Several years ago, a good friend and nurse taught me this technique for sinus congestion when I was complaining of a stuffed up nose. I was dealing with a cold for over a week, and my nose was so congested I could only breathe through my mouth.
When she suggested I snort saltwater I didn’t really believe it would work, but was so stuffed up I would try anything. She prepared a tiny bowl of warm water about 1/4 cup, and added a good pinch (that’s a PINCH not a teaspoon!) of unrefined sea salt (any salt will do). She stirred it around until all the salt dissolved.
Then she poured a tiny amount of the warm sea salt water into the cupped palm of my hand. She told me to hold one nostril tightly closed with my other hand and snort the salt water up into my open nostril. I was so congested I could hardly get the water up my nose, but it worked because I could taste the salt down into my throat. Then I performed the same procedure on my other nostril.
She instructed me to wait for a few minutes until I really felt like blowing my nose. After I blew my nose, she told me I must do it a second time to really release the congestion.
After the first time, it relieved some pressure, but the second time around was amazing. After snorting the salt water, and then waiting another 5 minutes or so, I had to blow my nose again, because it just started running.
Finally, relief! I could breathe again. Now my family uses this technique whenever we get congestion from a cold, which isn’t very often anymore because we use the Garlic Remedy for colds and rarely get them anymore.
Also eliminating or at least limiting dairy products can really help with respiratory congestion.
WARNINGS:
Please don’t use this method if you have a ‘dry’ cold as it may cause your nose to bleed.
Don’t use this on small children!!
If this remedy helped you, let us know on the blog here! Or, if you have your own version, post it in the comment section below!
Using the salt water was truly a life saver — thanks so much for the tip
Thanks Mary. I’m glad it worked for you – it’s just such a simple and effective way to relieve congestion, we had to share it!
I just snorted saltwater a couple times and it worked. I had been congested for about a month and sneezing. Thanks for the relief. I dont like prescription drugs and feel better now.
Hello Rene,
That’s great!
I’m glad you found relief with this simple technique.
Lisa
I’ve to say, I enjoy reading your website. Maybe you can let me know how I can bookmark it ? Also just thought I would tell you I found your internet site via Bing.
These kind of post are always inspiring and I prefer to read quality content so I happy to find many good point here in the post, writing is simply great, thank you for the post