Picture this. You're sitting down to a steaming bowl of tom yum. The smell is incredible. You take your first spoonful - and within minutes, your nose starts dripping. You reach for a tissue, a little embarrassed, wondering if you're coming down with something.

You're not sick. And you're definitely not alone.

What you're experiencing has a name: Gustatory Rhinitis. It sounds fancy, but it simply means a runny nose triggered by eating. Clear, watery, and appearing out of nowhere the moment food hits your tongue -- especially if that food is spicy, hot, or intensely flavored.

So what's actually going on inside your body?

Your nose and your gut are more connected than most people realize. They have an aberrant connection pathway in some people. When you eat something that strongly stimulates your senses -- think chili, pepper, hot broth, or even alcohol -- those nerves fire up and accidentally send a signal to your nose to start producing mucus. Your nose, ever obedient, does exactly what it's told. The problem is, nobody asked it to.

It's not an allergy. There's no pollen, no dust, no foreign invader. It's simply your nervous system being a little too enthusiastic about a strong chemical called capsaicin, abundant in spicy food.

Older adults tend to notice this more as they age, because a system of autonomic nerves (parasympathetic) become relatively more sensitive over time -- but it really can happen to anyone who loves a spicy meal.

For most people, gustatory rhinitis is nothing more than a minor inconvenience. A tissue on the dining table becomes as essential as a spoon. But for some, it's frequent enough to be genuinely disruptive -- dripping through every meal, every day. The good news is that it's very manageable. A simple nasal spray prescribed by a doctor can calm those overactive nerves significantly. And if you notice a pattern with certain foods, avoiding your personal triggers can help too.

The important thing to know is this: if your nose runs only during meals and clears up a few hours after, gustatory rhinitis is likely the cause -- and it's harmless. But if the runny nose sticks around all day, comes with sneezing, itchy eyes, or a blocked nose, something else may be going on, and it's worth seeing a doctor to find out what.

So the next time your nose starts running at the dinner table, don't panic. Just smile, grab a tissue, and know that your nervous system is simply a overreact to the food you're eating. 

[1] Jovancevic L, Georgalas C. Gustatory rhinitis. Rhinology. 2010 

Wirach Chitsuthipakorn, MD

return to articles