One of the most annoying symptoms of the common cold is a runny nose. It means you need to have tissues always at hand in case your nose starts streaming, which can be very inconvenient.
The good news is that there are several effective and simple home remedies to deal with a runny nose.
Writing for Mail Online, Amanda Cashmore reveals four ways for cold sufferers to treat their sniffly nose, including eating curry and inhaling steam.
1. Have a hot drink
One way to relieve a runny nose is to drink a warm beverage, which can also soothe a sore throat.
A 2008 rhinology study found that drinking a hot drink provided instant relief to several cold symptoms. The research further found that people with a cold felt they had better airflow after a hot drink, even though their airflow was not actually improved.
2. Use a neti pot
Rinse out your nasal passageways with a neti pot (£5.79, Amazon). This works by pouring water into one nostril and it will come out of the other one, flushing the nose clean.
According to a 2016 Cochrane review, irrigating your nose with a saline solution had beneficial effects.
3. Inhale steam
Try inhaling steam to open up your nose and stop it running. This happens because steam can help thin out mucus, making breathing easier.
Fill a bowl with boiled water, cover your head with a towel placing your head over the steaming bowl and inhale for faster relief of cold symptoms.
4. Eat curry
Order or cook yourself a nice curry to help with a blocked nose. Eating a spicy meal can also help with a streaming nose, though it will get runnier to begin with.
