Being congested ranges from mildly annoying to debilitating. Usually, we grab some tablets, but there are other drug-free methods to get relief from congestion. These 11 home remedies will save you a trip to the drugstore!
Not sure which essential oil to use? Our post on essential oils for congestion will help you.
1. Inhaling directly for congestion relief
Add a few drops of essential oil to a tissue, cloth, or cotton ball and gently breathe in for a few minutes, holding it close to your face. It could also be placed on a nearby surface if you’re working at a desk or kept in your pocket, to be used later, if you’re out and about. Another popular method is to wear a bracelet made up of your favorite crystals and some lava beads. A few drops of essential oils can be added to the lava beads and these can be inhaled throughout the day!
The Psychic Tree has a good range of these bracelets.
Alternatively, it can be put under or on your pillow while you sleep. For portability, you may even prefer a nasal stick with infused essential oils and menthol.
2. Adding to firewood for congestion relief
Add a few drops of essential oil to your firewood for at least 10-15 minutes before you burn the wood. Putting the drops into the cracks and knots in the wood is a good idea. Don’t put oils on the wood while it’s burning.
3. Topical application for congestion relief
In medicine- the act of applying a substance directly onto the skin or mucous membranes for localized effect” (source)
After you have mixed your essential oil with your carrier oil, done your patch test, and gone over what you must know before you use essential oils, you’re ready to try and relieve some of that congestion. Lightly apply it to your temples, neck, or chest area. Some people will also apply it to the bottoms of their feet. You can use natural creams, lotions, or carrier oils. If you are at a loss on which carrier oils to use, check out our 11 popular carrier oils section.
Rather apply the solution in a few small doses throughout the day, about every 4-6 hours instead of applying one large dose. Not all essential oils are best for topical application as some are “hot” oils, like cinnamon, black pepper, and thyme, and may cause a hot or warming sensation on the skin. Also, remember to use top-quality essential oils.
4. Steam inhalation for congestion relief
Add a few drops of essential oils to a bowl of hot water, creating therapeutic steam that will be breathed in. Apart from clearing congested airways, it will also soothe headaches, and promote respiratory comfort.
Boil some water and pour into a large pot or heatproof bowl. Add three to seven drops of essential oil. You can use Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Tea Tree, Lavender, or Thyme. Take a towel and cover your head and the container, creating a tent. Position your head directly over it, about 10 inches from the water.
Breathe through your nose, starting with small breaths and gradually increasing the length. Take care not to inhale too deeply, or too quickly to avoid discomfort. Carry on for up to 10 minutes at a time. Keep your eyes closed to prevent irritating them. The water can be re-heated later the same day and 1-2 more drops of essential can be added after re-boiling.
Have a cool washcloth on hand to wipe away your face sweat!
5. Humidifiers for congestion relief
Having the right humidity level in your home can help you breathe easier, relieving many congestion symptoms. Humidifiers create mist from the cool water and release it into the air.
Ultrasonic humidifiers have an internal metal diaphragm that vibrates very fast at an inaudible sound frequency. Water droplets are created, and this increases the air’s moisture level. They are effective, quiet (although some dogs feel uncomfortable around them), and don’t use much energy. Can be more expensive, but it may be easier to clean.
Impeller humidifiers have a high-speed spinning disk made of small blades. Water droplets are made by the blade and then move through a mesh screen. The water is broken up and then pushed out through a nozzle, being released into the air.
Evaporative humidifiers use fans to blow air over a wet, absorbent material and propel the moisture into the air. Simple and relatively safe, and less likely to release bacteria and minerals into the air than the other types. Usually cheaper, but may be noisier.
Air washers work with a rotating disc. They add humidity to the air and also clean the air, by removing allergens from the air. Good for places that have dry, impure air. They do however require frequent cleaning and regular maintenance.
Central humidifiers are connected to your house’s plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. Unlike the others, you can control the whole house’s humidity levels. They need to be installed by professionals, don’t need refilling, but must be well maintained.
Warm mist humidifiers (also known as steam mist vaporizers or steam humidifiers) first heat the water before releasing it into the air. If there are bacteria or harmful elements in the water, they will first get destroyed. As it produces hot steam, children and pets need to be kept away.
