Home Remedies for Sinus Infection that Work

Are you suffering from sinus infection? Have you tried everything but sinusitis is still there? Are you not even sure about the symptoms? Then you arrived to the right place. I will give you a broad overwiev of sinus problems and a wide range of sinus remedies. Inflammation of the sinuses or sinusitis, sinus congestion, sinus pain, sinus pressure, sinus headache and blocked sinuses are common and often recurring problem for some people. Let me summarise here the best sinus cures and home remedies for sinus infection.

Sinus Infection Symptoms

Find here a pretty list of usual and common sinus symptoms:

• Headache (sinus headache)
• Face pain (sinus pain)
• Pressure in the face, forehead (sinus pressure)
• Toothache
• Blocked nose (blocked sinuses)
• Feeling of nasal congestion (sinus congestion)
• Discharge from the nose
• Post nasal drip
• Constant irritating cough
• Night cough
• Bad breath
• Foul taste in the mouth
• Sore throat

In order to understand the process how and why the above symptoms evolve we have to clarify a few basic things.

First of all, what is sinus in reality? Or rather what are sinuses in reality?

Sinuses are air filled cavities (holes) in the bones of the face, adjoining and linked to the nose. There are four pairs of sinuses: above the nose (in the forehead), behind the nose, around the eyes and in the cheeks. Sinuses are lined with a very thin mucus-secreting membrane and are connected to the nasal cavity by a number of narrow channels. If the membrane swells the channels connecting the nose to the sinuses become blocked. Because of the blocked channels the mucus produced is not allowed to drain into the nose and collects in the sinus cavity. When mucus can't drain away it may become infected (with bacteria or fungus). The question: What is a sinus infection? - is now easy to be aswered.

What are the symptoms of sinus infection?

Blockage of the channels results in a pressure and can cause sinus infection symptoms as follows:

• persistent headache and/or face pain, pressure and/or pain in the teeth, worse on bending forward or blowing the nose or pressing on the affected area
• completely or partially blocked nose, feeling of nasal congestion
• thin, watery or yellow-green, thick or blood-stained discharge from the nose
• post nasal drip and coughing at night
• foul taste in the mouth.

But, how do you get sinus infection? What causes a sinus infection?

In other words: What may cause the swelling of the membrane and the blockage of the narrow channels?

• colds or flu, viral infection
• bacterial infection e.g. swimming in contaminated water
• fungal infection (according to a recent Mayo Clinic study, a considerable part of sinusitis is caused by fungal infection)
• allergies (food: milk!! or pet or environmental), hay fever
• air pollution (cigarette smoke, irritant fumes, dust, etc.)
• nasal polyps
• dental extractions and fillings
• adverse reaction to some foods e.g. ice cream

How to cure a sinus infection? What is the goal of the treatment?

• to reduce swelling and opening the blockage
• letting mucus and discharge drain away freely
• restore normal membrane functions

All of this therapeutical goals can be achieved by natural cures and home remedies!

Acute sinusitis must be cured within 3 weeks. If it lasts longer it becomes chronic. The treatment of chronic sinusitis is more difficult and complex.

Seek advice if sinus pain persists for more than a couple of weeks or if you get repeated attacks. In rare cases sinus infection can spread to the eyes or brain, causing serious complications. Call your doctor immediately if you feel pain in your eyes or have paralysis or they turn red.

And now I try to aswer the question: How to cure a sinus infection at home?

Treatment of Sinus Infection

One of the Best Old Folk Medicine: Apple Cider Vinegar for Sinus Infection

Best and may be the most simple natural cure for sinus infection is the old folk remedy: APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. Read more about sinus relief with apple cider vinegar...

Good Old Home Remedies: Hot Compresses and Poultices

Most of the people desire warm onto the congested sinus area. You may use a hot-water bottle, an infrared lamp, a warm flannel or simple blow warm air from a hair-drier. To encourage drainage of mucus apply hot compresses or poultices to your sinuses. They are veritable old home remedies used by our grandmothers for sinus infection. You may use different aromatic oils (e.g.eucalyptus oil) in hot water to make a warm compress, but the best natural cures are using GINGER (Zingiber officinalis) or black MUSTARD (Brassica nigra). Both stimulate the circulation strongly and help decongest stuffy nasal passages.

HOT COMPRESS with GINGER (Zingiber officinalis)

First of all make a strong ginger tea:

• put 2 teaspoonfuls ginger root powder or finely chopped fresh root to a cup of water,
• bring it to the boil and
• simmer for 10 minutes.

1. Soak a thick cotton washcloth in the hot ginger tea and place it over your painful sinuses, being careful not to burn yourself.
2. Rewet the cloth when it cools and reapply for a total of ten minutes.
3. Repeat the treatment several times a day as desired.

POULTICE with GINGER

1. Mix 140 g dried ginger powder with a little hot water until you get a paste.
2. Sandwich the paste between two layers of gauze or spread on a handkerchief
3. and place the poultice over the sinus area as hot as bearable.
4. Leave it on for a few minutes, maximum 5 minutes until comfortable. It may redden the skin and cause a feeling of burning, so remove the poultice if it is uncomfortable.

