Well it’s that time of the year again! The stuffy nose – nasal congestion season…and it came to my house this past week. Greg woke up with a stuffy nose, couldn’t breathe and was struggling for some air, what was I to do? I headed to the kitchen and started a batch of Nasal Decongestant! Many people suffer from time to time from stuffy noses off and on throughout the year due to allergies, sinus issues or colds. Regardless of the reason for your stuffy nose, this is a great decongestant that you can make yourself that really works with ingredients that you probably already have as staples in your kitchen!

Why Wouldn’t I Just Buy an Over the Counter Decongestant…Over the counter decongestants are often extremely addictive, and most Doctors will even tell you NOT to use them for more than 3-5 days at a time, because they are so addictive. So why would you want to put unpronounceable chemicals into your body or your families body when you can make your own decongestant with ingredients you know and understand?  Plus, it’s cheaper to make a decongestant yourself, it only takes a few minutes, it taste good, and best of all: It works! 

Ingredients Needed for Making This Nasal Decongestant Are…

Ingredients for Natural Herbal Decongestant:  

• 1/2 cup Lemon Juice
• 1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup Organic Honey (Local Honey is BEST!)
• 1 Tablespoon powdered or 2 Tablespoons Fresh Root, Ginger 
• 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Powder (If you are sensitive to Cayenne or spicy things, be sure to use less)
• 1 – 2 teaspoons powdered Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated Horseradish

NOTE: If you are going to be using this for children you might want to use less cayenne or dilute it a little with filtered non-chlorinated water.

Directions for Making This Nasal Decongestant Are…Just add all the ingredients into a sauce pan.  Bring to a simmer on LOW for about 5 to 10 minutes.  You don’t want to boil it…just a nice slow little bubbling simmer. This allows the herbs to release their active constituents into the mix. 

Remove and strain the liquid into a jar. I use a fine mesh strainer.
Let cool down, then put on a lid and store. This will keep a long time due to the acids in the lemon juice and vinegar and the antimicrobial nature of honey. If it’s been awhile since you made your decongestant, be sure to do a sniff test, or just whip up a new batch. It’s so easy! 

If I’m using a lot of it, I will store it on the counter. If it’s not going to get used fairly quickly, you can put it in the fridge..

NOTE: Honey has beneficial enzymes that help heal the body, in this remedy honey was added for its soothing, sweetening properties, and to offset the acids and heat of the spices. You can add the honey after the heating process so as not to kill the beneficial enzymes in the honey, if that is a concern of yours 

To Use This Nasal Decongestant…

This is a very safe decongestant.  Here are the basic steps to use: 

1) SHAKE WELL…To make sure any powdered herbs that settled will be dispersed into the liquid equally.  

2) Just take a teaspoon or two once to several times a day.  If it’s too spicy, you can dilute in a bit of water or tea. I like mine hot! 

When we use this nasal decongestant, my nose sometimes starts to run a bit. It means mucus is breaking up in those nasal/sinus passages, which is what you want to happen.

How Do Homemade Decongestants Compare to Over The Counter Decongestants…

First, they work naturally to help loosen and expel mucus. They work quickly too, although you will also notice that the effects are different from the chemical one’s. 

Second, you’ll have to take more, than the amount in an over the counter decongestant.  However, it tastes so good that shouldn’t be a big deal. Also, it’s GOOD for you! Why because it’s just food!!

Third, natural nasal decongestants have so many other health benefits that work on multiple systems in your body, which over the counter decongestants DO NOT have. 

For example – your heart, your lungs, your circulation, your energy, your blood sugar levels….are all improved by using the herbs in this mixture.  

In fact, an over the counter decongestant, with all its nasty chemicals, will cause your liver to work overtime in order to filter out the impurities from the chemicals.  

How Does This Nasal Decongestant Work? You Might Ask…

The lemon juice and especially the Apple Cider Vinegar, help to thin that thick, sticky mucus in your nasal passages. Both also have many other health benefits too…

Honey has been used for ages as a remedy for colds and flu. It also is antibacterial and antiviral. Honey also soothes the throat and its membranes. 

Cayenne, Ginger, Cinnamon, and Horseradish help to open up the sinus passages. The Cayenne, the Ginger (and the honey as well), all have exceptional expectorant benefits., which means they help loosen up the mucus.  

A special note about Cayenne:  The capsaicin in the Cayenne is a miracle compound. It’s a pain reliever and it also helps to reduce the inflammation that causes the nasal passages to close up. This is kind of counterintuitive, since it’s such a hot and spicy herb.   

This Nasal Decongestant tastes good. It’s sweet, spicy and it will warm you right up!!   

I hope you’ll give this remedy a try and please let me know how it works for you!  

Do you make your own handmade remedies? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and if you have questions about making this nasal decongestant, please leave your comments in the comments section! I will be glad to give you my thoughts…

Let Food Be Your Medicine,

Carole

P. S. I have to make this disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. In no manner is any article on my website, including this one, meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any health ailments. Please see a medical doctor for any issues you have. I am simply providing my own advice/opinions based on my years of experience, study and personal use of these recipes/products/ingredients. Each and every person is responsible for their own health choices and treatments. Please do your own research!