Morning Sneezing, Watery Discharge: Reason, Remedies, Lifestyle Tips

By Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD
Sneezing is a natural urge. As per Ayurveda, when sneezing is initiated, you should not suppress it. But some people get continuous sneezing in the early morning hours. Ayurveda recognizes it as a Kapha dominant, Vata associated symptom. 

Lifestyle and Diet

Why do I have watery discharge from nose and sluggishness early in the morning? What to do about it? 
Dr JV Hebbar:
Waking up time: 
As per Ayurveda, 4-5 morning hours, after sunrise, are dominated by Kapha Dosha. Ideally, we all should be waking up before sunrise. If we wake up after sunrise, due to Kapha dominance, we may feel sluggish, less energy, sleepy etc. symptoms. This is why people waking up before sunrise seem more energetic.
My first advice would be to try and wake up early in the morning. 

Read: How To Wake Up Early In The Morning? – 10 Ayurveda Tips

Timing of dinner: 
If we eat dinner and within a couple of hours, if we hit bed, it can cause depleted digestion strength, which can lead to slight undigested product leftover in the digestive tract, called Ama and can cause watery discharge and sluggishness issues in the morning. 

Read related: Day Food Vs Night Food – Impact On Health As Per Ayurveda

What you have for dinner: 
Yogurt, excess sweets, oily, deep fried foods, frozen, refrigerated foods, heavy-to-digest, high amounts of non vegetarian foods, excess cold drinks, soda etc. at night can be very hard on the digestive tract. At night, we do not need much calories, as the body is about to take rest. So, I would advise to include a bit of spices and turmeric in dinner to get rid of the watery discharge issue. 
Read: Night food is very important. Watch what you eat at night – Ayurveda

Apart from these, keeping a balance between diet and calorie burn, eating and drinking only when we are really hungry, good amount of exercise etc. help the upper respiratory tract to maintain healthy Kapha which can solve runny nose issue. 

Remedies

Sneezing is a reaction to the stimulus caused due to irritating factors of the cilia of the nostrils.
Morning mist or dust is the common causes for sneezing. Tropical eosinophilia, allergic rhinits, infective rhinits etc. are some of the underlying diseases for this annoying symptom.

Here are few simple and effective techniques and home remedies to overcome sneezing caused during the morning hours-

Turmeric

1. Turmeric fumes:
1-2 spoon of turmeric powder is taken. It is sprinkled over a pan, kept on fire. The person is asked to inhale the fumes.
For those who find turmeric fumes as a bit string, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder can be mixed with 1 teaspoon of ghee and this can be sprinkled over the pan, kept on fire.

The patient is asked to inhale it 3-4 times in a day, or at least, soon after getting up in the morning.
This is based on an Ayurvedic procedure called Dhumapana / herbal smoking.
Read related: Allergic Rhinitis: Causes, Remedies, Ayurvedic treatment, Herbs

Betel leaf

2. Betel leaf juice remedy:
2-3 betel leaves are taken and it is crushed well to obtain fresh juice. To this half teaspoon of honey is added and mixed well. Patient is given to lick and consume this paste. This is very effective in  case of morning sneeze as well as cough, allergic rhinitis, cold.

Black Pepper

4. Black Pepper and pepper leaf recipe:
5-8 pepper seeds and a pinch of turmeric powder are taken and wrapped over a pepper leaf.
This is subjected to mild heat.
Soon after tooth brushing, this This is given for chewing.

Though it is a very effective remedy, it is better to avoid in young children as they develop gastritis or burning sensation of the mouth and chest.

Moringa

4. Drumstick leaf/ Tulsi and garlic remedy:
A fistful of drumstick leaf is taken and added with de-husked garlic. This is pounded well and fine paste is made. This is applied to a cloth or cotton gauge and patient is asked to inhale/have the smell of it.
In case if drumstick leaves are not available this can be tried even with Tulsi (Holy basil) leaves also.
Read related: How To Use Turmeric for Allergic Rhinitis? 4 Traditional Methods

Warm water usage, avoidance of the mist and dust, remaining away from the pollutants and irritants including the allergic agents are also equally essential to control excess sneezing early in the morning.
Consult Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD