How to stop a runny nose: why do we get runny noses and 5 ways to stop them for good

A dripping nose is something we’ve all dealt with at some point in our lives, but once you know how to stop a runny nose it becomes less of an inconvenience. We’ll explain what causes a runny nose, and show you how to stop your nose from running with some household remedies you might like to try.

Why causes a runny nose?

Before we look at some tips on how to stop your nose from running, let’s look at the potential causes:

1. Colds, flu and allergies: When you’re under attack from germs or allergens, extra mucus is made to help prevent them from working their way further into your body. To find out the difference between a cold and the flu, view our article on cold vs flu.
2. Crying: As your tears run out of the glands under your eyelids they drain into your nose, where they mix with mucus and stream out of your nasal passages. This results in a leaky nose! Find out more about why we cry on our website.
3. Cold weather: On cold days, your nose tries to warm up the air before it enters your lungs. This occurs when blood vessels in your nostrils dilate, which leads to extra mucus being produced, resulting in a constant runny nose.

How to stop a runny nose naturally: our 5 top tips

Although having a runny nose is an example of the body working efficiently, that doesn’t mean it’s not annoying! Or even that you don’t want it to stop as soon as possible. Once you’ve got an idea of what the cause may be, figuring out how to stop a runny nose should be easier. So if you are wondering, “How do I stop my nose from running?” then look no further! Here are some the best tips on how to get rid of a runny nose:

1. Steam

Clearing your nasal passages will help stem the flow. All you need to do is pop your head over a steaming bowl of water and let it break down the congestion. Often that provides instant relief for both a sore throat and runny nose, plus it will get rid of a lot of mucus.

2. Keep your fluids up

Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water will help your body deal with the extra mucus more quickly. As the drainage starts to improve you can look forward to your runny nose stopping sooner.

3. Herbal teas

While herbal tea isn’t quite as good at keeping you hydrated as water, it’s still very effective. On top of that, certain herbs have decongestant, anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties; just what you need if you’ve got both a runny nose and cough.

In terms of what flavour you should go for, some of the best herbal remedies for a runny nose include chamomile, mint and ginger. If you struggle with a runny nose thanks to hay fever, then why not take a look at our 5 natural and herbal remedies for hay fever?

4. Rest

Want to know how to stop a runny nose naturally and with ease? Rest! If doing very little is an option, this is definitely one of the best ways to speed up the recovery process. If you are suspicious that your runny nose could turn into a full on cold, then check out our list of natural cold remedies that we’ve tried and tested.

5. Try a humidifier

Adding moisture back into your environment helps keep nasal passages moist and encourages mucus to drain away more quickly. The result? A faster end to your runny nose.

You can also read more about how to soothe runny noses in little ones with our guide to the best family home remedies for a runny nose.

While runny noses can be irritating, it’s important to be patient and let the body do its work. Now you know how to stop a runny nose, you can help the healing process and end that dripping! Be sure to look at our other household remedies, including how to relieve watery eyes during a cold and at the other end of the nose scale, how to soothe a blocked nose.