Hi, Has anyone got any suggestions about treating Post Nasal Drip? I am middle-aged, don't eat dairy or wheat, and spices make the catarrh worse too. The only thing I find alleviates the symptoms is chewing gum, but that has aspartame in, so I am a reluctant chewer, and it doesn't address the condition itself. Drinking water helps a bit and painkillers numb my throat and then I don't feel the mucus and cough less, but nothing I have tried actually tackles the root cause. What is it?  Is it an allergy to something? The ENT Doctors haven't a clue, and have no remedies. I have had PND for about four years, developed after a stressful time, and it drives me mad. No halitosis, or polyps, just a constant thick mucus that I usually can't cough up, but causes me to cough and clear my throat a lot, and choke in the night. Any help would be appreciated. thanks. Rasselas

If you can afford it, try an Elisa food intolerance blood test, such as Yorktest http://www.yorktest.com/ . They test for over 100 different food items, and is much more accurate than hair tests, Vega tests etc.

In the long term, work on improving your digestion, as undigested proteins in food can trigger allergies and intolerances. Taking digestive enzymes with meals can help.

Thanks Lewic, I am not sure if PND is an allergic condition. I just don't know what causes it, and because it is relatively trivial to ENT doctors, they seem to have little idea/interest in causes either. If I can find confirmation that it is triggered by something my body dislikes, I will save up and follow your suggestion.

Have you tried using a Neti Pot with a warm saline solution to irrigate the sinus area?  Once or twice a day for about a week should help clear the discharges and keep them under control.  Thereafter use as needed.  This works for me.

Not having first hand experience of PND I can't directly comment on its action but I was suffering with periodic sinusitis and bought myself a Jala Neti pot. The easiest way to describe it is irrigation for your nasal passage. PND was one of the ailments it said it would help with. For me, I've not had any sinus issues since using it. Its a bit weird, but once you get the hang of it, its easy to do. Have a look here http://www.jalanetipot.com/ I think i found mine on online for about £5.

 

EDIT: well the above post says it all! Uncanny!! 

Try Buteyko, a breathing re-training programme. Buteyko also suggests that mouth breathing during sleep causes this condition and that by taping your mouth overnight with Microtape the condition can be helped or reversed.

 Hope you find something that helps.

 Regards

 Anne

 I had difficulty getting off to sleep because of it. I used to take New Era Catarrh Tissue Salts which helped. However Cranial Sacral work from my osteopath finally got rid of it a few years ago now.

In Ayurveda you have what is known as a Kapha Dosha imbalance, in which case Ayurvedic herbs and lifestyle changes would undoubtedly help clear this condition up.  Kapha Dosha rules the upper respiratory system, however Vata dosha which rules Air or Movement in the body is considered the leading dosha in Ayurveda and so you may need to address this dosha's imbalances first, but along with addressing the Kapha symtoms you are having as well to truly bring yourself back into balance on all levels.  Ideally, you would do well by yourself to find a good reputable physician who has been trained in Ayurveda who can take you pulse to best diagnose the core reasons why you continue to have PND.  Just know that you do not have to live with this imbalance. It can be corrected with the proper guidance from someone qualified in Ayurveda who can perscribe the appropriate synergistic herbs for your constitution.  Also, diet can be a major contributing cause as well.  You could be allergic to certain foods, such as dairy, wheat etc...If you are eating alot of flour based products (such as pasta etc. ) you would want to cut down and or eliminate these all together for now, as flour produces more mucus in the body. As does Oatmeal and dairy.  Stick to more astringent and bitter foods as well as favoring dry foods over oily wet foods for now until you can see an Ayurvedic doctor.  Do a google search to find one in your area perhaps. But better yet, check out your bookstore to find books on the subject written by qualified Ayurvedic Physicians.  I could recommend a few but they are not in your country. You may want to do a google search for www.Mapi.com to call them for a list of qualified vedic trained physicians who can help you.  The M.D. that I see in the U.S.A. is Paul Dugliss who strictly practices Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, incorporating his medical background as a doctor of internal medicine. He also has several very good books.  Another one is Dr. Vincent Lad who has written a book on Ayurvedic Natural Remedies which you may want to look into getting as well.  //  The other important option you should consider looking into is finding a good qualified HOMEOPATHIC Physician who can properly diagnose your symptoms from a homeopathic perspective.  The right homeopathic remedy for your constitution could be just a office visit away and the cost is minimal for the remedy itself.  Good luck to you, and remember, all holistic approaches to healing involve addressing the emotional component as well which is where all symptoms originate.  Often unexpressed grief and sadness can be at the real root of such symptoms as PND, as the body may be trying to tell you your emotions have been bottled up too long and the result is stuck fluids/tears and mucus waiting to be let go.  Hope this helps...Blessings, KM from GPP, MI, USA.

Hi,

I've suffered with post-nasal drip for over 30 years and the Neti Pot started to relieve my conditions, but the force of water through the nose is not strong enough to push the mucus out.  I've had the best success by using a squeeze bottle sinus rinse. I was given a bottle by my ENT Doctor. It comes with packets of salt to use (don't use water alone because it'll give a burning sensation).  The doctor gave me a recipe to mix my own instead of purchasing the packets all the time- Use 1/4 teaspoon pure salt (like canning and pickling salt) and add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda into the squeeze bottle, fill squeeze bottle with warm (not hot) tap water, shake and squeeze firmly into each nostril and let the water pour out the other nostril.  After doing this, I also sniff a little of the solution to the back of my throat and spit it out.  Keep blowing your nose for a minute, and you'll be surprised how much mucus gets dispelled.  This procedure, once in the morning, relieves my post-nasal drip for the whole day.  Sometimes I also repeat it in the evening if I had some dairy or was exposed to dust that day.  The bottle I use is available at www.neilmed.com.  Good luck, I know how uncomfortable and annoying postnasal drip can be.    Terri

Do you take ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure or kidney problems?  I have had patients with your symptoms which have been completely relieved by changing the medication.  Acupuncture may also alleviate the problem.

Regards

Susie

---

Susie Parkinson B.A.(Hons).,B.Sc (Hons)MBAcC
Traditional Acupuncturist
Barnsley
www.susie.parkinson.net
Tel 01226 391492

Hi Susie, I take Bendroflumethiazide 2.5 for high blood pressure, and I got PND about the same time (I think. ) But is that an ACE inhibitor? if so, that is very interesting.  I will check it out. Thanks for the post.

Rasselas 

Hi Terri, thanks for telling me this. My ENT doctor was not as helpful. He just put me on allergy tablets which doesn't really seem like a long term solution. I will try and find a sinus rinse bottle and give it a go. Rass

Hi KM, thanks for your very comprehensive reply. I know nothing about Ayuravedic medicine, but I will look up some reading material as you suggest. Anything to sort this annoying problem out. I've never had much luck with homoeopathy, although I know some people swear by it. Thanks for taking all that time. Much appreciated, Rass

Hi Rochelle, I have used New Era Catarrh Salts as well which helped little. But I had not thought of an osteopath. I've had good results from chiropractor/osteopathy in the past when I lived in Devon. Now I am in the Sheffield area and don't know a good one up here, but I will try to check that out. Thanks for the idea, Rass

Hi Anne, I have hard of the Buteyko breathing system for Asthma, but never thought of it for PND. My partner would probably die laughing if I taped my mouth up at night. Shame to kill him off from a breathing disorder, but you are right in that I do sleep with my mouth open, [although don't snore.]  I have trained myself not to swallow all night, or I choke. Microtape is a cheap remedy, so why not give it a go? thanks for the idea. Rass