The medicinal qualities of onions have long been known. Even before the invention of medicines, people were treated with folk remedies. Even now, many people prefer natural remedies to chemicals. The bactericidal and antibacterial properties of the onion are good for colds. It’s not for nothing that when the cold season begins, the bulbs are cut into pieces and placed in the rooms.
The bulb releases essential oils and phytoncides that have an antimicrobial effect. Thus, the air in the room is cleaned of germs. Onions not only disinfect the air, but help in the fight against runny nose, cough and other symptoms of colds, during which it is useful to even just sniff onions; onion juice is no less effective in helping against a runny nose.
The healing properties of onions for treating a runny nose
One of the symptoms of a cold is a runny nose. Every person knows how unpleasant it is when the nose is blocked and it is impossible to breathe, especially difficult during sleep. A runny nose not only causes discomfort, sniffles, sneezing, but also headaches. If left untreated, it can develop into sinusitis. And this disease is very dangerous for health.
Regular onions will help relieve nasal congestion, ease breathing, and rid the sinuses of bacteria. You can simply breathe over a chopped onion, but this will only relieve nasal congestion for a short time. A more effective way to treat a runny nose is onion drops.
Onions and honey for runny nose and colds
Garlic for a runny nose
Garlic is a natural bactericidal agent due to its high content of phytoncides. Therefore, it is very effective in fighting infection, including the runny nose.
A widely known folk recipe using a mixture of garlic juice and sea buckthorn oil. To prepare, take garlic juice from one onion and mix it with sea buckthorn oil (5-8 drops). The medicine is stored in the refrigerator in a glass container. The dose of the drug is 2 drops for each nostril with an interval of 1-1.5 hours. With a mild runny nose and at the recovery stage, the number of applications is reduced to 3-4 times during the day.
It is also recommended to breathe garlic fumes. For this purpose, the garlic clove is divided into 3-4 parts. Inhale the released aroma for 10 minutes with slow and deep breaths. As a result, pathogenic bacteria and viruses actively leave the body. The procedure is performed 5-6 times during the day.
To prepare the following medicinal composition you will need large garlic cloves (3 pieces), fresh lemon juice, aloe and peppermint decoction in equal proportions. Peeled and chopped garlic is added to juices and broth last. The finished medicine is stored in the refrigerator and applied 3 drops to each nostril 6 - 8 times during the day.
A mixture of onion and garlic juice is often used for washing. You will need one onion and 3-4 cloves of garlic. Juice is squeezed out of both products and diluted with boiled water (100 g). The liquid is poured into a saucer and sucked in alternately through both nostrils. At least three rinses are performed for each nostril. The procedure is repeated 3-4 times a day, and during a severe runny nose 6-7 times.
Preparing nasal drops from onion juice
Onion nose drops are great for getting rid of snot for adults and children. They are easy to prepare at home. It would seem that if you squeezed out and dripped onion juice when you have a runny nose, your nose will clear up perfectly. But it's not that simple. Onions are a very hot and bitter vegetable, and the nasal mucosa is very delicate. It is not recommended to drip undiluted freshly squeezed onion juice into your nose. You can not only cause allergies, but also cause significant harm to the nasal mucosa. Only properly prepared drops will help treat a runny nose with onions.
There are several people-tested recipes that help with a runny nose and nasal congestion caused by it.
With water
Onion juice with water
To prepare onion juice, take high-quality fruits, without rot or damage, peel and wash thoroughly. The onion can be finely chopped, chopped in a blender or through a meat grinder. The resulting pulp is squeezed out using gauze, thus obtaining juice. To reduce the concentration of essential oils in the juice, it is diluted with boiled cold water in a ratio of 1 to 2 or 1 to 3 . The resulting solution must stand for the sting to go away from the juice.
This solution is dripped into the nose with a medical pipette no more than 2 times a day, one or two drops. It can be stored for no more than 12 hours in a dark, always cool place. There is no need to make large portions of the solution; you won’t have time to use it anyway.
The following recipe has a gentler effect on the nasal cavity and is very effective.
With honey
Onions and honey for a runny nose
Onions with honey for a runny nose and congestion are a great help. Honey has an antimicrobial effect and also softens the mucous membrane, neutralizing the pungency of onions.
For this method, mix vegetable pulp, honey and boiled water.
- Three tablespoons of chopped vegetables are poured with a quarter glass of boiled water, and 1 tablespoon of honey is added.
