When you are dehydrated, your body conserves water by making mucus thicker. When you chug hot tea (bonus points for ginger and lemon), you signal your body to loosen up.
Your nose will thank you. And you’ll finally be able to sleep lying down again.
Drink half your body weight in ounces of warm liquids. Herbal tea, hot water with lemon, broth. Avoid dairy if you feel it makes you thicker (science is mixed on this, but your gut feeling is usually right). The Final Breath A word of caution: Natural does not mean "safe for everything." If you have high blood pressure, be careful with decongestants (natural or synthetic) because anything that constricts blood vessels—even spicy food—can raise your pressure slightly. If your face feels like it’s going to explode, you see green discharge, or you’ve been sick for 10+ days, see a doctor. You might have a bacterial infection that needs antibiotics.
Use distilled or boiled (then cooled) water only. Never tap water. Mix 1 cup water with 1/4 teaspoon non-iodized salt and a pinch of baking soda (to neutralize pH). Lean forward, pour into the top nostril, let it run out the bottom. It feels weird for 3 seconds. Then you breathe like a god. 4. Menthol & Eucalyptus: The Dynamic Duo These aren't just "grandma smells." Vicks VapoRub works because of camphor and menthol. But you can make a natural version that is even more potent.