POULTICE with black MUSTARD (Brassica nigra)

Black mustard has a stronger effect than ginger, stimulating local blood circulation and mildly irritating the skin. Be careful not to overstimulate and burn your skin!

1. Mix 120g freshly ground black mustard seeds with warm water to form a thick paste.
2. Spread the paste on a piece of linen cloth.
3. Cover the skin of the treated sinus area with a gauze or handkerchief.
4. Apply the cloth with the paste on the gauze covered skin and
5. remove after 1 minute.
6. You may repeat this treatment 2 times a day. The skin my be reddened by this treatment, which can be eased by applying olive oil afterwards.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Nasal Irrigation with Neti Pot

Saline nasal irrigation is extremely useful to cure a sinusitis as well as to prevent a recurrent attack of sinus congestion. Nasal wash loosens the mucus and reduces swelling. Lear more about nasal irrigation and neti pot...

Well Known HOT STEAM INHALATION: Methods and Solutions

Steam inhalation is an excellent natural cure to relieve sinus congestion and painful sinus pressure. It thins the mucus so that it can be expelled. How to do a safe and effective steam inhalation?

• Place hot water (500 ml-1 litre) into a bowl and set the bowl on a steady surface (not on your knee or on a bed). The bowl should be filled about onethird full with hot water.
• Put a towel over your head and over the bowl, lean forward, close your eyes and inhale the vapours deeply through your nose for about a minute.
• Do not put your face too close to the steam, as this could burn your skin.
• Repeat this inhalation several times a day if required.

You may inhale simple the water steam, but if you prefer you can use saline solution or different essential oils in the water or herbal teas.

• Inhalation of saline solution: give 1tbsp sea salt to 500ml water, bring it to boil, pour the hot salt water in a basin and inhale the salty vapours for a couple minutes.
• Inhalation of essential oils: add 2 drops of eucalyptus oil, 2 drops of peppermint oil and 2 drops pine oil to the hot water and inhale the aromatic vapours deeply for about 1-2 minutes.
• Inhalation with herbal tea: make a chamomile tea with some ginger and sniff the rising steam for 5-10 minutes.

AROMATHERAPY: Most Effective Essential Oils for Sinus Infection

Aromatherapy oils are able to "clear and clean the head". Essential oils are time-proved and very pleasant natural cures for any kind of sinus problems. Aromatherapy oils for sinuses can be used various ways:

INTERNAL USE: Organic Oregano Oil or Wild Oregano Oil (Origanum vulgare) is said to be a very powerful tool combating sinus infection. Use 4 drops in a capsule (size 00) every 2 hours the first day and every 4 hours the next two days and the every 6 hours the next three days and then every 8 hours for the next four days. It is a period of 10 days and enough to cure a sinus infection. CAUTION: Avoid oregano when pregnant, as it can stimulate the uterus!

EXTERNAL USE: Aromatherapy oils are generally used as an external treatment:

1. bath
2. steam inhalation
3. dry inhalation (2 drops on a handkerchief and sniff)
4. facial massage

BATH: Bathing is an effective and delightful way of using essential oils.

• Run a warm full bath, add 4 drops of Lavender, 2 drops of Thyme and 1 drop of Tea-tree essential oils and stir well.
• Allow yourself to soak in the bath and inhale the steam deeply for at least 10 minutes, giving time to oils to penetrate.
• CAUTION: Avoid splashing bathwater in the eyes!

STEAM and DRY INHALATION: For immediate relief of congestion: chose steam inhalation with essential oils.

Lavender (Lavendula officinalis) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) are the most effective, when much pain is present.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and Pine (Pinus sylvestris) are very good at relieving the blockage and stuffiness.

Tea-tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is the most powerful antiseptic - very important in eradicating the infection.

Frequent (up to 5 or 6 times a day) steam inhalations help decongesting sinuses effectively. Give 2-2 drops of each essential oil to the steam-water. You can put besides the essential oils 1 tbsp of sea salt in the hot water. If you don't have the time to make a steam inhalation, you can have a quick dry inhalation using the same essential oils on a handkerchief and inhale the vapour deeply. It is nice, simple and works immediately.

FACIAL MASSAGE: Giving your sinuses an oil massage will increase blood circulation, relieve pressure and help decongest them besides it is a very pleasant feeling. Massage the face, with special attention to the areas around the nose and over the sinuses will help to drain away excessive mucus. Use the following synergistic blend in 15 ml carrier oil (sunflower oil):

• 1 drop Immortelle (Helichrysum angustifolia)
• 2 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
• 3 drops Myrtle (Myrtus communis)

Work around the nose and cheeks with circular movements: small on the nose, larger around the eyes and cheeks. Besides this synergistic blend you may use all the essential oils listed in the Inhalation section above, diluted in a carrier oil. Best of luck with experimenting and finding your appropriate combination of essential oils!

Reaching the end of the page I hope you have found your home remedies for sinus infection which work for you.

If you still have not found your appropriate sinus treatement find more internal sinus remedies such as supplements, homeopathy and tips for prevention of sinusitis.

Read about more home remedies for sinus infection and diet tips for sinuses.

 

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