What Makes Your Nose “Run”?

I see a lot of people walking around these days sniffing and blowing their noses.

The main culprit responsible for a blocked and runny nose is not excess mucus but swelling and inflammation.

If the nose becomes infected, or an allergic reaction is triggered, the immune system produces large quantities of chemical messengers that cause the local blood vessels in the lining of the nose to dilate. This enables more white blood cells to enter the area, helping to combat the infection, but it also causes the blood vessels to “leak”, allowing fluid to build up in the tissues.

The allopathic approach to this situation is decongestant medicines. Decongestants contain a chemical that’s similar to adrenaline, which causes the blood vessels to constrict, stopping them from leaking. That suppresses the uncomfortable symptom of a blocked or runny nose but does nothing for the reason causing the situation.

The natural approach is to encourage and support the body in its efforts to fight the infection. Nasal saline washes, salt gargles, plenty of hot fluids, reflexology focused on the sinus, cervical lymph and adrenal reflexes, and lots and lots of sleep.

The choice is ours to make.