(38)Post-nasal drip (PND) is a common problem that occurs due to excessive mucus production by the nasal mucosa. It’s a very irritating and uncomfortable situation to deal with and can affect people of any age.
Glands in the lining of your nose, throat and airways continually produce mucus, a kind of thick, wet substance. It moistens and cleans the nasal membranes, humidifies the air in the airways, traps and clears inhaled foreign matter and fights infections.
Normally, you do not notice the mucus from your nose as you swallow it unconsciously throughout the day. But when it is overproduced, the mucus starts dripping from the back of your nose, causing post-nasal drip.
Additional symptoms include hoarseness, an irritated or sore throat, coughing, congestion, difficulty swallowing and a general feeling of weakness.
Post-nasal drip can be triggered by a variety of causes, such as the common cold, flu, allergies, sinus infection, cold temperature, excessively dry air, spicy foods, certain medications, hormonal changes in the body and fumes from chemicals, perfumes, cleaning products, smoke or other irritants.
While there are varied causes of excess mucus production, you can treat many cases of the condition at home using simple and readily available ingredients. However, if the problem persists for more than a week, consult a doctor.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for post-nasal drip.
1. Gargle with Salt Water
Gargling with salt water is one of the best home remedies to ease the discomforts of post-nasal drip. It helps thin the mucus, making it easier for you to get rid of it. It also flushes the irritants out of the nasal passages.
- Add ½ teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of warm water.
- Stir thoroughly until the salt dissolves.
- Gargle with this solution a few times daily for 2 to 3 days.
2. Steam Inhalation
Use steam treatments, with or without essential oils, to control excess mucus production that causes post-nasal drip.
- Make a bowl of hot, boiling water.
- Optionally, add a few drops of any essential oil.
- Drape a towel over your head and hold your face over the hot water.
- Deeply inhale the steam for about 10 minutes, then blow your nose.
- Do this 2 or 3 times daily until you recover completely.
You can even take warm showers to help break up the mucus.
Note: Steam inhalation is not recommended for very small children.
3. Nasal Irrigation
Nasal irrigation also helps clear up excess mucus. It even helps keep the nasal passages free from irritants and prevents further infection.
- Add ¼ teaspoon of salt and a pinch of baking soda to 1 cup of warm distilled water.
- Fill a neti pot with this solution.
- While standing over a sink, tilt your head to one side and squirt the solution into one of your nostrils.
- Move your head back, forward and side-to-side to help the solution reach your nasal cavities.
- Blow your nose to remove excess mucus and solution.
- Repeat the process with the other nostril.
- Do this once daily for a few days and then a few times a week.
4. Garlic
Garlic is a potent herb with powerful antibiotic properties. It helps control overproduction of mucus and prevents infection. It even promotes quick recovery.
- Chop 3 to 4 garlic cloves and roast them in 1 teaspoon of clarified butter for 1 minute. Eat them with warm milk twice daily for a few days.
- Another option is to chew a small piece of raw garlic a few times a day.
- You can even take garlic supplements after consulting your doctor.
5. Ginger
Ginger is a natural decongestant and contains antiviral, antibacterial and expectorant properties. It helps reduce the overproduction of mucus and aids its expulsion. It also helps relieve chest congestion, hoarseness and a sore throat, common symptoms of post-nasal drip.
- Drink ginger tea 2 or 3 times a day. To make the tea, put 1 tablespoon of sliced ginger in 1 to 2 cups of water and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Strain, add a little raw honey and drink it.
- You can also chew raw ginger slices several times a day and add ginger to your cooking.
6. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper acts as an antihistamine and helps treat post-nasal drip. The capsaicin in cayenne helps thin the mucus for easy elimination. It even helps soothe an irritated throat.
- Mix ½ teaspoon each of cayenne pepper and honey and have it 2 or 3 times daily for a few days.
- Alternatively, add ½ to 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder to a cup of warm water and sip it slowly. Repeat a few times a day.
- Include cayenne pepper in your cooking as well.
Thanks I’m going to start with the gargling of salt.
this was very helpful
#4-Garlic I can see, but not with milk. Milk causes the production of mucus.
I didn’t think that made sense either. Milk always produces more mucus for me.
I`ve been suffering from postnasal drip for many years;despite using medications.
thanks for your helpful advice.
!/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tblsp honey
1 tblsp apple cider vinegar
2 tblsp water
Mix very well make cold take 2-3 tsp just before bed
Joy, that is a myth. Milk does not cause the production of mucus
I agree with Joy. Cut down on dairy. Otherwise very helpful.
THANKS,I’M GONNA TRY IT
Thank you so much for such good advice. You get no help of Swedish health care, and want to try natural treatments. I will immediately try this.
/ Leif L
Cayenne pepper, that’s hot!
