold and relieving the symptoms of a runny nose.

11. Neti Pot

You Will Need

• A neti pot
• Filtered water or saline solution

What You Have To Do

1. Add the solution to the neti pot.
2. Pour the solution from the neti pot through one nostril and out the other.

Why This Works

The neti pot helps in clearing mucus from your nose.

The above-listed remedies will not only provide relief from a runny nose but will also help alleviate other common cold symptoms like a stuffed nose and sneezes.

Aside from these home remedies, you could also try over-the-counter medications like nasal sprays. These sprays typically contain active ingredients like antihistamines or decongestants that help reduce nasal congestion and excessive flow of mucus (14). By targeting the source of the runny nose, they provide a more direct and rapid response compared to oral medications. However, use them as directed and avoid prolonged use as they can lead to a rebound effect, worsening the symptoms. While nasal sprays can be an effective temporary solution, persistent or severe nasal issues should be discussed with a doctor to rule out underlying causes.

Let’s now look at the causes.

What Causes A Runny Nose

A runny nose or rhinorrhea can be caused due the following reasons:

• Common cold
• Flu
• Hay fever
• Allergies
• Pregnancy
• Vasomotor rhinitisⁱ  Inflammation of nose tissues caused by the dilation of nasal blood vessels that results in nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing.

Among these, cold or flu is the most common cause for rhinorrhea or a runny nose (15).

Signs And Symptoms Of A Runny Nose

The main symptom of a runny nose is the excess mucus that is being produced in the nasal passages and, probably, even dripping out from the nostrils. This excess mucus blocks the nasal passages, making it difficult to breathe through the nose. Other signs and symptoms include:

• Headache
• Facial pain
• Sneezing
• Nosebleeds

Sore throat or ear infection can develop if the infected mucus travels into the ear canals or back up into the throat.

How To Fix A Kid’s Runny Nose At Home

You can use any of the simple home remedies listed above to treat your kid’s runny nose. These remedies are safe to use for kids and adults.

Preventive Measures To Avoid A Runny Nose

Take these measures to avoid that annoying dripping nose, especially in the winters.

• Stay away from allergens. Use air purifiers to refresh indoor air
• Cover your nose, mouth, and neck with a woollen scarf while heading outdoors during the winters
• A dry atmosphere at home can also trigger a runny nose. Use a humidifier to maintain indoor humidity levels
• Keep your body well hydrated. Drink plenty of water – at least 10 glasses in a day
• Maintain a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals

In a survey conducted on 8000 adults who were smokers and had exposure to gas, fumes or dust, it was found that 40.7% had runny nose, 55.1% had chronic rhinitis and 49.1% had nasal congestion. Active smoking, exposure to environmental tobacco, and occupational irritants all contributed to the nasal symptoms.

Infographic: 5 Effective Remedies For A Runny Nose

Dealing with a persistent runny nose can be both frustrating and uncomfortable. Worry not! There are remedies that can provide relief, from ginger to certain essential oils. Check out the infographic below to explore these remedies and combat that pesky drip.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What dries up a runny nose the best?

Taking an antihistamine medication dries up a runny nose the best. Some good options include diphenhydramine (Benadryl), brompheniramine (Allergy Elixir), and doxylamine (NyQuil).

Does ibuprofen stop a runny nose?

Ibuprofen may not stop a runny nose, but it can help relieve the symptoms of a cold.

Is clove good for a running nose?

Clove may help treat the symptoms of a cold. However, it may not help dry up a runny nose.

Check out this video to learn how to get rid of a runny nose and stop it fast with simple home remedies! Watch this video to get relief from your symptoms and feel better fast.

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Dr. Abby KramerDC

   

Dr. Kramer has 7 years of experience as a Chiropractor + Holistic Physician practicing in the Chicagoland area. She has been featured in various publications, including The Huffington Post, Bustle, E Health Radio Network, and the American Chiropractic Association Journal of Rehabilitation.

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Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications.

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