According to Healthline,
Postnasal drip is a common occurrence, affecting almost everyone at some point in their lives. The glands in your nose and throat continually produce mucus to:
- fight infection
- moisten nasal membranes
- filter out foreign matter
You typically swallow the mucus without even realizing it.
When your body starts producing extra mucus, you may feel it accumulate in the back of your throat. You may also feel it dripping down your throat out of your nose. This is called postnasal drip.
Here are some home remedies for post-nasal drip that you can try to treat your condition effectively. Before diving into them, let's read about the symptoms and the risks of the condition.
The symptoms of this condition include,
- A feeling of constantly having to clear your throat
- A feeling of constantly needing to swallow
- Cough that gets worse at night
- Excess mucus moves into the stomach which causes nausea and vomiting
- A sore throat
- An itchy throat
- Bad breath
Post-nasal drips allow it to be difficult for a person to swallow. Based on the American Academy of Otolaryngology, a number of factors make swallowing very difficult,
-
With age, swallowing muscles often lose strength and coordination, which makes it difficult for even normal secretions to pass smoothly into the stomach.
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During sleep, swallowing occurs a smaller amount frequently, and secretions may gather. Coughing and vigorous throat clearing in many cases are needed upon waking.
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When nervous or under stress, throat muscles can trigger spasms that make it feel as if there is a lump within the throat. Frequent throat clearing, which often produces little or no mucus, can make the problem worse by increasing irritation.
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Growths or swelling in the food passage can slow or avoid the movement of liquids and/or solids.
It further discusses the causes of these thin secretions and says,
Increased thin clear secretions could be due to colds and flu, allergies, cold conditions, bright lights, certain foods/spices, pregnancy, along with other hormonal changes. Various drugs (including oral contraceptives and high blood pressure medications) and structural abnormalities can also produce increased secretions. These abnormalities might include a deviated or irregular nasal septum (the cartilage and bony dividing wall that separates the two nostrils).
Home remedies for post-nasal drip
Here are the most effective home remedies to treat your post-nasal drip.
1. Gargle with Salt Water
The first remedy on our list of natural treatments for post-nasal drip is gargling. Gargling with brine will give you instant relief from the discomfort brought on by the drips. It will thin the mucus, by doing so, it will make it easier for you to definitely get rid of the mucus.
Gargling with brine will also help you flush out irritants from the nasal passages.
For the remedy, you have to first heat a cup of water. Once it is only warm, add half a teaspoon of salt to it. Now stir vigorously so that the salt dissolves. You need to gargle with this saline solution many times through the day until the condition is completely treated.
2. Steam Inhalation
The next natural treatment involves using steam to eliminate the mucus easily. You can do this steam treatment with or without essential oils. The treatment will control the product of excess mucus, that is usually causes post-nasal drip.
For the remedy, you need to first heat a boil water. Once the water has boiled, give a few drops of some acrylic of your choice. This step is optional. If essential oils make you sneezy due to the fragrance worsening the post-nasal drip, you'll be able to avoid it. Next take a clean towel and drape it too deep. Keep the bowl of water in front of you and hold your face over the water.
You need to inhale the steam through your nose for at least 10-odd minutes. Now take away the towel and blow you nose.
This treatment ought to be repeated two times a day, if not more, until you are cured completely.
Taking warm showers can also have the same effect.
Note: Steam treatment methods are not recommended for little children.
3. Nasal Irrigation
Next remedy, nasal irrigation, will help you get rid of the excess mucus, thus giving you instant relief.
This treatment also helps you throw out the irritants from the nasal passages, thus preventing infections in the future.
For the remedy, you need to heat a cup of distilled water. Once it is warm, give a quarter of teaspoon of salt. Add to this a pinch of baking soda and mix well. You need to fill a neti pot which is used for sinus infections. Now stand over the sink, and tilt your face to a side. You need to spray the answer into your nostril. Tilt your face back, forward and also side-to-side so that the solution enters the nasal cavities. Now blow you nose. This should help you get rid of the mucus and the irritants in the nasal passages. Now do this again with the other nostril.
This treatment should be repeated once every day before the condition is completely cured.
4. Garlic
Garlic helps treat post-nasal drips due to its antibiotic properties. It will lower producing mucus, which in turn, will avert the likelihood of you developing an infection.
Garlic as being a potent herb promotes a speedy recovery.
Garlic is a potent herb with powerful antibiotic properties. It will help control overproduction of mucus and prevents infection. It even promotes quick recovery.
For the remedy, chop 4 garlic cloves. Now roast the cloves with half a tablespoon of clarified butter. Roast them for any minute, and then take them having a glass of warm milk two times every day for a few weeks.
You can also take garlic supplements; however, do consult a physician for proper dosage.
5. Ginger
Ginger being a natural decongestant, is antiviral as well as antibacterial in nature. Since it is an expectorant, it will help you reduce the production of mucus and also help in the expulsion of the irritants in the nasal passages.
Prepare a cup of ginger tea. To really make it, you need to bring two glasses of water to boil. Now give a tablespoon of grated ginger towards the water and allow it to simmer on low heat. After 10-odd minutes, strain the tea and drink it. You can also add some raw honey towards the tea for taste.
6. Cayenne Pepper
An antihistamine, red pepper cayenne will treat your post-nasal drip in no time. The pepper contains capsaicin, that will thin your mucus, making its expulsion easier. Also, if you have an irritated throat, red pepper cayenne will soothe it.
For the remedy, you need to first mix a teaspoon of red pepper cayenne with a teaspoon of honey. Now take this thrice each day for a couple of days.
You can also include the pepper in your daily diet.
7. Lemon
The next remedy lemon, which make your mucus loose, which will help you eliminate it easily. Lemon, as we all know, is a rich source of ascorbic acid. As a result, it will improve your immunity and thus help your body resist infections easily.
For the remedy, start by heating a cup of water. Now squeeze half a lemon in to the cup. Add a teaspoon of honey to this mix. Drink it two times a day, once in the morning on an empty stomach, and once in the afternoon.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
The last remedy on our listing of natural treatments for post-nasal drip is apple cider vinegar treatment. What makes this vinegar this type of great remedy? Well, firstly, apple cider vinegar being alkaline in nature will help you thin the mucus. The thinning of the mucus accumulated in your nasal passages, can make their expulsion easier.
Apple cider vinegar likewise helps strengthen one's immune system. Consequently, your body will be equipped to battle infections effectively in the future.
For the remedy, you have to first heat a cup of water. Now add 2 to 3 teaspoons of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar treatment to the water. Also add some raw honey for taste. Mix the tonic well, and drink it.
You need to repeat the remedy two or three times a day for at least a few days or until your problem is cured completely.
An option to this treatment, is to prepare a solution of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar and water. Now bring this mixture to boil. Once you see steams, start inhaling the steam.
Repeat the remedy twice a day until you fully recover.
If despite using these natural treatments, your condition does not improve, you will want to visit the doctor immediately and obtain yourself treated well.
That is all we have on today's post on natural home remedies for post-nasal drip. Was this beneficial? Will you be recommending it to other people too? If you have some remedies that you would like to share with us, then please do so in the comment section below.
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