10 Home Remedies For Post Nasal Drip
Although this statistic may be gross to some, people generally produce about two quarts of mucus through their nose and throat on a daily basis. This mucus is used to help keep the areas moist and clean by preventing a buildup of bacteria and other particles. Most often, this mucus gets swallowed without being apparent. However, many people experience a thickening of this mucus or have a hard time swallowing. This can lead to post-nasal drip: a condition in which a person feels the mucus collecting or constantly running down the back of their throat.
It’s not just people with colds or respiratory tract infections that experience post-nasal drip. Some people experience it round-the-clock and have no idea why. Post-nasal drip can be caused by a large number of things, ranging from allergies to bright lights. Post-nasal drip can lead to a number of other symptoms. While these usually aren’t serious, they can be uncomfortable. Things like a mild cough (more intense in the morning or in the evening), a sore throat, and a tickling sensation in your throat can all accompany post-nasal drip.
If you’ve been experiencing post-nasal drip for some time and you’re wondering how you can put an end to this irritating problem, then you should try some home remedies before going to the doctor. Since post-nasal drip generally doesn’t indicate a serious health concern, you won’t risk developing a serious condition while you experiment with some of the home remedies listed in this article.
Home Remedy #1: Hydration
Hydration might not completely eliminate your post-nasal drip, but it can certainly make it less uncomfortable. If you become dehydrated, chances are that your mucus will become much thicker. Thicker mucus moves a lot slower, and it can become much more apparent that you’re struggling with post-nasal drip if you’re dehydrated.
On the flip-side, drinking enough water can loosen up and dilute the mucus so that it passes down the back of your throat a lot easier.
Home Remedy #2: Neti Pot
A neti pot is a device designed to help clear out the nasal passageways. Doing this—a process that’s referred to as nasal irrigation—can help to fight off post-nasal drip, especially if the problem is caused by something like sinusitis, allergies, or a buildup of foreign material in the sinus.
Neti pots look similar to a flat teapot and allow you an easy way to pour a saline solution into your nose. This will help to wash out any undesirable substances and will also loosen up the mucus in the area so that it can pass down your throat easier.
Home Remedy #3: Avoid Alcohol
One thing that will help to eliminate your post-nasal drip is to avoid alcohol. Alcohol is known to contribute to dehydration and inflammation, two things that can greatly aggravate post-nasal drip.
A single beer might not be enough to make the problem worse, but having much more than this will certainly make it worse. Hard liquor, which contains much less water than beer or mixed drinks, will certainly increase the irritation in your nose.
Home Remedy #4: Vitamin C
Vitamin C is known to function as a very strong antioxidant, as well as a vitamin that can help power the immune system. The nutrient can be found in fruits in the citrus family, cauliflower, and many other natural sources; it can also be obtained in supplement form.
If your post-nasal drip is the result of some sort of infection, then vitamin C can be instrumental in helping you fight off the condition.
Home Remedy #5: Lemon Water
Lemon water is a great way to help manage post-nasal drip, for several reasons. Firstly, drinking water is ideal for anyone who wants to thin the mucus that’s stuck in their sinuses or moving slowly down their throat.
Secondly, lemons are a great source of vitamin C. As mentioned earlier, vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients for helping to boost the immune system and this can be great for helping to ward off infections that could cause post-nasal drip.
Home Remedy #6: Tea
There are a lot of different teas that can be useful for helping to ward off post-nasal drip. Black tea might not be the best option, since it’s relatively high in caffeine and can actually contribute to dehydration.
Herbs like ginger and thyme can be brewed into tea and will provide some powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects that can help to ward off post-nasal drip.
Home Remedy #7: Steam
Another powerful way to help ward off the symptoms of post-nasal drip or any other condition that affects your upper respiratory tract is to breathe in some steam. To do this, all you need to do is boil some water. You can inhale the steam directly from the pot—make sure to turn it down until it’s barely simmering—or pour it into a bowl and breathe the steam from that.
Mixing some herbs like ginger or garlic into the water can further help to loosen up mucus and fight off the bacteria that may be causing post-nasal drip.
Home Remedy #8: Menthol
Menthol is the active compound found in peppermint, but it can also be found in essential oil form or in many other natural products. Menthol is known to help open up the nasal passageways.
Menthol can also soothe discomfort when applied on the skin—applying it on the chest or throat can help get rid of a sore throat associated with post-nasal drip.
Home Remedy #9: Warm, Moist Air
If you’re struggling with post-nasal drip, the last place you’ll want to be is somewhere where the air is hot and dry.
Hot, dry air will dry out the nasal passageways and make it much harder for your mucus to travel easily down your throat. If you do live in an area like this, make sure that you have a humidifier.
Home Remedy #10: Salt Water Gargle
If you’re not able to get a neti pot or a saline mist, don’t worry—gargling salt water can sometimes be just as effective.
This will help to loosen up any mucus that’s stuck in your throat and can also help to fight off some of the bacteria that might be causing the problem in the first place.
