The nasal sprays available in the market that provide relief from nasal congestion have ingredients like phenylephrine and oxymetazoline. These ingredients open up your nasal passages by constricting the blood vessels present in the nose. However, these nasal sprays tend to become less effective due to prolonged use. Additionally, in most cases, prolonged use of these sprays causes “rebound congestion” wherein your nasal passages become more blocked and swollen than before.

Hence, it is best not to use such sprays if you find that you have persistent nasal congestion. So, let’s look at a few safe home remedies that will help you get relief from the problem of nasal congestion without any side effects.

Neti pots: Neti pots are readily available in almost all medical shops. They are used to treat nasal congestion and congestion related to sinuses. Their popularity has been increasing steadily. They are small pots with a spouted mouth and work by expanding your nasal cavities. Make sure that you use sterilized or distilled water for rinsing your nasal cavities. You can use it by tilting your head to the side, preferably over a sink, and pouring water through one nostril till it comes out through the other one. This process will wash away the irritants and mucus. You can repeat the same process with the other nostril.

Saline sprays: You can use nasal saline sprays to get relief from nasal congestion. They have a mixture of salt and sterile water, and they work by soothing the nasal inflammation and thinning the mucus. One has to use them consistently to rinse out the irritants from the airways. They also make the nasal cavities moist and are helpful in the winter season when the inside of the nose becomes dry and prone to bleeding.
You can purchase these saline nasal sprays from a medical shop, or you can make them yourself by mixing a few teaspoons of non-iodized salt with sterilized water. However, if you suffer from problems related to the nasal septum or have nasal deformities, be sure to consult your doctor before going ahead with this treatment.

Steam: Inhaling steam from a pot of hot water, hot shower, tea or even a soup can soothe the irritated nasal passages. Humidifiers are also a good choice if you want to clear your nasal passages before sleeping at night.

Peppermint tea: Methanol present in peppermint helps in thinning the mucus and opening up the nasal passages, thus providing relief from nasal congestion. Having a cup of peppermint tea can combine the effect of warm liquid, steam, and menthol, all of which help in clearing irritants present in your nasal passages.

Chicken soup: Numerous studies have shown that chicken soup can enhance the functioning of the immune system by decreasing mucus production. Further, the heat and steam from the soup will also help. Hence, if you are sick, you can drink chicken soup to stay adequately hydrated.