- The mixture of onion and honey is infused for half an hour to three hours. During this time, the vegetable will release all the healing substances into the mixture.
- After this, it is filtered.
- The resulting medicine is dripped into the nasal passages up to 5 times a day. This infusion can be stored for up to three days in the refrigerator, and can also be used to treat coughs.
For rhinitis, onion-oil drops are very effective.
With oils
Onions with oils for a runny nose
Onions for a runny nose with oil not only clears the sinuses, but also softens the irritated nasal mucosa. For healing oil drops you will need:
- Medium onion (to get 15-20 drops of juice) and 50 ml of oil, vegetable or olive.
- The onion is chopped very finely, then poured with slightly heated oil.
- The mixture is left to steep for about 12 hours, then filtered through a sieve or cheesecloth.
Even sinusitis can be cured with this remedy by instilling drops into the nose every three hours. You can also make cotton swabs for the nose, soaked in an oil-onion solution. Lubricate your nose with a healing infusion, this removes irritation and softens the nasal mucosa.
Another option for making butter with onion juice is to use a lightly roasted vegetable.
- A small onion is cut into small pieces, fried a little and then poured in 30 ml of oil.
- After infusion, filter. This mixture is good to lubricate your nose when you have a runny nose.
Onion drops for otitis media, runny nose and colds
You can additionally add garlic to this mixture.
Garlic and onion
Garlic has a fairly strong antiviral effect. And in tandem with onions it heals wonderfully. Garlic and onions for runny nose and nasal congestion are used for sinusitis and colds.
- Squeeze the juice from a small onion and 4 large cloves of garlic, dilute it with 100 ml of boiled water.
- This simple solution effectively treats a runny nose. It is instilled into the nose up to 4 times a day until recovery.
Attention ! do not use the solution for more than 5-7 days, because its healing power is lost. Store it in the refrigerator, but it is advisable to warm it to room temperature before use.
Oil solutions are also prepared from garlic and onion.
- Take a quarter of an onion, finely chopped
- Four cloves of minced garlic,
- pour all this over 50 ml of heated hot oil.
The resulting medicine is infused for at least two hours, after which it is filtered. These drops are applied up to five times a day.
Garlic and onion infusion for a runny nose is prepared in another way:
- Chopped onions and garlic are poured with oil, preferably olive oil, then placed in a water bath.
- After steaming the mixture in a water bath for half an hour, it is filtered.
Thanks to the oil, this infusion is gentle and safe for health. It can be placed in the nose even for babies.
3 effective recipes for treating a runny nose
For children
Onion juice for a runny nose is used with great caution in children. This is strictly not recommended for children under two years of age. There are milder ways to treat sniffles in babies, such as carrot juice. However, if you still want to prepare onion drops for your child, then the juice is diluted with water in a ratio of at least 1 to 4 .
Place one drop in each nostril, no more than twice a day. This needs to be done correctly.
Treatment of runny nose in children
Attention !
When treating any diseases in children, do not self-medicate, but first of all consult with specialists.
Star balm for a runny nose
The mechanism of the therapeutic effect of the balm is simple. When the oil is applied to the skin, it penetrates the body and binds to the fats inside the cells. During evaporation, essential oils penetrate into the nasal cavity, irritating the mucous membrane. This factor helps to activate the immune system, helping the body cope with illness, including the runny nose.
For therapeutic rubbing, the ointment is applied in a thin layer to the chest and back area, using smooth, gentle movements. The procedure is performed a couple of times during the day. Acupressure using balm gives a good therapeutic effect. This procedure is best carried out using a special pencil. The star is applied to the area of the chin, wings of the nose, earlobes, the area of skin between the tip of the nose and the upper lip, and to the temples and between the eyebrows. The desired point is found by pressing, causing slight pain.
Correctly burying a child's nose
Onions are quite an aggressive vegetable. Not every adult can withstand treatment with onion drops, not to mention children. But if you are a supporter of natural methods of treatment, then put the drops in your child’s nose with great caution. Before instillation, it is necessary to free the nose from the nozzles, blow your nose, and rinse with saline solution so that mucous masses containing a huge amount of pathogenic bacteria do not get into the nasopharynx along with the drops. It is better to use drops based on honey or oil; they have a gentler effect on the mucous membrane. Using a medical pipette, drop one drop of the medicinal onion mixture into the baby's nose. After each use, rinse the pipette thoroughly with hot water.
