Home Remedies for Sinusitis

Home Remedies for Sinusitis posted by Mel, selected from Natural Solutions magazine Nov 28, 2009 5:01 pm 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. Conventional doctors typically treat sinusitis with some combination of decongestants, nasal steroids, and antibiotics, with surgery as a last resort. But many people find that the drugs only temporarily relieve their symptoms–and no one’s particularly excited by the prospect of going under the knife. So more and more people are turning to complementary therapies, often with the approval of their mainstream physicians. “Chronic sinusitis is a frustrating problem, and we in conventional medicine don’t have a perfect solution,” says John Krouse, director of rhinology and otolaryngological allergy at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. After performing sinus surgery for too many patients who didn’t get better, he started exploring complementary remedies. “You really need to design a program that combines aspects of traditional medicine with alternative treatments,” he says. Some of the alternative approaches are thought to have antimicrobial aspects, but the physical act of opening the passageways works, too, by allowing the cilia to flush out mucus that harbors bacteria and other offenders like dust, pollen, and tobacco. Be warned, though, that taking the less conventional route will keep you busy, and you’ll need to start using these natural therapies at the first sign of symptoms. “Chronic sinusitis demands a lot from a patient,” says Barrett. “But if you’re willing to hang in there and try lots of different things, you’ll get results.” You’ll certainly feel better, and eventually the infection itself should heal. Here’s what’s worth trying: Steam therapy The first and most crucial step is to open up those nasal passages, and steam is the way to go. With a towel draped over your head, put your face over a pot of just-boiled water (don’t get too close) and let the steam make its way up into your sinuses. You may have to hover there for as long as 30 minutes, but don’t give up: It really works. To give the vapors an extra boost, add essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, or thyme to the water. Some practitioners believe these herbs have antimicrobial powers that can battle the bacteria lodged in your nasal cavities. (If you’re in a hurry, just run your shower on hot for a few minutes and sit in the mist.) Nasal irrigation Another do-it-yourself route to clear sinuses starts with saline solution. The traditional approach has been to use a neti pot, a device that looks a bit like a gravy boat. Fill it with warm water and add a quarter teaspoon of non-iodized salt; holding your head sideways over the sink, pour the liquid up into one nostril and let it trickle out the other. Then change sides. If your symptoms are severe, try this two or three times a day. A recent study among 76 chronic sinusitis patients at the University of Wisconsin in Madison found that 93 percent of those who used this type of daily saline irrigation said their sinuses felt better, they had fewer symptoms, and they lessened their dependence on medication. If the neti pot seems too messy and cumbersome, there’s now a simpler alternative, called the SaltAire Sinus Relief kit, which is available at some drugstores. (You can find out where it’s sold at www.saltairesinuswash.com.) It’s an easy-to-use pump system that you use to spray a premeasured salt solution into your nasal passages. Acupuncture This is what proved to be McEntire’s salvation. She used to lean heavily on antibiotics and decongestants, but they often triggered yeast infections, and her symptoms always crept back before too long. One day two years ago, when a sinus infection sent her to the emergency room with a 104-degree temperature and an unbearable headache, she decided she had to try something else. Unwilling to consider surgery, she turned to acupuncture. She’d used it for years to treat various conditions–in fact she was so enamored of it that she’s now studying to become an acupuncturist–and her practitioner thought it could help her sinuses, too. “It’s been a godsend,” McEntire says. “As soon as I got up off the table, the swelling went down around my face. I was no longer congested, and I could finally sleep at night, so my body could get the rest it needed to heal.” It’s not uncommon for patients to see results right after a treatment, says Steven Given, an acupuncturist at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle. But it can take up to ten sessions to get lasting relief. The cost, which can be anywhere from $55 to $150 per treatment, is covered by some insurers; if yours isn’t among them, check out a teaching clinic, where the fees should be lower. Acupressure For an even cheaper option, try acupressure, which a practitioner can teach you to do on your own. Basically, this means using your thumb or middle finger to put firm pressure on points in various places on your face. Given suggests pressing the point between the eyebrows right above the nose, as well as the points on the face where the crease of the smile ends–about an inch on either side of the nostrils. To get real relief, you have to push until it hurts a bit. “Bearing down on these points can increase circulation in the nasal cavities and remove inflammation-causing substances from the tissue,” he says. You can do this in lieu of acupuncture, or as a way of giving yourself a tune-up between appointments. Vigorous exercise It sounds counterintuitive, but a good brisk workout can also bring sinus relief. Krouse found that 81 percent of the chronic sinusitis patients he surveyed said vigorous exercise lessened their symptoms. “Exercise releases adrenaline,” says Krouse, “which causes the nose to decongest.” Herbal remediesThe potions and pills of Chinese medicine can also help. Practitioners typically recommend one of two common herbal formulas: “pe min kan wan” and “bai yan pin.” Other single herbs, including goldenseal and Oregon grape, are good choices, too, because their antibacterial qualities can help quash infections. Horseradish root, eyebright, and goldenrod reduce inflammation. Check in with an herbalist or a doctor of Chinese medicine to get a tincture or herbs you can make into a tea. “The herbs my acupuncturist gives me taste really awful, but I just take a deep breath and chug down the tea,” says McEntire. “The bitter taste only lasts a couple of seconds, and in the end it’s so worth it. What’s a little bitterness if you can breathe again?”

Herbs, Plants, and Spices for your Health

Home Remedies for Sinusitis

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