Stuffy Nose and Sore Throat

Stuffy nose and sore throat are the most common symptoms seen during common colds, flu infections and allergies. Though not a gravely deleterious problem, stuffy nose and sore throat can pose to be quite an annoying condition. It causes you to be irritable all day and gives you a horrible feeling.

Moreover, with swine flu around the corner, going to work with a stuffy nose only causes people to look upon you as a contagious machine. However, irrespective of the cause, this discomforting condition needs to be dealt with and treated as soon as possible. The faster it's treated, the lesser the medicines required.

Gargle
Gargling has been a remedy for sore throat since time immemorial. You could prepare different gargling solutions such as salt water gargle wherein you use salt water solution to gargle, and raspberry leaf tea gargle prepared by pouring 1 cup boiling water over 2 tablespoons of dried raspberry leaves. Steep, drain and cool. Gargle and get relief!

Ginger-Honey
The most effective remedy according to me is ginger-honey mixture. Cut ginger into small pieces and attain its juice by using the juicer. Into the ginger juice, add some honey and take 2 tablespoons of this mixture every day. However, since honey can cause allergies, one should refrain from giving infants and toddlers any preparation of honey.

Drink Cider Vinegar
Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and one tablespoon of honey to a glass of warm water. Mix the ingredients and sip it slowly, allowing the solution to cure your sore throat.

Drink Hot Liquids
People who dislike or are not good at gargling, can drink hot liquids to soothe the throat. Drinking hot chicken soup or hot lemonade is a good idea. The warmth from the soup will act like a hot compress on your aching throat. Sipping some hot green tea will also soothe the throat. It is important to keep sipping one or the other hot liquid throughout the day.

Fenugreek Water
Fenugreek is known for its ability to soothe sore throats. Just add a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to a pot of regular water and allow it to boil over medium flame. Once the water has turned yellow and begins to boil, turn off the heat. Strain the seeds and sip the fenugreek water when the heat is tolerable.

Sore throat is the inflammation of the pharynx, which can be caused either by viral or bacterial invasions. Viral infections cannot be treated by antibiotics. However, if bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes has infected the throat, the condition is termed as strep throat. Strep throat is usually accompanied by fever, headache and general malaise.

Stuffy nose with strep throat needs to be treated with antibiotics, as per the doctor's prescription. If the sore throat has not cleared even after three days, then it's advisable to consult the doctor. If the onset of sore throat has just occurred, then you can try out these natural remedies to treat sore throat.

Stuffy nose is caused by inflammation of the nasal passages. The mucus draining from the sinus cavities are unable to move anywhere and end up pooling up in the sinuses, until the inflammation reduces. This causes the runny nose and discomfort associated with it. Let's have a look at the different natural relief measures.

Steam
Steam simply works wonders when you have a stuffy nose. A steam inhaler provides steam to one's system, however, if you do not own one commercial steam inhaler, then simply boil a pot of water and place it in a large bowl. Place the bowl on the table, sit on the chair, cover your head with a towel and inhale the healing vapors. The steam will unclog your congested nose and enable you to breathe properly.

Basil
Basil is a renown stuffy nose remedy, due to its heat generating action and respiratory infection healing properties. Mix equal quantities of dried ginger powder and basil leaves and add it to milk and sugar. Have this milk three times a day.

Eucalyptus Oil
Put a few drops of eucalyptus oil onto a napkin and inhale the vapors on a regular basis, throughout the day. The decongestant properties of eucalyptus will reduce the swelling in the nostrils, thereby giving relief from the stuffy nose condition. You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a pot of boiling water and inhale the steam.

Maintaining Right Position in Bed
Maintaining a horizontal position such as lying down, only aggravates a stuffy nose condition. When suffering from stuffy nose and sore throat avoid lying down. Use pillows to form a back rest and prop yourself in an upright position. The upright posture enables the mucus to drain freely from the inflamed passages and prevent further clogging.

Nasal Syringe
Commercial nasal syringes can be used to reduce stuffiness and congestion. Squeeze the rubber bulb syringe and dip it into warm salt water solution. After drawing the warm salt water into the syringe, place the syringe into the nose and release the water in the nostrils. The mucus collected clears and if the congestion has been caused by any pollen or irritant, it gets flushed out with the salt water.

If the stuffy nose condition has not subsided in the next three days and appears worse, such as has extended to difficulty in swallowing food and water, difficulty breathing through the mouth and a fever, then you need to consult your doctor.

Disclaimer: This Story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.