Onions are quite effective for a runny nose in children, but be sure to monitor the child’s reaction; if you experience discomfort, stop this treatment.
ATTENTION ! When treating any childhood diseases, do not forget that the best assistant is ordinary fresh air. Viral particles die almost instantly in clean, cool and moving air, so ventilate rooms as often as possible and do not allow viruses to multiply.
Onion inhalations are no less effective for nasal congestion, but more gentle, and can be safely used by children.
Salt nasal rinses
Washing with a saline solution gives good results in the treatment of a runny nose. For procedures, sea or table salt is used. In the first case, sea salt (1.5-2 teaspoons) is dissolved in boiled water (200 g). As a result of rinsing, swelling is relieved and breathing becomes easier. The content of natural iodine allows you to successfully fight infection.
For the second option, you will need table salt (1 teaspoon) dissolved in water (1 glass). To enhance the healing properties, baking soda (1 teaspoon) and iodine (1-2 drops) are added to the solution. The resulting mixture has a triple effect. With the help of salt, the mucous membrane is cleansed, soda stops the proliferation of microbes by creating an alkaline environment, and iodine directly fights infection. For children, it is recommended to make a weaker solution, which reduces discomfort during the procedure.
Healing ointments and inhalations with onions
To treat runny nose and colds, not only drops are used, but other equally effective methods.
Inhalations for a runny nose
Onion inhalations
Even onion skins bring tangible health benefits. It is used for inhalation to ease breathing during colds. First recipe :
- Peel the husks from the washed onions, pour in a liter of water so that the water covers the husks,
- Boil over low heat for five minutes.
- While the broth is hot, they breathe it in. It is advisable to breathe over the onion at night.
The second method of onion inhalation is to boil the onion for 15 minutes in 500 ml of water. They breathe over this decoction, covered with a towel. This procedure is performed twice a day, morning and evening.
Third method of inhalation:
- Place the finely chopped vegetable in a container and place it in a water bath.
- Lean over this container, cover yourself with a towel and inhale the vapors from the bulb for 15 minutes.
Important ! Any inhalations should not be done at high temperatures.
Hot inhalations are contraindicated at high temperatures, but even inhaling the vapor of a cut onion can relieve nasal congestion. To do this, you just need to cut the onion in half and inhale its smell. When you have a runny nose, you need to breathe onions for at least 10 minutes, morning and evening. It is useful to place chopped onions in the patient’s room to disinfect the air in the room.
Along with onion inhalations, you can carry out potato inhalations.
Onion-based ointments
To treat a runny nose, ointments are made with onions. The first ointment is used for bacterial runny nose, when the snot is greenish in color.
Take in equal proportions:
- onion juice;
- cyclamen root;
- Vishnevsky ointment;
- aloe juice
Squeeze the juice from the aloe bulb, root and leaves, add ointment, move carefully. You can use this ointment immediately by lubricating cotton swabs with it and carefully inserting it into the nostrils. It can be stored in the refrigerator, but must be warmed to room temperature before use.
Attention ! When using a folk remedy, monitor the body’s reaction; if unpleasant symptoms appear, even a slight burning sensation, allergies, stop using immediately.
Freshly squeezed onion juice helps with green snot, but use it carefully so as not to burn the nasal mucosa.
The second medicinal ointment is used for the nose for purulent discharge. Of course, it is better to avoid such situations and be sure to consult a doctor. But as an auxiliary folk remedy, an ointment made from onion juice, eucalyptus oil and honey is used.
- Add 7 drops of freshly squeezed juice and 5 drops of eucalyptus oil to a tablespoon of honey.
- Apply this mixture to your sinuses once a day. Therapeutic ointment is used not only for treatment, but also as a prophylactic agent.
The third ointment recipe includes many ingredients, even laundry soap.
Take one teaspoon each of the following ingredients:
- onion juice;
- aloe juice;
- vegetable oil;
- butter or milk;
- honey;
- regular laundry soap.
Everything is mixed and placed in a water bath, where it is kept until the ingredients are mixed. As soon as the mass becomes homogeneous and turns brown, remove from heat and cool. Cotton swabs are soaked in this ointment and inserted into the nostrils for 20 minutes. This procedure is done three times a day, inserting new tampons each time.
