If you ask someone who is shall we say rheumy-eyed and puffy with allergies whether or not their sinuses feel “lax”, you might get a look that confirms (at least in their minds) that you’re a crazy person. However, if you ask them if their sinuses feel leaky runny drippy sneezy, then they will for a surety answer that they do.

Symptoms of Runny Nose

It’s not difficult to figure out if you have runny sinuses. There are always leaky drippy fluids coming from the nose and eyes and often drainage into the back of the throat. This drainage can cause sore throats and itchy coughing that is particularly uncomfortable when trying to sleep. The eyes will normally be red, itchy, and runny along with the nose that drips "like a faucet".

Sniffling and sneezing is a common occurrence and one may feel the strong urge to stuff tissue up both nostrils (especially when trying to sleep) for reprieve. In cases like this, the person suffering isn't going to care how this looks or at least I never do. However, if you poke fun at someone with an especially miserable runny nose,  you might just get a soppy hanky thrown in your general direction. Not that I've ever done this of course.

Seasonal allergies and hay fever are two of the main causes for runny nose or perhaps an over-sensitization of pollen, dust, mold, or animal dander. Whatever the case may be, your body is overreacting because it wants these irritants out of the body. I mean, have you ever seen what a pollen molecule looks like? Look at that lovely picture below...definitely not pleasant. Just looking at this picture makes my nose twitch.

Regardless of the root cause of a runny nose, astringent herbs are indicated as they help tighten leaky, swollen, and inflamed tissues. Some herbs, in particular, have a special affinity for the upper respiratory system and are easy to use as teas, tinctures, or even as nasal irrigators.

Herbs for Runny Nose

There are a few tried and true herbs that work especially well for runny nose symptoms.

They include:

• Goldenseal
• Yarrow
• Garden Sage – easy to use! You can even add a pinch of dried sage to honey and take it as needed (take note that sage will dry up milk flow so if you're breastfeeding don't take garden sage)
• Rose (my personal favorite!) – any preparation of rose will work wonders and tastes delicious

You can also find these herbs at my favorite herb shop mountainroseherbs.com

These herbs can be made as a tea or used as tinctures, both render great results. In a pinch, you can take them as capsules if needed.

***I should also note that some cool drained green tea bags over the eyes feel particularly soothing if they're red, drippy, and irritated.

For acute situations where a runny nose comes on suddenly and in full force, take one of these herbs as a tea until the symptoms disappear.

For those of us with hay fever and seasonal allergies, these herbs will grace our daily regimens for a number of months before full recovery is made. You can read more about my natural remedies for seasonal allergies here.

Neti Pots

Of course, using a neti pot filled with a saline herbal tea will do the trick very nicely as well.

Simply:  

• Steep a strong tea with one of the herbs above
• Strain it well
• Mix in a rounded teaspoon of nasal salts into the warm tea
• Pour into the neti pot and get irrigating!

Astringent herbs like the ones I've discussed work on contact so you should feel relief very quickly.

This is my favorite type of neti pot for at home and this is my favorite neti pot for traveling.

Handkerchiefs 

Okay, so hear me out on this one! Since I have switched to using handkerchiefs my allergies have decreased tremendously because as it turns out I'm allergic to tissues. When dealing with a runny nose, I highly encourage you to try it out especially if your runny nose set on after being exposed to pollen and other irritants. Trust me, give it a go! You can get them HERE in a variety of different patterns and colors.

For more sinus remedies check out these articles:

Herbal Remedies for Stuffy Nose
Stuffy Nose Remedy
How to Treat Seasonal Allergies Naturally
Herbal Remedies for Dry Sinus

What have you used to staunch a runny nose?

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