Capsaicin, the compound that makes chili peppers hot, irritates the nerve endings in your nose, triggering a reflex that makes your nose run. This runny nose is actually your sinuses draining. Try spicy ramen, wasabi, or a spoonful of horseradish. Gravity works against you when you lie flat. Lying down allows mucus to pool in the back of your throat (post-nasal drip) and your sinus cavities.

Use your index fingers to press firmly (but gently) on the pressure points at the bridge of your nose, under your cheekbones, and between your eyebrows. Massage in small circles for 30 seconds. This stimulates blood flow and helps drain the trapped fluid. Think of your sinuses as a plumbing system. If you don’t have enough water in the system, the sludge gets stuck. how to.clear your sinuses

Drinking hot tea (herbal or green), broth, or even just hot water with lemon thins the mucus from the inside out. Aim for an extra 2-3 glasses of warm fluids beyond your normal intake when you are stuffed up. You know the feeling—you eat a jalapeño, and your nose starts running. That is a good thing! Capsaicin, the compound that makes chili peppers hot,