There is nothing more annoying than not being able to use your nose for its intended purpose. Plus left unattended it can easily turn into a sinus infection, which is even more miserable. Go ahead and give these natural remedies for congestion a try this winter.

woman applying a congestion roller bottle to sinuses

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It’s Not Funny

I used to hate that joke. “It’s snot? Gross!” Once somebody said it, the conversation was over. But truly there is nothing funny about snot. In fact it is quite miserable. Because I work with tiny humans, my nose runs from August until May. Something about having them sneeze in your face and wipe boogers on everything really gets that immune system going.

All joking aside, I have the worst sinus problems. Every year I get at least one sinus infection. I’ve found that these natural remedies for congestion work really well under 2 conditions. The first condition is that I start taking them early, if I wait until I’m truly congested then I might as well forget it. The second condition is that I must take them frequently. Unlike conventional medicine, these remedies do not last 24 hours. I set alarms on my phone to remind me to take them as frequently as needed in order to be effective.

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Natural Remedies for Congestion: Essential Oils

I will essentially use a roller bottle for congestion in the same way that one might use chest rub. I’ll roll it on my chest and under my nose, but I’ll also do my feet and along my sinuses.

My favorite way to use essential oils for congestion is an inhaler. Now it’s not the same kind you would use for asthma. Instead it’s like your own personal diffuser for your pocket. I’ll put a few drops of eucalyptus on the wick then throughout the day I can take a deep breath and clear my head. No leaks, fits in your pocket, very strong smell.

One of the most popular natural remedies for congestion is putting eucalyptus in the diffuser. Because we have a cat and a dog, I don’t usually diffuse eucalyptus in the house. But I will diffuse it in the car. Or I’ll lock myself in the bathroom for a hot bath while I run a diffuser. Before I open the door, I’ll turn on the exhaust fan.

Diffuser, roller bottle, and inhaler for congestion

Natural Remedies for Congestion: Homeopathy

If you already have the thick green snot that tends to come with a sinus infection go ahead and take Kali Bichromicum. Next time don’t wait this long to start treating yourself. Your sinuses will thank me.

When you start to have yellow snot or post nasal drop give Hydrastis Canadensis a try. Hopefully you can start treating it before things get out of hand.

My personal favorite for congestion is SinusCalm. It attacks from all angles and really seems to help the most. I also don’t have to think about which medicine I need for which type of snot I’m experiencing. It’s the most similar experience to grabbing a conventional medicine off the shelf. I’ve even found SinusCalm at Walgreens, which is nice in an emergency.

Natural Remedies for Congestion: Herbs

My favorite herb to use for congestion is mullein. I’ll make a mullein steam to help loosen things up. Then I will use a neti pot to make sure it all comes out. Mullein is an expectorant so it’s important to use it first. That means it will help loosen up the mucus that is causing the congestion.

Peppermint is a very common herb. Many of us probably have some growing somewhere seeing as it grows like a weed. Peppermint can be made into a tea or used as a steam. It has a cooling effect which will feel good on your inflamed sinuses and it helps to clear your head.

Thyme isn’t usually the first herb we think of when we think of natural remedies for congestion, but it should be. With its antimicrobial properties it can help ward off a sinus infection. For centuries people have used it to aid in respiratory problems. You can use it as a steam to make the most benefits of its expectorant properties or sip it as a tea.