Simple Home Remedies for Sneezing

Introduction:

Sneezing is a sudden and uncontrollable burst of air that passes through the mouth and nose. Sneezing is caused by irritation of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat. Sneezing might be bothersome to people, but it is not a sign of anything serious.¹ Whenever sneezing, people cover their nose and mouth with a tissue to help prevent the spread of germs.² You can sneeze in response to many external triggers and allergies, and it is usually not a sign of anything serious.¹ Sneezing is manageable, and the remedies mentioned below might help in managing and preventing sneezing. 

Sneezing can also be a symptom of hay fever or allergic rhinitis, but you need to consult with a healthcare professional or doctor to come up with a diagnosis.³ 

What Causes Sneezing?

A lot of factors can trigger sneezing. These factors are: 

• External particles like pollen, mould and dust 
• Flu 
• Common cold 
• Inhaling corticosteroids (present in certain nose sprays) 
• Withdrawal of certain drugs 
• Triggers like dry air, spicy foods and strong emotions.¹ 

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Symptoms of Sneezing:

Sneezing itself can be a symptom of health conditions like cold and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Allergic rhinitis is a condition in which the body’s immune system recognises and over-reacts to environmental factors like dust, pet dander and pollen.^1,3 

Sneezing presents itself with: 

• A sudden burst of air passes through the nose and mouth. 
• Expulsion of mucous, foreign matter and irritants from the nose.⁴ 

It is advised to cover your mouth and nose whenever you sneeze to help prevent the spread of viruses and germs. 

Home remedies often work for sneezing,but if the problem is persistent or if there is seasonal rhinitis accompanied with sneezing,a person should use medicated nasal sprays under the supervision of his physician (helps a lot in chronic sneezing)

Dr. Nikhil Yadav, MBBS MD,CCEBDM

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Suggested Home Remedies for Sneezing:

Here are some home remedies that you can use to get rid of allergies that might be causing you to sneeze. 

1. Honey 

Eating honey might help with seasonal allergies that might be causing you to sneeze. However, there is a lack of sufficient information regarding honey providing benefits for sneezing. Also, you should avoid eating honey if you are allergic to pollen. Honey should not be used for children under one year of age.⁵ To use honey, you can mix some honey in a glass of warm water and drink it. You can also make honey ginger tea to deal with sneezing. 

2. Turmeric 

In a clinical trial, turmeric was found to be effective in providing relief from symptoms of allergic rhinitis like sneezing and nasal congestion. Turmeric is also effective in modulating immune reactions.⁶ There are several ways in which you can use turmeric. You can take turmeric as a part of your daily diet by: 

• Putting turmeric in food items and dishes. 
• You can also make turmeric milk by putting some turmeric in a glass of milk. You can also add honey for taste. However, if you are allergic to pollen, you should avoid putting honey. You can drink this turmeric milk as and when required to get rid of sneezing. 

3. Black Pepper 

Black pepper is a natural immunomodulator that is capable of modifying immune responses. Black pepper might be beneficial for sneezing due to allergies and over-reaction of the immune system (allergic rhinitis).^3,7 To use black pepper for allergies, you can make black pepper tea. To make the black pepper tea, you can use black pepper, dry ginger, basil and cardamom. Drink this warm black pepper tea a couple of times a day to get relief from the symptoms of allergy.⁸ 

4. Ginger 

Ginger can help you deal with allergic rhinitis. To use ginger, you can combine the ginger powder with turmeric and Ashwagandha powder and mix it well. You can take this powder mixture along with milk to manage allergic rhinitis.⁸ Allergic rhinitis is one of the main causes of sneezing.³ 

Avoiding the exposure to the triggers that might be causing you the reactions is the best way to control the sneezing. You can control your sneezing in some ways that are given below. 

5. Using Air Filters 

Using air filters will help you keep the air clean. It will also help to avoid exposure to any particles or triggers that might be causing you to sneeze.¹ Clean air will help you to manage and control sneezing. 

I have witnessed patients experiencing relief from the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and sneezing through the simple yet powerful combination of wearing masks outdoors in addition to their prescribed medications. For some only regular use of masks while stepping out has proven to be helpful.

Dr. Arpit Verma, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)

6. Proper Washing of the Beddings and Sheets 

Washing the linens can get rid of all the dust and particles that might be causing you to sneeze. It will limit your exposure to indoor allergens. It is important to clean all the beddings and sheets properly to avoid contact with external triggers. Also, washing linens in water helps in killing the dust mites.¹ 

7. Pet Care 

Pets might be carrying some animal dander (flakes of skin), which can cause an allergic reaction and sneezing. If you are allergic to pets, keeping pets out might help to avoid your exposure to allergens and pet dander. Also, you can follow this practice to further limit your contact: 

• Wash your hands immediately after petting animals. 
• You can change your clothing after meeting friends with pets.³ 

8. Avoiding Outdoor Exposure 

You can manage your allergic symptoms by avoiding the triggers that might be present outdoors. If you are allergic to pollen, you should try to stay indoors as much as possible. Avoid hanging your clothing outside, as the pollen and dust might stick to them.³ 

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When to Seek Medical Help?

You need to contact your doctor or healthcare provider if your sneezing is affecting your day-to-day activities. Also, if the home remedies do not work out, you should contact your doctor.¹  

Conclusion:

Sneezing is nothing but a sudden outburst of air which comes out of the nose and mouth. It can be a symptom of an allergic condition called allergic rhinitis or hay fever. Sneezing is the body’s response to expel the irritants from the nasal cavity. You must cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing. It is important to follow good hygiene habits to avoid the spread of germs. Limiting your exposure to the triggers that might be causing you to sneeze is the best way to get relief from it. For example, you can restrict your indoor and outdoor exposure to dust mites, pet dander and pollen to get relief from sneezing. You can also use honey and turmeric to get rid of sneezing. 

If continuous sneezing affects your daily life and the home remedies are not working out, you should consult your healthcare provider. 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

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References:

1. MedlinePlus [Internet]. Sneezing; 2022 Jan 6 [cited 2022 May 11]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003060.htm 

2. ACAAI Public Website [Internet]. Hay Fever (Rhinitis); 2020 June 17 [cited 2022 May 11]. Available from: https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/hay-fever/ 

3. Dhand R, Li J. Coughs and Sneezes: Their Role in Transmission of Respiratory Viral Infections, Including SARS-CoV-2. Am J Respir Crit Care Med [Internet]. 2020 Sep 1 [cited 2022 May 11];202(5):651-9. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32543913/ 

4. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health [Internet]. 6 Things To Know About Complementary Health Approaches for Seasonal Allergy Relief [cited 2022 May 11]. Available from: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/things-to-know-about-complementary-health-approaches-for-seasonal-allergy-relief 

5. Wu S, Xiao D. Effect of curcumin on nasal symptoms and airflow in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol [Internet]. 2016 Dec 1 [cited 2022 May 11];117(6):697-702.e1. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27789120/ 

6. Majdalawieh AF, Carr RI. In Vitro Investigation of the Potential Immunomodulatory and Anti-Cancer Activities of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) and Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum). J Med Food [Internet]. 2010 Apr 22 [cited 2022 May 11];13(2):371-81. Available from: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jmf.2009.1131 

7. Ayush Division [Internet]. Ayurveda offering herbal healing [cited 2022 May 11]. Available from: https://www.esic.nic.in/attachments/publicationfile/7d11b02e5abb4717d53b4ce05efabd21.pdf 

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