Snoring can be a result of a common cold or a lifetime of smoking, but whatever the cause, there are lots of easy and natural ways you can improve your sleeping during the night and ensure your loved one doesn’t have to hear your snoring for eight or more hours.
These natural cures can be made at home and can give you quick results, so give them a try before spending money on modern fixes!
1. Homemade nasal spray
A common cause of snoring is nasal congestion, and there are some really simple ways you can cure this using completely natural ingredients that you’ll find in the house. In order to make your very own nasal spray, you’ll need salt, water, and an empty nasal spray bottle. If you don’t have this kind of bottle, you can make do with a bottle that has a dropper head.
Combine a quarter of a teaspoon of salt with half a cup of water and make sure it completely dissolved. Pour this into your nasal spray, and every night before you go to bed, put two or three drops of the solution into each nostril. This helps reduce congestion and opens your airways at night, reducing your snoring and giving you a better night of sleep.
2. Ghee
Ghee, a traditional Indian butter, is best known for its use in curries, but it can also be used to stop snoring. For generations Indians have used ghee as natural medicine, mixing the butter with lots of traditional herbs and using it as a way of opening up the airways. Today, you can just use the ghee, or alternatively, you may use Brahmi oil for the same effect. Heat up some ghee in a pan and take two drops of the liquid butter. Make sure you only use a little and don’t heat it too much, as you don’t want to burn yourself. Put these drops of ghee in each nostril and do this every night and when you wake up in the morning.
3. Sage
Did you know that as well as tasting great, sage is actually an effective natural anti-inflammatory? You can use sage along with vinegar as a way of opening up your airways, and in turn, helping mucus flow much more easily. This is ideal if you have a cold or if you suffer from inflammation regularly. Simply take a handful of sage leaves, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and a pot of boiling water. Combine everything in one bowl, place your face over the bowl and put a towel over your head. You want to bring your nose and mouth as close as you can to the pot and inhale all of the steam that comes out. Do this for as long as you feel is beneficial, and if you find it works, simply incorporate it into your daily routine.
4. Nettle tea
Nettles might hurt when you touch them, but when made into tea they have an incredible antihistamine quality. This is a natural alternative to antihistamine tablets which are designed to reduce the effects of allergies. Nettle tea can in turn help you sleep better and improving your breathing. To make your nettle tea, simply put dried nettle leaves in a teapot with boiling water and let it brew for five minutes. Strain your tea and drink it at least three times a day, and you should over a couple of days’ notice a real difference to your snoring each night – or at least, the person who usually hears you snore will!
5. Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus is probably the most effective natural decongestant. The eucalyptus leaf is the perfect way of reducing swelling in the nostrils, and it can be effective even when not touching your nose. Given how strong the oil can be, one of the most convenient ways of improving your breathing is rubbing the oil on your chest, allowing you to breathe in the vapors slowly. You can also put eucalyptus leaves or oil in boiling water and, much like with sage, breath in the vapors with a towel over your head. If there is any natural remedy that is guaranteed to open up your nasal passages, eucalyptus is that remedy.
6. Ginger
Ginger root is another natural decongestant, and it’s tasty, too! The root has been used for centuries, if not longer, for a wide range of medical purposes. The root is not only a perfect natural anti-inflammatory, but it can also help increase the production of saliva, which in turn makes your throat feel less coarse and reduce the chances of snoring. To make use of ginger’s anti-inflammatory qualities, you need to wash, peel and crush the ginger. Drop it into a pan of water and leave it to boil for around three minutes. Let the ginger tea brew for a further five minutes and then add a couple of teaspoons of honey. This is ideal for anyone just before bedtime and is a wonderful natural treatment for anyone suffering from a cold.
7. Lose weight and improve your health
Obesity is one of the most common reasons why people snore, and if you improve your diet, incorporate exercise into your daily routine, and ultimately lose some weight, you can stop the snoring from happening in the first place. While you are on your journey towards losing weight, you should consider some of these natural alternatives. Over time, you’ll find yourself relying less on the remedies above, and enjoy a great night’s sleep every bedtime. Some other measures you can take include stopping smoking and drinking less alcohol. When you smoke you are filling your lungs with tar and irritating the mucous membranes in your threat. This increases the chance of an infection and tightens your airways. Alcohol also makes the throat relax, which interrupts your breathing at night time.
8. Change the way you sleep
Try sleeping on your side or raising your head with extra pillows at night, so as to avoid putting pressure on your lungs or letting your airways tighten up. These are two super simple ways that don’t just stop you from snoring, but also help you sleep longer and better.