Ginger tea acts very quickly as it
Yes I experience over production of mucus with milk
According to the Mayo Clinic, milk doesn’t increase the production of mucus but it does thicken and irritate it, which may result in the sensation that there is more. That said, it seems it wouldn’t hurt to avoid it when trying to get post-nasal drip under the control! I only looked it up because I’ve managed to eliminate milk in everything but my tea – I’ve tried every “alternative” milk with my morning PG Tips and nothing prevails but I suppose I will have to keep up the search.
I have post nasal drip, a cough and clear my throat a lot. I see an ENT. Do you think if I eliminate dairy this will help me. I am also going to start drinking ginger tea. Thanks for your advice. Thanks.
The ginger really works when you have a cold and even when you don’t have a cold tried it and liked it it eorks
Ginger tea, salt and chyannbpepper works
Judith Day, I have your exact same symptoms. I’ve tried nasal sprays, anti biotics, asthma inhalers, antihistamines, and even had a chest xray done because of the cough. I’m just glad to see I’m not the only one.
This sight gave me a lot of things I plan on trying tonight.
Hello and thank you…I’ve had a PND for the last fortnight due to a cold, absolutely exhausted from the coughing etc but I’ve just tried steam inhalation with a few drops of Lavender oil…the relief was instant and I haven’t coughed for 20 minutes now which is bliss! I will keep going with this and let you know how it goes….Thank you xx
Just a couple of minutes to understand aND solve a problem that has persisted and made me suffer for seven years. Thank you
I had this problem for 10 years I been to allergies doctors got lots of nose sprays , did not work ! And lately nose, throat and ear doctor even I had CTS , they find no problem .
Now I get irritated throats and the drip can be very irritating specially above my nostril and a dry cough it feels like I have broken pieces of glass when I cough.
Any suggestions ?? I am tire of doctors not finding my problem !!! I will appreciate your attention .
MILK DOES NOT CAUSE PRODUCTION OF MUCUS.
THAT HAS BEEN A MYTH FOR MANY YEARS
CHECK THE STUDIES ON IT AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY NOT RELATED.
The milk of another species is not natural or healthy for humans to consume. Our bodies recognise that and produce mucus. I know this from talking to many people who no longer consume dairy products and researching. Dairy is also often the cause of eczema, acne, asthma and other conditions.
I used to think that and it all lead to bone loss. LMAO. now i’m drinking milk and taking lots of vitamins and feel so much healthier. My pain is gone and I can exercise again! I still cough, but I believe that will eventually fix itself once my bones are healed. It all takes time.
My chronic cough and congested sinuses were eliminated after going off dairy. I went back on dairy and all my symptoms returned.
The first research article I pulled up was funded by the Dairy Industry. “Support or Funding Information, National Dairy Council.” They have research centers around the country, in universities. They fund a lot of pro-dairy research and researchers….my personal experience and that of many people I’ve talked to is that cutting out milk helps with allergies and asthma and cuts down on mucous. The best thing is to give it a try…that is, remove dairy from your diet for a few weeks and judge for yourself. (I was not paid for this)
The pollen this year caused misery for my sinuses! It’seems been two months of torture & expensive meds haven’t worked. Go ahead try all of your suggestions tomorrow. Thank you.
Thanks ginger tea wirks wonders
Thanks,ginger tea works wonders.
You might also try, as an interim measure, putting your head upside down. I usually shake it about as well. You can feel the mucus draining. Works!
To the person who says cows milk doesn’t cause mucus it sure does help in the production of it. It causes lots of problems and it’s not a natural thing for humans to drink but definitely for baby calves!
Thanks, I shook my head while I was bent over, in front of my husband. He thinks I’m a crazy bird now.
I used to suffer from migraines. I stopped drinking milk for other reasons & realized that over time, my migraines had gone away. I drank organic milk & they never came back. I believe our allergies to milk are really allergies to all the pesticides & hormones that they put into it. I too, used to suffer from over-production of mucus from milk, but it doesn’t happen when I drink organic milk.
Try chewing fresh ginger it really helps i had post nasal drip for a few days and started chewing fresh ginger and after 2-4 days it was gone
I was a bit sceptical, but I tried ginger tea yesterday, gobsmacked….it actually works. Bought ginger and lemon tea bags (needed a bit of sugar though) and after just one day I can feel the difference. Thanks very much.
Thank you I will try to chew ginger
Huh, just reading all the comments on eliminating cows milk from diet and how it helped so many with PND, even someone with migraines! I have both…PND and migraine, have suffered for years with both. I changed to Soy milk a few years ago for other reasons and I can tell you it made no difference in relieving either ailment…not even a bit. I will say that a nasal steroid spray gives me relief from the dry scratchy cough but I’m told I can’t use that every single day which is what I’d need. So I’ll try some of these great natural remedies. Thank you!
i have post nasal drip for 1 year.I’ve been experiencing hoarseness for 1 year also and i am ver depressed.I Love to sing and now i can’t sing anymore.I tried medications such as antibiotic,antihistamine,decongestant and i even avoid cold drinks for a year now but it keeps on coming back.I feel like crying everytime i saw a videoke machine,cause singing is my passion and now my voice isn’t good anymore