An onion against nasal congestion

Nasal congestion is one of the most annoying mild sensations that exist in the day to day, but especially when it is time to go to bed. When people have a cold and go to bed to rest, rest is the last thing that happens because the nose is blocked by the large amount of mucus in the airways.

When we have colds, our noses often get congested and the ducts through which the air must enter are obstructed, thus preventing us from breathing normally. This can be frankly annoying and many times we despair because we need to eliminate it as soon as possible, especially when 3 in the morning arrives and you have not yet been able to fall asleep.

Nasal congestion

Nasal congestion is also known as a stuffy or stuffy nose and as I just mentioned, it can be difficult for you to breathe. Thick mucus is annoying but it is also you may have other associated symptoms such as a headache or facial pressure around your nose.

In general, nasal congestion is due to inflammation of the membranes that line the nasal passage. The lining of the nasal membrane can become swollen due to various reasons such as common cold, flu, sinusitis, allergies, hay fever, nasal polyps and deviated nasal septum, etc. When the membranes that line the nasal passage swell and cause irritation, the body's immune system kicks in and begins to send more blood to the area.

This extra blood will cause the blood vessels to swell and therefore block the nose. Sometimes medical help is needed to permanently cure the underlying causes of nasal congestion. Although you can find many drugs in pharmacies as well as home remedies, you should choose the one that works best for you for temporary relief. Next I am going to explain some home remedies to achieve this, starting with the most common: the use of an onion.

An onion as a home remedy

When the medications are not so fast to combat the discomfort or we simply did not want to go to the doctor because for a lesser evil of this type we are not interested in wasting time in the doctor's office, we can opt for a small home remedy that will help us how much less, to breathe better.

The remedy we are talking about is one that has been used since ancient times by our ancestors, consists of cutting a natural onion in an ordinary plate. We can either open the onion in half or cut it into smaller pieces on the same plate as it will do the same.

The technique is that when you go to sleep, place the onion on the bedside table in your bedroom or anywhere else near the head of the bed so that it reaches more directly into your nostrils and has greater effect.

The environment of the room must be closed, so it is much better that you close the door so that the smell of the onion concentrates and disperses well throughout the room and thus you can breathe it more directly. Your eyes may sting something or notice some discomfort, but this is normal with the use of onions.

The onion should be renewed daily for a minimum of three or four days until you finish with the "treatment" for the congestion. It is important to change it because it dries and then, it does not have the same effect as one that is freshly cut.

Saline water to get rid of nasal congestion

After having commented on the use of onion to decongest the nose, it is necessary that you know another well-known remedy for when these circumstances occur: saline water.

Salt mixed with warm water is one of the best ways to relieve nasal congestion from behind the onion.. Even this method is recommended by doctors since when you introduce the saline water into the nose, it mixes with the mucus and helps to extract the water from the swollen membranes. This reduces inflammation and gets rid of nasal congestion.

You will need a cup of warm water, a half tablespoon of salt, and a dropper. When you have all the necessary material, you will only have to mix the salt with the warm water and stir it well until the salt is completely dissolved. Take the dropper and fill it with the salty water, but make sure the dropper is clean and has not been used by someone else.

Tilt your head a little to one side and let the solution drip down your nostril, wait 30 seconds for the salt water to go deep and do its job. Then put your head forward to let the salt water drain out of the nostril.. Repeat this process in the other nostril and in a short time you will notice improvement.

Ginger root tea to relieve congestion

Ginger is very healthy and contains several volatile components and oils that can help your stuffy nose. Some of the volatile oils in ginger relieve nasal congestion because they include zingiberene or gingerol, but it also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. So if you have a cold or flu and the snot does not leave you alone, then you have the perfect excuse to be able to buy a ginger root at the greengrocer. It can help you drain the mucus and its properties will reduce the swelling of the nasal membranes.

You will need a fresh ginger root, a cup of hot water, and a tablespoon of honey. You will need to wash, peel, and chop the ginger into thick slices to later place them in a pot. Pour the hot water over them and let it sit for 10 minutes. If you want the tea to be stronger, boil the water with the ginger pieces for 5 minutes. Then add honey and drink the tea. To have more effect on your nose, inhale the steam that comes out of the cup and you will notice a faster relief.