Congestion. It's a feeling we're all too familiar with - stuffy nose, painful sinuses, a swollen soft palate that heralds a sore throat. Due to the interconnectedness of the ear, nose and throat passageways, symptoms vary and can take turns making life a misery. Perhaps your sinuses hurt, or you feel like there are bits of gravel in your throat. Perhaps you've got a coated tongue that looks whitish, or you can't taste or smell your food. Whatever the symptom, there's no shortage of over the counter and prescription remedies to make it all better.
But do they really make it better? Just determining why you're congested is a challenge, and if you aren't sure why, you may choose a drug remedy that actually hinders your recovery. Antihistamines dry up drainage, but if your congestion is due to a sinus infection, the antihistamine will make your infection worse. Decongestants are great, but overusing them can cause dependence. A medicated nasal spray may work in the short term, but it may also cause ‘rebound congestion' later. And running to the doctor for an antibiotic will do you absolutely no good if the congestion is caused by a cold virus.
This isn't meant to be an anti-drug screed, though. These medicines all have their time and place, and can work very well when used correctly. But what if you don't know exactly why you feel sick? The symptoms are similar whether caused by allergy, cold or bacterial infection; but if you can't get to a doctor right away, there is no need to suffer while you wait. There are remedies you can use at home to get some temporary relief.
Capsaicin
This is a compound found in peppers. It's what is responsible for giving them their heat, and it also has decongestant properties. A teaspoon of your favorite ‘hot sauce' in a cup of water may taste strange, but it will bring you immediate relief. Those braver may try swigging the sauce straight from the bottle. If you're new to spicy foods, perhaps just try eating something containing these peppers, like Indian curries or Hispanic foods with hot sauce as a garnish.
Caffiene
Another temporary solution, but a delicious one. Caffiene is a mild stimulant found in coffee, tea and chocolate. A nice cup of green tea gives you needed fluids and a boost of caffeinated energy. Just a little is enough, though.
Nasal Irrigation
This is a fairly new arrival to Western medicine, but has been used in India for a long time. If you've ever used a saline inhaler, then you're familiar with the concept. Warm saline is put into the nasal passages to moisturize them. The difference with the irrigation technique is that more water is used and it is allowed to flow back out of the nose. The result is that the warm saline not only moisturizes the nose, it also helps to rinse the congestion out of your nose, relieving pressure and therefore pain.
There are three methods of nasal irrigation available on the market right now:
- Neti pot
- Squeeze bottle
- Electric irrigator device.
The Neti pot is the original method. A ceramic or plastic teapot with a special spout is filled with the warm saline. This saline is mixed fresh with each use from a convenient pre-measured packet. Nowadays many companies make these refill packets, so shop around for a good bargain. You fill the pot, tilt your head to the side over a sink or basin, and put the spout to one nostril. Slowly pour the water in one nostril, and it will flow into your nasal passages and back out the other nostril. When half the water is gone, switch nostrils and repeat.
The second type is a squeeze bottle. It's used in the same way as the Neti pot, except you do not need to tilt your head to use it.
The third type originated as an attachment to a popular electric tooth cleaning kit. The rapidly pulsing water helped some people even more than the Neti pot. But nowadays this attachment kit is hard to find. A couple of companies have taken the concept and developed ‘pulsatile irrigators' which consist of a reservoir, attachments and a pressure-control system. These can be obtained online from sites such as Amazon.com. Though they cost a bit more, they work extremely well. If you have allergies, chronic congestion or sinus problems, a sinus irrigator is a must-have. Whether it's a neti pot, a squeeze bottle or an electric irrigator, nasal irrigation is a fast way to get relief.
Ultimately, dealing with congestion requires a combination of strategies. You can never have too many options when you're feeling sick, and hopefully some of the ones in this article will work for you.
