Health experts recommend 'humming' technique to cure cold and clear blocked nose

A video from mouth tape company Dryft Sleep has shared a quick and free way to fix a blocked nose, which could help with cold symptoms – and it all involves simple humming

A potential simple cure for the common cold is making waves on social media – and it's all centred around 'humming' to clear a stuffy nose.

According to Dryft Sleep, a company specialising in mouth tape, steady humming may help alleviate some symptoms of a cold when done correctly. They recently posted a video on their @DryftSleep TikTok account touting a method they claim can "fix it right now for free".

The presenter says in the clip: "Don't worry it's totally accessible, it's free, and anyone can do it." The act of humming is said to produce nitric oxide, which assists in decongesting the nose, with instructions provided on how exactly to perform it.

The firm explained: "How do you do that? Through the magical power of humming. We can produce it naturally, whenever we want. So what you're going to do is take a big inhale through the nose, and then hum. While you're exhaling, always through the nose again. Now why are we doing this? Nitric oxide is incredible for the body."

They elaborated on the benefits, adding: "It can act as an anti-inflammatory, it can help boost your immune system, your brain function and nerve cells. Some people actually find that because of the vibrations or oscillation it actually helps move the congestion so you can naturally breathe better."

Moreover, Dryft Sleep claims that this humming technique is "pretty energising" and hints at prolonged advantages if practiced for "a couple minutes every day", with scientists acknowledging a link between humming and improved air flow for congested sinuses.

Following statements from Buteyko Breathing Clinics, it's been suggested that humming can raise levels of nitric oxide by "15 to 20-fold." They added: "humming reduces stress, induces calmness, enhances sleep, lowers heart rate and blood pressure, produces neurochemicals such as oxytocin, increases lymphatic circulation and melatonin production, releases endorphins and creates new neural pathways in the brain."

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