Home Materials to Help Get Rid of a Stuffy Nose

Stuffy noses can be caused by a variety of sources such as the common cold, allergies and the flu. The symptom of stuffiness sometimes can go on for numerous days, causing discomfort and frustration. Congested sinuses can make it difficult to sleep and they can diminish the appetite since the sense of taste is so closely related to the sense of smell. While there are a number of over-the-counter and prescription medications for a stuffy nose, you might be able to find some effective and accessible remedies right in your own home.

Steam

• Steam can be a great tool for opening up stuffy sinuses. Try a vaporizer or a humidifier to add moisture to the air. Both devices heat water and emit moisture, but the humidifier blows a cool vapor while the vaporizer emits warm or hot vapor. Using a humidifier eliminates the risk of accidentally burning yourself with the hot steam of a vaporizer. On the other hand, a vaporizer's hot steam is more likely to be free of bacteria than the cool vapor of a humidifier. If you don't have either device at home, try a hot shower. You can actually stand in the shower or just sit in the room as the shower runs and fills the air with moist, warm steam.

Homemade nasal spray

• Mix together one cup of warm water, one-half teaspoon of salt and one-fourth teaspoon of baking soda. Make sure the water isn't too warm so that you don't burn your nose. Draw the solution up in a nasal bulb (the kind you use for babies) and spray three or four sprays into each nostril. Wait about one minute and then blow your nose. This type of homemade saline spray can help to cleanse the nose of irritants that possibly may be contributing to your stuffiness.