How to use onions to treat a runny nose and nasal congestion in adults

Onions have bactericidal and immunostimulating properties. Drops based on it, they will become an effective home remedy for the common cold. With the help of onion juice, they not only treat excess mucus production, but also fight nasal congestion. However, the drug is not recommended for the treatment of children.

In the article, we will share folk recipes for onion nasal drops, talk about contraindications and side effects.

Useful properties of onion juice

Onion juice has a number of useful properties due to the presence of flavonoids (natural antioxidants), essential oils and vitamin C in it, quercetin helps fight various pathogens - microbes, viruses and fungi.

The juice has the following effect:

1. Saturates cells with nutrients, raises local immunity.
2. Destroys pathogenic microorganisms.
3. Activates nerve endings.
4. Normalizes cell metabolism.
5. It has an antibacterial effect.
6. Tones up epithelial cells, dilutes mucus and phlegm.
7. Regenerates tissue.
8. Normalizes blood circulation in the capillaries.
9. Thinns blood, eliminates puffiness.

Onions are used not only for the treatment of a cold, but also as a prophylactic agent. Organic acids saturate cells with a supply of nutrients and relieve almost any non-systemic inflammation.

Attention! Onion treatment for a runny nose with allergies is ineffective and worsens the condition.

The action of onions with a cold

Onion juice has a powerful bactericidal, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect, due to which the healing process is accelerated, and the body's resistance as a whole is improved.

The remedy works as follows:

1. It loosens mucus and quickly removes it from cells.
2. Relieves swelling and swelling, makes breathing easier.
3. Has an expectorant effect.
4. Relieves cough.

Onions contain substances that normalize high blood pressure, and stops the secretion of liquid mucus from the sinuses. The action begins instantly - after 1-2 minutes. The remedy is often used for bacterial forms of the common cold that other natural remedies cannot cope with. The effect is fixed for a long period of time.

The principle of action from nasal congestion

Nasal congestion goes away by normalizing blood circulation in the nasal cavity. After high-quality disinfection (coupled with general therapy), antibodies enter the cells in a smaller volume, edema is removed, the epithelium of the mucous membrane becomes thinner. As a result, nasal congestion disappears, and the effect persists for a long time, since onions are considered a natural antibiotic.

The effectiveness of onions for a cold is often questioned. Traditional medicine suggests using the remedy in the early stages of treatment or in cases where diagnosis not yet defined.

Main indications:

1. Bacterial rhinitis (acute, chronic) with and without congestion.
2. Runny nose with infections.
3. ARI, bronchitis, otitis media, tonsillitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis.
4. Inflammation with discharge of purulent mucus, green and yellow.

If used improperly, onion juice causes mucosal burns.To avoid this, the dosage and frequency of medication are observed.

How to make onion nose drops

The vegetable is chopped in any convenient way (on a fine grater, blender, knife) and squeeze the juice through cheesecloth. Then add two parts of water to the resulting volume and instill in the nostrils alternately, often with an interval of 5-10 minutes. The mixture is sometimes not diluted with other liquids and 100% onion juice is instilled.

Important. Pure onion juice is contraindicated for dry nose. It is diluted with olive oil in a 1: 2 ratio, impregnated with turunda (tampons) for the nose and inserted into the sinuses for a maximum of 10 minutes. If an acute burning sensation occurs, the nostrils are thoroughly washed with boiled water.

The product is stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of + 1 ... + 2 ° C or in a refrigerator closed. The shelf life of the product does not exceed 12 hours. Half an onion is enough to make drops. Before instilling drops, the juice is allowed to stand for 2-3 hours. During this time, the pronounced pungency disappears, and the effect of the drops becomes more tonic and soft.

Application procedure

Apply the product for 3 days. The procedure is repeated to consolidate the result after 3-4 days. The schedule for taking the drug is 2-3 times a day, 1-2 drops per nostril. With high sensitivity to juice, the mixture is diluted with an additional volume of water.

To prepare drops, take juice and boiled water at room temperature in a ratio of 1: 2 or 1: 1. For the sample, dilute in a triple volume of water. Instill 3-4 times a day after rinsing the nose (with water) or thorough blowing. The remains of the funds are thrown away after a day of use. With this composition, any rhinitis is treated, including as a concomitant symptom in diseases of the respiratory tract.

With honey

The recipe involves the combination of juice and honey in a ratio of 3: 1. The ingredients complement each other and have a powerful therapeutic effect. In order for the drops to give a result, the mixture is diluted in 100 ml of water, let it brew for half an hour. Instillation is performed twice a day with an interval of 6 hours.

The remedy is effective in any course of the disease, both in the initial stages and during the recovery period. Helps with excessive mucus secretion, as well as the formation of thick purulent masses.

With lemon

To make drops, take 1 part of onion and lemon juice, dilute with water in a 1: 3 ratio. If necessary, add a few drops of oil (olive, sunflower).

Reception is made three times a day. The tool is supplemented with inhalation over steam baths at a water temperature of 40-45 ° C. The composition is effective for severe suppuration.

With sunflower oil

This recipe uses sautéed onions without additives. It is cut into small pieces, poured into a pan and simmered over low heat until slightly golden. When the mass cools down, add 2 tbsp. l. oils. The composition is soaked for up to 12 hours so that the oil takes away all the nutrients and acids. Then the mixture is wrung out and filtered.

Instillation is carried out in the same way - 3 times a day for 2-3 days. This solution is well suited for children over 4 years of age. In this case, the amount of oil is doubled.