6. Diffusers for congestion relief
Essential oils can be added to a diffuser to disperse in the air allowing you to breathe in their healing properties.
Evaporative diffusers work by first dropping your essential oil onto a pad or other absorbent material and either a fan will push the evaporated essential oil scent into the air or it just naturally evaporates, like Reed diffusers. This means easy portability, unique designs, and no water required!
Nebulizing diffusers don’t use heat or water and are often considered the most powerful and effective way to diffuse essential oils. A small air pump creates a vacuum and draws the essential oil through a small tube and into a glass chamber where it is atomized into a fine mist using a high-frequency vibration, and then dispersed into the air. Even Personalized nebulizers are available!
Candle diffusers are simple and cheap. Just add a bit of water and a few drops of the essential oil into the small ceramic bowl. Light a tea candle underneath and the aroma will diffuse into the air. There are electronic versions available and even rechargeable options!
Ultrasonic diffusers don’t use heat, but tiny vibrations that move through the water. These carry upwards toward the floating essential oil and are vaporized as a mist. They are quiet and you can even get portable ultrasonic diffusers powered by USB cables!
Heat diffusers use heating elements to slowly evaporate the essential oil into the surrounding air. Some use water to assist in the evaporation process. Usually quiet and quite economical, although care needs to be taken around children and pets because of the heat. Also, not all essential oils are suitable for heat diffusers as some oils are altered under heat.
7. Compresses for congestion relief
You can add a few drops of essential oils and your carrier oil to a bowl of water. Dunk a cloth in until it’s covered. Wring it out and apply it to the affected area. The water can be cold (with ice) hot from the faucet, or any desired temperature in between, as needed.
8. Baths for congestion relief
Add about 5-20 drops of essential oil mixed in a tablespoon of carrier oil to your bath water. Add the blend just before you get into the bath so the oils don’t evaporate too quickly. You can also rub the oil blend onto your skin before getting into the bath or rub the oil onto your skin as you relax in the bath. Epsom salts or Himalayan sea salt can be added to the bath to make it even more relaxing. To degrease the bath when you’re finished, use sea salt or baking soda and rinse.
9. Saline nasal sprays, Nasal irrigation (also known as sinus flushing, nasal rinsing) for congestion relief
These include bulb syringes, neti pots, squeeze bottles, and battery-operated pulsed water devices. They simply thin the mucus and help flush it out of the nasal passages. Saline (saltwater) sprays can be bought over the counter and are usually isotonic (the same saline concentration as your body) or you can make it at home.
Mix 1 or 2 teaspoons of non-iodized salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda into 8 ounces of distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled water. Tap water can be used if it has been filtered. The solution can be used with a bulb syringe, a Neti pot, a plastic squirt bottle, or your cupped hands. For children, use a half-teaspoon of salt.
Bulb syringes are cheap and can be used for babies, children, and adults. A neti pot (which looks similar to a teapot) has a bigger container area to rinse debris or mucus from your nasal cavity. Squeeze bottles are usually small cylindrical plastic bottles with an extended spout and are squeezed, like the bulb syringes.
All work in the same way by tilting your head over the sink and inserting the solution in one nostril. The solution then flows through into the other nostril and out.
You also get more robust electrical and portable devices where you can adjust the strength and pulse action to suit your needs. These devices would suit someone who suffers from chronic congestion and requires more frequent nasal irrigation.
10. Nasal strips for congestion relief
These are adhesive strips that are placed on the nose to widen your nostrils and increase your airflow. They are usually stiff pieces of fabric that wrap around the nose and stick to either side of the nostrils. This widens the nostrils and makes it easier for air to flow through the nose and easier to breathe! Snore Strips adhere to your cheeks instead of going over the nose.
11. Nasal dilator (nasal dilator clip, or nasal stent) for congestion relief
A soft device inserted into your nostrils and similar to nasal strips in that they will widen your nasal passages to improve airflow. Many have trial packs with different sizes for you to try until you’ve found the right fit. You also get Nasal Dilators where each loop can be adjusted to fit all nose sizes.
However, the Snoreeze Nasal Dilator is fully adjustable and designed to fit all nose sizes. It has two soft loops that gently expand your airways. This increased airflow helps to reduce the effects of nasal congestion and snoring. Each loop can be independently adjusted to achieve the most effective, comfortable fit.
