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Old-Time Snoring Remedies

Folklore and old wives' remedies for snoring existed long before modern medicine developed its treatments for the problem. Some of these old-time remedies continue to provide the benefit of reducing snoring, whereas others are ineffective and for amusement only. Consult a physician for advice if snoring is an issue for you or a loved one.

  1. Sleeping Position

    • One of the old-time snoring remedies still promoted and considered valid today is the one that suggests altering sleeping positions. While sleeping on your back, your airway becomes more compressed due to gravity, which can exacerbate snoring. Sleeping on your side or on your stomach decreases snoring. Some old-time remedies, such as placing an object into the rear of pajamas, were intended to keep a snorer in a certain sleep position. In modern times, snorers sometimes use a curved pillow that supports side sleeping or opens airways while back sleeping.

    Avoiding Alcohol

    • Avoiding alcohol in the evening also decreases snoring. This old-time remedy is still useful today. Alcohol consumption relaxes the muscles in your body, including the muscles that control breathing, which makes snoring more likely.

    Exercise

    • Getting regular exercise helps to curb snoring. Exercise helps keep your body weight at normal levels, which can reduce snoring. Carrying extra weight exacerbates snoring since there is more pressure on your airway. Suggesting exercise for someone who snores is an old-time remedy still being promoted.

    Lubricating Drinks

    • Folklore compiled by UCLA suggests that providing the snorer with a drink to lubricate the mucous membranes in the throat will reduce or stop snoring. Suggestions range from milk to warm concoctions. Your physician can address whether a drink to lubricate the throat would be a viable solution to snoring.

    Water Remedies

    • Water is included in several old snoring remedies listed in the UCLA folkloric archives. In some remedies, a pan of water is placed beneath the snorer's bed to reduce snoring. Others involve placing the snorer's hand in a bowl of water. Some physicians today may not take such suggestions seriously but would no doubt be willing to discuss them with anyone curious about their validity.

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