Capsaicin—the chemical that makes chili peppers hot—irritates the trigeminal nerve. In response, your body says, "Oh no, intruder!" and flushes out everything in your nasal passages.
Drink half your body weight in ounces of warm liquids. Herbal tea, hot water with lemon, broth. Avoid dairy if you feel it makes you thicker (science is mixed on this, but your gut feeling is usually right). The Final Breath A word of caution: Natural does not mean "safe for everything." If you have high blood pressure, be careful with decongestants (natural or synthetic) because anything that constricts blood vessels—even spicy food—can raise your pressure slightly. If your face feels like it’s going to explode, you see green discharge, or you’ve been sick for 10+ days, see a doctor. You might have a bacterial infection that needs antibiotics. decongestants natural
But here is the chemistry: The mucus in your nose is sticky by design. It traps viruses and pollen. When you’re congested, that mucus becomes thick glue. A saline rinse doesn't just "wash" it out; it thins the viscosity. Herbal tea, hot water with lemon, broth