Winter is over, but that can usher in the dreaded summer cold. With that comes congestion. Finding ways to fight your congestion that doesn't include pumping yourself full of medication is always nice, but do they work?
There are number of ways to fight congestion that don't include a lot of medicine. Some are traditional home remedies, and some are on the trendier side. Check out 6 home remedies to clear your summertime congestion.
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1. Essential oils. Certain aromas will help open your sinuses. Medical News Today recommends places a few drops of essential oils in a steam diffuser. The oils recommended are peppermint, lemon, frankincense, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, clove and rosemary.
2. Steam. Steam itself is really good for opening the sinuses. Reader's Digest recommends turning on a hot shower in the bathroom and breathing in the steam, making a cup of hot tea and inhaling, or fixing a steaming bowl of soup.
3. Saline rinse. Saline helps dry up the sinuses as well as open them up. WebMD makes its own saline rinse from 3 teaspoons iodide-free salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Combine these together. Take 1 teaspoon of this mixture and dissolve it in 8 ounces of distilled water.
4. Hot pack. Sometimes, a hot compress is really all you need to get the congestion clearing. WebMD says you can make your own by wetting a washcloth and warming it in a microwave for 30 seconds.
5. Garlic. Everyday Health shares a relatively novel idea of using garlic to ward off illness and open up your head when it's congested. You can eat it raw, cook with it in your food or put it in some hot water and inhale the steam.
6. Elevate. A practical way to deal with your stuffed sinuses is to simply sleep with an extra pillow and elevate your head, according to Everyday Health. This will help keep your sinuses open while you sleep.
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No one likes a stuffy nose. One of these remedies may become your new go-to for when congestion strikes you.