Best Medicine For Runny Nose
How To Treat A Runny Nose
Written by Camille Freking, MS Pharmacology - Genexa Partner on September 28, 2021
Medically reviewed by Camille Freking MS Pharmacology
Surprise, surprise: you (or your kid) have come down with a classic case of a runny nose… again. Though a runny nose is a temporary problem, we know how uncomfortable it can be.
The most common culprit of a runny nose is cold weather, viral infection, or allergies, all of which are temporary but inconvenient regardless. When your runny nose happens as a result of being sick, the best methods of treatment may be resting up and making sure to drink plenty of fluids in order to support your body while you heal.
So, you know a runny nose can be caused by a variety of things, but why exactly does it happen? Understanding this part of the process may help you make a more informed decision regarding how you go about treating your symptoms.
Why Does a Runny Nose Happen?
When a virus, allergen, or other irritant enters your nasal passages, the lining of your nose and sinuses becomes irritated and inflamed, and your nose produces mucus as a result. The mucus is there to help trap bacteria, viruses, and allergens in order to help flush them away. That mucus is a very important part of your airway system because it keeps your airways moist and helps keep them working.
Even more, the mucus in your nose contains antibodies that can help kill off viruses and bacteria. Though it is just doing its job, it sure is annoying when your body produces too much mucus -- this can result in a cough, congestion, and runny nose.
Postnasal Drip
Another side effect of too much mucus is something known as postnasal drip. This happens specifically when the excess mucus begins to go down the back of your throat, and it can lead to a sore throat and cough.
Occasionally, a runny nose and congestion may happen concurrently because of inflamed blood vessels, but this does not always mean antibiotics are required.
Speaking of which, let’s take a look at some home remedies that may help with more minor cases of a runny nose.
Home Remedies
Minor cases of a runny nose generally will not require medication in order for them to improve, but home remedies can be helpful. Some common at-home treatments for a runny nose include:
- Drinking plenty of fluids: Staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day can help thin out mucus and support your body’s healing. Thinner mucus makes it easier for your body to get rid of it, which is why this method works.
- Drinking hot tea: Drinking hot tea can soothe your symptoms as warm beverages release heat and steam that can help calm irritated airways. When drinking tea, though, be mindful of whether or not your tea of choice is caffeinated, as caffeine can lead to dehydration. Follow any caffeinated tea beverages with a glass of plain water.
- Using facial steam: Facial steam, like that from a hot shower or the mist from a humidifier, can both soothe your airways and thin out mucus. Adding certain essential oils, like eucalyptus or peppermint, to the water in your shower or sink while it is heating up can make this method even more effective.
- Trying out a neti pot: This may be a great idea, as neti pots help flush out your nose and sinuses through the use of a saline solution or distilled water.
- Eating spicy foods: Believe it or not, spicy foods can be helpful, even if it sounds a little out of left field. This method works because spicy food can thin up the mucus and relieve the pressure in your sinuses . Along these lines, spicy foods can make a runny nose worse since they dilate your nasal passages, but this also means that they are helping get rid of built-up mucus.
These remedies are all easy ways to treat a runny nose without spending money, and they can be really effective in minor cases.
That said, we understand that sometimes, symptoms are persistent and highly uncomfortable. In these cases, medicine may be your next step.
What Kind of Medicine is Best for a Runny Nose?
When your runny nose just won’t quit, certain over-the-counter medicines may be able to help ease your discomfort. For a runny nose, antihistamines can sometimes be effective… but here’s the thing. Some antihistamines have sedative effects, causing major drowsiness which can catch you off guard.
Plus, if your child is the one suffering from a runny nose, some antihistamines are not even approved for use by children, which may leave you hanging. Evidently, there are plenty of cons when it comes to most commercially available medicines intended for treating cold symptoms.
That’s where Genexa comes in.
Genexa is the first clean medicine company devoted to making medicines that have the active ingredients you need, but without any unnecessary inactive artificial stuff.
Genexa’s Kids’ Cold Crush organic cold and cough tablets are perfect if your little ones come down with a cold (and runny nose) that won’t quit. This product is a homeopathic remedy that makes use of ingredients like chamomile and onion in order to help ease symptoms, and is great for children between the ages of 3 and 11.
Genexa’s Kids’ Cough & Chest Congestion oral suspension is another great option that can ease symptoms like a cough, chest congestion, and mucus production. It can be used by children between the ages of 4 and 12 and is safe and effective when the appropriate dosage is followed. This medicine is made with the same active ingredient as Mucinex® Children’s FreeFrom™ Cough & Mucus, but without the other artificial inactive ingredients you don’t need or want.
If you opt for a product from Genexa, you can know that Genexa is committing to revolutionizing the world of medicine by putting people and clean ingredients - like non-GMO, organic inactives - first.
The Bottom Line
When it comes down to it, a runny nose is extremely uncomfortable, but temporary.
A runny nose can happen due to the flu, allergies, or just the common cold, but in any event I understand you want to feel better.
When medication is necessary because of symptoms that just won’t stop, it is important to stay aware of the ingredients and potential unwanted effects of any medications you do choose to take. Many commercially available products can have risks that sometimes outweigh the benefits, and these should be avoided.
Genexa has plenty of products to offer you that are free of artificial inactive, ingredients.