Home Remedies for Sinusitis

By Kimberly Wong, Natural Solutions

When October rolls around in San Francisco, a burst of warm weather makes locals forget the chilly summer that fogged them in for months. But for 37-year-old waitress and student Tiffinie McEntire, it’s the time when her allergies often turn into a nightmarish bout of sinusitis.

“When the weather changes drastically, that’s bad news for me,” she says. “My nose gets clogged, my eyes get watery, and if I touch my face it hurts. My whole head just feels like it’s going to pop.”

More than 32 million people suffer from such misery-making symptoms, which are typical of chronic sinusitis–an inflammation of the sinus cavities that can drag on for weeks. When agitated by allergies or a cold (or sometimes because of an abnormality in the sinuses), the mucous membrane lining the nose and sinuses swells, closing off the nasal passages.

“It’s basically like a drain that’s been blocked off,” says Rich Barrett, a naturopathic physician at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland. Mucus gets trapped inside and the cilia, tiny hairlike projections that sweep the membranes clear, can’t do their job. The congestion makes infection more likely to take hold, and when it does, the results can be wretched: postnasal drip, sore throat, cough, facial pain, and grinding headaches.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Frank B.

9:07AM PDT on Jul 25, 2010

For longer term issues, I had basically had swollen sinuses for 20 years, but now I hardly ever sniff thanks to a great acupuncturist! – I went to see her for neuropathy in desperation, and never once expected my sinuses to improve.

Regards, Frank
http://www.buygenericdrugs.net/diseases/Sinusitis/

send a green star

Angelica P.

9:46PM PDT on May 1, 2010

Thanks for the info.

Ioan P.

7:40AM PDT on Apr 19, 2010

saline solution is a good solution

raluca g.

4:10AM PDT on Apr 19, 2010

i tried steam therapy and it really worked for my baby....

Elizabeth V.

5:09PM PST on Mar 11, 2010

2 years I suffered and after all the doctors and medicine and drainage . . . Acupuncture was the cure

Kaye S.

10:43PM PST on Mar 8, 2010

For some people it works great.

Lenee L.

1:05PM PST on Mar 8, 2010

good information-thanks!

Karen T.

1:57PM PST on Mar 7, 2010

Thanks for these suggestions. I suffer from chronic sinusitis as my sinuses don't drain properly. I have a saline solution that I use to irrigate them, but there are some other good suggestions here. You can also widen the space available by putting your fingers on the inside of each cheek bone and pushing them apart. They will move back into place when you let go but it can help give the sinuses the space they need to drain. I little trick taught me by my kinesiologist!

No fwd v.

2:15PM PST on Mar 6, 2010

Thanks so much, i often have sinusitis

Mary Beth M.

7:48AM PST on Mar 6, 2010

Great ideas. I used to get sinus infections all the time. I started swabbing the inside of my nose with eucalyptus essential oil & breathing deeply. Haven't needed an antibiotic since. I use this on all my kids at the first sign of congestion & diffuse eucalyptus in the air. Love the steam & neti pot, too! Natural is so much better!