Even though a postnasal drip is a normal occurrence for most of us, its symptoms are everything but pleasant. Besides feeling the urge to swallow the mucus all the time to clear out the throat and coughing which usually gets worse during the night and causes a sore throat, it is not rare that we often feel sick from increased mucus production which then pools in the stomach. There are multiple reasons for mucus overproduction and some of them include asthma, certain medications, common cold, allergies, and GERD.

The given symptoms might not sound too invasive for some, yet if you experience postnasal drip frequently, you are well aware of how bothersome it is to do your daily tasks while being unable to breathe and swallow properly. Not to mention the fact that it gets quite difficult to get proper rest during the night for the same reasons.

Luckily, there are more than a few effective treatments that you can do at home to help yourself feel at your best even when faced with a persistent postnasal drip. If you wish to learn more on which home remedies can thin the mucus and make it go away faster, which bed raisers to use to ensure yourself a restful night, or how to minimize the possibility of having any allergens in your environment, feel free to stay with us throughout the text as these are just some of the topics we are about to cover.

Drinking Hot Fluids

Since the mucus gets thickened when we have postnasal drip, the liquids will make it thinner and ensure it passes more smoothly through the nasal cavities. It also helps the lungs to clear congestion easily. It is therefore crucial to stay well-hydrated when having a postnasal drip.

Some of the drinks that you can make at home easily include ginger water, root teas (especially ginger or liquorice), alkaline-rich vegetable and fruit juices (carrots, lemon, ginger, kale, dill…), and one and only homemade chicken soup.

Inhaling Steam

Whether you prefer doing a quick steam inhalation under the shower, or you want to go for a more traditional option that includes boiling a pot of water and inhaling the steam for a couple of minutes, both are equally effective. Still, to accelerate the effect and treat yourself to pleasant and calming aromatherapy, you can add a few drops of eucalyptus, tea tree, or lavender oil.

A single treatment should last from 2-5 minutes and a bit longer if you please, yet don’t go over 15 minutes. You can expect that 2 to 3 sessions a day will start to make progress.

Elevate Your Head While Lying

As we mentioned, the postnasal drip symptoms tend to get worse when we are sleeping since we remain in the horizontal position for some time. Therefore, elevating your head and torso comes as a natural solution that will keep the liquids away from the nasal passages.

If you are about to watch TV, you can simply stack two pillows and enjoy yourself, but if you wish to ensure yourself a good night’s sleep, then you should invest in a bed raiser, like a sleeping wedge. One of the greatest benefits of these specialized bed raisers is that they come with an incline at the top which then naturally falls to the bottom.

Our Reflux Guard under bed sleeping wedges come in various sizes, are extremely durable (10-year warranty), and lift the whole body naturally while your head remains elevated at 4 to 8 inches. As its name suggests, this wedge is placed under your mattress, and it doesn’t require any maintenance whatsoever. You will still be able to sleep on your favorite mattress without introducing new fabric which might worsen your allergies. Each mattress comes with a wedge cover that is easy to wash and made to last for a long time, and the best part is that you can carry the under bed sleeping wedge with you wherever you go. We sell the retention strap for traveling separately which you can put around the rolled-up mattress and hit the road.

Using a Humidifier

When the air in our homes is too dry, it can irritate the nose and throat and therefore cause more mucus production. By introducing a humidifier into your home, you will add that much-needed moisture to the air which will potentially help the mucus reduction. However, keep in mind that you need to maintain the humidifier properly which includes regular cleaning. Once the interiors get overly dirty, they become a perfect spot for harmful germs growth.

Gargling with Salt Water or Lemon

This is another well-known home remedy that is made easily and rapidly. You should use around 8 ounces of warm water and mix it with half of a teaspoon of salt and repeat the gargling process 2 to 3 times per day. The salty water will loosen up the mucus and treat the sore throat as well.

Besides being filled with vitamin C which you surely need more when having a common cold, lemon mixed with warm water is a great solution to thin the mucus. Besides gargling the water with lemon, you can also drink it.

Chewing Garlic

Since garlic is a potent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial solution, it could decrease mucus production. You can simply chew small pieces a few times a day to get the desired result. The only downside of this treatment is having bad breath afterward, but in case that’s not a problem for you (and your household members), you should definitely give it a try.

Eliminating the Allergens from Your Home

This one goes a long way and can make a huge difference, so you should make sure to detect all potential allergens in your environment and get rid of them. This is easier said than done because removing all the dust, pollen, and mold particles is somewhat impossible, yet by keeping your pillows, mattresses, pets, and carpets clean, and by removing flowers, you can surely eliminate most of the given allergens.

Important note:

This information is provided for informational purposes only. For diagnosis and treatment of your specific condition, always consult your doctor. Read the full disclaimer here.