How to clear seasonal congestion

[mamasee]

This time of year my dd, now 5yrs, gets congestion in her nose that seems to last all winter. She does not have a cold, just the congestion in her nose, and we have, for separate issues, done a blood test to identify food allergies. So, I'm quite certain it is not a food thing but a seasonal thing. We live in the Pacific NW and the rains have started. I have never experienced this kind of seasonal congestion myself, since moving here nearly 20 yrs. ago, but she has experienced it for at least the last two years, maybe three. My questions are "what, exactly, is causing this" and "how can I clear her congestion so she can breathe through her nose again?"
Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks.

[MariaMadly]

Not sure what's causing it, but ironically I'm a New Englander who had a terrible runny nose during my PNW visit just last week. Didn't use anything, but in the past I've had good luck with a nasal saline . . . maybe a neti pot?

[kcparker]

I am not in the PNW, but I get seasonal stuff. Here's what helps me in the winter when the air is cold and dry:

1. Neti pot with saline in the morning and before bed.

2. 1-2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar with some honey, ginger, and/or lemon in a mug full of hot water, a.m. and p.m.

3. Changing the air filters on the furnace regularly (like once a month).

4. Washing bedding often and trying to keep the dust down inside the house.

5. Peppermint oil on the back of the tongue, rubbed on the skin over the sinuses/under the nose (be careful as this can sting, and she might find it too much for delicate skin/eyes), and/or on the lymph drainage channels on the back of the neck.

6. Consider if there are any seasonal mold-growths, more or less dampness in the house or weather that might be contributing to it.