While a neti pot or a humidifier is great for long-term maintenance, here are five science-backed tricks to open your airways in 60 seconds or less. You might have heard the advice to "sneeze into your elbow," but have you heard of the autonomic reflex that unblocks your nose?
Keep a shaker of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes in the kitchen. Mix a pinch into a glass of warm water (just a sip!) or sprinkle it directly onto your tongue. As you swallow, the heat triggers a nerve reflex (trigeminal nerve) that tells your blood vessels to constrict in the nose, shrinking swollen turbinates instantly. Stop blowing your nose. Repeated blowing increases pressure and shoves mucus deeper into the sinuses. nasal congestion instant relief
Disclaimer: If you have chronic sinusitis, a deviated septum, or nasal polyps, these tricks are bandaids. See an ENT if you are congested for more than 10 days. While a neti pot or a humidifier is
Take a deep breath. You’ve got this.
If you don't have an onion, a jar of horseradish or wasabi works the same way. Spicy food works because of capsaicin. But you don't need a bowl of pho at 11 PM. Mix a pinch into a glass of warm water (just a sip