Garlic and onion drops

For drops, take 20-30 g of onion (a quarter), 4 small cloves of garlic (with a large nail). The ingredients are finely chopped or ground and filled with hot oil in a volume of 50 ml. The solution is insisted for 2 hours. Then it is filtered and dripped according to the general scheme.

Important. Onions in the nose are used for a cold, sinusitis, hypothermia. Reception mode - 3-5 times a day.

Can onion drops be used during pregnancy

Drops, including medical ones, are used by prescription and only when urgently needed if the benefits of such treatment outweigh the negative consequences of inaction.

In the early stages and in the last trimester, treatment is replaced with alternative methods: inhalations, massage with essential oils, rinsing with salts or special complexes to cleanse the nasal sinuses.

The tool is used only with the approval of the attending physician and if it has already been tested before pregnancy. The composition of the drops must be supplemented with oils (olive, vegetable) without a pronounced antibacterial effect.

The following composition is used for treatment. 1 tbsp. l. juice is combined with 2 tbsp. l. oil and diluted in 50 ml of boiled water. The tool is not instilled, but sprayed with a special nozzle 3-4 times a day after warming up and cleansing the sinuses.

Important. If there is pronounced edema or bloody blotches, you cannot self-medicate - consult an otolaryngologist for the selection of symptomatic treatment.

How to store homemade onion drops

The drops are stored in a glass jar or jar with a lid in a cabinet or refrigerator. The shelf life is no more than a day, so it is impractical to prepare the product for future use. The temperature should not exceed + 5 ° С.

Before each use, the product is warmed up in a container with hot water to room temperature.

How to properly drip your nose

In order for the remedy to have an effect, the nostrils are pre-washed with hot water, clearing away excess mucus and other secretions. It is advisable not to clean or rinse with corrosive compounds (pharmacy, salt). Alternatively, saline or hydrogen peroxide diluted with water (1: 2) is used.

It is recommended to instill the agent in the nostrils alternately in the supine position. If necessary, take a break before instillation into the last nostril. One drop is enough for the first procedure. Treatment is strictly dosed: 1-2 drops 3 times a day.

Recipes and schemes for the use of onion juice for a cold

Folk remedies with onions for a runny nose and congestion are used both for prevention (less aggressive) and in the treatment of chronic diseases. They are ineffective in the treatment of acute bacterial rhinitis, as well as allergies with severe dryness of the mucous membrane, edema and the presence of crusts in the nose (inflammation of the sinuses and orbits).

Inhalation

Inhalation is a general agent for the treatment of the respiratory tract and larynx. The procedure speeds up recovery.

Recipes:

1. 3 tsp onion gruel is added to boiling water (3 l). Breathe in pairs under a towel twice a day.
2. 5 minutes. boil one head of onion (grated) in 250 ml of water. Breathe over the steam twice a day.
3. Take half a cup of the onion and garlic mixture. They breathe over it twice a day.

The husk is also used for inhalation. It helps with dry nose. A handful of husks are placed in boiling water and wait until it gets wet. Remove the pan from the stove and breathe in vapors, or cool the liquid and make a steam bath (under a towel).

Vitamin drink

To prepare a drink take:

• 200 ml of water;
• 100 ml lemon juice;
• 5 tbsp. l. onion juice;
• gruel of one clove of garlic;
• 1 tbsp. l. honey.

Water is added last. Juices are also added to the drink to taste. Drink the mixture at night and in the morning, followed by brushing your teeth.

Ointment

The ingredients are ground on a fine grater (in equal proportions) and the resulting mixture is passed through a gauze press, having previously spread the composition over a steam bath. Then the mixture is cooled, put in a jar and used for lotions with turundas. The duration of the procedure is 20-30 minutes.

Recipes:

1. Mix onion and aloe juices, vegetable oil, honey, milk, soap foam. Apply 2 times a day.
2. Honey, onion juice, eucalyptus oil - once a day.
3. Onion juice, aloe, vegetable oil - 2 times a day.

Ointments are effective in treating bacterial rhinitis.

Compresses

For compresses, the vegetable is crushed until the juice is released and placed on a fabric, well-soaked base. 3 times a day is applied on both sides of the nose for 10 minutes. with preliminary massage.

Gruel

The gruel is used for oral administration. For 0.5 kg of a vegetable, take 50 g of honey. Finely grate the onion and knead it with honey. Take 3-4 tsp. after meal.

Precautions

Onion-based products and drops can cause burns to the mucous membrane.

The procedure is not carried out when:

• high blood pressure;
• under the age of 4-6 years;
• violation of the integrity of the mucous membrane;
• allergies;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• tumors and polyps in the nose (of any nature).

With closed types of inhalation, the water temperature is initially checked.

Contraindications and side effects

Treatment of rhinitis with onions in the presence of diseases of the cardiovascular system, problems with the gastrointestinal tract and liver requires consultation with a doctor.

Limit the use of onion drops when:

• bronchospasm, asthma;
• pulmonary insufficiency;
• heart defects, angina pectoris, arrhythmias, hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke;
• atrophic nasopharyngitis.

In other cases, the remedy is used in the absence of physical damage and trauma, strictly as directed.

When used improperly, onion juice has a number of side effects:

• dryness and burning;
• microdamage;
• allergies, edema;
• tissue burn.

Conclusion

Onion juice for a runny nose and congestion is a fast-acting remedy. Its effect is never enhanced with essential oils and extracts - this can lead to burns and allergic reactions. Before using the product, consult a doctor and strictly follow all the recommendations of traditional medicine.