Q When I lie down at night, my nose gets completely blocked and I can't sleep well. Is there anything I can do at home right now?
A Raise the indoor humidity with a humidifier at bedtime and sip lukewarm water to keep the mucosa moist. Slightly elevating your upper body with a pillow reduces sleep disruption from congestion. It's best to avoid caffeine and cold water before bed.
Detailed Answer
Nasal congestion at night occurs because the mucosa swells more and secretions pool when you lie down. It helps to use a humidifier at bedtime to create an environment where the nasal and throat mucosa can rest fully during sleep, and to sip lukewarm water to keep the mucosa moist. Slightly elevating your upper body with a pillow also reduces sleep disruption caused by congestion.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
These measures only soothe the symptoms; they do not remove the cause. If nighttime congestion recurs, you need to also address the underlying state of a dried-out, hypersensitive mucosa so that the same situation occurs less often. Dongjedang also recommends the habit of abdominal breathing to lower sympathetic nervous tension.
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