Quick Relief for Runny Nose?

Common colds are caused by a large variety of viruses such as rhinovirus that we breathe or on things that we touch (which have been contaminated). These can trigger an immune system reaction that can cause a throat sore, headache, nose being blocked and making it hard to breathe through the nostrils. Although common colds are seasonal, with more occurring during the cold weather, there is no direct evidence that having a cold drink or having the hair wet when going outside would one catch a cold. At the moment there is no vaccine to combat the common cold as it seems not worthwhile to make one for each virus strain and moreover they mutate quite frequently during reproduction resulting in different virus strains. So in a way, medicine can't cure the common cold. Like most virus infections, colds just have to run their course or until our body's immune system or anti-body overcome the viral invasion. Medicine that is prescribed for the patient is likely meant for other symptoms such as to relieve muscle aches, headache and fever. Getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids my help feel better while on the mend. Antibiotics, which are often mistakenly prescribed for colds, won't help.

Note this is not a cure but may provide a quick relief to runny nose. With a finger and thumb, pinch the lower soft end of the nose (not the bony part); remember to continue breathing via the mouth ;-) Do it for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Any relief? If nose still runs later, repeat the procedure.


The rationale behind this approach is to mimic the way the body shakes off a cold by itself. When a person comes down with a cold, it usually takes more than 30 hours to reach its peak. Meanwhile the virus keeps on multiplying and reproducing in the nose - a comparatively cool area of the body. By nature, the body fights back first by sneezing then eventually by building up mucus in the nasal passage to block the nose and so raise the temperature to kill off the offending virus. It takes a long time before nasal membrane areas are so inflamed and swollen they eventually close up together. It is only then the temperature inside the nose raises from the comfortable 30C to the temperature that the kill the virus at about 33C. The rise in temperature in the nose area will trigger an alarm in the immune system ushering in the army of white blood cells which have the power to ingest virus as well as bacteria. Mimicking the way the body fights the virus by closing the nose would quicken the process!