With the arrival of the cold weather, typical viruses of seasonal illnesses occur too, in particular the ones that trigger the most frequent and common ailment: the cold. There are several effective natural remedies – says Dr. Luca Malvezzi, otorhinolaryngologist and specialist in Cervical Surgery at Humanitas hospital – but independently from the cold, washing the nose with physiological water, like water and salt, should become a daily habit. Particularly effective for those people who live in polluted cities, the nasal wash helps to remove the dust that settles in the nostrils: this can trigger an inflammatory reaction, damaging the nasal mucosa. It can also be useful for those who practice swimming. In fact, when chlorine cools down, it triggers an irritation in the nose, which can be counteracted by doing the washes. To perform nasal washing, it is possible to use a nebulizer or a simple syringe without needle with the physiological solution. Finally, without forgetting the role of vitamin C to support the immune system, eucalyptus and ginger are also effective decongestants because they stimulate production of mucus which is to be expelled.
