|  | Conditions Treatments | Allergies

Remedy for Post-Nasal Drip

Post-nasal drip is a common side effect of chronic or allergic rhinitis. Post-nasal drip occurs when mucus secretes from the sinuses down the throat. Symptoms include tickle in the throat, sore throat, cough, and halitosis (bad breath). Post-nasal drip can be treated with a variety of remedies.

  1. Apple Cider Vinegar

    • Unfiltered apple cider vinegar--with the mother (enzymes) still in it--can help cure post-nasal drip in some patients. It's thought that the symptoms in some individuals are caused by a lack of potassium, and apple cider vinegar helps deliver potassium to the body in a very usable form. Some people find relief from their post-nasal drip symptoms within days of drinking apple cider vinegar. Treatment is one teaspoon of vinegar to 8 ounces of water, twice daily.

    Local Honey

    • If post-nasal drip symptoms are caused by an allergy to pollen, treating yourself with local honey could help the symptoms. Honey contains natural anti-bacterial properties, is high in potassium and contains the pollens from the area in which it was made. For this reason, if you have allergies to local pollens, ingesting local pollens (in the form of local honey) will help build your immunity to the pollens in the air. Treatment is one tablespoon per day.

    Neti Pot

    • Neti pots have been used for centuries in India. They are a form of ayurvedic medicine, wherein the pot is filled with warm saline solution to irrigate the sinuses. The practice of using neti pots has become more common in the United States, and neti pots are available in mass-merchandising stores. A neti pot will wash the sinus cavities and nasal passages, clearing away mucus and bacteria. To help you learn how to use a neti pot correctly, see the links in Resources below.

    Grapefruit Seed Extract

    • Grapefruit seed extract has been beneficial to some sufferers of post-nasal drip. The treatment is available in pill, spray, and drop form, and can be found in most health food stores.

    Water

    • Some doctors believe that post-nasal drip is a condition caused when the body is under-hydrated. The lack of hydration in the body causes mucus to thicken. To remedy this, drink 8-10 glasses of water per day. If your condition is caused by dehydration, drinking a sufficient amount of water should clear your symptoms within a couple of days.

    Over the Counter Medications

    • There are many over the counter medications that can help with post-nasal drip. Ask your pharmacist for suggestions as to which one might be right for you.

    Prescribed Medications

    • There are a number of medications that doctors can prescribe that can help treat symptoms of post-nasal drip. Ask your doctor which is right for you.

Allergies - Related Articles