A runny nose may seem like a minor inconvenience, but it can disrupt your day, affect your sleep, and cause discomfort. Often accompanied by sneezing, coughing, or watery eyes, it may be a sign of a cold, allergy, or seasonal flu.

If your kid’s got a runny nose, it becomes all the more frustrating and discomforting because even with medications, it might take a couple of days or more for them to feel better. This is why many also prefer to complement the medication with safe and effective home remedies for a runny nose to get quick comfort and relief.

Let’s explore the reasons behind a runny nose and then look at simple, tried-and-tested home remedies for cold and runny nose, sneezing, cough, and watery eyes.

Why Do You Have a Runny Nose?

A runny nose is a result of your nasal tissues producing excess mucus. This is usually in response to irritants, infections, or allergies. It is your body’s natural way of flushing out unwanted particles and protecting the respiratory system.

Here are some common causes:

• Common Cold or Viral Infections: A cold is the most common cause of a runny nose, as it triggers mucus production along with sneezing and congestion.
• Allergies: Those allergic to pollen, dust, or pet dander may experience sneezing, watery eyes, and a continuous runny nose.
• Sinus Infections: Swollen nasal passages due to sinusitis can result in prolonged mucus and discomfort.
• Weather Changes: Cold or dry air may irritate the nasal lining, leading to a temporary runny nose.
• Pollution or Irritants: Smoke, fumes, or strong odours can cause nasal irritation in some people and lead to a runny nose.
• Spicy Foods: Sometimes, eating spicy foods can cause a brief watery nose. This is harmless and usually resolves quickly without any intervention.

Understanding the reason helps you choose the right runny nose treatment at home. Let’s look at some easy and effective home remedies to manage the symptoms.

8 Home Remedies for Runny Nose, Sneezing, and Cough

Here are simple remedies you can try at home to manage sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, and nasal discomfort:

1. Steam Inhalation

Taking steam is the easiest and fastest runny nose home remedy. If you’re suffering from a blocked nose, sneezing, or an itchy throat due to airborne allergens, steam inhalation can offer immediate relief. Inhaling steam helps loosen mucus, clear nasal passages, and soothe inflamed sinuses, making you breathe better. It’s especially useful at night when symptoms tend to worsen.

How to do it: Boil water in a large bowl, add a few drops of eucalyptus or peppermint oil (optional), and inhale the steam for 5–10 minutes by covering your head with a towel. Or you may also use a steamer or vapouriser machine for the same.

2. Ginger with Honey

Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help relieve cold symptoms, while honey soothes the throat and suppresses coughing. In combination, ginger and honey drink is a powerful home remedy for cough and runny nose.

How to use: Grate fresh ginger in a glass of water and boil. Strain it in a glass and mix 1 teaspoon of honey when the water is lukewarm. Take it twice a day for optimal results.

3. Warm Salt Water Gargle

Gargling with warm salt water is an old-school home remedy to treat a runny nose. It helps thin the mucus, open up blocked nasal and throat passages, and reduce throat irritation caused by a cold or allergies.

How to do it: Mix half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gargle 2–3 times a day.

4. Turmeric Milk

Also referred to as golden milk (haldi doodh), it not only helps fight infection but also boosts your immune system. Turmeric has antiviral and antibacterial benefits, making it a great cold and runny nose home remedy.

How to use: Add ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of hot milk. Drink before bedtime.

5. Warm Compress over the Sinuses

Applying a warm compress around your nose, eyes, and forehead can improve blood flow and reduce sinus pressure. This is especially helpful if your runny nose is caused by sinus congestion or infection. It’s one of the safest and most comforting watery eyes and runny nose home remedies that helps ease discomfort from sinusitis.

How to use: Soak a soft cloth in warm water. Squeeze out excess water and place it on your nose, cheeks, and closed eyes for 10 minutes.

6. Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of fluids is one of the most effective ways to thin out mucus, making it easier for your body to flush it out. Warm fluids like water, herbal teas, or clear broths not only soothe your throat but also help relieve nasal congestion. Staying hydrated is an essential step in any runny nose home remedy treatment.

What to drink: Hot beverages like warm water, herbal teas (tulsi or ginger), clear soups and broths.

7. Avoid Cold and Trigger Foods

While treating a runny nose, avoid cold beverages, chilled water, processed foods, and dairy (if it seems to thicken mucus). These can sometimes worsen the symptoms. Instead, opt for warm, light meals that support your digestion and immunity.

8. The Great Indian Kadha (Spiced Herbal Tea)

Your grandmothers and older generations have been using the spices and ingredients available in their kitchens to treat seasonal flu. Kadha, a spiced herbal tea, has been traditionally made in Indian households to fight cold and cough. A warm cup of spiced herbal tea can open nasal passages and reduce sneezing, relieving cold symptoms.

How to prepare: Take a few tulsi leaves, ginger slices, black pepper, one cinnamon stick cut in pieces, and 1 tsp honey. Boil everything in water except honey for 5–7 minutes and strain. Once lukewarm, add honey and sip it slowly.

Please note that there may be many variations to these spiced herbal teas, but one cup of this mighty Indian kadha can work wonders to treat a cold and a cough.

When to See a Doctor?

Most of the time, a runny nose goes away on its own with rest and these easy remedies. But if your symptoms last more than 4–6 days, get worse, or come with a high fever or facial pain, it’s best to consult a doctor. Children, the elderly, or those with existing health issues should be extra careful and must consult a doctor for expert guidance and treatment.

Having a runny nose can be uncomfortable, but using these simple, natural home remedies for a runny nose and related symptoms like cough, sneezing, and watery eyes can bring quick relief and help you feel better. Please remember, you can try whichever remedy works best for your body, whether it’s steam, turmeric milk, a warm compress, or any other mentioned above, as these are safe, time-tested, effective, and completely natural options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How to cure a runny nose fast?

Ans. To get quick relief from a runny nose, try steam inhalation, stay well-hydrated, and use a saline nasal rinse. Resting and avoiding cold or dusty environments can also help speed up recovery.

Q. What can I drink to stop a runny nose?

Ans. Warm drinks like herbal ginger or tulsi tea, turmeric milk, or warm water with honey and lemon can help soothe the throat, thin the mucus, and ease your symptoms.

Q. How do you get rid of a cold and runny nose fast?

Ans. Steam inhalation, gargling with warm salt water, drinking warm fluids, and taking proper rest are all effective cold, watery eyes and runny nose home remedies that you can use to get instant relief. These home remedies not only relieve both cold and nasal symptoms but also help boost your immunity.

Q. How to reduce a runny nose naturally?

Ans. Natural ways include drinking warm fluids, using a saline spray, inhaling steam, applying a warm compress, and avoiding cold or spicy foods. These methods help clear the nasal passages and reduce mucus.

Q. How to unblock the nose immediately?

Ans. Inhale steam for a few minutes or use a saline nasal spray to quickly open up blocked nasal passages. You can also gently blow your nose or apply a warm compress over your sinuses.

Q. How to cure a cold fast overnight?

Ans. While there’s no guaranteed overnight cure for a cold, you can feel much better by resting well, staying warm, drinking herbal tea, and using remedies like steam and honey. These help your body fight the virus faster and ease symptoms while you sleep.