Cold weather brings with it a list of ailments and the most common among these is congestion of chest and nose. While the problem is not life threatening, it is rather uncomfortable to live with for as long as it lasts.
During congestion one finds it difficult to do the regular daily tasks and sleeping at night becomes almost impossible because congestion leads to difficulty in breathing as well. Congestion will have you running to a doctor in no time but the medications will not only make you drowsy, you may also become addictive to them. The best way to treat nasal and chest congestion is by use of simple, easy and effective home remedies that will have you up and about with regular usage.In this article we will look at some of the best known home remedies for congestion. However, you will have to be pretty regular in using these treatments for eliminating congestion otherwise the remedies will have little or no effect on your condition.
Treating Congestion With Home Remedies
Hot Tea Treatment
Drinking 4-5 cups of tea everyday is perhaps the best known and most common method of treating congestion of the nasal passage as well as the chest. Just remember to add lemon and honey to the tea and experience your congestion clearing in no time. Hot tea with honey and lemon is easy to prepare. In a cup of boiling water add a few tea leaves and turn off the gas after the color of the water turns brown. Strain the liquid mixture and add a teaspoon of honey and squeeze juice of one lemon into the cup.
Drink this tea while it is still hot. If you suffer from congestion during the winter months then it is recommended that you have hot tea with lemon and honey the first thing in the morning. This will not only help avoid congestion but also keep you healthy throughout the winter season. Honey has anti-inflammatory effect that reduces the inflammation of the throat and lemon with hot water helps thin down the mucus thus making it easier to eliminate it from the body.
Boiled Vinegar Treatment
Many people will grimace at the idea of boiled vinegar but the truth is that it is a wonderful way of getting rid of both nasal as well as chest congestion. Most of us use vinegar for cooking but not many know that vinegar is an effective home remedy for many ailments including congestion. To treat congestion with vinegar boil the liquid over medium flame and once it starts frothing immediately transfer it to a small basin like container. Place your face right over the basin and breathe in the vapors.
Do this for at least 10 minutes though you may not be able to breathe in the vapors continuously for this time. Take 2-3 seconds break before taking in the vapors again. You will feel a considerable difference within 10 minutes. The vinegar treatment can be done any number of times in a day as you want but one must definitely do it before going to bed at night. With your nasal passage cleared you will find it easier to sleep.
Steamy Bathroom Treatment
This is again a popular treatment for reducing congestion of chest and nose and many parents make their suffering youngsters do this because kids can be fussy about breathing in vapors or drinking tea. Hence, putting the kids in a steamy bathroom is an excellent and effective remedy for treating their congestion.
The remedy can be easily done; open the hot water tap and close the bathroom door so that the steam builds in the room. Enter the bathroom when it is completely steamy inside and sit there for 10-15 minutes. Steam is very effective in moisturizing the dry lungs that in turn helps mobilize the stranded mucus which is then eliminated from the body. It is recommended that you sit in the steamed bathroom for as long as possible so as to fasten your recovery.
Salt And Water Treatment
Another effective remedy for treating congestion at home is the salt and water treatment. Simply warm a glass of water and add half a teaspoon of common salt in the water. Gargle regularly using the salt water to get rid of the congestion in the chest. People suffering from nasal congestion can drop a few drops of the water-salt combination by tilting their heads up.You will immediately feel relieved as your nose blockage will disappear making it easier for you to breathe. You can also put a drop of the salt water into each nostril of your sleeping child. This will not only help him/her breathe easier but also stop the wheezing sound that is produced during congestion of the nose and the chest.
Ginger And Wine Treatment
Combination of ginger root and fruit wine are also touted as effective home remedies for treating congestion. The treatment is simple. Pour some homemade fruit wine over ginger root and allow them to boil for 10 minutes over medium flame. Strain the mixture and let it come down to room temperature. Once the wine comes down to normal temperature drink it.
Do not boil the wine with ginger root in advance. The boiling should be done only when you want to drink the remedy. Wine is made by the process of fermentation and the enzymes that help ferment are also good for treating congestion since they help break down the mucus causing the congestion. Ginger root has anti inflammatory properties that help treat the inflammation of the throat.
Honey, Ginger And Black Pepper Treatment
The three are a deadly combination when it comes to beating congestion. In a microwavable dish add a teaspoon of grated ginger, two teaspoons of honey and half teaspoon of freshly powdered black pepper corns. Microwave the mixture for 10-15 seconds or until the honey thins out. Take a tablespoon of this warm mixture at least 5-6 times during the day to get rid of congestion. If you regularly suffer from congestion of chest and nose then it is recommended that the mixture be had first thing in the morning regardless of weather or season. Honey has anti-bacterial properties while ginger is anti-inflammatory in nature. Black pepper helps thin out the mucus thus making it easier to eliminate it from the body.