On a note . One of the simplest treatments is to insert a bow into the nose. To do this, the head is cut into small long slices and placed in the nose for 5-10 minutes; this method of treatment allows you to remain mobile and breathe in the vapors of the vegetable.
Folk remedies, like others, can cause harm to the body. What is good for one person may be harmful for another. Therefore, before starting such treatment, read about contraindications.
Aloe for runny nose
Aloe juice helps neutralize pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Oxygen enters organs and tissues faster, and the restoration of the protective properties of the nasal mucosa is accelerated.
To prepare a folk remedy for the common cold, take one aloe leaf over 3 years old, wash it, wrap it in a sheet of paper and place it in the refrigerator for 12-16 hours. The finished sheet can then be used within two weeks. Aloe juice has a bitter taste, irritating the nasal mucosa. Therefore, it is diluted with water 1:1.5 or 1:2. To enhance the therapeutic effect, honey is added to aloe in a 1:1 ratio. 5 drops of the finished product are instilled into each nostril three times a day until the painful manifestations completely disappear. Aloe juice is often used as a prophylactic.
The use of aloe is contraindicated in pregnant women due to stimulation of the uterine muscles. Another reason may be hypersensitivity to this product.
Contraindications and side effects
When using onion juice, do not forget about contraindications.
It is advisable to carry out any treatment after consultation with a doctor. Even the most useful natural remedies have contraindications. Onion drops are not recommended for use:
- children under two years of age;
- anyone who has an allergic reaction to onions;
- if there is damage to the nasal mucosa. The onion will cause even more irritation, which will increase the number of wounds.
- dysbacteriosis of the nasal cavity. Onions kill harmful, but with long-term use, beneficial microflora. If the drops are used for a long time, it will adversely affect the microflora of the nasal cavity.
- if there are polyps in the nose.
- with hypertension. The vegetable has a vasoconstrictor effect. A sharp effect on blood vessels is harmful for hypertensive patients.
- discomfort during use. Not everyone can tolerate the smell of onions and their burning effect on the mucous membranes. If you feel an unpleasant sensation or worsening condition, stop treatment.
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding, onion drops are used with caution.
- stomach ulcers, serious kidney diseases, and coronary heart disease. In these cases, such treatment is not recommended.
Onion treatment sometimes produces side effects. This is a burn to the mucous membrane, irritation, and disruption of the nasal microflora. At the first signs, treatment should be stopped. You cannot use onion drops in your nose for a long time. If they don't help, change treatment.
During treatment, it happens that the sense of smell deteriorates, but this passes over time and is not a reason to discontinue the use of onion drops or ointments.
Inhalation of potatoes for a runny nose
Use caution when performing this procedure. The use of too hot steam can lead to burns of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and oral cavity. Therefore, the therapeutic temperature should not be higher than 45-50 degrees. This procedure is contraindicated for children under 1 year of age, and until the age of seven, steam inhalations are prescribed only by a pediatrician.
Inhalations using potatoes are performed in different ways. When using jacket potatoes, they are washed, then placed on the bottom of the pan and filled with water. After this, the potatoes are placed on low heat and cooked until a characteristic smell appears. In this case, hot water is not drained. The healing properties of inhalation are enhanced if oat husks are boiled together with potatoes. Peeled boiled potatoes are also used for inhalation. 3 or 4 medium sized potatoes are enough. The resulting potato broth is drained, after which 1-2 drops of eucalyptus oil are added and you can begin inhalation.
Potato peels are also used. If desired, it is prepared in advance by drying and further storage. During flu epidemics or colds, dry cleaning is used as a medicinal raw material. All healing properties are preserved and even intensify over time. Potato inhalations are recommended to be performed an hour after a meal, preferably in the evening, just before bedtime. After this, you need to rest, but you cannot eat, drink or talk.
Self-massage is a folk remedy for nasal congestion
A massage done correctly will help your nose breathe freely. Press several times on the points located in the corner of the nostrils, and also make circular movements with your fingers, which will cause your nostrils to open and close.
In addition, massage all the corners around the nose, pressing on them up to 10 times. Additionally, massage your ears and earlobes.
Another interesting way to “break through” nasal breathing. Prepare a small container. Throw in a chopped onion and a couple of cloves of garlic. Try to smell it.
Can't smell it? Tap lightly with two fingers on the bridge of your nose and massage the wings of your nose. Now breathe in the medicinal composition.
