It’s about that time of the year when we have to start looking for ways to ease into the transition of winter. For me, my personal hell is a tight chest and throughout winter with colds and cases of flu going around, it seems like a forever mission to find a way to simply breathe with ease.
So before we go into a manic mode when we eventually get sick, why not stock up on these tips and tricks so that when the time comes, you are ready to face your tight chest head-on.
Here are 5 natural ways to alleviate a tight chest:
Hydrate
Staying hydrated seems to be the remedy for many illnesses, but the truth is during winter we might not be so easily drawn to drinking water because of the cold and because we are not as active and sweaty as we are during the warmer months. Staying hydrated thins the mucus formed in the body, reducing any chest congestion, and ultimately eases the flow of air through your body.
Pro-tip: instead of drinking cold water from the tap or the fridge, make some warm or lukewarm water, add a little bit of honey, ginger and lemon to increase your antioxidants, stay hydrated and boost your immune system.
Warm compress
In the colder months, I welcome any form of heat and if it will alleviate the tight chest, why not? If you’re feeling a bit tight-chested, a warm compress might help to relax your chest muscles and ease your breathing.
Herbal teas
Besides warming you up on the inside, herbal teas can also naturally ease a tight chest. Chamomile tea is particularly helpful in calming, so if your tight chest is anxiety-induced, this might be the one for you. If you suffer from asthma or any other respiratory illness, mint tea can help to relax your chest muscles.
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Steam
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was reminded about the power of a good steam. As a child, my mom would often have us steam with eucalyptus oil when we were sick. I never took to this remedy as an adult until I was hit with COVID-19 and in another country where I couldn’t simply get an asthma pump over-the-counter as easily as we can here. A steam was my next best bet and how it work!
Humidifiers
If you’re living in particularly dry conditions, humidifiers can help to reduce respiratory irritation. You also get certain models that you can infuse with essential oils like eucalyptus to help open up your chest even more.
Use a vapour rub
Although not completely natural, vapour rubs are great not only for babies and children, but for adults too. Karvol’s adult rub is made with a combination of aromatic oils such as menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, thymol and lavender oil, which actively helps you breathe easily.
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