A runny nose is one of the main symptoms of a common cold. The most often cited causes for a common cold are exposure to the virus, exposure to cold and dust, extreme fatigue due to high levels of stress and lack of adequate rest as well as presence of allergens in the surrounding atmosphere. The best way to treat a common cold is by increasing your intake of Vitamin C which not only increases the body's resistance to the virus, but also speeds up the treatment. You can have 1 spoonful of lemon juice mixed with the same amount of honey twice a day for treating a common cold quickly and efficiently. Garlic is also beneficial in clearing the respiratory tract of built-up mucus because of its antiseptic and antispasmodic properties so you can increase your consumption of garlic by using it liberally in your food preparations. A mixture of 5 drops of garlic oil, 1 tsp of onion juice and 1 tsp honey in 1 cup of warm water is excellent for treating the common cold. A soup prepared with tamarind and black pepper is also beneficial for unblocking a stuffy nose and thus preventing and treating the problem of a runny nose. You can boil 50 mg of tamarind in 250 ml water with 1 tsp of clarified butter and ½ tsp black pepper powder and drink the resulting soup thrice a day for best results.
However a runny nose does not always result from a common cold. Sometimes weather fluctuations can also cause the mucus in the nose to drip. Since the nasal tract produces nearly three quarts of mucus daily to lubricate the respiratory tract it is only normal for it to drip sometimes. Other reasons for a runny nose can be allergic reactions. The best and immediate solution for a runny nose is to blow it and clear the nose properly. Another way to clear the nose is by eating hot and spicy food, stimulating more flow so that it clears out completely. This will also get rid of any substance that is inside the nose irritating it and causing the allergic reactions. Another way to treat a runny nose is to irrigate the nose by mixing ½ tsp salt in 8 oz of water and using a dropper to drop the water into the nose. You should suck this water inside by inhaling strongly and then exhale with force, pushing out all the water and mucus which has built up inside the nasal tract. This can be uncomfortable initially and might have to be repeated a few times before the nose is completely clear, but it is very effective. Nasal sprays available in the market can help to stop the runny nose temporarily but they should be avoided since they can have a terrible rebound effect and actually aggravate the problem further.
answered by M W